Improve Game Play

[sysads]

Hi All,

I was hoping that developing a unique game from scratch without cloning an existing game would give me the boost I needed but it appears I was wrong.

I got a company to develop this game for me - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twodgamearena.targetthedot

I have tried several ways to promote the game including paying someone to do ASO for me but not getting the awareness or downloads I needed.

I just wanted to seek advise from the community, is there something I could have introduced into the game to make it better and engaging?

If I take for instance “Pop the Lock”, I just wonder how they managed to get the audience they got when they launched the game.

Thanks

[nick_sherman]

If I knew a definite answer to this, I’d be a lot richer

One of the problems is there’s thousands of these little games out there since games like Flappy Bird came along. And then when one of them becomes successful, it instantly has a load of clones which clog up the charts further.

So a lot of luck is involved. You might stand a slightly better chance if you can release on iOS. Then, if the game is good enough, it might get noticed by an apple employee and featured on the store. Then once it starts to spread and iOS people show it to their friends with Android phones, the google play downloads might increase.

But of course you’re constantly fighting against a tide of CPI downloads paid for by big companies with huge budgets. They can spend $250,000 to get say 125,000 downloads and once they’ve got the chart position the rest takes care of itself

[sysads]

@nick\_sherman

If I knew a definite answer to this, I’d be a lot richer

One of the problems is there’s thousands of these little games out there since games like Flappy Bird came along. And then when one of them becomes successful, it instantly has a load of clones which clog up the charts further.

So a lot of luck is involved. You might stand a slightly better chance if you can release on iOS. Then, if the game is good enough, it might get noticed by an apple employee and featured on the store. Then once it starts to spread and iOS people show it to their friends with Android phones, the google play downloads might increase.

But of course you’re constantly fighting against a tide of CPI downloads paid for by big companies with huge budgets. They can spend $250,000 to get say 125,000 downloads and once they’ve got the chart position the rest takes care of itself

Wisely said and I tend to agree with you on all points. You made a point on Apple featured games. I have searched everywhere to know how that works. I see games featured that are not as good as others with small downloads so its all about luck then.

[nick_sherman]

In the free game market, I’d say for an indie developer to have a hit, you need some luck - the right person to see the game at the right time. I bet there’s some great games languishing around with a few hundred downloads.

A few years ago it was easier - now we’re competing against companies who can afford a three month TV ad campaign. But with a great game concept and a bit of luck there’s still hope!

[nick_sherman]

If I knew a definite answer to this, I’d be a lot richer

One of the problems is there’s thousands of these little games out there since games like Flappy Bird came along. And then when one of them becomes successful, it instantly has a load of clones which clog up the charts further.

So a lot of luck is involved. You might stand a slightly better chance if you can release on iOS. Then, if the game is good enough, it might get noticed by an apple employee and featured on the store. Then once it starts to spread and iOS people show it to their friends with Android phones, the google play downloads might increase.

But of course you’re constantly fighting against a tide of CPI downloads paid for by big companies with huge budgets. They can spend $250,000 to get say 125,000 downloads and once they’ve got the chart position the rest takes care of itself

[sysads]

@nick\_sherman

If I knew a definite answer to this, I’d be a lot richer

One of the problems is there’s thousands of these little games out there since games like Flappy Bird came along. And then when one of them becomes successful, it instantly has a load of clones which clog up the charts further.

So a lot of luck is involved. You might stand a slightly better chance if you can release on iOS. Then, if the game is good enough, it might get noticed by an apple employee and featured on the store. Then once it starts to spread and iOS people show it to their friends with Android phones, the google play downloads might increase.

But of course you’re constantly fighting against a tide of CPI downloads paid for by big companies with huge budgets. They can spend $250,000 to get say 125,000 downloads and once they’ve got the chart position the rest takes care of itself

Wisely said and I tend to agree with you on all points. You made a point on Apple featured games. I have searched everywhere to know how that works. I see games featured that are not as good as others with small downloads so its all about luck then.

[nick_sherman]

In the free game market, I’d say for an indie developer to have a hit, you need some luck - the right person to see the game at the right time. I bet there’s some great games languishing around with a few hundred downloads.

A few years ago it was easier - now we’re competing against companies who can afford a three month TV ad campaign. But with a great game concept and a bit of luck there’s still hope!