Let us now discuss mobile devices. These are expected to offer a good UX to players and all the avid gamers need to give some thought before purchasing them. 

Here is a list of the top 10 gaming mobiles from around the world to make the decision easier:

1. iPhone 11 Pro – More than 90% of the users rely on their smartphones for apps. As far as games are concerned, a powerful OS is key. With the new iPhone 11 Pro, there have been many enhancements made to the previous versions. This elevates the gaming experience for the users. It even supports 3D games and hence, is a complete package when it comes to gaming needs. Another benefit is that it is small in size and hence, players who spend hours on games will not face any discomfort. 

The battery life has also improved with the latest update and gamers can make the most of this feature to get hours of entertainment.

1. OnePlus 7 Pro – One thing that sets this device apart is its display size. The quality is also great which adds to the whole package. As far as the battery is concerned, the unique Warp charge feature allows users to charge their devices faster and lets them play games without interruptions. Its powerful CPU ensures that all the power is concentrated on making your games better with enhanced network access. It is priced competitively and this is yet another advantage.

1. Samsung Galaxy S10+ – With a screen size of 6.40 inches and a top-class display, this device is a clear competitor as far as top 10 gaming mobiles are concerned. A powerful CPU ensures that you can enjoy gaming without any interruptions. There is a specific game mode in the mobile that allows you to play without any distractions.

1. Honor 20 Pro – The battery life of Honor 20 Pro has made it one of the most popular choices in gaming mobiles. It also has a huge display which adds to the whole user experience. 

1. Razer Phone 2 – People enjoy their gaming time better if the quality of the screen is the best and Razer Phone 2 offers this feature. The device does not get heated up quickly and this leads to hours of comfortable gaming. The size is also impressive and the device comes with more power. Another feature is the front-facing speakers. All those who love to play with the sound turned on can have immense fun. 

1. ASUS Zenfone 6 – The 8GB RAM that comes with this phone makes it one of the better choices for mobile gamers. It is powerful and has a huge internal storage space. It is a user-friendly device with no complex features and people of all ages who play games can consider this phone. An LCD screen makes the display better. 

All these devices are also the best gaming phones in India. They are available in varied online stores in addition to retail and the prices are also competitive. 

There have been many advancements in gaming technology and the industry continues to be dynamic. However, gamers need to have the relevant devices in order to make optimum use of the advanced features. The aforementioned smartphones are used extensively by people from around the world and have been named as better choices in offering impressive gaming experiences.

The post List of The Best Gaming Phones for The Year 2020 appeared first on launchship studios.

Whether it is small Indie gaming companies or the bigger players in the game business, soft-launching a game is a crucial pre-launch process that can make or break an app. Any free to play app needs this in order to check its viability in the long run. There are instances in which gaming studios have decided to let go of a particular project owing to weak reports/feedback. Therefore, it needs to be given its due importance. 

In the following lines, let us take a look at a few factors that can be considered for the soft launch of a game:

• Market Research – Any gaming app is made for a specific market. As a developer, it makes sense to know about what the audience wants and what you can do to meet its demands. Based on their feedback, you can make the necessary changes to the game and create a more relevant app. 

In order to accomplish this, game development companies need to identify a specific region in which the soft launch is planned. Right from identifying the best ASO (App Store Optimization) strategies to in-game features, there are many factors that market research can establish and help the mobile game in becoming better and more inclusive.

• Define the target audience – Even before a mobile game is conceptualized, the target audience is defined and based on this, the app is developed. There are many genres that can be exploited and these include casual, arcade, simulation, combat, multiplayer online and puzzle, amongst others. Depending on the age, the time that a player spends on the said app and the LTV (Lifetime Value), the target audience is shortlisted.  

During the soft launch, gaming companies can validate their target audience based on their behavior in the app and take the necessary steps to make the UX (user experience) better. 

• Tracking the KPIs – Depending on the key performance indicators of a game, the overall performance can be gauged. In-game marketing, tracking these matrices by using analytics and data is key for the success of any app. For some gaming companies, the number of downloads is a KPI whilst for others, the retention rate makes all the difference. Based on your specific KPIs, you can collect the relevant data/information in the soft launch phase.

• Create a marketing strategy – Enough can’t be said about marketing strategies for any app in general, and a mobile game in particular. These factors affect the app visibility, the number of installations and LTV (the amount spent by players from the time they download the game to the time they stop playing). You will need a quality landing page that converts into sales. Using the most viable ASO tools is also a major contributor for an effective marketing strategy.

• Send it to several app stores – Instead of relying on a couple of app stores, it is practical to send the game to several app stores. This will increase the customer base and you will be able to check your app’s performance better. Another advantage is that as a part of mobile app advertising, you will learn how to optimize your app across several app stores efficiently.

The main objective of the soft launch stage is to get the maximum inputs from varied players about said game’s performance. Therefore, introducing it on multiple app stores increases the chances of getting the relevant feedback, which in turn can be useful for the global release.

• Social media marketing – Social media platforms have become a major source for companies to showcase their products and services. People of all ages are using such websites in order to stay connected with the world and hence, social media marketing forms a major part of an app’s soft launch.

As important game programming and game making are in terms of creating a successful mobile app, it is equally significant that all the necessary steps are taken before the global release of the said app. For this, soft launching is a phase that cannot be ignored. Developers need to consider it for all their games as it helps them create an immersive and unique game.

The post Best Strategies That Can Be Used for Soft Launching A Mobile Game in 2020 appeared first on launchship studios.

Why is mobile gaming popular?

In 2016, India had about 201 million users of mobile gamers.. This was projected to reach about 370 million users by the year 2022. According to Nasscom, India’s mobile games market is expected to be worth $5 billion by 2020, up from $290 million in 2016. The reason for this is the accessibility of smart-phones. They have become cost-effective and everyone spends more time on their devices. Furthermore, a majority of the games can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store and App store. 

The introduction of freemium games (free to download with in-app purchases) has made it possible for people of all ages to enjoy mobile games. These can be played anytime and anywhere. They enable in-game purchases that sell goods/services meant to help players get past the advanced levels.

All those who play mobile games aim for high scores. Most of them allow players to compare their performance with their friends/family. This sets in a sense of competition and gives rise to them spending more time in games. Another reason is casual games are relaxing and stress-relieving. They offer a break from the day-to-day pressures of professional and personal demands. Since they are readily available on mobile devices, players tend to make use of them whenever they are looking for an interlude.

Finally, the inclusion of new techniques that offer a unique gaming experience is key. According to the latest in technology news, the following are some of the options to look forward to:

1. Virtual reality games – Players can become a part of three-dimensional experience with the inclusion of VR in gaming. Wearable devices such as headsets, helmets, masks, and gloves are used for this purpose. 
2. Augmented reality games – The best example of such a game is Pokemon Go. Players have to make use of their real-time environment with audio and video content. The experience is made much better with special devices and unique gameplay.

Let us now talk about the Indian gaming market. As mentioned earlier, the mobile gaming market opened up a number of prospects for Indie and small gaming companies. There are genres such as simulation, Match 3, puzzle, combat and arcade games to venture into. Each of them has a specific target audience to cater to. The country has a 1.40 billion population and most of them have smart-phones. People from different walks of life resort to mobile gaming. According to statistics, Indian players who use the in-app purchase feature have also gone up in the past few years. They are not hesitating to spend a certain amount of money to gain an advantage over other players.

India has a lot to look forward to in 2020. With internet services offering better packages and new tools such as Google Stadia and Apple Arcade being introduced into mobile gaming, the future is quite promising for gaming companies as a whole.

The post The Indian mobile gaming market to cross $400 million by the end of 2020 appeared first on launchship studios.

Almost everyone around the world uses a smartphone. With the upcoming 5G network this year, there are many benefits to look forward to. Firstly, it will become much faster to download games and hence, the performance of the device battery is enhanced. Secondly, players can make the most of the popular game genres such as real-time, combat, etc. due to better connectivity. It is a fact that the majority of mobile games are free to download in app stores and this forms the basis for their popularity. There are hundreds of thousands of such apps which are readily available for players from around the world on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. From puzzle games to matching 3 similar props and simulation, the needs of diverse mobile gamers are addressed. 

Let us now come to gaming companies. They have a whole team of developers, designers, artists and marketers that is involved in producing a game. There is a lot of work that goes into market research and analysis so as to create a game that is relevant to the target audience. This requires a substantial amount of investment. So, how do such gaming companies get their returns if they offer free downloads? 

To understand this, we need to define in-app games.

What are in-app games?

In the informal gaming language, in-app games are those that are free to download and have in-app purchase stores for the benefit of the players. In these, players can buy extra lives, boosters and special powers that can help them get past difficult levels. Some apps unlock special levels when players make the relevant purchases. Such goods and services can be purchased easily using any of the myriad payment solutions enabled. There is no need to go out of the app to complete the transaction. 

Gaming companies make money from their in-app stores and in-app advertising. According to reports, app-install ad revenue is estimated to grow to more than $70 billion by year-end 2020. As per the numbers mentioned earlier, the number of people playing mobile games is growing steadily. The time that they spend playing is also increasing. This leads to higher chances of gaining income from advertising. 

How does in-app advertising work?

Third parties showcase their products/services in other games so as to gain visibility. The trick is to display/play ads that are contextually relevant. This will engage the players and encourage them to watch the ads being played. There are two types of in-app ads – interstitial and rewarded. The first one relates to those that are played in between levels (both when a particular level is completed successfully or not) and the second one offers specific incentives to players.

As far as the payout is concerned, certain actions by the players (clicking on the ad link, watching the ad, etc.) can help developers get the predetermined amount.

Why are advertisers eyeing in-app games?

Most of the players from around the world prefer games that are free to download with in-app purchases. These are the ones that have taken the mobile gaming industry to such heights. As far as advertisers are concerned, whether it is targeting a particular location or audience; these games are effective in reaching out to the users better. If they like certain products/services being advertised, they can click on the link immediately and download it. Therefore, advertisers can make the most of the available prospects in such a marketing strategy. As compared to other online gaming avenues, mobile games are preferred because of their accessibility.

Another benefit is an increase in game revenues. In-app advertising can be combined with other marketing strategies without any hassles. The availability of a number of such formats is yet another advantage for advertisers. All these puts together make mobile gaming an ideal market for advertising products/services so as to reach a larger demographic.

The post With a $70 Billion Mark Set for 2020, Advertisers Eye in-app Games appeared first on launchship studios.