This session will allow to learn how cultural and economic factors influence operational choices, when managing a game in Asian, American and European markets. Examples of success and failure will demonstrate how different territories react to specific psychological triggers, and how knowing this can help maximize business performance.
Intended audience & prerequisites: This session will be most interesting for fellow game publishers or game developers looking to succeed in the ever expanding mobile market. Knowledge of the mobile games industry can be helpful, but is not required.
Session takeaways: Steps to maximize monetization when operating in different markets of Asia, US, Europe.
East to west how to maximize monetization when operating a mobile game in different markets emma povkhan
1. East to West: how to maximize
monetization when operating a
mobile game in different markets
October 2014, Emma Povkhan
2. Introducing the Speaker
EMMA POVKHAN
• Portfolio of free-to-play mobile games
• 7+ years of monetizing freemium products
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential 2
3. Introducing SevenGames
The combination of Aeria and ProSieben Games
has created the leading publisher in Europe
Access to TV
Access to IP
Ownership of additional
digital reach
+ = SevenGames
International
portfolio
World leading
monetization
Free-to-play pioneer
Top 3 player
in Europe
World class operations
Unparalleled
marketing power +TV
International community
of 80m gamers
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential 3
4. Our New Global Footprint
4
We continue our presence in Europe, the U.S. and Asia
North America
26 million users
South America
14 million users
Europe*
42 million users
Berlin, Germany
Global HQ of merged entity
Seoul, Korea
New office in Seoul opened in September
San Francisco, USA
New office planned to open in Q4 2014
*Including Turkey and Russia
Localized games offered by Aeria Games
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential
5. Portfolio Overview
5
Our portfolio comprises 50+ immersive games
across PC, browser and mobile platforms
PC Client
Browser
Mobile
Aeria Games
Portfolio Overview
ProSiebenSat.1 Games
Portfolio Overview
New
in
2014
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential
New
in
2014
New
in
2014
New
in
2014
New
in
2014
6. Asian Developers: True Innovators
Asia has always been a major source of innovation in games
Pioneering and dominating in
free-to-play games on PC
Strong mobile platform presence
since existence of feature phones
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential 6
7. Asian Games: Amazing Metrics
Global success of Asian games is a good example
of supreme performance
Stronger retention
due to focus
on live events
Stronger ARPPU
due to committed
core gamers
Stronger ARPU
due to well adopted
payment options
Rage of Bahamut Puzzle and Dragons
$26.72
$19.52
$32.46
$21.60
$35.00
$30.00
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$-
Q1 2013 Q1 2014
United States China
Download Ranks
Below 1,500
Top Grossing
Ranks
Above 100
M-ARPU $11.89
Clash of Clans
M-ARPU $1.31
Candy Crush Saga
M-ARPU $0.75
*In U.S. App Store, May 2013 to Oct 25, 2014 *Digital Game *Mobile Data Brief: May 2014 | ★ SuperData Sales: April 2014 | ★ SuperData
Aeria Games Europe GmbH - ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH - Confidential 7
8. Asian Success: East vs. West
8
Yet Asian games have not really gained full traction
in Western mobile markets
Western
Countries
U.S.A.
UK
Australia
Germany
Canada
France
Italy
Switzerland
Russia
Netherlands
Asian
Countries
Japan
South Korea
China
Taiwan
Western Markets – Top 5 Grossing Apps
iPhone, Nov 2013
Asian Markets – Top 5 Grossing Apps
iPhone, Nov 2013
Main Inhibitors
Different tastes in art style and presentation
Different levels of audience sophistication
Different role of OTT platforms (WeChat, Line, Kakao)
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential
9. Our Success:Immortalis Case Study
9
In 2013 we‘ve successfully launched Japanese Top 20 game
“Guardian Battle“, adapting it to fit 100+ Western markets
Art Style Communication Monetization Game Engine
=
Japan
Market
Guardian Battle
Western
Markets
Immortallis
Remains
Unchanged
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential
10. Success Story: Results in the West
#2 Top Grossing
in Germany
Remains
Unchanged
#3 Top Grossing
in France
#47 Top Grossing
in the US
#20 Top Grossing
in Canada
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 10
11. Case Study: Overview
Art style Game Design
11
We’ve maximized performance by working around
psychological, sociological and economical differences
Cultural
references
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential
Price points
Communication Gambling
12. Art Style: App Icons
Japanese Version
ANIME
Western Versions
FANTASY
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 12
13. Art Style: Card Art
Japanese Version Western Versions
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 13
14. Cultural References: Events, Art
SAKURA
BLOSSOM
EVENT
Japanese Version Western Versions
QUEEN’S
BLADE,
MAYOU
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 14
15. Communication: Simplified UI
Remains
Unchanged
TUTORIAL
Japanese Version Western Versions
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 15
16. Communication: Simplified UI
Remains
Unchanged
BANNERS
Japanese Version Western Versions
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 16
17. Game Design: Guild vs. Personal
Japanese Version Western Versions
50% 50%
REWARDS
FOR
EVENTS
Personal Rewards Guild Rewards
Remains
Unchanged
5%
95%
Personal Rewards Guild Rewards
* Estimated for Raid Event 12, “Black Sun”, comparison of rank #1 in personal reward to rank #1 in guild rewards
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 17
18. Gambling Mechanisms: Gacha
gachapon
"blind box" sets
coin-operated capsule toys
vending machines
blind purchase
gacha gacha
capsule
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 18
20. Gambling Mechanisms: Gacha
Step Gacha in Applibot’s “Chaos Drive”
Gacha Retries in Colopl’s “Pro Baseball PRIDE”
Scratch Gacha in Cygame’s “Rage of Bahamut”
Sugoroku Gacha in Applibot’s “Legend of the Criptids”
12x Gacha seen in Asobism’s “Dragon League X”
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 20
21. Gambling Mechanisms: Gacha
Japanese Version Western Versions
93%
7%
Gambling Direct Sales
SALES
SHARE
Remains
Unchanged
54%
46%
Gambling Direct Sales
*Data for January 1 - Aug 10, 2014. Western version is on example of DE.
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 21
22. Aggressive Monetization: Prices
CONVERSION
Remains
Unchanged
WHALES
Japanese Version Western Versions
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 22
23. Success Story: Results in the West
Industry KPIs Immortalis KPIs
M-ARPU $20.15
(IMM DE, Dec-2013)
D-ARPU $10.27
(IMM FR, 28-Sep-2013)
D-ARPPU $191.9
(IMM FR iOS 16-Apr-2014)
M-ARPPU $262.72
(IMM FR iOS , Oct-2013)
Puzzle and Dragons
M-ARPU $11.89
Clash of Clans
M-ARPU $1.31
Candy Crush Saga
M-ARPU $0.75
US Q1 2014
M-ARPPU $21.60
China Q1 2014
M-ARPPU $32.46
*Digital Game Sales: April 2014 | ★ SuperData
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential 23
25. Art Production
25
To facilitate the adaptation of Asian games, we’ve built
an internal studio to create art that matches our audiences
Style Adaptation Evolution Concepts
Original Card Art
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential
EXAMPL
ES
26. BAM! - Battles and Monsters!
Aeria Games Europe GmbH- ProSiebenSat.1 Games GmbH- Confidential
26
So far our largest project,
featuring hundreds of lovable, silly monsters
• Comic fantasy style
trading card game
• Real-time guild battles
• Launch in Q4 2014
• Devices: iPhone/iPod
Summer 2012 – DL galore. Last 1.5 years stable grossing
By factor of 9-15
JP: (1) anime-inspired. (2) edgy, dynamic drawings. (3) art more provocative/exposed, due to (4) less realistic style
WEST: (1) dark fantasy style. (2) epic adventure world. (3) realistic painting style. (4) appeal is rather enticing/erotic, not as directly provocative
JP: (1) anime-inspired. (2) edgy, dynamic drawings. (3) art more provocative/exposed, due to (4) less realistic style
WEST: (1) dark fantasy style. (2) epic adventure world. (3) realistic painting style. (4) appeal is rather enticing/erotic, not as directly provocative
Headless Horseman, Jeanne d'Arc
coin-operated toy vending machines, @ grocery stores
Akihabara
based on popular licenses from JP manga, video games, anime
Released in sets
Step, scratch, box, kompu
Box (patent? DeNA)
39% direct sales, but avoid pay-2-win
We struggle to convert,
visible, flashy and catchy
100% consumption rate
Gap b/w noob and pro
+24% versus their nearby, ’rounded’ price points (Priceless by William Poundstone).
MIT + University of Chicago, $34, $39, and $44