qualities of virtual goods
DESCRIPTION
This talk will present the audience with a system of attributes that most Virtual Goods possess. The chosen properties are primarily responsible for the users' perceived value of an item and can directly be affected by the game design and visuals. Knowing about this system and the attributes is the first step in systematically improving the value of your items and overall repository of premium services. By examining how this system applies to our daily business at Gameforge we will give some practical advice on real world application. To top off the talk, we will be using the developed properties as a foundation for some tricks and methods to improve the monetization of your own free-to-play game.TRANSCRIPT
Qualities ofVirtual Goods
Martin Nerurkar & Volker Boenigk
BGF 2010
Martin Nerurkar Volker Boenigk
Web
Blog
@MNerurkar
www.martin.nerurkar.de
www.gamearch.com
@PoweredByPixels
www.poweredbypixels.de
blog.poweredbypixels.de
E-Mail [email protected] [email protected]
System TricksQualities
Overview
System Qualities Tricks
Overview
System Tricks
System Qualities Tricks
Qualities
Overview
1. The basics of our system
System Tricks
System TricksQualities
Qualities
Overview
1. The basics of our system
2. Describing the 6 qualities (+ Examples)
System Tricks
System TricksQualities
Qualities
Overview
1. The basics of our system
2. Describing the 6 qualities (+ Examples)
3. Additional tricks
System Tricks
System TricksQualities
Qualities
System
System TricksQualities
The System
Use-Value
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
System TricksQualities
The System
Duration
Artificial ScarcityUse-Value
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
System Tricks
Availability
Qualities
The System
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Perceived Value
Artificial ScarcityUse-Value
Duration
Availability
System TricksQualities
The System
=+ + + + +
System TricksQualities
Qualities
System TricksQualities
The 6 Qualities
• Quality represents value to the player
– High Quality = desirable
• Quality strength is dependent on the game
System Tricks
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
Qualities
Advantage
System Tricks
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
Qualities
Advantage
• Increased performance
– Better equipment
– XP boosts
• The payer has a gameplay advantage over non-payers (Careful!)
• Exclusive bonuses can feel more unfair than earnable bonuses
System TricksQualities
Advantage Example
Battleknight Guards
Use Values• +25% Defense
Scarcity• Limited duration
System TricksQualities
Advantage
• How big is the performance increase?
• Is it a direct or indirect gain?
• How competitive is the game?
• Will it break the game?
System TricksQualities
Aesthetics
System Tricks
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
Qualities
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdecomite/
Aesthetics
• Audiovisual value
– Hairstyles
– Unique clothes
– “Vanity items”
• Very dependent on the type of game
System TricksQualities
Aesthetics Example
Europe 1400 Avatars
Use Values• Unique looks
Scarcity• Permanent
System TricksQualities
Aesthetics
• How visual is the game?
• How desirable is the effect?
• Is the effect customizable?
• Does it represent an affiliation?
System TricksQualities
Comfort
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
System TricksQualities
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/austinevan/
Comfort
• Making life easier for the player
• Cuts the parts that are not enjoyable
– Automatization
– Improved interface features
System TricksQualities
Comfort Example
Ikariam City Overview
Use Values• Easier to keep an
overview over yourcities
Scarcity• Limited time
System TricksQualities
Comfort
• How annoying is the normal task?
• Does the feature require less effort?
• Does it save the player time?
System TricksQualities
Content
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
System TricksQualities
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/depone/
Content
• Adds new playing options
– New areas
– New quests
– New classes
• Allows to extend the experience
System TricksQualities
Content Example
Hypothetical New Class
Use Values• Perfectly balanced• Unique premium class
Scarcity• Permanent
System TricksQualities
Content Example
Metin 2 Dungeons
Use Values• Exclusive content• Faster levelling• Better drop chances
Scarcity• Limited use
System TricksQualities
Content
• How much time can be spent with the new content?
• How well created is it?
• How dependant is the game on content?
System TricksQualities
Duration
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
System TricksQualities
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbie73/
Duration
• How long does the goodlast or how often can itbe used?
• The higher the duration, the higher the perceived value
• Permanent goods can be problematic
System TricksQualities
Duration
• How long does the item last?
• Is duration in harmony witheffect and presentation?
System TricksQualities
Availability
Duration
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Availability
System TricksQualities
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/villamon/
Availability
• The rarer a good is, themore valuable it becomes
• Different ways to modifyavailability
• Stronger if players can display rare goods
System TricksQualities
Availability
• How hard is the good to get?
• Can the good be collectedand/or displayed?
• Is availability in harmony withthe presentation?
System TricksQualities
The Qualities
=+ + + + +
System TricksQualities
Tricks
System TricksQualities
Rating System
System TricksQualities
Rating System
System TricksQualities
Player Needs Matrix
Laziness
Keep up
Be better
See everything
Have everything
Be unique
To belong
System TricksQualities
Whitespot Analysis
System TricksQualities
Whitespot Analysis
System Tricks
What?
Who?
Qualities
Image: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/yarranz
Wrapup
System TricksQualities
Wrapup
System Tricks
Advantage
Comfort
Aesthetics
Content
Perceived Value
Artificial ScarcityUse-Value
Duration
Availability
Qualities
Contact Us
Martin Nerurkar Volker Boenigk
Web
Blog
@MNerurkar
www.martin.nerurkar.de
www.gamearch.com
@PoweredByPixels
www.poweredbypixels.de
blog.poweredbypixels.de
E-Mail [email protected] [email protected]
System TricksQualities