If you look at video games from 20+ years ago compared to the games available today, the difference is immense. Not just in terms of advancements in graphics and capabilities, but also in how the games are developed and marketed.
One key feature that is playing an increasingly important role is engagement. A whole host of common game features and trends have emerged because of the developer’s need to drive engagement. This guide will discuss some of those new features.
Player engagement refers to how much a player is invested in a specific game. This includes how often they interact with it, the enjoyment they get from playing the game, and the immersion they get from their gaming experience. This is a concept that was already relevant before games went digital, going back to the original board and card games.
Essentially, positive engagement from players means that they actively want to play a game and are actively looking forward to the next time they play it. They become invested in it. This applies to video games, board games, casino games, and more. Even traditional sports went through revisions to make them more engaging for both the players and the audience.
Therefore, engagement is incredibly important for game and casino game developers. More positive engagement should theoretically result in more revenue.
Aside from things like developer updates and chats with the game developers, there is a range of emerging trends that both video games and casino games are using to boost motivation and player immersion.
Fortnite is the prime example of this – how many times has there been an update in this game that has introduced a new set of skins or emotes that are pulled from an IP? There have been prominent examples including Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and various music stars like Marshmallow and Snoop Dog.
These collabs drive engagement as they are utilizing the immense popularity of the IPs; Game developers know that players will go crazy to own the cosmetics or play the new features – simply because they feature their favorite film franchise or music artist, for example.
Chat functionality has been around for a while and it’s seen in most online video games. However, this feature is now also making its way into online casinos and sweepstakes casinos. You can have a peek at this site for an example. For online casinos, there is usually a community chat, but most live dealer games also have chats that allow players to interact with each other and the dealer.
For video games, players can usually find message systems and voice chat functionality. This can bring immense engagement as it allows players to chat with their friends and teammates. It can also drive competition and encourage trash-talking, all of which create memorable experiences for gamers.
Streaming sites like Twitch and YouTube are incredibly popular and have seen a surge in popularity in the last 5 games. There are millions of people who tune in to Twitch and YouTube to watch their favorite streamers play games. Game developers have taken note of this and many games have partnerships with streamers for extra promotion. It’s similar to how social media influencers have partnerships with businesses to promote their products and brands.
This is essentially an advertisement for the game developer and the streamer does all the work for them. The developer then benefits from increased engagement and the huge audiences these steamers have. Just look at the current top 10 Twitch streamers and the views they pull in. Big streamers will want to be paid for a sponsored stream, but smaller ones are often happy just receiving a free game key and a shoutout from the game’s developer.
Many games including casino games now have competitive elements. For example, many online casinos have slot tournaments that drive engagement as players can compete against each other for huge prizes. Similarly, pvp games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Vallorant all have in-game tournaments and leaderboards.
This has expanded into the eSports scene too. eSports is now a multi-billion dollar industry and it has become a major way to drive engagement. Thousands of gamers will watch eSports teams compete in arenas and live events.
Long gone are the days when a game developer would simply produce a game, sell it, and move on to the next title. No. Today, games are persistent and developers want to drive engagement. This is often done by adding new features and content to existing games.
This is primarily done by expansions, downloadable content, seasons, and cosmetics. These all bring in additional content that can breathe new life into an older game and keep players engaged.
The importance of engagement isn’t going away as developers move away from traditional methods of simply selling games for an upfront fee. The fact that most games now continually add things like DLC and season passes has made many modern titles more engaging than ever, fostering communities who keep coming back for more years after the game’s release.