Comments on: A la carting games http://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/ Raph Koster's personal website: MMOs, gaming, writing, art, music, books Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:02:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Some nice things about micropayments | Quiet Babylonhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137565 Some nice things about micropayments | Quiet Babylon Mon, 19 May 2008 13:01:25 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137565 [...] Koster’s post today got me thinking (again) about Danc’s excellent 2005 article about the touring band as a [...]

[...] Koster’s post today got me thinking (again) about Danc’s excellent 2005 article about the touring band as a [...]

]]> By: Michael Chuihttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137495 Michael Chui Thu, 15 May 2008 07:59:32 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137495 Search Engine Optimization. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization Search Engine Optimization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization

]]> By: Jimhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137490 Jim Thu, 15 May 2008 03:39:51 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137490 Pardon my ignorance, but what does SEO stand for? Pardon my ignorance, but what does SEO stand for?

]]> By: Making Mistakes Making Games » Some nice things about micropaymentshttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137458 Making Mistakes Making Games » Some nice things about micropayments Mon, 12 May 2008 06:05:35 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137458 [...] Koster’s post today got me thinking (again) about Danc’s excellent 2005 article about the touring band as a [...]

[...] Koster’s post today got me thinking (again) about Danc’s excellent 2005 article about the touring band as a [...]

]]> By: seanhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137450 sean Sun, 11 May 2008 17:24:36 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137450 comes across a bit whiny... "Owie, I fell down and broke my business model from the 1960's". comes across a bit whiny… “Owie, I fell down and broke my business model from the 1960′s”.

]]> By: Gene Endrodyhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137429 Gene Endrody Sat, 10 May 2008 20:33:17 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137429 "ROT" - I meant RMT. My bad. “ROT” – I meant RMT. My bad.

]]> By: Gene Endrodyhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137423 Gene Endrody Sat, 10 May 2008 16:30:53 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137423 "SEO could be as important as compelling content." Absolutely true, however a little over simplified and only one part of the picture. Bringing in a constant flow of new users is important no matter what the business model is. Assuming you're on an ad model, you might be able to get away with shallow, flashy content directed at the casual surfer. I rank SEO third after viral marketing and distribution / partnership strategies for bringing in new users. New users brought in through SEO also churn like crazy. Bringing them in is easy relative to getting them to stay long enough to spend money. We're on the ad model, so this post is certainly relevant to us however subscription and ROT are much more common models for MMOs. To monetize surfers there needs to be something under the surface beyond just flash and a great intro to get them to commit. This can be fun, smart, deep content but can also be the power and stickiness of the community you've created. I would rate community ahead of content but obviously they interrelate. “SEO could be as important as compelling content.”
Absolutely true, however a little over simplified and only one part of the picture. Bringing in a constant flow of new users is important no matter what the business model is. Assuming you’re on an ad model, you might be able to get away with shallow, flashy content directed at the casual surfer. I rank SEO third after viral marketing and distribution / partnership strategies for bringing in new users. New users brought in through SEO also churn like crazy.

Bringing them in is easy relative to getting them to stay long enough to spend money. We’re on the ad model, so this post is certainly relevant to us however subscription and ROT are much more common models for MMOs. To monetize surfers there needs to be something under the surface beyond just flash and a great intro to get them to commit. This can be fun, smart, deep content but can also be the power and stickiness of the community you’ve created. I would rate community ahead of content but obviously they interrelate.

]]> By: Amarantharhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137418 Amaranthar Sat, 10 May 2008 15:11:14 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137418 That all makes sense. So, for games, it seems that a quick knock out (fantastic experience) adventure to grab the surfers would be good. Maybe even an earned special item. I'm thinking of a tutorial for the basic game play that's designed to grab the wonderer. Maybe start with a very quick movie that moves right into a play experience. Imagine: You're watching Indiana Jones take the golden bust and start to leave, the round boulder starts to roll out...and then you are put into the player mode. Can you beat the rock to the entrance? Change it, of course, add in some dexterity jumps and timing avoidances, shooting spears, etc. Then offer a free adventure. Keep your rewards and move into the game. That all makes sense. So, for games, it seems that a quick knock out (fantastic experience) adventure to grab the surfers would be good. Maybe even an earned special item. I’m thinking of a tutorial for the basic game play that’s designed to grab the wonderer. Maybe start with a very quick movie that moves right into a play experience.

Imagine: You’re watching Indiana Jones take the golden bust and start to leave, the round boulder starts to roll out…and then you are put into the player mode. Can you beat the rock to the entrance? Change it, of course, add in some dexterity jumps and timing avoidances, shooting spears, etc.
Then offer a free adventure. Keep your rewards and move into the game.

]]> By: Morgan Ramsayhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137415 Morgan Ramsay Sat, 10 May 2008 06:16:38 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137415 <blockquote>Does he have a name, your biz dev guy?</blockquote> I don't know why Raph was keeping his name so hush-hush in this post. Jason Hable is Director of Business Development at Areae, Inc., formerly Principal at Crescendo Ventures, one of Areae's venture-capital investors. I think he telecommutes. Livin' large! ;)

Does he have a name, your biz dev guy?

I don’t know why Raph was keeping his name so hush-hush in this post. Jason Hable is Director of Business Development at Areae, Inc., formerly Principal at Crescendo Ventures, one of Areae’s venture-capital investors. I think he telecommutes. Livin’ large! ;)

]]> By: Tobiashttp://www.raphkoster.com/2008/05/09/a-la-carting-games/comment-page-1/#comment-137414 Tobias Sat, 10 May 2008 04:24:29 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/?p=1732#comment-137414 Does he have a name, your biz dev guy? Does he have a name, your biz dev guy?

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