Game design

Mobile games are getting a lot of attention as a content-based sector of the digital economy. Especially considering "Free with In-App Purchase" as the mainstream business model of these games, designing the right economic structure to monetize the content of mobile games is crucial. However, there is limited knowledge about the mechanisms of persuading users to pay for in-game content and most of the studies are merely focused on the revenue models. Due to this knowledge gap, this study attempts to aggregate the game monetization methods into a multi-level classification and focus on identifying the main content monetization mechanics of five genres: Arcade, Sport, Puzzle, Racing, and Platformer/ Runner. For this purpose, interviews were conducted by game design and economics experts about successful mobile games. As a result, a new multi-level classification for mobile games revenue models is proposed which includes monetization via selling core items, selling performance items, and providing supplementary services in addition to retailing and in-game advertising. It also became clear that monetization mechanics for each of these methods vary in different genres and change depending on the type of game. The results of this study can be useful for digital game researchers, designers, and marketeers to structure a better revenue stream.

Although there are several development processes for creating entertainment games, serious games, and gamified solutions, there is a need for a new consolidated process capable of developing different types of computer games and digital gamified solutions. This study covers the topic of computer games and gamified solutions design and development processes. First, processes of computer entertainment game production are introduced and investigated. Second, the paper describes gamification and serious game development processes. Finally, this study presents a new process called (DG)2DP to develop entertainment and serious computer games as well as digital gamified solutions. Two methods have been employed to evaluate the proposed game development method. First, the proposed process is assessed by 42 game development practitioners through an 8-factors questionnaire. Second, 16 experts that have applied the process are requested to rate the extent to which they would recommend the (DG)2DP to other game developers. The evaluation results show a 28.39% higher score for (DG)²DP than other processes. Furthermore, in comparison with other development processes, 81.25% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed to recommend the (DG)2DP to other game developers.