1page.title=Game Developer Best Practices
2page.image=/distribute/images/gp-games-practices.png
3page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful games in Google Play.
4
5@jd:body
6
7<div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv">
8<h2>Best Practices</h2>
9<ol>
10<li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li>
11<li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li>
12<li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li>
13<li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li>
14</ol>
15</div></div>
16
17<p>
18  The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build
19  great, successful games for Google Play.
20</p>
21
22<div class="headerLine">
23  <h2 id="users">
24  Get Users
25  </h2>
26
27
28</div>
29
30<h3>
31  1. Optimize for great ratings
32</h3>
33
34<ul>
35  <li>
36  <p>
37    <a href=
38    "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">Beta
39    test</a> to ensure your games are ready and poised for great ratings.
40  </p>
41  </li>
42
43  <li>
44  <p>
45    Optimize graphics, frame rates, and responsiveness with the <a href=
46    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/09/using-hardware-scaler-for-performance.html">
47    Hardware Scaler</a> and <a href=
48    "{@docRoot}training/graphics/opengl/index.html">OpenGL ES</a>.
49  </p>
50  </li>
51
52  <li>
53  <p>
54    Be sure your APK is small, then provide game content through over-the-air
55    downloads.
56  </p>
57  </li>
58</ul>
59
60<h3>
61  2. Build buzz
62</h3>
63
64<ul>
65  <li>
66  <p>
67    Build a community with social media, <a href=
68    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/build-community.html">communities</a> to get
69    and keep users talking.
70  </p>
71  </li>
72
73  <li>
74  <p>
75    Promote your games with official <a href=
76    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badges</a>
77    and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">links to
78    your products</a> on Google Play.
79  </p>
80  </li>
81
82  <li>
83  <p>
84    If you ship on multiple platforms, doing so at the same time can maximize
85    your marketing impact.
86  </p>
87  </li>
88</ul>
89
90<h3>
91  3. Get Visibility
92</h3>
93
94<ul>
95  <li>
96  <p>
97    First impressions count: <a href=
98    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">highlight</a> the game's
99    best features in screenshots, videos, and description.
100  </p>
101  </li>
102
103  <li>
104  <p>
105    Integrate Google Play Game Services, so your game is displayed in the
106    <a href=
107    "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games">
108    Google Play Games App</a>.
109  </p>
110  </li>
111</ul>
112
113<div class="headerLine">
114  <h2 id="engage">
115  Engage and Retain
116  </h2>
117
118
119</div>
120
121<h3>
122  1. Keep users coming back
123</h3>
124
125<ul>
126  <li>
127  <p>
128    <a href=
129    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements">
130    Achievements</a>, <a href=
131    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards">
132    leaderboards</a>, <a href=
133    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer">
134    multiplayer</a>, and <a href=
135    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/cloudsave">cloud
136    save</a> help engage users and bring them back.
137  </p>
138  </li>
139
140  <li>
141  <p>
142    Hold tournaments and offer promotions, then announce them through
143    <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>.
144  </p>
145  </li>
146
147  <li>
148  <p>
149    Sign in users early, then automatically. Before their first sign-in, save
150    progress locally.
151  </p>
152  </li>
153</ul>
154
155<h3>
156  2. Give users a reason to invest their money
157</h3>
158
159<ul>
160  <li>
161  <p>
162    A majority of the top grossing games use in-app purchases. Use them to
163    unlock content and allow players to enhance their game play.
164  </p>
165  </li>
166
167  <li>
168  <p>
169    <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app
170    Billing</a> makes purchasing easy with several forms of payment.
171  </p>
172  </li>
173
174  <li>
175  <p>
176    Provide content updates regularly to give users limited edition items to
177    win or purchase.
178  </p>
179  </li>
180</ul>
181
182<h3>
183  3. Earn players’ love
184</h3>
185
186<ul>
187  <li>
188  <p>
189    <a href=
190    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html">
191    Measure</a> your campaigns to see what’s driving quality users to install
192    your games.
193  </p>
194  </li>
195
196  <li>
197  <p>
198    <a href=
199    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding">
200    Analyze in-game use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of your
201    games.
202  </p>
203  </li>
204
205  <li>
206  <p>
207    <a href=
208    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html">
209    Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community
210    you’ve built.
211  </p>
212  </li>
213</ul>
214
215<div class="headerLine">
216  <h2 id="beyond">
217  Beyond the Basics
218  </h2>
219
220
221</div>
222
223<ul>
224  <li>
225  <p>
226    After you've launched in your market of strength, <a href=
227    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other
228    markets</a> strategically and <a href=
229    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a>
230    your apps as you go.
231  </p>
232  </li>
233
234  <li>
235  <p>
236    Provide content <a href=
237    "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">updates on a regular
238    basis</a> to keep users engaged.
239  </p>
240  </li>
241
242  <li>
243  <p>
244    Building educational games? See the <a href=
245    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/gpfe-guidelines.html">Education
246    Guidelines</a>.
247  </p>
248  </li>
249</ul>
250
251<div class="headerLine">
252<h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2>
253</div>
254
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