page.title=Hothead Games grows retention and revenues with leaderboards and achievements
page.metaDescription=Following their experience with Google Play games services in Rivals at War: Firefight, Hothead Games includes its features in all their games.
page.tags="developerstory", "games", "googleplay"
page.image=images/cards/distribute/stories/hotheadgames-firefight.jpg
page.timestamp=1454440882

@jd:body


<h3>Background</h3>

<div class="figure" style="width:113px">
  <img src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/stories/hotheadgames-firefight-icon.png"
  height="113" />
</div>

<p>
  Hothead Games was founded in 2006 and took the plunge into mobile games in
  2011. This move has proved very successful, allowing the company to continue
  growing into 2016 by creating and publishing great games exclusively for
  mobile users.
</p>

<p>
  Following their experience with Google Play games services in
  <a class="external-link"
  href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hotheadgames.google.free.valorcmd">
  Rivals at War: Firefight</a> they plan to include its features in all their
  games.
</p>

<h3>What they did</h3>

<p>
  To start, the Google Play games services sign-in icon was given a prominent
  position on the home screen so it was clear and easily accessible. They then
  added leaderboards with their own beautifully designed badges as well as
  achievements. Both were aligned and displayed with related in-game missions
  showing players their progress and rewards earned. Notifications were used to
  give players instant gratification when achievements were unlocked.
</p>

<h3>Results</h3>

<div class="figure" style="width:379px">
  <img
   src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/stories/hotheadgames-firefight-screenshot.png"
   srcset=
  "{@docRoot}images/distribute/stories/hotheadgames-firefight-screenshot.png 1x
  {@docRoot}images/distribute/stories/hotheadgames-firefight-screenshot_2x.png 2x">
  <p class="img-caption">
    Beautifully designed and specialized leaderboards
  </p>
</div>

<p>
  Hothead games found that retention, average revenue per daily active user
  (ARPDAU), and average revenue per user (ARPU) positively correlated with
  Google Play games sign-ins. The metrics for users signed-in with Google Play
  games services include:
  <ul>
    <li>Day one retention <b>125 percent higher</b> and day seven retention
    <b>182 percent higher</b>.</li>
    <li>ARPDAU <b>134 percent higher</b>.</li>
    <li>ARPU <b>900 percent higher</b>.</li>
  </ul>
</p>

<p>
  See examples of how Hothead Games integrated Google Play games services
  leaderboards and achievements into the
  <a class="external-link"
  href="{@docRoot}shareables/stories/HotheadGames_RivalsatWar_gpgs.pdf">
  UI of Rivals at War: Firefight</a>.
</p>

<h3>Get started</h3>

<p>
  Find out how to add
  <a class="external-link"
  href="https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards">
  leaderboards</a> and
  <a class="external-link"
  href="https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements">
  achievements</a> to your games and discover more about
  <a href="https://developer.android.com/distribute/engage/game-services.html">
  using Google Play games services</a> in your games to increase player
  engagement and revenues.
</p>