Aside from all the other factors that go into a great video game, it must have an excellent game economy design. A game without an economy is like a burger without a patty – it’s not very satisfying. That’s not to argue that every game needs wallets, bank accounts, and storefronts, but fundamental market aspects like trading and cash can help make your game more tough, fascinating, and immersive.
Do you want to monetize your game? Then, be sure to create a well-balanced game economy. If you want people to keep playing your game, introducing some type of economy is a terrific idea that is also not difficult to implement. To get there, let’s look at typical techniques and procedures for this element of game development. But first, let us explain what exactly a game economy design is.
Understanding What Is Game Economy Design?
Game economy design is in charge of building and balancing various game systems to transform player involvement into monetization opportunities, which are then embedded into the fundamental gameplay loop.
One goal is to give players possibilities for economic progress inside the game environment. The other goal is to make money for the game studio. The objective is to balance these goals.
A game economy designer’s role is to look at the broad picture and use various scientific approaches to correlate the game’s economic ties with real life.
How Does a Game Economy Work?
Creating a monetary system is a significant starting step toward creating a game economy, but you must also consider how it will be integrated into the game. Here are some examples of components you can use:
System Of Stores And Markets
Adding locations where objects can be bought, sold, or exchanged will allow players to obtain upgrades (in many kinds) at planned and convenient moments rather than random.
Area Exploration And Harvesting
You can develop a rich game world with diverse elements to enhance the user experience if you devote enough effort to game environment design. You can also make specific locations harvestable and resource-rich, so the areas don’t have to be all scenery.
Quests And Tasks
Currency is frequently rewarded when players accomplish a mission or task. This advances players’ progress in the game and adds a motivator and a sense of wonder about what they could obtain next.
How to Create a Game Economy
When creating a virtual environment for the players, it is critical to consider the following factors when designing a gaming economy:
- Balancing supply and demand entails ensuring enough resources in the game to match player demand while ensuring that resources are supplied and maintain value.
- Encourage player interaction: The economy should be constructed so players can engage with one another and exchange products or services.
- Implementing a money system: A currency system can assist gamers in valuing things and conducting transactions.
- Creating a feeling of progression: You can improve the game economy so players can experience the progression and gain increasingly valuable resources over time.
- Giving players incentives to participate in the economy: Giving players incentives to participate in the economy might assist in keeping them interested.
When designing the game economy, you should maintain consistency with the theme and plot of the game. Designers consider the effects of inflation and deflation and the possibility of players taking advantage of the economy. Remember that game economy design is a complex undertaking requiring testing and iteration. So, monitor, test, and modify the economics as necessary.
Factors for Player Behavior in Game Economy Design
You can design a game that is entertaining and profitable, and engaging to players. You can target the following player behaviors when developing a virtual world for them to achieve these aims.
Hoarding
Many gamers habitually collect cash or precious objects, hoping they will be helpful at some point in the future, but in reality, they are seldom used. Most developers restrict the number of things a player can carry, but they may provide a location (such as a bank or a house) where surplus items can be kept and retrieved. So, how can you happy these gamers without giving them an unfair advantage in the game?
Gambling
While some dislike gambling mechanisms. They are harmless when used as an optional aspect of the game that can be skipped entirely and when in-game currency is used instead of real money. You don’t have to go all-in and add slot machines to the primary gameplay to add excitement, but you may consider adding mini-games or locations/moments where people can try their luck.
Rare Item Collection
Some gamers (also called completionists) are obsessed with finishing every task and obtaining every item, even the occasional one. Thus, by making some items/areas challenging to locate or purchase, you can keep these gamers playing enthusiastically. You don’t have to expose all of your world’s mysteries via conventional gameplay and pathways.
Actual Purchases
Some people will pay to advance in a game or have more fun. If you include any form of monetization, this can work in your favor and objective of creating a lucrative game. You could allow gamers to purchase in-game cash, cosmetic upgrades, power-ups, products, etc. You don’t want to make payment a requirement to win or thrive in the game.
Closing Thoughts
Even the most skilled game designers can find it challenging to balance the game economy. There are, however, rules, standards, and models you can follow to help you get the most out of your game. A well-balanced game economy tests, thrills, and satisfies. It gives gamers the correct amount of friction and the right amount of enjoyment. But, most importantly? It keeps people returning for more.
The rules and techniques we’ve discussed provide a solid foundation for creating a balanced game economy with a great virtual environment that makes sense to players.
However, each game is unique and requires a customised strategy. This includes continually monitoring player behavior, adding new levels, content, sales events, boosts, new mechanisms, etc. All these factors impact your game economy, and each change necessitates a thorough understanding of how it affects player behavior, retention, and revenues.