Scott Main 2f33f97ed2 change all the H1 tags to H2s
and delete all HR tags
then delete all clearflots, because they add useless whitespace
once the "headerLine" class is obsolete
THEN, cleanup some HTML to fix float clearance issues.

Change-Id: I023fdd70a7071cbb7a8dfde853f1393eb6c59fa0
2014-05-22 14:17:50 -07:00

260 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

page.title=Game Developer Best Practices
page.image=/distribute/images/gp-games-practices.png
page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful games in Google Play.
@jd:body
<div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv">
<h2>Best Practices</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li>
<li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li>
<li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li>
<li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li>
</ol>
</div></div>
<p>
The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build
great, successful games for Google Play.
</p>
<div class="headerLine">
<h2 id="users">
Get Users
</h2>
</div>
<h3>
1. Optimize for great ratings
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
<a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">Beta
test</a> to ensure your games are ready and poised for great ratings.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Optimize graphics, frame rates, and responsiveness with the <a href=
"http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/09/using-hardware-scaler-for-performance.html">
Hardware Scaler</a> and <a href=
"{@docRoot}training/graphics/opengl/index.html">OpenGL ES</a>.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Be sure your APK is small, then provide game content through over-the-air
downloads.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
2. Build buzz
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
Build a community with social media, <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/users/build-community.html">communities</a> to get
and keep users talking.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Promote your games with official <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badges</a>
and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">links to
your products</a> on Google Play.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
If you ship on multiple platforms, doing so at the same time can maximize
your marketing impact.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
3. Get Visibility
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
First impressions count: <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">highlight</a> the game's
best features in screenshots, videos, and description.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Integrate Google Play Game Services, so your game is displayed in the
<a href=
"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games">
Google Play Games App</a>.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="headerLine">
<h2 id="engage">
Engage and Retain
</h2>
</div>
<h3>
1. Keep users coming back
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
<a href=
"https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements">
Achievements</a>, <a href=
"https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards">
leaderboards</a>, <a href=
"https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer">
multiplayer</a>, and <a href=
"https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/cloudsave">cloud
save</a> help engage users and bring them back.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Hold tournaments and offer promotions, then announce them through
<a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Sign in users early, then automatically. Before their first sign-in, save
progress locally.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
2. Give users a reason to invest their money
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
A majority of the top grossing games use in-app purchases. Use them to
unlock content and allow players to enhance their game play.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
<a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app
Billing</a> makes purchasing easy with several forms of payment.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Provide content updates regularly to give users limited edition items to
win or purchase.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
3. Earn players love
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
<a href=
"http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html">
Measure</a> your campaigns to see whats driving quality users to install
your games.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
<a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding">
Analyze in-game use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of your
games.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
<a href=
"http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html">
Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community
youve built.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="headerLine">
<h2 id="beyond">
Beyond the Basics
</h2>
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<p>
After you've launched in your market of strength, <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other
markets</a> strategically and <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a>
your apps as you go.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Provide content <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">updates on a regular
basis</a> to keep users engaged.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>
Building educational games? See the <a href=
"{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/gpfe-guidelines.html">Education
Guidelines</a>.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="headerLine">
<h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2>
</div>
<div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13"
data-query="collection:distribute/toolsreference/bestpractices/games"
data-sortOrder="-timestamp"
data-cardSizes="9x3,9x3"
data-maxResults="6"></div>