Chapter 34 Super cool version update
On New Year’s Day, the Steam platform held a “Simulation Game Festival”.
It is called a festival, but in fact it is just an excuse to list some simulation games and promote them to specific groups of players, which is equivalent to a second-level recommendation position on a platform.
Two independent games from Tianba Studio were also included in the list thanks to their good sales and word-of-mouth performance.
"Second level recommendation?"
Lu Jing took a bite of the apple and crunched it, "Compared to [Featured on Home Page] and [Special Offer], which one is better?"
“Featured on the front page, of course!”
Chen Ba rolled his eyes and said, "Homepage selections and special offers are first-level recommended positions, and their exposure and conversion rates are much higher than this."
Unfortunately, the two games from Tianba Studio have never been on the first-level recommendation list of the Steam platform, and the second-level page is already the limit.
There is a huge gap between the first and second level exposure rates.
Many players may not click on the games recommended on the secondary page to view them, but they will definitely see the games listed on the [Store] homepage.
I heard that there is an even better recommendation position above the first level, that is the legendary pop-up recommendation! As long as the player opens the Steam platform, a product details page of a certain game promotion will pop up...
Although this promotion effect annoyed the players and made them feel disgusted, they had to admit that the pop-up window was the strongest recommendation position, and the player purchase conversion rate was ridiculously high! In addition, another exposure channel of the Steam platform is the ranking list.
Especially the best-selling list! Whether it is in China or other regions, as long as it is in the top ten of the best-selling list, the exposure rate will not be lower than the homepage recommendation. After all, many single-player players will refer to the best-selling list before buying games.
However, the value of this thing, especially in the domestic market, seems to be declining.
Some free games or low-priced games always appear in the top 20 for unknown reasons due to the storage costs, and the sales curve is very abstract...
Don't get me wrong, it's not a brush!
There is indeed a phenomenon of manipulating rankings in the gaming circle, but it is not as outrageous as in other circles.
What Chen Ba actually wants to say is that certain games have become the object of "gratuitous purchase" for many inventory players due to pricing or discounts, and their sales volume is not of high reference value.
There are too many "free one" players on the Steam platform.
A game is on sale for only a few bucks, or even free? Buy it now!
Maybe he didn’t play the game after buying it, or even downloaded it, but he felt satisfied just looking at the “Inventory +1”, and had a sense of joy as if he had picked up a great bargain.
This sales volume is certainly real, but it has no reference value.
Why? Because it’s easy to replicate this kind of sales.
Mark the original price a little higher, make the game description more attractive, refine the promotional pictures, and then directly discount it to one or two dollars for a limited time.
After that, you can just sit back and wait for the "free one" player to take the bait.
Both "Living Under Someone Else's House Simulator" and "Studying Hard Simulator" have quite a few players who like to add one, especially the 50% off "Studying Hard Simulator", which has the largest number of players.
These players may have bought the game and then forgotten about it due to work, study or other reasons.
It may also be that the historically low price is not to be missed, so add a game to your inventory.
In their words: "I've already paid for it, and you still want me to play with it?"
To be honest, no game manufacturer will be angry with this type of players, and they might even hope that there are as many as possible.
The same goes for Chen Ba.
The only thing he hates is those people who write nonsense in the review section, saying that the game is "a crappy game and anyone who buys it is an idiot", even though the game duration is no more than 10 minutes.
He wouldn't think there was anything wrong with these people making such comments if they had played the game for a longer time. After all, they have truly experienced it and are qualified to say such things.
But you haven’t even played it for ten minutes, how can you conclude that this is a crappy game?
Brother! You didn't just enter the game and didn't even have a nickname for your character. You just glanced at the UI interface and you're already criticizing me?
That's really quite low!
The secondary recommendation effect of the Steam platform is pretty good. During the recommendation period, both games sold tens of thousands of copies.
It is worth mentioning that the 50% discount on the "Study Hard" simulator has already ended, and now it is 30% off and 12 yuan! The "Living Under Someone's Fence" simulator is still the original price.
"Chinese New Year is coming soon, so it's time for a discount."
Yang Dong suggested: "During the New Year, we should give a discount on both of our games, right?"
"Sure!" Chen Ba threw the fruit core into the trash can and said casually, "The previous work is 50% off, the lowest price ever, and the new work is 20% off, the lowest price ever!"
So far, "Living With Others Simulator" has been on sale for nearly three months. In addition, the Spring Festival is indeed a festive day, so it doesn't make sense not to give a discount.
The 20% discount is okay, it won’t backstab too many players.
If the game is discounted by 50% at once, it would be a real stab in the back for the first batch of players who bought the official version, and some people would definitely be dissatisfied.
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
"Does the discount depend on the players' mood?"
Lu Jing couldn't help but complain: "The game company wants to offer discounts, but is worried about players giving bad reviews. This sounds so magical..."
"Where's the magic?"
Yang Dong grinned and said, "I just bought the game at full price, and now it's discounted. The key is that I can't get a refund. What would you think if it were you?"
Old games are okay.
For new games, especially those that have been on the market for less than half a year, discounting is not a decision that game manufacturers can easily make.
The feelings of the first players must be taken into consideration.
It doesn’t matter for old games, especially those that have been on the market for many years, or even nearly ten years. Even if you give them away for free, few players will come out and accuse you of backstabbing them.
“Maybe I think differently.”
"Anyway, I think that game discounts are good for players, and ordinary players shouldn't object to it no matter what." Xiao Lu shrugged.
"You can't represent everyone, you can only represent yourself."
Chen Ba shook his head, not wanting to discuss this topic further, so he simply changed the subject and said, "By the way, how is the content of the new version going?"
“It’s done!”
Yang Dong picked up the mouse and demonstrated to everyone, "This will be a major update. We have added multiple new real estate options to the game."
"Players can purchase their favorite housing based on different locations, community environments, supporting facilities, and the mysterious Feng Shui. There is even a new sales office..."
“That’s so cool!”
Chen Ba and Lu Jing were amazed.
Zhang Xiaojuan, who was standing by, glanced at the demonstration screen, then looked at the trio who were in an intoxicated state, her expression full of confusion and puzzlement.
What's cool about it?
Isn't our game called "Living under Someone Else's Roof Simulator"? Why is the content of the version update made to look like a promotional advertisement for a new real estate project? Is the company I work for really a real estate company?
Sorry, I came back late because my tire was punctured by a nail.
(End of this chapter)