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The gaming business has been one of the huge success stories of recent years. Advances in technology have played a big part in this, as this has allowed developers to create more immersive game experiences using virtual reality, open worlds, and enhanced graphics. However, we also need to consider the way that these companies have focused on cooperative and social elements to drive their games to success.  

Getting a community feel

Creating a strong community feel is one of the keys to success in the gaming industry. With social media and online chat playing an ever-greater role in gaming, developers need to find ways to bring together gamers from different backgrounds and parts of the world. 

Adding tournaments, team events, and social aspects are all great ways of doing this. If someone loves the game, they’re likely to recommend it to friends and make it even more of a social experience. Rather than being a solitary pastime, this turns games that have been well designed into an enjoyable social event that players can get a lot more out of.

This can also be seen in casino games, where chatting with human dealers and other players is becoming more commonplace. Check out Trustnplay.com to see how the community aspect is improving the casino experience for many players. With reviews and tips that make slots and roulette simpler to play, the community and social aspect of casinos is good news for newcomers looking to get started and for more experienced players searching for fresh ways to play. 

Boosting player retention levels

Many games start strongly upon release, with players enjoying their first few attempts at progressing. However, poor game design can lead to player retention levels falling off a cliff quickly. This can be seen in games such as No Man’s Sky, which wowed reviewers initially but whose appeal quickly wore off for some players who found that it became repetitive over time. 

This look by Stash at the importance of player retention explains why it’s considered half of the lifetime value equation of a title. There are different ways of looking at this subject, with the bounded and unbounded numbers giving you a couple of perspectives on how well a game is keeping players happy so that they keep coming back for more. 

Games like Clash of Clans have kept their appeal for longer due to frequent updates and new challenges, but the social aspect remains crucial. Studies have shown that a social element can add up to 40% to the retention rates of mobile games. 

Encouraging people to play for longer

Retaining players is a great move but encouraging them to play for longer is another challenge for game developers to rise to. This is what helps build a title’s profits as players get caught up in the challenge of improving, so they spend more money in-game and make it a bigger part of their lives.

Teaming up with other players is a fantastic way of doing this, as it gives players the feeling of being part of a genuine team effort where they get to play their part in the overall success of the group. This way of playing has become more widely used as players have become accustomed to seeing their favorite esports teams working seamlessly together in games like CS2 and League of Legends.  

Engaging with other players helps create a more competitive atmosphere, while it can also help them to go deeper into the game and perhaps reach levels that they couldn’t achieve on their own. This can also help with the storytelling aspect, as every member of the team can be given a background story that ties in with their skills and motivations, creating a more coherent game.        

A strong overall gaming experience

The gaming market is growing so rapidly that there is a huge level of competition when it comes to attracting new players. To stand out from the crowd, developers need to find a way of creating a strong overall experience that makes players feel that it’s worthwhile spending time with it. The new Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria with cross-play could be one of the most interesting releases of this year thanks to the variety of ways to play.

Being able to chat with rivals and work out strategies with team members is a huge part of this experience for a lot of people. They no longer want to play alone against a computer opponent when the technology is available to make this a more social experience that they can enjoy while cooperating with, or competing against, others.