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[alaslipknot]

Hi,

Let's say I have a prototype for  game.
My main goal is to achieve certain metrics so I can propose it to a publisher.

I want to do the pre-launch tests alone so i can know if the project is even worth perusing, and if it is i will have have better arguments for the publisher.

Based on what i know (i am a fulltime engineer in a mobile game company), the general steps are:

* 1) Launch a UA campaign with few videos to test the CPI (no need to even have the game available to play)
* 2) Iterate on the videos to improve the CPI
* 3) Once the CPI target is reached, launch the prototype to test the retention.
* 4) Simultaneously with step [3] test the monetization.
* 5) observe and decide.


Now even if the theory above is correct, i don't have any idea where to start, what tools, what ads platform should i focus on ? what should the initial budget be, etc.. etc...

And almost for every question i have, when i look it up online, the answer is almost always "it depends", and usually when that happens, its just better to delegate this task instead of wasting time and money trying to learn it yourself.


So, my current problem here is that i don't even know the actual "job description" for this person, what should i look for in Upwork ? or maybe its better to work with an "agency" ?



I wonder if some of you has already went through this issue and have some answers.


Thanks

[michaelplzno]

I have not done this, but I always wanted to partner with business that had an analytical approach like this. If the analytics say people are quitting after level 2, we can change things around to try to keep people longer if we know how audiences react.

It also makes a lot of difference how people discover a game: I get a ton of good reviews on XBOX mostly because I charm people into playing the game rather than just show a popup saying BUY ME. I think the whole marketing package affects how much people enjoy the game too.

Anyway, I'd love to take a more analytical approach to solving retention and fun stuff, though I don't know anything helpful on how to go about it.

[Ramos]

My main goal is to achieve certain metrics so I can propose it to a publisher.

I want to do the pre-launch tests alone so i can know if the project is even worth perusing, and if it is i will have have better arguments for the publisher.

That sounds so corporate and sterile 

[michaelplzno]

As someone who only has his own craziness to guide what I make, I wish I had some more concrete/sterile/corporate help with things.

Just making whatever and then not even getting a reaction that I can measure or know is somewhat unsettling and not super fun. You could say my art is super pure because I never really get anyone telling me to make something that fits some corporate formula, but it's not a fun feeling to make work blind of what people actually like.



I can make art that panders to gamers. Or just crazy images that only make sense to me. But not knowing how the other side of the wall feels about the stuff can really sour the experience.