Brutally Honest #52 by Matej Lancaric

Hello FAM!

?? Drink talk

It’s been a year since I started writing this?brutally honest? newsletter. What a ride! I always wanted to start doing it, but I always had an excuse why not to start. Then one day, I just started and kept going. It wasn’t perfect. It still isn't. But guess what?! I don’t care. Enjoy & give me some love. Or hate. Or nothing.

???? Tip of the week

Where to get creative inspiration? That is always the hard question. Maybe the hardest one! Let's dig a little bit deeper:

competitors (no shit sherlock)

• but don’t copy their ads 1:1. Use them as an inspiration and try to add +1 in the concept
• on the other hand, if you are a small studio with few resources. You can copy 1:1, and it’s okay!

non-direct competitors A.K.A different genres

• you can go two different directions here:
• look at your target audience interests overlap/affinity and look into the other genres your players play (E.g. Match3 vs Merge, shooters vs strategy)
• you can look outside of your genre for inspiration

hypercasual mechanics

• yes, I know, I know. I have been talking about this for ages already. It still works like a charm. Some games started even adding whole (hypercasual) GAMES into their games -> check out my latest article about it!

Youtube vs. TikTok trends

• ASMR (eating), saving the doge, chest opening, dancing, etc.

@gamesdog33

Memes & hype (+AI shit)

• this category is endless inspiration. Use it wisely!

?? Dr. Doom is not amused

One of my industry friends amused me with his direct and honest TL;DRs, so we agreed to share it here too! My friend remains anonymous as Dr.Doom!

“While we all eagerly wait for the final results of the big clash between Microsoft and the world's regulators over the right to keep Call of Duty (literally the biggest game of the world) and other ActiBlizz games behind Microsoft Gamepass, Netflix Games (the origin of the idea - Netflix of games) is also making its move by announcing new entrants into its ecosystem such as Monument Valley 1 & 2 and teasing Monument Valley 3. I am sure that will even the stakes now" - Sincerely Dr. Doom?(https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/81110/netflix-games-one-year-on/)

?? two & a half gamers #56

Breaking down the Ad revenue potential of Frozen city & looking under the hood of the new 4X strategy game Whiteout survival dressed up as an Idle game. Pure genius? Oh yes! Tune in:

?? Listen on?Spotify

?? Watch on?Youtube

Oh, also, we changed the visual style a little bit. Give us some kudos (or fuck you). Both will do the trick!

?? Diary of a Dancing Unicorn

Today was a good day.

Yeah, this game is growing. Let’s add Unity as a new UA channel.

Perfect, this game will do very well on Unity.?Starting with the iOS campaign in?the US.

The tracking setup is solid. Best performing creatives added, bidding $3 for CPI. Okay, all good. Let’s go!

Next day …

Maybe too soon to check the numbers, but let’s have a peak.

The campaign spent 30k in 1 day ...

OMG. WHAT THE FUCK?!

ojojooooj, the campaign had unlimited budget instead of $250/day.

Well, all right. Let’s call a meeting and talk about this right away.

… confessed what happened …

thanks for bringing this up right away. We really appreciate it. People make mistakes. It’s all about ownership and being honest.

Today was a good day.

PS: now I check the daily budget five times until I press launch

?? Quote of the week

“this scarf = whatever the opposite of "mice nuts" is”?Jeff, LinkedIn comment

Super smooth transition from idle to 4X?

?? Level up yourself

I launched?a YouTube Channel. I'm putting a ton of energy into creating valuable content I think you'll like. Check out the?latest stuff, and give me a?like and subscribe.

?? Nostalgia games

Do you remember this game? What did you play when you were young?

Teenagent!

Play here:?https://www.retrogames.cz/play_468-DOS.php?language=EN

?? ?Before you go

Making $5 million (+15-20% Ads) a month after two months since global launch? In the?post-IDFA UA era? Check out the whole story in the?latest article!

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter!

Please do me a favor and share this with someone in your network who you think would benefit from the insights and brutal honesty. It would mean a lot to me!

Take care, everyone! See you next Monday!

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