Holidays are an important time in the life cycle of a mobile game. Whether launching a new game or updating a past creation with new content, any holiday is a great time to lure in users with topical, top-of-mind content. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, we thought now would be a great time to show developers what some of the bigger players in the space do to capitalize on the holiday.
Read on for a look at what Advanced Mobile Apps, Pocket Gems, and TinyCo have in store for the Day of Love.
The yet to be released dating simulator touts itself as being able to teach players how to be a Master of Seduction. The game will show you how to make the first move, what to do on a date, and how to deftly navigate any tricky situation in romance. The Date Doctor will even grade the lines you want to say to your beloved so you’ll get an idea of their effectiveness. Could there be a better game to launch around Valentine’s Day? We challenge you to find one. It’s a great example of how to strategically launch a product at the absolute perfect moment.
AMA will also launch Love Test Calculator Deluxe, a follow-up to their popular Love Test Calculator.It packs the same relationship tests so you and your loved one can gauge how compatible you actually are (a 60-question test grades you on happiness, trust and intimacy), as well as Facebook Connect features so you can see how compatible you are with your network of friends. The Deluxe version also packs some “Secrets of Love” which will guide you the murky waters of starting a new relationship with some helpful tips and tests.
Pocket Gems has already updated Campus Life with some awesome new Valentine’s Day content. The icon is now love-themed, their iTunes imagery has been updated to capitalize on the love that will surely be in the air, and in-game content has been spruced up as well. Campus Life is a fantastic example of how to populate your game with some themed items. What do people love on Valentine’s Day? Heart-shaped balloons, chocolates, beautiful dresses, and, of course, flowers. It’s no coincidence that you can now find them all in Campus Life.
In TinyCo’s Tiny Castle, players must build and improve a castle and its surrounding village while also maintaining a throng of mythical creatures to defend the village you’re building. In honor of Valentine’s Day, players are being treated to some specialized creatures as well as some new items to populate their villages. When creating holiday-themed items, it’s important to remember to keep the add-ons within the universe of the game. Players won’t respond well to things that feel forced. Also, if you can wrap new characters into new quests and reward people with the fresh content, you’ll have even happier players.
Tiny Monsters is taking a very similar approach as Tiny Castle. Players will be treated with a host of new items to place in their monster-creating villages, some of which will be unlocked by completing quests. The real name of the game in Tiny Monsters is giving players the ability to spruce up their villages with plenty of style and flare to celebrate the holidays and impress their friends. The more players are able to share their love-drenched creations with friends, the more others will want to take part in the celebration (and spend money on IAPs).
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