path: root/docs/html/distribute/essentials/best-practices/games.jd

page.title=Game Developer Best Practices
page.image=/distribute/images/gp-games-practices.png
page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful games in Google Play.

@jd:body

<div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv">
<h2>Best Practices</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li>
<li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li>
<li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li>
<li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li>
</ol>
</div></div>

<p>
  The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build
  great, successful games for Google Play.
</p>

<div class="headerLine">
  <h1 id="users">
  Get Users
  </h1>

  <hr>
</div>

<h3>
  1. Optimize for great ratings
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">Beta
    test</a> to ensure your games are ready and poised for great ratings.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Optimize graphics, frame rates, and responsiveness with the <a href=
    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/09/using-hardware-scaler-for-performance.html">
    Hardware Scaler</a> and <a href=
    "{@docRoot}training/graphics/opengl/index.html">OpenGL ES</a>.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Be sure your APK is small, then provide game content through over-the-air
    downloads.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>
  2. Build buzz
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    Build a community with social media, <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/build-community.html">communities</a> to get
    and keep users talking.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Promote your games with official <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badges</a>
    and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">links to
    your products</a> on Google Play.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    If you ship on multiple platforms, doing so at the same time can maximize
    your marketing impact.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>
  3. Get Visibility
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    First impressions count: <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">highlight</a> the game's
    best features in screenshots, videos, and description.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Integrate Google Play Game Services, so your game is displayed in the
    <a href=
    "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games">
    Google Play Games App</a>.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<div class="headerLine">
  <h1 id="engage">
  Engage and Retain
  </h1>

  <hr>
</div>

<h3>
  1. Keep users coming back
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    <a href=
    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements">
    Achievements</a>, <a href=
    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards">
    leaderboards</a>, <a href=
    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer">
    multiplayer</a>, and <a href=
    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/cloudsave">cloud
    save</a> help engage users and bring them back.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Hold tournaments and offer promotions, then announce them through
    <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Sign in users early, then automatically. Before their first sign-in, save
    progress locally.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>
  2. Give users a reason to invest their money
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    A majority of the top grossing games use in-app purchases. Use them to
    unlock content and allow players to enhance their game play.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app
    Billing</a> makes purchasing easy with several forms of payment.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Provide content updates regularly to give users limited edition items to
    win or purchase.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>
  3. Earn players’ love
</h3>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    <a href=
    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html">
    Measure</a> your campaigns to see what’s driving quality users to install
    your games.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding">
    Analyze in-game use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of your
    games.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    <a href=
    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html">
    Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community
    you’ve built.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<div class="headerLine">
  <h1 id="beyond">
  Beyond the Basics
  </h1>

  <hr>
</div>

<ul>
  <li>
  <p>
    After you've launched in your market of strength, <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other
    markets</a> strategically and <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a>
    your apps as you go.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Provide content <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">updates on a regular
    basis</a> to keep users engaged.
  </p>
  </li>

  <li>
  <p>
    Building educational games? See the <a href=
    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/gpfe-guidelines.html">Education
    Guidelines</a>.
  </p>
  </li>
</ul>

<div class="headerLine">
<h1 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h1><hr>
</div>

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