Great point, I think I'm just being overly pessimistic
Related, I find it interesting is that gacha games seem to ahve the highest possible returns but almost none are made by western game companies.
Related, I find it interesting is that gacha games seem to ahve the highest possible returns but almost none are made by western game companies.
I do kinda get what you mean, though. Gacha mechanics feel expected in anything western, while 'loot boxes' are still a 'feature' of some games in the east. Eastern studios have definitely noticed, though, and are running the same playbook.
I don’t believe that ultra-predatory mechanics are long-term sustainable. They usually yield a “ring of fire” effect that creates a growing ring of users for a while but really you’re burning out all your core users and will implode. This is how many describe the original Zynga model.
Supercell (founded around the same time) has cultivated longterm ecosystems and IP by respecting their players.
EGG takes a similar long-term perspective.
VCs are looking for the billion dollar exit. 10s of millions is 100-1000x off what they look for
I don't think they're trying to be. I think they're whale hunting, find a few high spenders, and milk them for all they're worth. Then they spin up a new IP (or license one out), rinse and repeat
(Sharing to help others bc I had to look it up.)