There is often a tension between creating a good video game and a profitable one. On the one hand, a good video game is one that is enjoyable to play and offers a satisfying experience to the player. This may involve investing time and resources into developing innovative gameplay mechanics, compelling storylines, and high-quality graphics. On the other hand, a profitable video game is one that is able to generate revenue through sales or in-game microtransactions. This may involve prioritizing features that are more likely to monetize well, even if they are not necessarily the most enjoyable for the player.
One way to balance these conflicting goals is to focus on creating a good game first, and then finding ways to monetize it that do not compromise the overall player experience. This can involve offering cosmetic items or optional in-game challenges that players can choose to purchase if they want to, rather than requiring players to pay to progress through the game. Another approach is to offer the game for free and generate revenue through advertisements or sponsored content.
If the primary focus of game development is on profitability, it is possible that the gameplay mechanics may suffer as a result. For example, in order to maximize revenue, the game may be designed to encourage players to make in-game purchases through the use of “loot boxes” or other randomized reward systems. These mechanics can be lucrative for the game developer, but they may not always be the most enjoyable for the player, and can even lead to accusations of “pay-to-win” gameplay, where players who are willing to spend more money have a significant advantage over those who do not.
Similarly, if the focus is on monetization, the game may be designed to have a “grindy” progression system, where players are required to play for a long time or complete a lot of repetitive tasks in order to unlock new content. This can be frustrating for players and may lead to a decline in player retention over time.
The storyline of the game may be compromised in order to achieve a monetization goal, as well. For example, the game may be designed to have a “loot box” system, where players can purchase randomized in-game items. This can be lucrative for the game developer, but it may also create incentives to design the game with a more linear or predictable storyline, so that players will feel motivated to continue playing and purchasing loot boxes in order to progress. This will forego depth, in order to incentivize the dopamine hit of the rewards.
In contrast, a game with a deep and complex storyline may be more difficult to monetize through in-game purchases, as it may be more difficult for the player to feel motivated to continue playing and spending money if they feel that they have already experienced the full story. This does not necessarily mean that it is impossible to create a profitable game with a compelling storyline, but it may require more creativity and effort on the part of the game developers to find ways to monetize the game without compromising the player experience.
Overall, it is important for game developers to strike a balance between creating a game that is enjoyable and satisfying for the player, and one that is able to generate revenue. This may involve finding creative ways to monetize the game that do not negatively impact the gameplay experience, such as offering optional cosmetic items or in-game challenges.