Month: August 2020

Step Aside Tiktok. Triller’s on Deck

Post author By technosites
Post date August 31, 2020
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Triller entertainment app UGC user generated content eclipses Tiktok

Step Aside TikTok: Triller’s On Deck!

Triller entertainment app UGC user generated content eclipses Tiktok

The Trump government has banned two major Chinese applications – Tiktok and WeChat – from the US market. This is only getting more intriguing. TikTok’s owner ByteDance has sued the Trump administration. Its CEO just stepped down. After a mere 100 days on the job! All this will open the market for US-based TikTok’s alternatives like Triller.

The orders imminently banned the Chinese applications citing national security concerns. The bottom line? Chinese applications are being sidelined for various political and security reasons. And their US-based competitors? Surely WILL NOT miss this opportunity.

One such application is Triller. With exceptional market exposure and hefty capital and war chest, Triller IS on deck. All set to snatch the spotlight from its Chinese nemesis. Things are getting hotter in the US tech market.

What is TikTok?

At its core TikTok is a short-form video social media application. It lets users create short-form user generated content. Tiktok users can create and share entertaining 15-second videos on topics of their choice. TikTok is ByteDance’s international product. Wait, what? The company has maintained a separate application for the Chinese market. The application is called Douyin which in China, has over 300 million monthly active users. Mind you, this is almost the entire population of the United States!

Tyumen, Russia – January 21, 2020: TikTok and Facebook application on screen Apple iPhone XR

TikTok was born as a result of two major applications coming together. Think Douyin meets Musical.ly. How can you tell? This is the reason why it has many of the same features the two applications have. It has quickly risen through the charts to become a primary social media application for users looking to create and watch short musical videos.

Two years since its launch, Tiktok has already amassed over 800 million active users worldwide. And this is newsworthy HOW? For starters, Tiktok has achieved something phenomenal – considering there are already many video-first social media platforms. Tiktok has consistent been at the top of Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store list of best mobile applications. In particular, Tiktok has done a wonderful job of engaging influential content creators. Not to mention dominating organic app store optimization. So, what’s stopping the US government from letting their people use TikTok? Let’s dive deeper.

Apart from censoring politically-charged content, mainly critical of the Chinese government, TikTok has been accused of many security flaws over and over again.

Security and Privacy Issues With TikTok

President Trump has anxieties about China. He doesn’t hide his fears that China will overtake the US when it comes to setting the ground rules on the Internet.

Trump has gone to the length of banning TikTok and WeChat from the US market if the parent companies don’t sell the applications to a US-based company.

But WHY? The current administration alleges companies like ByteDance are in agreement with the Chinese government. You may be asking, HOW is this a concern? First and foremost, this can leak American user data or any uncensored content. THAT in turn gives the Communist Party an upper hand. So, will ByteDance give the rights to a US-based company?

Well, Microsoft and Twitter have been showing interest in purchasing TikTok. And Walmart. And Triller. More on that later.

They have been in talks with ByteDance and are looking to purchase the application for use in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While it would be the first time when a company split happens on the regional lines, but it is very much on the cards at the moment.

Apart from the national security concerns, a lot of the debate has been about the kind of content people post on TikTok. While many videos are just memes and incredibly funny, some videos are just downright cringy and disgusting. We don’t even want to talk about them here because it’s just gross.

Then there had been a lot of news related to how TikTok became the epicenter of the Black Lives Matter campaign and the riots in the US cities. So yeah, the US government has plenty of reasons to get rid of the application once and for all. Or at the least, regulate or censor it. In the name of natural security, of course.

What is Triller?

Let’s get back to the topic. President Trump has already maligned the reputation of TikTok. This will only open the door for TikTok’s competition to fill in the gaps. What’s the name of the application that’s leading the pack? At the head of the pack there is…

And then there is Triller.

Triller was released in 2015 and was branded as an AI-powered video editing application. People responsible for Triller – David Leiberman and Sammy Robins. These are the same creators behind Disney’s Frozen: Karaoke and many other mobile applications.

The application allows users to shoot multiple takes of the same thing and then compile all the clips to give you the best music video. It’s similar to TikTok but has features that will definitely beat TikTok any given day.

There are many similarities and notable differences between TikTok and Triller

Monthly active users on TikTok – 800m with over 2b downloads. Monthly active users on Triller – 65m with 250m total downloads.
Music Industry – Triller was designed to work with the music industry while TikTok planned to disrupt it.
Artificial Intelligence – Both have integrated Artificial Intelligence in some form or the other.
Social Media Intereoperability – videos on both Tiktok and Triller are shareable on other social media channels.
Video Editing –Triller edits the videos for you while TikTok allowed users to edit the videos the way they liked using the excellent editing features for the creators.
Content Discovery – Discovery on both platforms are different too. On TikTok, you will get the list of trending hashtags, top videos, and other campaigns. On Triller, you will find leaderboards, genre categorization, and more.
Genre Focus – Triller focuses on hip-hop and EDM. The discovery page on Triller is full of hip-hop and EDM songs and challenges. On the other hand, TikTok gives users the choice of genre.

Latest Funding and Capital For Triller

So, Triller is growing and it’s growing fast. The application is backed by big Hollywood celebrities in the music industry like Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne. How is this important? Put simply, Triller is bound to balloon both in size and valuation. The time we wrote this piece, Triller was pitching for a new funding round of $250 million, which will easily make it a billion-dollar application.

This will be huge as the company was valued at $130 million in October 2019.

The founder and CEO of Triller, Mike Lu believes that Triller could very well take over TikTok in the coming months given the backlash it has received recently.

He also believes that Triller has been very successful in establishing its own identity and ecosystem – a feat very difficult to achieve in such a competitive genre of mobile applications.

Not just that, Triller even sued Tiktok for patent infringement! The lawsuit was filed in the U.S District Court for the Western Division of Texas. The patent number in consideration is 9,691,429. The patent is about ‘systems and methods for creating music videos synchronized with an audio track.’

Latest Triller Publicity Campaigns

Unless you have been living off the grid, you must have heard. The ‘Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr.’ fight is happening on 28th November 2020 and Triller is a major sponsor!

Triller video social networking app secures exclusive streaming rights of Roy Jones Jr and Mike Tyson for an alleged $50 million

After years in retirement, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are returning to boxing. And who else but Triller is headlining their return to the spotlight. This IS like a battle between Superman and Batman. Or between Thor and the Incredible Hulk. As part of the ‘Triller Battles’ campaign, the social media app is sponsoring the Pay-Per-View event and is bound to earn a major reputation for the same.

Verdict on Triller: Just Another Social Media Channel or a Legit Heavyweight Champ?

Well, the growth of Triller is looking bullish. It definitely has a solid foundation as it is a well-established application in its genre and is not leaving any opportunity to land itself the top spot. It has a long way to go to earn the popularity and audience TikTok amassed in just a few years. It’s growth, however, looks very promising. Oh Yes, and its leadership team? Top-notch technical and publishing talent. Its Mobile Marketing and go-to market strategy? Rock solid. Even though Triller has publicly said it has spent $0 on marketing.

Triller also has the back of big names in the music industry.

A recent news update was that many US-based TikTokers are planning their exit on the platform to join Triller. It can be a publicity stunt to manipulate the general sentiment about TikTok and persuade its audience to join Triller instead. Given the strong gaming background of its leadership team – and the convergent paths between the video game industry, music, and entertainment – one cannot help but think of the mighty Triller becoming a ten thousand pound gorilla.

The battle between the two is definitely getting heated. There are so many factors in play here and therefore, only time will tell which application comes on top, at least in the US market.

Triller Plus Tiktok? Hmmm…

Need even more intrigue and plot twists? Triller is now said to be in the race to acquire Tiktok. Count them a contender next to Microsoft, Twitter, Walmart, and others…

Regardless of WHO ends up with the crown jewel of Tiktok’s 800 million monthly active users? With Go Big campaigns like Mike Tyson-Roy Jones and partnerships with Little Wayne and Snoop Dogg, one thing is for sure.

WHATEVER happens, Triller will win HUGE, among the coveted Gen Z demographics… and much much more.

Social Media Post Copy –

TikTok US ban and Triller on a ride of its life! Find out why TikTok is quickly getting sidelined and Triller is getting the spotlight. Read now to learn more!

epic facebook FreeFortnite UGC user-generated content video game marketing video game pricing video game publishing zynga

FreeFortnite Powerplay? Epic Takes on Apple

Post author By technosites
Post date August 23, 2020
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#FreeFortnite Apple bans Fortnite from the Apple App Store

Epic's Fortnite banned by Apple and Google: Everything you need to know. Cnet. Epic. — Epic’s Fortnite banned by Apple and Google: Everything you need to know. Cnet. Epic.

Platform Powerplay – Epic vs Apple. Industry First or Deja Vu?

Unless you have been living under a rock, the all-out war between Epic Games and Apple (and Google) IS the talk of the industry. And its flagship, you ask? Fortnite was said to have made $1.8 billion in 2019. Additionally boasting over 350 million players. 250 million players from the Apple App Store alone.

Epic Games’s “Nineteen Eighty Fortnite” campaign is, quite simply…. clever. Extremely controversial. Nevertheless very clever and bold. Boldly mocking Apple. And daringly appropriating Apple’s famous 1984 commercial during the Super Bowl. Yes, those many many moons ago. When Apple was the metaphorical underdog. And IBM was the Big Blue, the Behemoth, the old and stodgy. In short, Big Brother.

#FreeFortnite Apple bans Fortnite from the Apple App Store

That being said, who doesn’t love a Biblical David versus Goliath story? By offering its players the option to buy in-app purchases on the Epic Store, Epic Games got its flagship Fornite disinvited from the Apple App Store party. And from Google. But is Apple unjustified in enforcing its developer terms and conditions?

A greater question is, is Epic Games really the innocent and bullied David of a developer?

If you ask EA, or Tencent, or Riot? Far from it. A developer-publisher does not build a $1.8 billion a year franchise (make that battle royale empire) by thinking or acting small. Nor by playing by the rules all the time. If Apple “Frees” Fortnite, then why not FreePUBG? And FreeBumble? If the New York Times gets an affiliate revenue cut for every single book sold from its New York Times bestsellers list, then is this that different?

At launch, Fortnite for Android was available exclusively on the Epic website.

When it comes to video game publishing, certain decisions are not ever taken lightly. Take for example, the platform(s) on which a game launches. What about exclusivity on the Apple App Store? Or Google Play? And what about Nintendo Switch for that matter? Or available on all platforms, all at the same time? For a period of time? Or for perpetuity? You get the idea.

At launch, Fortnite for Android was available exclusively on the Epic website. And purchases made in-app on Android? FREE from the standard 30% revenue share, uniformly extracted by Google and Apple from every other developer on their platform.

All This Hoopla over a $2 Price Differential? What!?

That’s right, you read that correctly. A measly $2 difference! Trivial? Not to the players. Pocket change? Not when you run the math. Epic Games created a mechanism for its players on Apple and Google to buy Fortnite’s V-Bucks directly on the Epic store. Instead of paying $9.99 inside the App Store or Google Play Store, Epic is being very very deliberate and smart. Rather its players are monetarily encouraged to pay $7.99 on the Epic Store.

So Epic gets its players to buy virtual currency from Epic directly for $2 less than the same bundle on the App Store? But why? Because this trains players to buy in-app purchases from Epic directly. For every 1000 V-buck bundle sold, Epic nets $7.99. Rather than having gamers buy as an in-app purchase directly inside the Apple or Google Fortnite app. In which case, Epic would have netted $9.99 less 30%, which nets out to just under $7 per bundle.

To anyone who thinks a $2 discount is not significant, think again. If this creates precisely the monetization and purchase behavior Epic wants, what gives? It doesn’t take years of consumer insights or market research, on video game pricing to predict the revenue mix by sales channel, fast-forward 4 weeks. Who stands to lose? Simply Apple. And Google.

Thirty percent of $1.8 billion is a lot of money. $540 million to be exact – paid to Apple and Google, last year.

FreeFortnite! FreeFortnite! Shots fired. Missiles launched. War declared. But CAN Epic win the war against Apple and Google? If Fortnite’s banning on the App Store and Google Play Store is any indication, most likely NO.

Was this fallout between a powerful video game developer and the publishing platform, an industry first?

But let us rewind the clock ten years. The year was 2010. Another high-flying video game developer and publisher. Different platform.

On the brink of filing for IPO, Zynga did the unthinkable. Zynga launched its own social network to compete against Facebook. The motivation? You guessed it. To protest Facebook’s anti-competitive practices. And to resist the Facebook policy of charging developers an ungodly sum of 30 %, to market and publish on the Facebook platform.

What’s at stake? In the case of Zynga in 2010? Zynga had a $597 million year in 2010, net of platform fees and revenue share. Assuming this was $597 million after giving Facebook a 30% cut, Zynga COULD have had a $853 million year! Clearly a $250 million sum is worth going to war over for Zynga in 2010.

Fallout from Facebook’s new policies banning auto-notifications and negotiating for better revenue share, Zynga launched its own website and game discovery platform.

And what about Facebook? Just testing its Facebook Credits, a universal currency across all of Facebook’s 500 thousand+ developers. The revenue share? You guessed it. Thirty percent.

When Facebook changed its developer policy and banned Facebook developers from auto-posting on user newsfeeds, who cared? For one, consumers cared. Who in their right mind, liked seeing their newsfeeds stuffed with meaningless “help a friend on FarmVille” requests?

From Zynga’s angle? This one obscure change hindered Zynga’s viral marketing. Think of it as limiting Zynga player’s user-generated content. Except the content was really developer-auto generated. Check out the following video, amongst 1000s, that cropped up. To address one need. Quite simply, to turn off auto newsfeed postings. All the joys of social media marketing 1.0.

User Video teaching others to turn off Facebook newsfeed auto postings

Facebook was responding to user feedback, and defending its share of revenue from all Facebook developers.

Wait, so Facebook was addressing the experience of real users? Yes. Shouldn’t Facebook get compensated for helping Zynga acquire hundreds of millions of players? And in so doing, making Zynga very cash-rich and IPO darling in 2010? Seems reasonable.

Since Zynga derived a majority of its revenue on the Facebook platform in 2010, it benefited from the discoverability afforded by the platform.

$540 million is worth going to war over for Epic in 2020. As $250 million was worth going to war over for Zynga in 2010.

Fast forward to 2020. By the same token, it was estimated Epic got over 250 million downloads from the Apple App Store alone. To those of us coming from mobile marketing, we appreciate the media value of those users ranged in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The many millions of users Epic acquired on the App Store weren’t free. So should Epic be granted FreeFortnite? Or abide by Apple and Google’s developer policies? You know, like every other policy-compliant game and app developer?

FreeFortnite? Does that also mean FreeSupercell? Or FreeTinder? So SHOULD Epic Games pay a princely sum for the discoverability of its app, without which arguably Epic would not have had a $4 billion+ franchise on its hands.

In case you are wondering, Zynga and Facebook made up. Zynga agreed to an undisclosed set of terms of payment and revenue share from Facebook. Guess it’s only fair.

What does that mean for Epic and Apple and Google? Only time can tell. But platforms serve a distinct purpose. And derive a lot of power. And Yes. Apple explicitly stated. No links or side-stepping in-app purchases. Nobody forced Epic to publish on iOS. Since it chose to, Epic explicitly agreed to the iOS developer’s business terms. Building a link for players to make in-app purchases on the Epic Store? A legal breach.

Platform powerplay. Deja Vu. Well played. But nice try, FreeFortnite.

Tags apple, epic, facebook, fortnite, video game marketing, video game pricing, zynga

construct godt making video games Uncategorized unity

Three Best Game Engines for Newbies

Post author By technosites
Post date August 16, 2020
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3 best game engines for Newbie Unity, Construct and Godot

Three Best Game Engines for Newbies

Which game engine should you start out with?

Interested in a career making video games? Not at all surprising, given the blistering growth and the state of the video game industry. Speed dating, game dev style. When it comes to making video games, picking the right game engine is a HUGE decision. It can mean the difference between making or breaking the video game development experience. Like to work in the video game industry? Perhaps as a game developer? Or a Level designer? What about as a game concept artist? Or even a game scriptwriter? All look like compelling options. Alas you must choose ONE to start with.

When getting started, choosing the engine that will help you develop a specific skill set can go a long way.

Considering all these factors, I have selected three best game engines for beginners. These will, of course, help any beginner learn about game development. Bear in mind the role you want to adopt. The engine you CHOOSE will help you hone your skill on that aspect of the development. As opposed to giving you a simple generalized view of everything. Shallowly spread on a piece of toast, just like creamy peanut butter.

Without further ado, let’s get to it.

Construct 3: Browser-based. Ideal for the Design-focused and the Newbie

Construct: Powerful Game Engine that works inside a Browser

Construct 3, as a game engine, is more so focused on designing through visual programming.

And not so much on hardcore, technical coding. Translation: newbie friendly.

It is a multi-platform game engine. With one of the easiest animation editors that you can readily take advantage of as a new developer.

An interesting feature of Construct 3? Well, you don’t actually need a PC to make games.

Running inside a browser, you can start video game development on your tablet, Macintosh, or even Linux for that matter.

What’s the verdict? I would recommend Construct 3 to someone who has a knack for designing. Its simple video game development design makes it ideal for a visual artist. Especially one who does not want to code, and just want to make a simple game. It also works out for scriptwriters or dialogue writers. Any video game writer can use Construct 3 to play out a script in an easy, fun game format.

Another thing, since Construct 3 runs inside a browser, many people might think for a minute… Dare we say, weak? Far from it! What many don’t realize is that Construct 3 is actually one of the most powerful game engines out there.

Specifically built from the ground up for easy of use. So that anyone with a working browser can make games on it. Period.

Construct 3 is constantly updated. Its community of developers? Active and available to help you out if you ever need advice with something. On top of all that, there are a lot of Construct 3 tutorials available online. All to assist you in getting started with the game engine, and make that first game.

But keep in mind that, Construct 3 is a subscription-based; you have to pay $4.89 a month if you want to keep using it on a monthly basis.

Godot:

Godot is an open source, cross-platform, 2D/3D game engine. More importantly, it is taking everything by storm. Godot is a fairly new game engine. Started out as a fun project between friends, it has since, has seen steady bursts of growth ever so often.

It is a game engine that combines a lot of modern features.

Features such as the scene and node system, which helps to optimize game development. Add to that a built-in script editor, helping you sort through bugs and glitches faster. Both making video game development a whole lot easier than traditional game engines.

Although for Godot, you DO need to learn programming languages like C#, C++, and GD Script, a variant of Python.

That’s the bad news. But fret not. You don’t have to learn all these languages, just the GD script. Godot’s own proprietary language is enough.

If you are just starting out and want to experience video game development first hand, take note.

For future video game careers, especially in level or area design, or to create a complex game design without getting overwhelmed, check out Godot.

Godot’s GD script is easy enough and intuitive enough. Anyone can quickly learn it with a few weeks of dedication.

While it supports 3D video game development, Godot truly shines in 2D games.

Its dedicated 2D engine has pixel coordination, which makes any 2D game a whole lot easier to develop.

And Godot supports extremely powerful animation tools too that can easily give any Indie that professional AAA look, making this free game engine all the more worth it.

Unity:

Last but certainly not least, we have the Unity game engine. If you ever type game engine in the google search bar, Unity is bound to pop up.

Among the most popular game engines in the industry, Unity can count healthy portfolio of AAA video games made on Unity.

The question remains. Should a Beginner really start their game development journey with Unity?

The answer to that question is, of course, yes. One of the main reasons Unity is on this list is because it has massive community support.

Unity is the game engine that has the most tutorials and online courses that teach you how to make games using this engine.

Unity uses C#, a powerful programming language that teaches skills that, even outside Unity, are readily transferrable.

Making Unity a great Engine for anyone who is ready to invest time and is willing to learn professional video game development right off the bat.

Final Thoughts:

So, this is my list of top three game engines that you can easily learn. As an inspiring new developer, these should be on anyone’s short list. Depending on the video game careers that you want to opt for, and the extent you want to get involved in Video game development, I hope that you have a clearer view of what you want. And can now make an educated decision on which game engine to choose according to your needs.

Please check out my review of the Manticore game creation engine. Especially if you are a fan to multiplayer RPG, which appears to be its sweetspot. Or for that matter, are looking for a game development engine with built-in discovery and video game publishing.

Tags construct, game engines, godot, making video games, unity

app store optimization consumer insights dating apps FTUE mobile apps mobile marketing personalization UGC user-generated content

Mobile Marketing Lessons: Tinder and Bumble

Post author By technosites
Post date August 12, 2020
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Tinder Bumble Dating Apps for Personalization, UGC, and Mobile Marketing

8 Lessons Learned From Tinder and Bumble

Mobile apps Dating Bumble Tiner mobile marketing — Dating apps like Bumble and Tinder offer mobile marketing best practices in communications, influencer marketing UGC and more

Describing the recent uprising of online dating apps as ‘remarkable’ is nothing but an understatement. Experts say that nearly 28 million people are going to use them by 2022.

And this statistic only talks about the United States.

Apps like Bumble, Tinder, Match, Hinge, OkCupid and others are quickly taking over the world. There are SO many lessons marketers can learn from them, especially to improve FTUE, or first-time user experience.

In this post, we are going to list out the top lessons one can learn from the success of online dating apps.

Not just that, we are going to help you understand how exactly you can implement them in your upcoming or existing digital marketing strategy.

So, stay with us till the very end!

8 Lessons Worth Learning From Tinder and Bumble

1. Find and Focus on Your Niche

What’s the golden rule of marketing?

It is: ‘Don’t sell anything if it’s not a solution to the customer’s problem.’

Utilizing this golden rule in the world of online dating apps is very simple.

You have a dating app that people who are single will try to use to develop a meaningful relationship with another person.

The ‘problem’ is that people are single, and that is something they want to change.

To make sure your solution reaches the right people, you will have to THOROUGHLY research your market. This is essential because it will lead you to your target audience.

This will mostly involve LASER targeting. In this, you mostly try to target a narrow market, find a profitable position, and try to compete with other players.

An extensive survey conducted by Hinge shows that the biggest problem customers have regarding online dating is about the superficiality of the apps.

This made Justin McLeod (the founder of Hinge) design an online dating application that focused on helping users create deeper connections.

2. Tap into The Unpredictable Award Phenomenon

Gamification of dating experience has been very well documented over the past five years.

Many users on the app are NOT looking for a date. The whole ‘swiping through the profiles’ thing is quite fun for them.

They use the application only to have entertainment. Gamification of the dating experience can be used to create anticipation among the users.

The best way to understand this is by connecting it to the concept of unpredictable awards.

Here, the users’ level of excitement can be regulated using algorithms that come up with little surprises each day. By doing this, the users are constantly engaged.

Most online dating applications tend to lose customers because of bad FTUE. This happens when users install the app, sign-up, get disappointed, and leave.

Just in case you have a poor FTUE, gamifying the dating interfaces using elements like tap-to-like, shake-to-refresh feed, etc. can help you compensate.

3. Make Marketing More Personal

One of the biggest marketing trends that companies around the world are looking to take advantage of is personalization.

Personalization is a useful strategy that gives marketers an opportunity to collect more personal data from their target audience.

This can go on to affect the way companies promote their products and services. The basic design of their products can be inspired by the concept of personalization.

Coming back to dating apps, one of the most common things you will find is that they will ask for your basic personal information.

It is important for them to know your age and location so that they can shape your user experience to perfection.

If you are looking to use personal data in your content marketing strategy, you must take lessons from these online dating apps.

The application of data analysis and interpretation will also help you improve your application’s FTUE.

4. User-Generated Content – Let Users Speak

The surge of online dating apps and the simplification and gamification of online dating has had a great impact on how millennials approach online dating.

People could say the most important impact of gamification is that they have helped get rid of the shyness around the concept of dating.

This has allowed users to share their online dating experiences on various online platforms. In other words, they are helping marketers with user-generated content and consumer insights.

Applications like Bumble and Tinder get nearly 5000 mentions on social media.

One of the main reasons why they are so successful with user-generated content is that the marketers go out of their way to hijack a viral story.

Apps like Bumble even have created a form that allows users to share their stories on their experiences.

Talk about taking social listening to the next level!

5. Effective Influencer Marketing

Creating blog posts for video content around your online dating app is one of the BEST ways to generate buzz for your product.

But, that’s an organic way to promote a product online. It works, but it takes time.

This is one of the reasons why influencer marketing has been a go-to marketing strategy for marketers of online dating apps.

Because the content related to online dating is interesting to fans of content creators.

Hinge, an online dating app, makes the best of user-generated content and influencer marketing to create SUPERB social media campaigns. The marketers at Hinge have been working closely with popular meme accounts to create organic posts that bring in definite results.

Influencer marketing is crucial in the marketing of many apps and brands. By creating content that is very much relatable to the general public, it generates a sense of authenticity in the target audience.

6. App Store Optimization

App Store Optimization is definitely a critical part of any online dating app marketing strategy.

This is because your application is going to compete against almost 2 MILLION other applications for visibility.

According to statistics, the average Apple user spends almost 33 minutes per month on the App Store. This data was for the United States back in 2018. Since then, the time spent on the App Store has likely gone up.

Although this is a lot of time for marketers to improve their products’ visibility, they cannot rely on users to find their way to the product through the app store.

Marketers have to take advantage of the app store search algorithm to ensure the users are being directed to your application.

This is exactly where the App Store Optimization comes into play.

App Store Optimization is nothing but a strategic system. It involves elements that can tactfully increase the relevance of your application.

7. Viral Video Marketing

Viral videos work. This is because it tends to trigger certain emotions in the target audience. These emotions make them watch and share the video over and over again.

Creating funny videos related to your online dating application really helps you gain visibility on the Internet overnight.

Viral app videos can get you millions of shares and views online. However, they require constant experimentation to figure out what exactly your audience likes.

Statista shows that many videos have been able to gather millions of views in just 24 hours. This is a result of a successful integration of influencer and viral video marketing.

8. Clear Consistent Communication

Inconsistent communication doesn’t end well in modern-day marketing.

The moment customers start feeling the inconsistency in voice, tone, and content of a brand’s marketing, they tend to leave the experience.

The inconsistency in communication leaves the customer with a bad taste in the mouth.

Looking for customer backlash? Just make one bad joke or write a casual description of any sensitive social issue. Your brand will be done and dusted right there.

Therefore, it is important that you come up with simple messages to reflect your brand values. And, you have to know what customers can expect from your products.

Your visual branding should be consistent across all channels to prevent any kind of marketplace confusion.

Final Thoughts

These are great tips, aren’t they?

But, there’s one more lesson left to improve FTUE and any experience after. It is not to dupe people.

Honest interactions are the foundation of trust. Also, to build long-term loyalty with customers, you will have to quit the short-term sales mindset.

That pretty much sums it up for this post.

We hope you enjoyed our content. Have questions? Feel free to put them down in the comments section. We would love to hear from you!

Tags app store optimization, consumer insights, dating, dating apps, FTUE, mobile marketing, personalization, user generated content

eSports NBA 2K League NBA 2K21 Uncategorized

NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K League

Post author By technosites
Post date August 8, 2020
No Comments on NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K League

NBA2KLeague

NBA 2K21 Pricing and the NBA 2K League

Another year, another summer. Another NBA season. Just unlike any other. What says NBA 2K publisher 2K Sports? For one, the much-anticipated game NBA 2K21 will see a price hike on next-gen consoles.

SEPTEMBER 4TH? That’s the official date when players will be able to purchase the game. This means on Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows PC for the standard price of $59.99.

NBA2K21 Video Game Pricing

Later in the year, another version of NBA 2K21, more complementary to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will be released as a launch title. Business as usual, right? Not exactly. 2K sports will NOT be offering the newer version for the next-gen console for free, as other publishers have decided to do. In the realm of the NBA 2K universe? The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 video game pricing is set at $69.99.

Will 2K be using Microsoft’s Smart delivery system? Or Sony’s unnamed similar feature? No. Instead 2K wants to go in their own direction. Even though this is not the standard way everyone is marketing and pricing video games this year. People who want to make a one-time investment for BOTH gen consoles will have to purchase the NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition for $99.99.

This edition is going to have dual access for both gen consoles. It is also a tribute to the great Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash in January. Kobe Bryant has had a long history with the NBA 2K universe. It is only fitting that Kobe graces the cover of NBA 2K21. Just like NBA2K10 and 2K17.

The GOAT: gracing the cover of NBA 2K21. And NBA 2K10. And NBA 2K17.

NBA2K21 Current Generation Mamba Forever video game marketing — Current Gen Mamba Forever NBA 2K21 video game pricing an d video game marketing concept

Disappointing that next-gen games will be seeing price hikes in the future? Should other publishers follow suit? Perhaps. Unjustified price gouging? No. Completely unexpected? Definitely not. Producing a single AAA title for developers gets more expensive. With never-seen-before level of detail and complexity of mechanics and graphics, so do costs increase.

Recall DLCs of extra content, cosmetic upgrades and extra storyline? Never really FREE.

What about the previous generation consoles? We saw a steady hike in the prices when it came to certain gold or platinum editions? Digital downloadable content (DLC) have never ever been free. DLC of extra content, cosmetic upgrades, and even added storyline, too? Yes, give us more. Free to produce? No

Players want to pay upfront. Not be nickeled and dimed for DLC after.

Consumer insights don’t lie. Many people prefer buying the full versions of the game prerelease. For the greater experience to the player. In one go.

NBA2KL

NBA 2K League Perfect franchise brand and audience extension

The NBA is huge and growing business across the globe. As is eSports. It’s no wonder that the NBA2 League is one of the most serious esports ventures by a sports organization. What do the gamers expect? A sizable number of people are anticipating the NBA2K21 to be something very different. Different gameplay. Breathtaking graphics. Never-seen-before mechanics.

A global Sports audience for NBA 2K <—>A gaming audience for the NBA.

The joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive took off in February of 2017. Since then it has become a global Phenomenon. Drafts take place for the best players in the game. Millions watch the live-streamed drafts. From Munich and London to New York and LA. Add to that fervent contingent from Manila to Shanghai. THIS is a clear sign of the state of the video game industry. How far the industry has come. Said to dwarf even music and movies.

Streaming rights in app, online, on Twitch and more to maximize audience tune-in and engagement

The NBA2K League is considered the fourth league. Alongside NBA, WNBA, and the [NBA] G League. No longer just a companion of a video game. It’s serious business. What about streaming rights? Broadcasting rights for live events such as the draft and the matches are given to different streaming platforms. To maximize audience and viewership, all to expand the already massive audience of the game.

Think You got what it takes? What DOES it take to qualify?

As the league continues to grow in popularity, more and more people are waiting to get their hands on the next-gen of basketball gaming. What does it take to qualify? First, Players must be over the age of 18. Second, they have have the game either on the PS4 or the Xbox One.

After submitting an application, they compete in Pro-Ams. The qualifiers finally face off in a combat. Like a line from the US Marines recruitment ads. Only the few, the best are invited to the drafts.

A Vibrant Marketplace of newly drafted and tradable talent. Like the NBA, like the NBA 2K League.

Some of the best players in the league enjoy protected status. What about the new blood, new talent? A LOT of newcomers are drafted alongside league players who are open for picking. These drafts are absolutely crucial for teams that were not able to perform well in the previous seasons.

This is the right moment in time. Teams get to scout the BEST newcomers and some of the not under-utilized draft-eligible players. To make their teams stronger. To round out gameplay. To become true contenders.

League Format for 2020

Force Majeure. And then the pandemic hit. Worldwide. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has halted a lot of public gatherings, sports and esports arenas alike sit empty. Numerous sports around the world have resumed without the presence of an audience. For esports, the online realm IS the arena.

NBA 2K League in the Face of COVID. Bigger, Better, more Resilient than Ever.

Similarly, in the NBA2K League, the 23 teams are playing via remote gameplay through their local markets. Remote gameplay resumed until Friday, July 17th.

For the first two seasons, the broadcasting rights of the event were given to YouTube and Twitch. Effective? Very. This generated about 1.8 million views on YouTube and accumulated 48 million hours of watch time on Twitch. This year the broadcasting is on ESPN 2 and the ESPN app. A smart calculated move. For the NBA to bring the NBA2K franchise to a much larger audience. Far beyond video game marketing platforms like Twitch.

Thus, the average sports lover will also get to know how big the NBA2K League is. At the same time, this will generate a lot more interest for a different age bracket according to consumer insights.

Teams and Players

Expanding Footprint of NBA 2K League. Add to that the inaugural Gen G Tigers of Shanghai and Hornets Venom GT.

The NBA2K league currently comprises 23 teams. 2 of them, Hornets Venom GT affiliated with the Charlotte Hornets and Gen G Tigers of Shanghai associated with Gen G were inaugurated this season.

NBA2K consists of teams that are affiliated with state teams of the NBA with players being drafted traditionally. Players contest in a 5v5 best of 3 formats where they use their unique custom players instead of the already existing avatars of NBA pros.

Kobe, Magic, Jerry West – the GOATs of the NBA.

The NBA2K League is filled with insanely talented players who have garnered a huge following in the world of esports. Only the ones who are absolute GOATS are given the protected status during the drafts because let’s face it, everyone wants the MVP.

Kobe Bryant talks about climbing GOAT mountain. In his quest to BE the best, he sought out and learned from the best. The GOATs he sought? Magic. Michael. Jerry West. For the NBA 2K League? The players ARE the GOATs of this game. Bar none.

The GOATS of NBA 2K League

2019’s MVP Neadal “Mama I’m Dat Man” Nasser sporting the number 30 jersey for Blazer5 gaming is an absolute pleasure to watch on the virtual court. Some may argue that his playstyle is a bit selfish with him trying to score without passing. For those who have followed the NBA for more than the last 10 years, we remember. Some pundits argued the same thing about Kobe and MJ.

That style is what gets the Blazer5 considerably ahead of their opponents. Some might even say it is the style of the great Kobe Bryant, and when you’re that good, you deserve the ball till it reaches the rim.

Then we have the best defensive player of 2019 Marcus “Goddof2k” Glenn, the shooting guard for the Cavs Legion GC. And WHAT a guard he is. Some of his best plays? They include him making the block at the most crucial moments and making incredible passes facilitating his teammates until the very end. Goddof2k is one man you don’t want defending against you.

Other great players include Feast, Reizey, Jeff Terrell, ToxSik, Jomar12, Dimez. And a LOT more. The roster is filled with talented players that provide the best esports entertainment one can ever hope for.

The Comps and Perks of Being in the NBA 2K League

All the players in the league sign a six month contract. All relocation and housing are all taken care of by the league. Other benefits include medical insurance, food costs, a retirement plan, housing, and transportation. Players can rest assured they are well taken care. Playing in the big esports leagues? Then showered with big league perks and fame.

The NBA’s Esports Era

As the Esports era is growing massively on a global scale, NBA made the right move to invest in a gaming league of their own. The level of support for the NBA2K League? Positively phenomenal.

NBA – a Global Phenomenon. From America to Europe and Asia and back – through NBA 2K

Numerous countries in the world experience the NBA for the first time. NBA 2K, through gaming and inclusion of the Esports genre as a fourth league, IS their taste and interaction with the NBA. The NBA can market itself globally very easily. Brand and audience extension at its BEST.

Millions of players logging in daily, clocking 90 minutes of NBA2K every day. Their perception of the NBA2K league? For some, the ONLY way in which they can experience a sport on a global scale. According to the esports market research, there are about 200 million online gamers who are competing in games such as Dota 2, LOL, and Fortnite, etc. Many STILL are not necessarily aware of the NBA2K experience.

With over 1.4 billion basketball fans around the world, NBA2K League can reach an INSANE number of followers. ESPECIALLY for the NBA and 2K, both eyeing expansion in the Asian markets. Places where most peoplem as mentioned before, have only experienced basketball through video games and documentaries. Something for anyone aspiring to make video games of their own. And reaching gamers by the millions across the globe.

What happens when theNBA2k League grows in these regions? More and more countries will start to watch the NBA . The overall NBA market can expand immensely. From the Americas to the East, where many have only watched live basketball games in the Olympics.

NBA2K league? Officially kicked off. NBA2K21? Closely watched and released. The pandemic? Making everyone stay at home.

Brand + Franchise + Audience expansion. At its BEST!

Next year’s season? Projeted to be bigger than ever. This is the year that the NBA and NBA2K can expect to see a significant increase in the number of fans and experiences they will have. Bigger than last year. And the year before. Brand + Franchise + Audience expansion. At its BEST!

Tags 2k, consumer insights, esports, nba 2k, nba 2k league

making video games manticore sandbox UGC video game publishing

Review of Manticore: making video games UGC publishing

Post author By technosites
Post date August 5, 2020
No Comments on Review of Manticore: making video games UGC publishing

Manticore Games Core Royale video game making and user generated content engine without coding

Reviewing Manticore Game’s CORE Engine: Sandbox platform for making video games UGC and video game publishing

More and more young gamers dream about following their passion and working in the video game industry.

The traditional path to making video games? Extremely hard. It is a career with unclear, complex career paths. Convoluted at best. Manticore realizes the difficulty of making video games. Its response? A sandbox environment that makes making video games and publishing video games intuitive and user-friendly. Like others, it has designed a game engine that simplifies the creation process. More importantly Manticore provides a digital playground where you can publish your own games made on the CORE engine. Your concept, your user-generated content or UGC, published when YOU are ready to get player feedback. Think of it as UGC and content creation plus video game publishing in ONE platform.

Core is a game engine built on top of the Unreal Engine.

The premise is to make an all-in-one platform where one can create, publish, and play their games and UGC in the simplest way possible.

Manticore wants to take away the intricacies of game development and let everyone focus on the design elements of the development, rather than having to deal with complex configuration problems.

Engine design and Game creation: Core offers a simple drag-and-drop interface, and also richer coding via Lua.

On top of being built on the Unreal Engine Core also uses Lua for scripting. Lua lets users dig deep and manipulate the source code of their games. Other than that, the creation process is quite straightforward.

Users can just drag and drop objects from Core’s stock library or design their own unique world on top of the frameworks provided by Manticore in the game engine. Like Roblox, this strategy of letting players create UGC to test and engage other gamers is not new. But to revolutionize video game creation and publishing as a category? Ambitious. And amazing.

There DO exist some limitations. For example you can’t import your models or customized materials that you made somewhere else to CORE. Rather you are stuck with the building blocks Manticore gives you in the game engine. Not to despair however. To counter limitations of this self-contained environment, CORE gives you many tools out of the box. These include a huge selection of in-game content that creators can easily take advantage of.

The end results? One can start his or her journey making video games, minus a steep learning curve.

The Core here provides the users with all the barebones stuff with more than just a few gimmicks.

Anything and everything that you can do in a game engine can easily be done here visually

The creation process is intuitive. And provides a positive experience especially for the newbie game developer.What about documentation? Or help getting started? Manticore has provided a comprehensive manual. You can easily access the documentation on Manticore’s website through the Core engine. They have covered everything from Basic Tutorials to the Core API in detail.

They literally give you anything that you need to know about—especially if this is someone’s first time making a game. Consider it an easy transition. One can be a working Joe by day. And a game creator by night. On CORE.

Publishing Games: Built-in Discovery and Publishing in the CORE Engine

You can publish the games created in Core on their platform. Here other players on the engine can hop on in your game and try it out. Think of it as simple quick-and-dirty beta. Including multiplayer on their platform.

Automatic Multiplayer Support

Out of the box, any game published on Core is multiplayer compatible. Why does this matter? A LOT if you are making a battle royale stage or just an FPS shootout Arena. Even without the technical knowledge about backend mechanics, having multiplayer support shortcuts design and testing.

Any player can just easily enter that game. Or you can just invite your friends for a private Showdown. Think built-in discoverability. And limited closed beta. Rather than investing time and energy in traditional market research and consumer insights, Core lets creators TEST the concept for fun, playability and gather feedback with real players. The only question is how many, how broadly, based on the readiness of the game.

Manticore making video games multiplayer

Like Game Central Station in Wreck It Ralph, Core lets you play your characters in different games on the Engine

What happens if you get bored with one game? Take a deep breath. The portal devices in the published games lets you play your character from one game and keep playing inside another game. It’s like your own personal avatar and character. One that you can continue playing through different creations with your friends or teammates.

Think of it as an interconnected multiverse of video games. You can just hop into different worlds through these portals and just have a fun gaming experience. JUST like Game Central Station in Wreck It Ralph!

Solo game design:

Or, if you just want to make a narrative-driven game experience, you can also make that on Core.

Manticore has added a whole lot of diversity to its game engine and even more so to its publishing platform. You basically have everything that you might ever want as a game developer. Even after you have designed and published a game, there is replay and repurpose value. In short you can make any design changes that you want quickly and without destroying the game balance.

Learning a new game engine usually takes weeks or months. With its simple drag and drop, Core gives you an Express ticket. To make the game development experience simpler and a whole lot less painful. Not to mention quickly beta testing and monetizing an entire game of your own creation. Your UGC, developed and published your way.

Final Thoughts: Great promise and potential, even in Alpha

Core is a great game engine for video game development and making and publishing UGC. It does have a few drawbacks. Video games developed on Core, for now, can only be published in the Core’s own game library. You cannot take them out, or publish them on any game store for now.

Manticore did said on their website that they are working on making these games available on mobile and steam. But right now, you are committing to developing and publishing exclusively on CORE.

The other big limitation is that, you can’t import any foreign object in the engine that you made somewhere else. So, you are basically stuck within their toolbox and only limited by the tools they provide you with. But overall, for an Alpha version, Manticore has really outdone themselves. And delivered on making a great engine with a surprisingly huge selection of built-in content.

Even the programming model is extremely polished. Some people may be challenged getting used to the built-in code editor. For now, Core is an excellent platform for first-tie game developers. Especially those who just want to create a good game and have fun later on playing on it with their friends.

Tags making video games, manticore, sandbox, UGC, video game publishing

battle royale consumer insights gamer gaming making video games video game video games

Top 5 Battle Royale Titles of 2020

Post author By technosites
Post date August 1, 2020
No Comments on Top 5 Battle Royale Titles of 2020

Hyper Scape Battle Royale Game

Top 5 Battle Royale Titles of 2020

Battle Royale games like Fortnite, PUBG and Apex Legends might have been at the top for a very long time. However, many new battle royale games are getting attention in 2020.

Waiting in the wing are many unique and amazing games which are giving us their own takes on the genre.

Few of these games have already been released. Others are still in development. Today, we will take a closer look at the best battle royale games of 2020.

Now, without any further delay, let’s get started!

Spellbreak

First up, Spellbreak is going to be one of the biggest Battle Royale games of 2020. The game is being developed by Proletariat. And man, fans all over the world are HYPED up. Not surprisingly, Spellbreak is bringing something completely new to the table. It’s going to be completely different from other battle royales like Fortnite and PUBG. You’ll have to cast different kinds of spells to get the upper-hand on your enemies.

In terms of perspectives? Spellbreak is in the third-person. Its gameplay, you ask? Quite positively diverse. You’ll have to craft certain builds and use different combinations of spells in battle. The game’s artstyle is very vibrant. Naturally its cartoonish graphics fit perfectly with the setting of this game. You can jump in a new game solo… Or try to survive in the hollow lands with your friends.

Long-awaited, this title is going to get released for Windows, PlayStation, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. In my opinion, this game is a 4 out of a 5 and I am very excited to play it.

Blazing Sails

Drumroll please… Another upcoming battle royale game, Blazing Sails is going to be huge in 2020. Published by Iceberg Interactive and developed by GET UP GAMES, Blazing Sails is going to be a massively multiplayer online game. The objective? You and your friends have to protect a single pirate ship.

Players will create their own pirate avatar and build their own ship to become a part of the battle. The core loop? You will have to navigate through the lands and seas to collect amazing loot, resources and weapons. As you survive at sea, your ship will be upgraded. Once it gets damaged in battle, you will have to fix your ship. Like the other games on this shortlist, Blazing Sails is going to have very vibrant and cartoonish graphics.

Blazing Sails is going to be available exclusively for Microsoft Windows. But what about CONSOLE players? Unfortunately, console players won’t be able to get a taste of the deadly ocean yet.

I would personally give this game a 4 out of a 5. Because it looks extremely intriguing, I am excited to try it out.

Valhall

What about fans of medieval warfare? Bar none, Valhall is going to be the most REALISTIC battle royale game of 2020. In this game, you will experience the true brutality of the Viking era. Valhall is being developed and published by Blackrose Arts, and gamers all over the world are hyped for this release.

As for the gameplay of Valhall? Extremely complex. With minimal HUD on the screen, the player will get to switch between first-person and third-person perspective. While I am certain this hybrid perspective has been tested with players via consumer insights and playtesting, only time will tell if players like or love this. Or not.

Playing as a Viking, you will have different weapons at your disposal. These include an axe and a long-bow. However, the long-bow will NOT have a crosshair. Why does that matter? Well, newer players are going to have a very hard time and be challenged by a steeper learning curve. Developers at Blackrose Arts have tried to make this game as realistic as possible.

The trailer suggests you will be able to play with your friends. This multiplayer co-op in the battle royale genre is going to take you for an INSANE rollercoaster ride. If you wonder about the graphics of this game, not to worry. They perfectly complement its breathtaking gameplay elements. With lifelike graphics, there will never be a dull moment in Valhall.

Currently it’s being developed exclusively for Windows. For console players, I suspect a PlayStation and Xbox port might get released in the near future.

I am quite excited to try this title out and would give this a 5 out of 5.

Hyper Scape

To much fanfare, Hyper Scape is the new big battle royale game by Ubisoft. Released recently on July 12th 2020, the game is slowly gaining a lot of attention.

Hyper Scape is extremely fast-paced and does not go easy on new players. Set in the first-person perspective, it has amazing parkour elements. Players can jump from wall to wall and slide to go faster. Because of its fast-paced gameplay, you need an exceptionally good aim to dominate.

Hyper Scape has Fortnite-like graphics, but the gameplay is completely different. For the battle royale fans who like fast action, this game is going to be a very exciting play.

Hyper Scape is currently in beta and is only available on Microsoft Windows. Xbox and PlayStation versions of this game are being worked on as we speak. Let’s just hope that the game also comes with cross-play.

If you ask me, I liked the game. But, I think that the movement needs to be a little swifter, as aiming is too hard in this game. I would give it 3.5 out of 5.

Call of Duty Warzone

Last but definitely not least, let’s talk about one of the most popular games of 2020. Call of Duty Warzone is Call of Duty’s take on the battle royale genre. Not surprisingly it has managed to get a lot of attention. It will remind some of you of PUBG. But this game experience is completely different

While an extension of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, to play this game does NOT require the purchase of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Call of Duty Warzone has extremely realistic graphics, and the gameplay is very intense. There are tons of weapons to choose from. And perfecting aim takes a lot of practice. 150 players take part in every match of Warzone. You’ll be glad to know, dying doesn’t kick you out of the match. Instead you are given a second chance in the Gulag.

Call of Duty Warzone is available on PlayStation, Xbox and Windows. Personally, I loved this game, but it can be a little harsh for newer players. I’d give it a 4 out a 5.

Tags battle royale, consumer insights, fortnite, making video games, playstation, pubg, windows, xbox