Planning and Implementing Major Expansions


Throughout the whole process of regular patches and adding new content, the team needs to be planning the major expansion packs . Most often, these expansions are developed as new retail units to retain vital shelf space and keep the "buzz" about the game alive . Most expansions are also far too large to conveniently download, which is another recommendation for planning them as retail offerings.

The computer/video game press will almost never rereview an online game simply because new content has been added on a regular basis. However, the press is in the habit of reviewing new retail units. Issuing an expansion as a retail unit is almost certain to get it reviewed by the major game press.

These expansions should cover two main areas:

  • All the fixes and content/features additions to date, to bring the shelf unit as close to the current code base as possible

  • New content and features found only in the expansion

What kind of new content and features should be added? Following are the considerations you should ponder:

  • Do you want to primarily appeal to new players or service your current players?

    Remembering that most new players will churn out before the expiration of the free trial offer, you get your best return on investment (ROI) from your current players. Keeping current customers around should be a primary concern, so heavily weighting new content to retain current customers is not a bad idea. The idea is to keep them in the involvement phase of their lifecycle and not let them slip into the boredom phase. Be careful not to add just top-level content; those in the mid-range, who are most likely the players who want to stay but don't have 20 hours per week to indulge, can use some refreshment, too.

    If you're keeping a unit on the shelf, you'll have a steady influx of new customers anyway, so don't sacrifice the satisfaction of current players on the altar of higher numbers . That doesn't mean you can't add content for newer players, especially if you need new tutorials or should redesign the new player experience. This is important to look at in the first major expansion but less vital in subsequent ones.

  • What are the customers asking for and what needs to be added?

    If the community relations team has been doing its job, you should have an ongoing list of the major features and additions requested by the players and know which items in the envisioned or upcoming section of the four-step notification plan are most discussed. By now, you should have also set up your own player satisfaction matrix (PSM), as discussed in Chapter 8, "Getting into the Design."

    Both should figure heavily in planning the features and content for an expansion, as long as the bias of the vocal minority on the forums is being accounted for. If something is called for by both the players and the PSM, you should probably include it. For example, if both the PSM and the players are calling for player-owned housing, it should be in the expansion.



Developing Online Games. An Insiders Guide
Developing Online Games: An Insiders Guide (Nrg-Programming)
ISBN: 1592730000
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 230

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