Based on materials from android-developers.blogspot.ru
This is Greg Hartrell, Senior Product Manager for Google Play Games.
“Today everyone has a gaming device in their pocket. Basically, three out of four people in the billion users Android in 190 countries around the world are gamers. This allowed the games to acquire a huge audience and become a successful business. Over the past year, we have paid more than $ 7 billion to developers who distribute apps and games on Google Play.
On Developer Day at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week, we announced a number of new options for Google Play Games and AdMob to improve the gaming experience. They will be out in the next few weeks and will allow you more convenient measurements and in-game purchases.
Better measurement and adaptation to player needs
Google Play Games is a collection of services that help game developers engage and win over audiences. To make their efforts more effective, we are announcing Player Analytics, a powerful tool that gives developers access to analytics reports to measure business success and better understand in-game user behavior. It will launch in the coming weeks and will allow both independent developers and large game studios to see how their players progress and spend, provide access to such important metrics as ARPPU and the number of sessions per user, and help determine daily income.
BombSquad, created by a 'one man studio' in San Francisco, has been able to more than double its daily user revenue following design changes that were suggested after the Player Analytics beta testing.
Optimizing ads for more revenue
After optimizing the gaming experience, it is very important to create the smartest monetization system that suits each user. That's why we're announcing three important updates to the AdMob platform.
Native Ads. Currently available as a limited beta. Developers who use this tool will be able to display ads from Google advertisers in their app and customize them so that players see ads that match the game's design. Atari is looking to update its games like RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile to better engage users with the new feature.
In-App Purchase House Ads Beta. Game developers will be able to efficiently develop in-game purchases at no cost. AdMob can now predict which users are more likely to spend in the game, and developers can offer them customized text or show ads that encourage them to buy something. Currently in beta, but will be available for all AdMob accounts in the coming weeks.
Audi ence Builder. A powerful tool that will allow developers to categorize users based on how they play. This way you can create customized experiences for players, which means you can get more from them.
New gaming experience thanks to Google
Last year we launched Android TV, so Android came to living rooms and games went to big screens. The OEM ecosystem is expanding with SmartTVs and micro consoles from manufacturers such as Sony, TPVision / Philips and Razer.
In order to make the gameplay on Android TV even more dynamic, we launched the Nearby Connections API with a subsequent update of Google Play services. With this new protocol, you can connect smartphones and tablets as a second screen while the game is on the TV screen. Beach Buggy Racing is a fun multiplayer racing game full of a competitive spirit and plans to use this technology starting with the release that is promised in the summer. And we can't wait to see more multiplayer games take advantage of mobile device connectivity as a second screen.
At Google I / O last June, we also unveiled the Google Cardboard with the goal of making virtual reality accessible to everyone. With Cardboard, we empower developers to create a unique and immersive experience using just a piece of cardboard and a smartphone. This SDK for Android and Unity allows you to create real VR apps or adapt existing ones. '