Creating a game that keeps players engaged is no small feat. Gamers are constantly drawn to new experiences, and if a game fails to deliver fresh content regularly, players quickly lose interest and move on. This could spell the end for the project or even the studio itself. Time investment is crucial; it’s the key to the success of a great game. Today, we delve into the strategies employed by game designers, specifically focusing on Top Games’s Evony: The King’s Return (Evony TKR) and uCool’s development approaches, to understand how they “Survive” in the competitive gaming landscape and ensure lasting player retention.
Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years?
Launched in 2016, Evony TKR blends city-building, puzzle-solving, and epic battles, all set against a backdrop of rich historical themes. Players can choose from seven civilizations: America, China, Europe, Russia, Korea, Arabia, and Japan. Each civilization boasts unique architectural styles and bonuses, allowing players to build and decorate their cities according to their preferences. The game features legendary heroes such as George Washington, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Khan, who lead armies and bring historical depth to the gameplay.
Evony’s gameplay is a rich blend of strategy and casual gaming. Players engage in city management, resource collection, and troop training, while also solving challenging puzzles that enhance the strategic elements of the game. The alliance system allows players to form strong bonds, share resources, and strategize together, fostering a global community. The automatic real-time translation feature supports 25 languages, ensuring seamless communication among players worldwide.
The CEO David Guo leads with a focus on innovation and player experience, and emphasizes rapid iteration and improvement. “I am driven by the improvement our lives see through interacting information systems from game theory and API design to UX development and creating complex algorithms,” he says. This approach has made Top Games a leader in creating immersive gaming experiences.
Guo’s dedication to fostering long-lasting gaming communities is clear.
“We aimed to create the best gaming experience possible and to cultivate long-lasting gaming communities that would continually enhance that experience,” he explains.
Engaging Events
The Evony team frequently publishes colorful and engaging events, such as the recently released Server War Miracle Season. Up to five Monarchs who have placed in the top three of the Server War Monarch Ranking at least three times and have the highest number of top-three finishes will have their names engraved on honorary medals on the Arch of Triumph.
Key Event Details:
- Miracle Season Start Date: The Server War Miracle Season begins on May 24th.
- Glory – Server War Ares Award: During the Miracle Season, the top five Monarchs in the Server War Monarch Ranking, excluding those with the Arch of Triumph honorary medal, will be awarded the Glory – Server War Ares. This accolade is a chance for new leaders to gain recognition.
- Arch of Triumph – Achievement Records: Players can view the achievements and rankings through the Arch of Triumph on the map.
- Immortal Heroes Event: Participation in this event allows players to revive dead troops for free. Additionally, purchasing event packages provides a Revival Order. Post Server War, using a Revival Order revives 70% of dead troops, effective only for losses exceeding 500 million in power.
- Access and Rewards: Players who have unlocked Level 1 Wonder can claim generous rewards through the Event Center. Monarchs with the Arch of Triumph honorary medal will receive extra rewards by mail at the end of the event.
The Server War Miracle Season is a unique opportunity for Monarchs to showcase their strategic prowess and earn prestigious awards in Evony. Don’t miss out on the chance to unlock the Glory – Server War Ares and participate in the Immortal Heroes event to strengthen your forces!
Insights from Game Designers
Truly creative designers seldom use other games for inspiration. The holy grail of game system design is to make a game where the challenges are never-ending, the skills required are varied, and the difficulty curve is perfect and adjusts itself to exactly the player’s skill level. Games need to master the “balance” of progression to attract players. Evony TKR is a mid-core strategy game that takes players through challenges via the game’s core mechanics and narrative, allowing players around the world to make meaningful connections through an alliance system.
Designing rule sets and creating all the content is hard! That hasn’t stopped some great developers from trying various tactics to make games self-refreshing. The goal is new patterns that emerge spontaneously out of the rules, allowing the player to do things that the designer did not foresee. However, designers must be careful not to make the game demand too much skill. They must remember that players are always trying to reduce the difficulty of a task.
Making you feel good about yourself in a pretend arena isn’t what games are for. Games are for offering challenges so that you can then apply those techniques to real problems. Going back through defeated challenges to pass time isn’t a productive exercise of your brain’s abilities.
uCool and Former CEO Lu Lu
uCool Inc., a prominent independent video game developer based in the United States, was founded in 2012. The company quickly made a name for itself with its commitment to producing high-quality, free-to-play strategy games that captivated players worldwide. uCool’s portfolio includes popular titles such as Tynon, Heroes Charge, Heroes Arena, and War and Wit. These games span various genres, including Social and Action RPG, Strategy, and Adventure, showcasing the company’s versatility and innovative spirit.
The ex-CEO Lu Lu played a pivotal role
Under Lu Lu’s leadership, uCool embraced a culture of continuous innovation, rapid iteration, and a strong emphasis on team achievements. This approach allowed the company to stay ahead of industry trends and respond swiftly to player feedback, ensuring their games remained engaging and relevant.
One of the defining features of uCool’s development philosophy is its focus on rapid iteration. Unlike larger studios that may spend years perfecting a game before release, uCool adopts a ‘design, build, and break’ strategy. This means getting a product or update out quickly, gathering real-world feedback from players, and then refining the game based on that feedback. This agile methodology not only speeds up the development process but also ensures that the final product is finely tuned to meet players’ expectations.
Lu Lu championed the importance of team dynamics and achievement orientation. At uCool, the environment is one of creativity and mutual respect, where team members are encouraged to take risks and innovate. The company attracts highly motivated individuals who excel in a collaborative setting, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that drives uCool’s success. The team’s collective expertise in design, programming, art, and sound ensures that every game produced is of the highest quality.
This collaborative culture is not just about creating great games but also about building a strong, cohesive team. uCool’s leadership believes that the best ideas can come from anywhere within the company, so they maintain a flat organizational structure that promotes open communication and inclusivity. This approach empowers every team member to contribute ideas and solutions, which helps drive the continuous improvement of their games.
uCool’s commitment to innovation is further evidenced by their willingness to explore and integrate new gameplay mechanics and technologies. Whether it’s incorporating advanced AI to enhance gameplay or experimenting with new genres, the company is always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming. This relentless pursuit of innovation has helped uCool create games that are not only fun and engaging but also fresh and exciting for their player base.
