Monument Valley
GameBy Ustwo Games · Released Apr 3, 2014
Documents about Monument Valley
Hatch and the new opportunity of on-demand gaming
The emergence of on-demand, cloud-based gaming represents a significant shift in the mobile industry, mirroring the transition from ownership to subscription models seen in music and video streaming.
- The platform utilizes cloud architecture to stream native Android games, eliminating the need for HTML5 ports and reducing multiplayer prototype development time from months to days.
- The service operates on a dual-revenue model combining advertising and subscriptions, with a commitment to share 70% of generated revenue with content partners.
- The business model shifts mobile gaming from free-to-play monetization loops to a subscription-based, on-demand format that prioritizes premium content quality.
Monument Valley 2 – How premium games can succeed
The premium mobile game market remains a viable, albeit niche, space for developers who prioritize artistic innovation and high-quality, short-form experiences over the mass-market volume typical of free-to-play titles.
- Premium mobile games succeed by prioritizing artistic innovation and high-quality, short-form experiences rather than the mass-market volume and high-retention loops of free-to-play models.
- Developers should focus on crafting highly polished, memorable experiences with a typical duration of 90 minutes to two hours to justify a premium price point.
- Small, agile teams are essential for bypassing derivative, data-driven design patterns, allowing for the creation of unique, emotionally resonant, and narrative-focused content.
iOS Gaming Leaders: December 2015
The mobile gaming market experienced significant growth in December 2015, characterized by a surge in both installation volume and consumer spending on Apple’s App Store.
- In December 2015, worldwide iOS gaming downloads grew 20% month-over-month to approximately 614 million, while total gaming revenue reached nearly $1 billion, an 18% increase from November.
- Clash of Clans reclaimed the top-grossing spot on iOS from Game of War in both U.S. and worldwide markets during December 2015.
- Piano Tiles 2 was the most downloaded game globally and in the U.S. for December 2015, maintaining the No. 1 position in all iPhone categories for the six days leading up to Christmas.
Biz Daily: Why Apple rebooted iPod Touch with A8 chip
Apple has unexpectedly revitalized the iPod touch line, positioning the device as a high-performance, cost-effective entry point into the iOS ecosystem.
- Apple upgraded the iPod touch with the A8 chip and M8 motion co-processor, delivering a reported ten-fold increase in graphical processing power compared to the previous A7 iteration.
- The hardware refresh is strategically designed to lower the barrier to entry for the iOS ecosystem, providing a cost-effective alternative to high-performance Android devices.
- By omitting cellular capabilities, Apple is targeting a niche market of younger, budget-conscious users who require gaming and media functionality without a smartphone data plan.
Big numbers from Monument Valley, Crossy Road and Minecraft
The mobile gaming industry began 2015 with a focus on monetization strategies, highlighted by performance data from three prominent titles: Minecraft, Crossy Road, and Monument Valley.
- Monument Valley generated $5.8 million in net earnings against $1.4 million in development costs, resulting in a $4.5 million profit from 2.4 million sales.
- Crossy Road’s two-person development team earned $1 million in revenue by utilizing Unity Ads, demonstrating the financial viability of non-intrusive, incentivized video advertising.
- Minecraft maintains its status as a premium mobile outlier, having reached a total of 30 million downloads.
What can we learn from Monument Valley's IAP?
The mobile gaming industry is currently navigating a significant shift in monetization expectations, highlighted by the controversy surrounding the expansion pack for the puzzle game Monument Valley.
- The developer of Monument Valley, ustwo, faced significant user backlash and one-star review bombing after releasing eight additional levels as a $2 in-app purchase for a game that originally cost $3.
- The controversy surrounding Monument Valley highlights a broader industry tension regarding whether post-launch content should be provided as free updates or paid downloadable content (DLC) in a market increasingly dominated by free-to-play models.
- Apple replaced the 'Free' button on App Store games with 'Get' in November 2014, a change prompted by ongoing pressure from European Union regulators regarding the transparency of free-to-play monetization.
GDC 2014: Dan Gray, producer, ustwo Games
The mobile gaming landscape is currently undergoing a significant shift toward the resurgence of premium, high-quality experiences.
- Ustwo Games is prioritizing craftsmanship and aesthetic value over traditional mobile monetization models to differentiate its titles in a crowded marketplace.
- The game Monument Valley serves as a case study for proving that mobile platforms can support high-fidelity, premium gaming experiences comparable to traditional hardware.
- The initial release strategy for Monument Valley is focused on the iOS platform, with potential expansion to Android contingent on consumer demand and community engagement.
Companies behind it
As the documents state it.