Super Mario Saga - Redesigning Super Mario Bros. 3 as a mobile, free-to-play

Post on 27-Jan-2015

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As part of the "Evil Game Design Challenge" at Casual Connect 2013 in San Francisco, I put together this talk explaining how I would use my monetization strategies to transform the classic Super Mario Bros. 3 into a free-to-play game for iOS and Android.

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Super Mario Saga

casual connect usa | free-to-play track | jul 13 ethan levy | cofounder @quarter spiral | consultant @famousaspect

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Game Design Game Production

Metrics & User TestMonetization Consultant

A brief history of Ethan

• 10 years experience as a game developer• 30+ shipped games, multiple awards and nominations

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Enhanced Wars

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I get a callimagine if...

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Super Mario Sagareimagining super mario bros. 3 for touch based free-to-play

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design for the platform•swipe based controls

✦ forward - start run

✦ up - jump

✦ down - crouch

✦ back - stop

✦ double finger tap - super

• reduction of precision based levels

• focus on flow/fluidity

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general monetization framework• identify the core loop

• identify emotions you wish to monetize

• identify opportunities to monetize the core loop

•make the ability to spend money present

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evaluating smb3

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evaluating smb3

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evaluating smb3

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evaluating smb3

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evaluating smb3

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evaluating smb3

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super mario bros. 3

WorldChoose branching levels,

play mini gamesSink timeTap items

PlatformFinish the obstacle course

before time runs outSink lives, items

Tap lives

GateLives

GateBoss castles

Pay

Gat

e: $

5

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Delight

We can build off of the slightly linear nature of Super Mario Bros. 3 to build a system dependent upon earning stars instead of pure level completion to unlock new areas and abilities. Taking queues from games like Candy Crush Saga and Jetpack Joyride, we will build in systems of achievement that will motivate players to use a variety of consumable boosts.

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a masterclass in surprise and delight. The player is introduced to novelties throughout the game that keeps the experience constantly fresh. In order to monetize emotion, we will introduce elements like a crafting system that allows the player to unlock new characters for use with slightly different powers which allow for more novelty.

Achievement

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metastructure changes•Each level is a social leaderboard

•Earn 1 to 3 stars per level based on score

• [bonus stars for completing w/other characters]

•Unlock new worlds based on star totals

Add achievement focus and social competition to game to allow for monetization

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time based elements•Lives regen at 1 per 30 minutes

•Mini games are playable 1 per 24 hours

•EOL reward pays out once 1 per 24 hours

•Add new daily scratcher return mechanic

Add time based gating to encourage daily returns

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coins as currency•Coins no longer grant free life at 100

•Spend coins on entrance to mini games

•Spend coins to buy consumables pre level

•Spend coins to buy mystery box of craft components

•Spend coins to complete crafting tasks

Players can grind for coins, but can purchase them in packages for $$$

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toad the craftsman•EOL reward and Toad mini games grant craftables

✦ Scripted, public facing payout for each

•Craftables + gold turned in for consumables

•Rare craftables + gold to unlock new characters✦ Princess Peach, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Samus, Link, Wario...

Crafting will be the major coin sink

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standard requirements•Starter pack for straight cash ($20 of value for $5)

•Boost upsell dialog before entering each level

•Contextual upsell on not enough coins, out of lives

•Notifications

Standard elements to make purchasing and returns present

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new feature - survival mode•A weekly high score challenge

•Randomly generated level

•Receive rewards based on making certain distances

•Costs coins to enter

•New level/refreshed leaderboard each week

Coin sink + a piece of infinitely replayable content to keep players engaged

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super mario bros. 3

WorldChoose branching levels,

play mini games, craftSink time, coins, craftables

Tap boosts, craftables

PlatformFinish the obstacle course

before time runs outSink lives, consumables

Tap coins, craftables

GateLives

GateStars earned

crafting

lives

consumablesmini games

characters

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