Understanding Genre Engagement at a Deeper Level
Plarium wanted to go beyond surface-level analytics and dive into why players engage with certain genres the way they do. Their objectives were clear:
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Understand daily player motivations
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Observe engagement patterns with the genre
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Identify strengths and weaknesses of the genre
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Compare player spending behaviors
Moderated Playtesting with Experienced Players
Plarium partnered with PlaytestCloud to recruit and interview highly experienced players of a popular game in the genre.
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Custom Screener Recruitment → ensured only the right, genre-savvy players participated.
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60-minute Moderated Sessions → players shared their experiences and habits while a researcher guided the discussion.
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Player Handpicking → client received detailed player profiles and hand-selected participants for the final group.
A total of 15 players took part, offering both gameplay observation and rich narrative insights.
Clearer Insights, Smarter Development
The research revealed the core motivations that keep players engaged — and highlighted the areas where expectations weren’t being fully met.
Key takeaways:
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Pinpointed what excites experienced players most about the genre.
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Identified weak spots in clarity and engagement.
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Mapped out spending behavior patterns tied to player motivations.
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Provided a clear direction for future development to ensure alignment with player needs and expectations.
As Plarium summarized:
“These findings have directly informed the development of our game, ensuring it aligns with player needs and expectations within this genre.”
