Let's talk about in-game monetization.
I will express my opinion based on the observation of local agents.
I think that, unfortunately, the company cannot understand what users need. This is why ingress brings so little income. Why pay money when you can get resonators for free?
The same situation is with the subscription, It is useful only for active players who are getting less and less every day. In my country, I know only a few people who bought a subscription, and then only in order to receive a medal.
Here's what would be popular. Additional keylockers, new drone models, additional kinetic capsules. I would buy it without hesitation. Especially if it would ALWAYS remain in my inventory. I would also buy an extension of the inventory that would remain with me ON a PERMANENT BASIS.
In the meantime, we only sell consumables ... or items that do not help to win ... then there will be little sense in buying.
By the way, in all popular mobile games, what is sold can almost always be obtained with the help of active game actions.
For example, if I buy skins in PUBG, or heroes in the dawn of the kingdoms, then they remain in my inventory forever. Think about it.
Tell me, what would you like to see at in-game monetization that brings profit to the company?
Comments
Well, I inmediately think about this post about this exact topic.
I also think about items suggested, like the XM Tank: an item that allows you collect XM on an extra tank when the XM bar is already full which can be used to refill the XM bar. It would be a one-buy item, like keylockers, an optional item that can generate extra revenue, like those seasonal badges.
1. The point is EXACTLY that things you pay for wouldn't be permanent but consumable. Because Niantic needs not one-time but repeating and steady income.
2. I don't know what country you live in but in my city alone about 10 agents bought subscription on release. I have a key from Warsaw, almost every agent I saw on portals around has active subscription.
3. "Additional keylockers" 1) pay to win, 2) one-time payment, so see point 1. "New drone models" what would they do? Hack keys? Change portal state? No thanks, no need for legalized spoofing. (There are of course lots of other features they could host, but the ones above are somehow the only that most of people think about). Permanent additional kinetic capsules = again one-time payment, see point 1.
So I get a feeling that you propose more pay to win and more one-time payment stuff. Thankfully Niantic has done completely the opposite with the subscription.
I believe the subscription gives a fair advantage with low cost. It's not pay to win at all. You can have access to your inventory on intel and they are going to implement a button to paste your keys and do juicy stuff over it, and more it's about to come (eg. fast track tickets). So, in my opinion, the way they are implementing new stuff is great, I hope they continue this trend.
No, I'm not against subscription. And yes I am for the fact that those who pay had an equal position with those who do not pay. But even in the best-selling games in the playmarket, there are things that you can always buy and things that you can spend. We have more consumables than what you can buy. I bought a cursor, I bought keylockers because they are useful and make the game easier. They are useful. Which I can't say about other things like the $ 1.99 set of 20 resonators. The increase in inventory that has a subscription and which cannot be obtained in another way is also doubtful, since the game is full of bag accounts. And getting inventory expansions solely for money gives some honest players a big advantage.
The game was developed to be the way it currently is, so if there's little options to buy, its because it was made that way. What I think, and if Niantic want profit, it will need to develop new features that are easier to explore.
Also, there's a lot of players here that day that one time purchase (like the key lockers) aren't lucrative, and Niantic need constant purchase to profit. Well, that a debatable. I do agree that's selling 1 dollar item every month will be better in the long run, but why this fact need to complete remove one time items? Keylockers are a garanteed 10$ that Niantic get for every "true" player ( and I think they're really cheap, they double the fracker price, the keylockers should get a rise too). The so desired media locker could be another 10$. But what else could we buy as permanent? The game currently lacks of options to that. It's basically just space, but the subscription was made around this already and only time will prove if it's working (mostly next month we will already see some results, when all badge Hunters cancel their subscription).
Nice to hear words of wisdom. But colleague, why don't they develop more things that can be sold at least every month and leave them in our inventory? Although yes, with this it is difficult niantik is very difficult to develop new things. In the strategy that I play every month, you can buy a new unique commander for my army. Why not make some nice innovation here every month? for example, new models of drones, or blueprints for new types of weapons that you can buy and not try to get from portals with a probability of 0.1%? I wanted to get it already - pay for it, or collect on the card in different places, spending your time.
You mean drone avatars? I think it could work, but the regular avatars themselves didn't seem to make much.
Instead, prefer different model of drones, with some exclusive perks that once deployed, they're gone. You can't recall or get then destroyed. A single use item, but you can manage to have it for a long time. Perks could be less time, extra range, bigger output, recharge the portal, see and attacking other drones, etc (anything but key hack, attack and deploy). Everyone will still have their mark I, but there will be different models do purchase.
Other thing is the Kinect capsule, that is already proved as lucrative item, base on their GO and wizards counterparts. Just add a limit of how many the agent can activate on same time, and start selling, one with regular walking distance and one with double this time. All consumables.
How about sponsored blocks in the "News" section, say, targeted by level 6 cell and faction?
For example, ENL agents living in / visiting Springfield area would get stuff like
"Feeling enlightened? Join Springfield group on telegram, t.me/springfield-enl. This message is sponsored by YourNameHerePizza. Create BAF over Springfield, and get free pizza with frog legs".
I like the sponsored news section.
Cell based advertising would help put new players in touch with local community automatically. Each faction could put up a semi perm note. (Subject to ToS).
Paid advertising in News would be ok as long as not obtrusive.
I think there is room for both options.
A subscription, much like what was just introduced. Some bonuses, etc. I see elsewhere in the forums people suggesting that ANY new feature be behind a paywall and I think Niantic is smart to be careful with going that way.
But also some lifetime type purchases as well. I could see a media locker being something worth a lifetime purchase. Not something I need, but, for a few bucks, I might grab one to hang onto random media. Extra kinetic caps, though, I could only see purchasing extra with a number of uses, much like PoGo.
I do think there is room for paid advertisement though. Sponsored portals, etc. I'm not sure what those cost, but I could see even buying one for a FS as a starting point if a particular bar or restaurant doesn't have one. $10 for a portal to be placed for a day.
Stop comparing this game to one that is not just multi-platform but also a completely different genre.
I totally agree there's room for both (or all 3), and they kind of feed on themselves and support one another.
-Consumable/subscription: This obviously needs to happen for reoccurring revenue. It's nice to have an option to throw money at the Ingress team through the subscription and would be nice to have more consumable K-Cap options to obtain better gear, upgrade gear, etc. I also don't mind spending money on Battle Beacons to quickly level up new players; it shows new agents that us old-timers are invested in them by spending real money, and this money goes back to the Ingress team, so it's not like we're throwing it in the Amazon pit or something.
-Lifetime Purchases: Hopefully consistent revenue from consumables/subscriptions will help the dev team hire more people. Some of this extra dev effort could go toward more avatars, media locker/upgraded media system, Redacted (and other) skins, and so many other things I can't think of. Solid lifetime purchases may not be super sustainable in and of themselves, but the support could attract new agents and bring back retirees who could then jump in the consumable/sub revenue streams.
-Sponsors (A little fuzzy here, but I'll try): It's really nice to have the sponsored items we currently have, but man I miss the sponsored Circle K portals. I'm glad the portals weren't around forever, but it was nice to have an influx of portals that we knew were temporary. A temporary sponsorship like this mixed up my fielding strategy as a newer player and legitimately encouraged me to visit these locations MUCH more often than I normally would. With a growing player base it could prove profitable for the sponsors, invigorate us agents, and provide more money for Niantic to throw back into the dev machine.
Tell me, what would you like to see at in-game monetization that brings profit to the company?
May I disagree with the premise of the question?
As an Agent, I have no insight into Niantic's finances and models. Thus, I have no way of determining what might or might not "bring profit." I know only that which I am willing to pay for, and how much, and that which I am not. As a business, it is Niantic's job to figure out "profit." No other business asks me, the customer, to come up with their plan for profit.
I grow tired and weary of every other idea being judged by whether its good for Niantic's bottom line.
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I would pay for a couple of Media Lockers, similar in fashion to the current Key Lockers.
I would pay to participate in events requiring active teamwork and coordination (think Anomalies, Dark XM, and the Tessellation).
I think the problem with sponsorships are that Niantic can't just magically pull them out of their hat. If only a few people will see your portals due to the lower player number, it's better to invest your company's money into other advertising opportunities. It's not like Niantic doesn't like sponsorships, look at PoGo with their endless deals, but for Ingress, as a company, it just doesn't really work out.
I think at least, of course I have no idea how many people really play and why or why not companies decide to sponsor something.
Completely agree, I don't see more sponsorships coming anytime soon. I just want the Ingress team to see that some agents still appreciate them and not to write them off completely.