Outfit7's Urška Leskovar discusses the importance of understanding player attention in live mobile games, and how it can be a more valuable resource than content production alone.
The concept of live ops in mobile games is often centered around the idea of keeping players engaged through constant updates and new content. However, according to Urška Leskovar, senior lead product manager at Outfit7, this approach may not always be the most effective. Leskovar argues that many live mobile games suffer from an attention shortage, rather than a content shortage.
The Problem with Adding More Content Leskovar notes that adding more content to a game does not always solve the problem of flagging engagement. In fact, she cites an example where Outfit7 added more content to one of their games, but saw no improvement in engagement metrics. This experience taught her that content is not always the answer, and that teams need to think more critically about what players actually need.
Understanding Player Attention Leskovar emphasizes the importance of understanding player attention and how it can be a more valuable resource than content production alone. She notes that player attention is a limited resource, and that teams need to focus on helping players focus on the game, rather than just giving them more to do. This requires a more nuanced understanding of player behavior and what drives engagement.
Diagnosing Attention vs Content Problems Leskovar suggests that teams can diagnose attention vs content problems by looking at player behavior and engagement metrics. She notes that a large audience can sometimes mask problems, but that teams can still identify patterns and understand player behavior by looking at data. Leskovar also emphasizes the importance of regular checkpoints throughout development, where teams can challenge whether what they are building still makes sense and provides value to the player.
Portfolio-Level Thinking Leskovar also discusses the importance of portfolio-level thinking, where teams consider the broader implications of their decisions across multiple games. She notes that different titles can face different challenges, and that teams need to recognize these differences and address them appropriately. By taking a more macro approach, teams can identify patterns and behaviors across games that might not be visible otherwise, and make more informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.
