medy-gribkov Monetization Systems
Monetization Models
CHOOSING YOUR MODEL:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ GAME TYPE → RECOMMENDED MODEL │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Story-driven / Single play → PREMIUM ($10-60) │
│ Competitive multiplayer → F2P + Battle Pass │
│ Mobile casual → F2P + Ads + Light IAP │
│ MMO / Live service → Subscription + Cosmetics │
│ Indie narrative → Premium + Optional tip jar │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ✅ DO: ❌ DON'T: │
│ • Cosmetics only • Pay-to-win │
│ • Clear pricing • Hidden costs │
│ • Earnable alternatives • Predatory targeting │
│ • Transparent odds • Gambling mechanics │
│ • Respect time/money • Exploit psychology │
│ • Value for purchase • Bait and switch │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
IAP Implementation
// ✅ Production-Ready: Unity IAP Manager
public class IAPManager : MonoBehaviour, IStoreListener
{
public static IAPManager Instance { get; private set; }
private IStoreController _storeController;
private IExtensionProvider _extensionProvider;
// Product IDs (match store configuration)
public const string PRODUCT_STARTER_PACK = "com.game.starterpack";
public const string PRODUCT_GEMS_100 = "com.game.gems100";
public const string PRODUCT_BATTLE_PASS = "com.game.battlepass";
public const string PRODUCT_VIP_SUB = "com.game.vip_monthly";
public event Action<string> OnPurchaseComplete;
public event Action<string, string> OnPurchaseFailed;
private void Awake()
{
if (Instance != null) { Destroy(gameObject); return; }
Instance = this;
DontDestroyOnLoad(gameObject);
InitializePurchasing();
}
private void InitializePurchasing()
{
var builder = ConfigurationBuilder.Instance(StandardPurchasingModule.Instance());
// Consumables
builder.AddProduct(PRODUCT_GEMS_100, ProductType.Consumable);
// Non-consumables
builder.AddProduct(PRODUCT_STARTER_PACK, ProductType.NonConsumable);
// Subscriptions
builder.AddProduct(PRODUCT_VIP_SUB, ProductType.Subscription);
builder.AddProduct(PRODUCT_BATTLE_PASS, ProductType.Subscription);
UnityPurchasing.Initialize(this, builder);
}
public void BuyProduct(string productId)
{
if (_storeController == null)
{
OnPurchaseFailed?.Invoke(productId, "Store not initialized");
return;
}
var product = _storeController.products.WithID(productId);
if (product != null && product.availableToPurchase)
{
_storeController.InitiatePurchase(product);
}
else
{
OnPurchaseFailed?.Invoke(productId, "Product not available");
}
}
public PurchaseProcessingResult ProcessPurchase(PurchaseEventArgs args)
{
var productId = args.purchasedProduct.definition.id;
// Validate receipt (server-side recommended for security)
if (ValidateReceipt(args.purchasedProduct.receipt))
{
// Grant the purchase
GrantPurchase(productId);
OnPurchaseComplete?.Invoke(productId);
}
return PurchaseProcessingResult.Complete;
}
private void GrantPurchase(string productId)
{
switch (productId)
{
case PRODUCT_GEMS_100:
PlayerInventory.AddGems(100);
break;
case PRODUCT_STARTER_PACK:
PlayerInventory.UnlockStarterPack();
break;
case PRODUCT_BATTLE_PASS:
BattlePassManager.Activate();
break;
}
}
// IStoreListener implementation...
public void OnInitialized(IStoreController controller, IExtensionProvider extensions)
{
_storeController = controller;
_extensionProvider = extensions;
}
public void OnInitializeFailed(InitializationFailureReason error) { }
public void OnPurchaseFailed(Product product, PurchaseFailureReason reason) { }
}
Battle Pass Design
BATTLE PASS STRUCTURE:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SEASON LENGTH: 8-12 weeks │
│ TIERS: 100 levels │
│ XP PER TIER: 1000 (increases gradually) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ FREE TRACK: │
│ • Common rewards every 5 levels │
│ • 1-2 rare items mid-season │
│ • Currency to buy next pass (partial) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ PREMIUM TRACK ($10): │
│ • Exclusive skin at level 1 (instant value) │
│ • Premium rewards every level │
│ • Legendary items at 25, 50, 75, 100 │
│ • Enough currency to buy next pass (with effort) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ XP SOURCES: │
│ • Daily challenges: 500 XP │
│ • Weekly challenges: 2000 XP each │
│ • Playtime: 50 XP per match │
│ • Special events: Bonus XP weekends │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Economy Design
DUAL CURRENCY SYSTEM:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SOFT CURRENCY (Gold/Coins): │
│ • Earned through gameplay │
│ • Used for: Upgrades, basic items, consumables │
│ • Sink: Level-gated purchases, repair costs │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ HARD CURRENCY (Gems/Diamonds): │
│ • Purchased with real money │
│ • Small amounts earnable in-game │
│ • Used for: Premium cosmetics, time skips │
│ • NEVER required for core gameplay │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
PRICING PSYCHOLOGY:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ $0.99 - Impulse buy, low barrier │
│ $4.99 - Starter pack sweet spot │
│ $9.99 - Battle pass standard │
│ $19.99 - High-value bundles │
│ $49.99 - Whale offering (best value/gem) │
│ $99.99 - Maximum purchase (regulations) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Key Metrics
MONETIZATION KPIS:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONVERSION RATE: 2-5% (F2P) │
│ ARPU: $0.05-0.50/DAU (casual mobile) │
│ ARPPU: $5-50/paying user │
│ LTV: Should exceed CPI by 1.5x+ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ HEALTHY INDICATORS: │
│ ✓ D1 retention > 40% │
│ ✓ D7 retention > 20% │
│ ✓ Conversion > 2% │
│ ✓ LTV/CPI > 1.5 │
│ ✓ Refund rate < 5% │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
A/B Test Revenue Impact
A/B TEST REVENUE FORMULA:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Revenue Impact = (Variant ARPU - Control ARPU) × DAU │
│ │
│ EXAMPLE: │
│ Control: ARPU = $0.20, 10,000 DAU │
│ Variant: ARPU = $0.25, 10,000 DAU │
│ │
│ Daily Impact: ($0.25 - $0.20) × 10,000 = $500/day │
│ Monthly Impact: $500 × 30 = $15,000/month │
│ Annual Impact: $15,000 × 12 = $180,000/year │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: │
│ • Minimum sample: 100 conversions per variant │
│ • Target p-value: < 0.05 (95% confidence) │
│ • Run duration: 7-14 days minimum │
│ │
│ WATCH FOR: │
│ • Revenue up, retention down = short-term win, long loss │
│ • Test during normal periods (avoid holidays/events) │
│ • Segment by user cohort (new vs veteran players) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
# Calculate A/B test significance
from scipy import stats
def calculate_ab_significance(
control_conversions: int,
control_users: int,
variant_conversions: int,
variant_users: int
) -> dict:
"""Chi-square test for A/B test significance."""
control_rate = control_conversions / control_users
variant_rate = variant_conversions / variant_users
# Chi-square test
observed = [[control_conversions, control_users - control_conversions],
[variant_conversions, variant_users - variant_conversions]]
chi2, p_value, dof, expected = stats.chi2_contingency(observed)
return {
"control_rate": f"{control_rate:.2%}",
"variant_rate": f"{variant_rate:.2%}",
"lift": f"{((variant_rate / control_rate) - 1) * 100:.1f}%",
"p_value": p_value,
"significant": p_value < 0.05
}
# Example
result = calculate_ab_significance(
control_conversions=200,
control_users=10000,
variant_conversions=250,
variant_users=10000
)
print(f"Lift: {result['lift']}, Significant: {result['significant']}")
🔧 Troubleshooting
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Low conversion rate (< 1%) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES: │
│ • IAP offers too expensive │
│ • Poor first purchase experience │
│ • No perceived value │
│ • Wrong timing │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS: │
│ → Add high-value starter pack │
│ → Show IAP after engagement hook │
│ → A/B test price points │
│ → Improve soft currency scarcity │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: High refund rate (> 10%) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ROOT CAUSES: │
│ • Unclear what purchase provides │
│ • Buyers remorse (poor value) │
│ • Accidental purchases │
│ • Technical issues │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS: │
│ → Add purchase confirmation │
│ → Show exactly what user receives │
│ → Improve purchase value │
│ → Fix any delivery bugs │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PROBLEM: Economy inflation │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTIONS: │
│ → Add more currency sinks │
│ → Reduce faucets gradually │
│ → Introduce prestige/reset systems │
│ → Create consumable high-end items │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Compliance
| Region | Requirement |
|---|---|
| EU | Loot box odds disclosure |
| Belgium | No loot boxes |
| China | Odds, spending limits |
| Japan | Kompu gacha banned |
| US | COPPA for under-13 |
Use this skill: When designing monetization, balancing economy, or implementing purchasing systems.