Chapter 121 - 107: Mid-Autumn Event

Developing a match-3 mobile game is not a big project for Tianba Studio.

The most time-consuming part, instead, is art resource design. After all, in the game "Garbage Disposal Fun," dozens or even hundreds of chibi-style software icons are needed.

"This game is not fun!"

After spending an hour experiencing the demo of "Garbage Disposal Fun," Yang Dong expressed his skepticism.

"People who need garbage cleaning won’t download the game, and those who want to play games won’t care about the garbage cleaning feature..."

"You’re right!"

Chen Ba didn’t get angry, and there was no need to be.

Clearly, Yang Dong is not the target audience for match-3 mobile games. It’s normal that he doesn’t like them.

In fact, that’s mainstream.

How many young people would like to play these traditional match-3 games?

There are so many rich mobile games nowadays, with new big titles frequently coming out, like "Honor of Kings," "PUBG," and "Railway Tycoon." There’s a wide range to choose from.

As for garbage cleaning software, many people consider it unnecessary. They might not use it even once in years. Also, young people generally have good usage habits, so they usually don’t have many leftover junk files.

"I also didn’t say this is for you to play!"

Chen Ba said helplessly: "The target demographic for match-3 games are those middle-aged and elderly people transitioning from feature phones to smartphones, or kids who don’t understand much."

There are young people, but very few.

After all, young people are quick learners and can adapt to new things quickly. The endless new games in the market are already enough for them to enjoy immensely.

In this situation, people like Yang Dong and Lu naturally disdain "Garbage Disposal Fun," considering it "boringly simple."

"Do you find ’Honor of Kings’ fun?"

"It’s okay..."

Yang Dong honestly evaluated: "Although it’s a patchwork, as a social game on mobile, it’s quite well done."

"Do your parents play ’Honor of Kings’?"

"No! I taught them a few times, but they said it was too complicated and uninstalled it."

Yang Dong thought for a moment, then said, "My dad should only have two games on his phone, ’Happy Mahjong’ and a single-player version of chess."

"There you have it."

Chen Ba explained: "You think ’Honor of Kings’ is fun because you are good at accepting new things. But for those older uncles and aunts, entering the game, they might not even know how to walk."

Match-3 games boast a low entry threshold.

After all, a few taps with the finger, seeing similar blocks disappear, and the score rising, even the elderly don’t face a high learning curve.

To make it complex and as a large-scale game like "Star Emperor" or "Divine Grace Continent" increases the learning curve, only suitable for young people and kids to play.

"I remember saying before, this is the studio’s first mobile game, a simple trial, to test the mobile game market."

"A clear market positioning and target audience is the foundation for developing a game." Chen Ba explained, "After all, when the game is made, you need to know who it’s for."

It’s normal to think it’s not fun.

The audience for match-3 games is inherently different from those for "Honor of Kings," "PUBG," and other such games.

"Our target players generally use mid-to-low-end phones, which is an indisputable fact."

Chen Ba smiled bitterly and said, "Just like the phone my dad used to have, a couple hundreds of dollars for the Changwan 4C, which, over time, lags like a PowerPoint."

What large-scale game could such a phone run?

Yang Dong is used to surfing the internet, always thinking of various large-scale games, having forgotten what devices players use for match-3 games, especially those on mobile.

For these people, playing a match-3 game while clearing phone junk is undoubtedly a surprise. After all, whether the phone lags, anyone can clearly feel it.

"If you ask them to clean phone junk, I dare say many don’t know how to clean it and have to ask their sons or grandsons to help."

"Exactly!"

Lu nodded with deep understanding: "My aunt is just like that. Every time I go home, she asks me to check her phone. Because of accidentally tapping ads, she downloaded all sorts of junk apps, like XXX videos, XX speedy versions, which lag terribly."

"So... now do you still think incorporating garbage cleaning software into match-3 games is redundant?" Chen Ba asked back.

"Alright, my mistake."

Yang Dong, being straightforward, acknowledged his error: "I really didn’t expect you to target the middle-aged and elderly market."

Of course, it’s the middle-aged and elderly!

More than two-thirds of the primary players of match-3 games are middle-aged and elderly.

Not just match-3 games.

Even games like mahjong, fight the landlord, and chess — a big portion of players are also middle-aged and elderly.

Don’t ask where the young people are.

Young people are traveling in Tivat Continent, defeating remnants in the Immortal Ship, socializing on King’s Continent, and engaging in shootouts in P City!

...

As Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Tianba Studio has also prepared a special gift for all players.

Two old simulator games are launching a historically low-priced time-limited discount, with "Star Emperor" turning into a free game, no discount necessary. Instead, there’s a "Mooncake Showdown" event in the game.

Humans’ Great Emperor and Alien Race Venerable strive for the life-extending ’mooncake’ Immortal Elixir, going to extremes, obliterating even the Great Way...

"Divine Grace Continent" is on discount.

This is the first discount since the game’s release, with a new historical low price of just 45 yuan for the personal edition.