Meghana P S
🌾 FarmDale Portfolio
This repository showcases the FarmDale Market Challenges Infographic and product strategy case study.
📂 Project Pages
🚀 Product Strategy Case Study: FarmDale Retention Improvement
This repository outlines a focused strategy to reduce player drop-off in the mid-to-late stages of FarmDale, ensuring long-term player loyalty and maximizing revenue potential.
🎯 Goal & Executive Summary
The primary objective is to enhance the player experience during risky mid-game phases, leading to measurable increases in overall user retention.
| Metric | Target | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Player Retention | +20% Increase | Next 3 Months |
💡 Why This Goal is Critical
- Sustainable Growth: Retention is fundamental for success in free-to-play (F2P) games. Improved retention increases lifetime value (LTV) of each player.
- Revenue Uplift: Higher engagement creates more opportunities for in-app purchases (IAPs).
- Strategic Focus: The goal is S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), giving clear direction for the product team.
🛠️ Strategy to Achieve the Goal: 5-Step Framework
Our approach focuses on targeted interventions based on player data and psychological triggers.
1. Analyze Current Retention Metrics
Establish a precise data baseline to identify when and where players leave the game.
Metrics to track:
- DAU (Daily Active Users): Unique players per day. Shows immediate game health.
- WAU (Weekly Active Users): Unique players per 7 days. Reflects medium-term engagement.
- Churn Rate: Percentage of players who stop playing during a period. Core problem we aim to reduce.
Identify high-dropoff points:
- Example: Level 32, Level 45, or after unlocking key features like the Cauldron machine.
2. Identify Pain Points
Focus on the 3 major player frustrations that lead to quitting:
- Long waiting times for crops/buildings: Aggressive time-gating can cause impatience and boredom.
- Confusing tutorials or unclear progression: Players may feel lost after the initial tutorial.
- Resource shortages limiting gameplay: Poorly balanced loops force repetitive grinding and frustration.
3. Implement Solutions
Deploy targeted feature changes to address the pain points:
- Daily Mini-Rewards: Encourage habitual play with a robust daily streak system.
- Faster Early-Level Progression: Reduce XP/time for Levels 1–15 to hook new players quickly.
- Special Events/Challenges: Short-term high-reward events (e.g., “Village Trade Fair”) to motivate mid-to-late game players.
4. Test & Iterate
Use statistical testing to ensure strategies are effective:
- A/B Testing: Compare two versions (e.g., faster crops vs. bonus rewards) to identify what improves retention the most.
- Example: Measure retention impact of faster crop growth versus resource bonus rewards.
5. Measure Success
Continuous monitoring and adaptation:
- Track DAU, WAU, and churn weekly: Compare against baseline to quantify improvements.
- Adjust strategies: If D30 retention rises but D7 remains flat, refine daily habit loops to optimize engagement.
📈 Expected Outcome
- Stronger Engagement: Players spend more time and return regularly, forming a predictable habit.
- Increased Monetization Opportunities: More engaged audience = more chances for IAPs and social interactions.
- Long-Term Loyalty: Reduce frustration and replace repetitive tasks with rewarding events, sustaining the game for years.