Game Optimization & Live Ops

GAME OPTIMIZATION AND LIVE OPS

Industry-Leading Game Optimization and Insights For Your Live Mobile Game Operations

Partner with AC&A to elevate your game’s live operations. With over 16 years of industry-leading experience, we continuously optimize your mobile game’s KPIs in real-time, driving profitability and maximizing player engagement.

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What is Mobile Game Live Ops Optimization?

At AC&A, we transform your game’s live operations into a strategic advantage. With over 16 years of experience, we specialize in optimizing KPIs, ensuring your focus remains on creating great games while we enhance their performance.

Our data-driven approach separates critical insights from the noise, enabling faster, more informed decisions that save time and increase profitability. We guide you in designing new features, improving ROAS, and reducing player churn through targeted live ops strategies. With AC&A, you gain access to industry-leading benchmarks and actionable advice that aligns player experience with product goals. From split-testing to recurring KPI analysis, our expertise ensures your game’s live operations are continuously optimized for long-term success.

Optimize Gameplay & MANAGE LIVE OPERATIONS

Game Optimization & Live Ops Offering:

By leveraging our specialized expertise, you can reduce player churn, increase lifetime value (LTV), and decrease player acquisition costs. Our data-driven live ops strategies help you retain players longer and optimize your game’s monetization, ensuring sustained growth and profitability in a competitive market.

KPI Dashboard
& Analysis

We provide in-depth Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboards and analysis, helping you track critical metrics like player retention, ARPU, LTV, and user engagement. Our data-driven insights allow you to make informed decisions that optimize game performance and profitability.

Data-Driven Feature
Design & Configuration

Our team designs and configures in-game features based on real player data. By analyzing player behavior and preferences, we create features that enhance engagement and satisfaction, ensuring that your updates resonate with your audience.

ROAS
Optimization

We help optimize your Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) by refining your user acquisition and in-game advertising strategies. Through targeted ads, A/B testing, and optimizing ad placements, we ensure that your advertising investments yield the highest possible return.

UX A/B
Testing

Our UX A/B testing services allow you to test and refine various elements of your user experience. We focus on improving navigation, interface design, and in-game systems to ensure players have a smooth and engaging experience, ultimately increasing retention and monetization.

Rapid Iteration &
Split-Testing

We accelerate the iteration process by running split-tests on different aspects of your game, from features to pricing models. This rapid testing approach allows us to identify and implement the most effective strategies in real-time, keeping your game competitive and optimized for success.

Tailored Live Ops
Consulting Services

Our live ops consulting services are customized to fit your specific game needs. Whether you’re looking to optimize player engagement, improve monetization, or manage in-game events, we provide expert guidance to help you achieve your goals and drive long-term growth.

Data Architecture
& Engineering

We help you define the key metrics to track, design a data architecture that efficiently collects and retains this information, and engineer custom dashboards for clear, actionable visualization. Our comprehensive approach ensures you have the right data infrastructure to drive informed decisions and optimize game performance.

Live Event
Design

Our live event design services help you create exciting, time-limited in-game events that boost player engagement and drive monetization. From special challenges to limited-edition rewards, we design events that resonate with your player base and encourage participation, resulting in spikes in retention and spending.

Seasonal Content
Planning

Let’s Get Started

Each of these service offerings is backed by our extensive experience and tailored to meet the unique needs of your mobile game, leveraging both our industry knowledge and data-driven insights.

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Gaming Platforms We Work With

While much of our work centers around mobile and freemium models, we are also well-versed in developing premium products, boxed/AAA games, and working on alternative and emerging platforms. Our extensive expertise enables us to address a diverse array of gaming needs and project requirements effectively.

MOBILE PLATFORMS

PC PLATFORMS

CONSOLE PLATFORMS

VR/AR Platforms

WEB PLATFORMS

Gaming Engines:

UNITY

UNREAL ENGINE

case studies

Relevant Success Stories

Since 2008, Adrian Crook & Associates has helped over 300 developers of all sizes maximize the ROI of their freemium games. As veteran product managers, economists, and designers, we guide each of our clients through an explicitly personalized, data-driven process. At every stage of a product’s lifecycle we provide actionable, innovative insights that deliver results.

EA Montreal

Scrabble

Electronic Arts Montreal, developers of the popular Scrabble app for Facebook and mobile, needed assistance designing, producing, and product-managing the first complete overhaul to the game in years.

ZYNGA

FrontierVille

AC&A was brought on board to provide design leadership services in the Cadence group, the team responsible for launching major features every two weeks to maintain player engagement and monetization.

Avalanche Studios group

Call Of The Wild

Managed Big Data for 6 games, processing billions of entries for millions of players over 5+ years. Built custom optimization, aggregation, and multi-level dashboards (Operational, Tactical, Strategic, Corporate) for analysis.

Aspyr Media

Sushi Mushi

AC&A first helped Aspyr’s team transition Sushi Mushi to a premium currency model, which allowed players to purchase packages of coins that could then be exchanged for in-game items.

EA SPORTS

UFC 3

LBC Studios partnered with AC&A in 2015 to create Hempire, the world’s top weed-growing game. AC&A provided freemium design, networking, and product management expertise, helping LBC grow from 2 founders to over 40 employees.

BITOGENIUS INC

Pixicade

AC&A partnered with BitOGenius Inc. for a three-month engagement aimed at boosting both user engagement and monetization for their dual physical and digital product, Pixicade.

5th Planet Games

Dawn of the Dragons

AC&A trained a Data Analyst at 5th Planet Games to become a more effective Product Manager, bridging the gap between the game team and metrics to strengthen the company’s data-driven development.

SEE ALL CASE STUDIES

Why Choose AC&A for Game Design?

Extensive Industry Experience and Proven Track Record:

With over 16 years in the gaming business and a portfolio of more than 300 clients, we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project. Our longevity ensures we will be around to follow up with you if you need to make changes or if problems arise. Our history of increasing ARPU, LTV, and player retention rates across diverse game genres demonstrates our ability to deliver impactful results.

Specialized Expertise:

We assign the right Associates to each project based on their specific genre experience and expertise, ensuring the highest quality of work. Our team includes professionals with extremely varied skillsets, from Harvard economists to monetization spreadsheet wizards, crypto gaming experts, data engineers, and data architects.

Data-Driven Decision Making:

Our approach leverages decades of industry experience and the intuition developed over those years, combined with the ability to perform in-depth analysis of player data. This ensures our recommendations and adjustments are grounded in both robust data and seasoned expertise.

Collaborative and Flexible Approach:

We work closely with your team, providing support and mentorship, and integrating seamlessly as if we were a part of your in-house staff. We adapt quickly to your needs and work with clients through whatever communication medium makes sense for them, whether it’s Google Docs, Discord, Slack, Zoom, Basecamp, Teams, or any other platform.

Trusted Partnerships and Network:

Our deep industry connections enable us to quickly assemble skilled and reliable teams to meet any project requirements. We have extensive experience in staffing entire development teams from our personal networks and sourcing work-for-hire teams. Additionally, for specialized areas like user acquisition and marketing, we collaborate with reputable partners who have a proven track record of success, ensuring a comprehensive solution for your needs.

Book Complimentary Consultation

phase 01

Foundation & Discovery

KPI & Metrics Definition

We identify the key metrics—such as retention, ARPU, and LTV—that will guide your live ops strategy and measure your game’s success, while providing relevant industry benchmarks to help you gauge performance.

Deep Product Understanding

We immerse ourselves in your game, gaining a deep understanding of its mechanics, player base, and economy to ensure that our strategies are aligned with your goals and vision.

Game Economy Assessment

Our team performs an in-depth audit of your existing game economy and live ops structure to identify opportunities for improvement.

Data Architecture & Tools Setup

We design and configure the necessary data architecture and tools to collect and analyze player data, setting the stage for ongoing optimization.

phase 02

Planning & Design

Live Ops Content Roadmap

We create a data-driven roadmap for in-game events, new features, and updates to keep players engaged and excited over time. This includes identifying seasonal content opportunities, designing event-driven features, and planning for long-term engagement.

Monetization Strategy Refinement

Our team refines your monetization model, balancing player experience with revenue generation. We consider strategies for in-app purchases, ad placements, and identify potential partnerships with outside parties, such as brands or sponsors, to enhance monetization and player experience.

Team Review & Feedback

We collaborate closely with your team to review the proposed live ops content, monetization strategies, and game features. By aligning with your development and marketing teams, we ensure a cohesive plan that fits within your broader business goals.

A/B Testing & Split-Testing

We plan for A/B testing and split-testing to continuously optimize content, events, and monetization strategies based on real-time player feedback.

phase 03

Implementation & Optimization

In-Game Event Execution

We implement in-game events and features based on the live ops roadmap, ensuring smooth execution that aligns with player behavior data.

Real-Time KPI Dashboards

Custom dashboards are engineered to track your key metrics, providing real-time insights into player engagement, retention, and revenue performance.

Rapid Iteration & Continuous Optimization

We focus on rapid iteration through A/B testing and split-testing, making real-time adjustments to optimize engagement, retention, and monetization over the long term.

Goal Setting & Forecasting

As we gather insights from ongoing optimization, we help you set internal goals for future KPIs and revenue targets, forecasting performance for upcoming features and events. We work with your team to establish quarterly plans, ensuring each new initiative aligns with both short- and long-term objectives.

Need a Data-Driven Live Operations Strategy?

Contact us today to discuss how we can help take your game to the next level. Fill out the form below or schedule a meeting for expert mobile gaming advice.

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FAQs

What is live ops optimization and why is it important?

Live ops (live operations) optimization refers to the ongoing management and enhancement of a live game to maximize player engagement, retention, and monetization. It’s essential because it helps keep the game fresh and exciting for players through new content, events, and updates, driving long-term success and profitability.

How can AC&A improve our live game operations?

We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to boost the performance of your live game. This includes optimizing in-game events, designing compelling content updates, balancing monetization with player experience, and using player data to continually refine gameplay mechanics, ensuring your game stays competitive and engaging.

What types of live ops services do you provide?

Our live ops services cover everything from event design, A/B testing, and in-game content creation to monetization strategies, user segmentation, and analytics-driven optimization. We tailor these services to your game’s specific needs, ensuring continuous player engagement and revenue growth.

How do you use data to drive live ops decisions?

We analyze real-time player data, including engagement trends, spending habits, and progression bottlenecks. This data helps us identify opportunities for new content, game balancing, and monetization enhancements, allowing us to make informed recommendations that improve the game’s performance.

What kinds of games benefit the most from live ops optimization?

Mobile and freemium games typically benefit the most from live ops optimization, but any live game, including those on PC or console, can see improvements. Games that rely on ongoing player engagement and revenue from in-app purchases or events can greatly benefit from our live ops expertise.

How often should we update our live game?

The frequency of updates depends on your player base and game genre, but regular updates are essential to keeping players engaged. We typically recommend scheduling new content, in-game events, or balance updates every 2-4 weeks, while major feature releases can happen on a quarterly basis. AC&A can help you plan an update cadence that works best for your game.

How can live ops optimization increase player retention?

Through the design of meaningful in-game events, progression adjustments, and frequent content updates, we ensure that players have reasons to return regularly. Live ops optimization focuses on keeping gameplay engaging while rewarding players for long-term commitment, increasing retention over time.

Can you help with both new games and existing live games?

Yes, we work with both new games preparing for live launch and existing live games in need of optimization. For new games, we help design a solid live ops strategy from the ground up. For existing live games, we analyze current operations and provide actionable insights to boost engagement and monetization.

How soon can we start seeing results from live ops optimization?

Results from live ops optimization can often be seen within a few weeks after implementing recommended changes, especially when focused on in-game events or monetization tweaks. Continuous improvement over the long term typically results in significant player retention and revenue growth.

What platforms do you support for live ops optimization?

We support a wide range of gaming platforms including mobile (iOS, Android), PC, console, and emerging platforms. Our team has experience optimizing live ops strategies across various genres and platforms to suit your specific needs.