8 ms·

First employee, pseudo-founder of Doubledown Casino here (now the highest grossing game on the iPad). The interesting thing is that we were absolute crap at the

by n72 11y ago

First employee, pseudo-founder of Doubledown Casino here (now the highest grossing game on the iPad). The interesting thing is that we were absolute crap at the actual gamification stuff. It was simply the slots machine mechanic which drew people in. I (and another person) kept trying to push the principles of gamification, the psychological tricks, etc which had worked so well for the likes of Zynga (not entirely proud of that, of course), but were for the most part utterly ignored by the other couple of guys who didn't understand their value. So, what I find interesting here is that even without the gamification bells and whistles, the simple mechanic of a poorly skinned, very buggy slots game (which is what we had in the begging) was enough to skyrocket us (along with ridiculously cheap facebook ads back in the wild west days of the platform.)

austenallred 11y ago
> the slot machine mechanic... drew people in I'm not sure I understand what you're saying; do you mean that people were literally looking for an iPad version of a slot machine, and you just filled that void?
- n72 11y ago
  No, we were originally just a flash app on FB and did mobile later. My point is that even without all the gamification bells and whistles we were very successful. It was the very simple mechanics of a slots game which drew people in — we didn't need leader boards, badges, levels, and all that other gamification stuff.
macrael 11y ago
I'd argue that a slot machine is spiritually the same as "gamification" in general.
- n72 11y ago
  I absolutely agree. It's gamification distilled to its essence in a sense. I was only making that point that we didn't even do research on color or sound or anything like that. We just had a very, very simple version of a buggy slots game and even that was enough.
ryanjshaw 11y ago
Given that you are aware that you are basically exploiting the digital equivalent of an highly addictive substance that does lead to ruined lives/families/careers, does this weigh on your mind, and if not, why not? [1] [1] Casino licenses in most countries are tied to paying for treatment of people with gambling addiction/compulsions - similar to how many countries approach decriminalisation of addictive substances. I assume you do not fund any such programs - is that correct?
- n72 11y ago
  I'm not sure why I'd discuss this with some random person on the internet. If you'd like to tell me that you think I did something morally wrong, feel free to do so, but have the courtesy of not disingenuously cloaking it as a question. (FWIW, I haven't been with the company since 2012.)
  - mb_72 11y ago
    I wouldn't work for gaming company in the same way I wouldn't work for a weapons company. Poker machines cause a lot of problems to not only individuals but to families; time and again I read about someone massively in debt in the local paper or internet news, someone who often has been driven to theft or fraud to support their habit. Where I live (Adelaide, South Australia) one local politician has 'made' his career on a no-pokies stance. In addition to the gambling issues, the presence of poker machines in my city has help kill off the live music scene. Pub owners now prefer to make their money from zombies-slot players, and the community and friendly atmosphere created by humans playing music has been practically destroyed as a result. IMO poker machines, especially, are a blight on the gaming world. I only feel lucky the dumbed-down 'game play' is nothing that would appeal to me or people I know, and personally speaking I would never want to use my software skills to help separate some of society's most vulnerable and naive from their money.
    - n72 11y ago
      Thank you for being straight forward with your criticism. I can't say I disagree all that much. There is a legitimate other side which would argue that your stance is too paternalistic. E.g. where do we draw the line as a society to protect ourselves from ourselves? Alcoholism is a terrible and wide spread disease. Should we outlaw pubs? I'm not arguing for one side or the other, but merely that it's a rather complicated issue and the arguments on both sides should recognize that.
jrpt 11y ago
Just double checked because I didn't believe what you said about the highest grossing game. The top grossing games on iPad varies by market but is one of Clash of Clans, Game of War: Fire Age, or Candy Crush Saga, except in Japan where it's Puzzles & Dragons. Doubledown Casino is high up there but it isn't the highest grossing game on the iPad. Clash of Clans and GoW:FA are making a multiplicative factor more than Doubledown Casino. I believe you about the slot machine mechanic though.
- n72 11y ago
  I was simply going by this. I have nothing to do with the company anymore and don't actively follow things in that space so could well be mistaken: http://bgr.com/2015/04/16/top-paid-ios-apps-double-down-casino/ http://bgr.com/2015/04/16/top-paid-ios-apps-double-down-casi...

by n72 11y ago

austenallred 11y ago

> the slot machine mechanic... drew people in I'm not sure I understand what you're saying; do you mean that people were literally looking for an iPad version of a slot machine, and you just filled that void?

n72 11y ago
No, we were originally just a flash app on FB and did mobile later. My point is that even without all the gamification bells and whistles we were very successful. It was the very simple mechanics of a slots game which drew people in — we didn't need leader boards, badges, levels, and all that other gamification stuff.

macrael 11y ago

I'd argue that a slot machine is spiritually the same as "gamification" in general.

n72 11y ago
I absolutely agree. It's gamification distilled to its essence in a sense. I was only making that point that we didn't even do research on color or sound or anything like that. We just had a very, very simple version of a buggy slots game and even that was enough.

ryanjshaw 11y ago

Given that you are aware that you are basically exploiting the digital equivalent of an highly addictive substance that does lead to ruined lives/families/careers, does this weigh on your mind, and if not, why not? [1] [1] Casino licenses in most countries are tied to paying for treatment of people with gambling addiction/compulsions - similar to how many countries approach decriminalisation of addictive substances. I assume you do not fund any such programs - is that correct?

n72 11y ago
I'm not sure why I'd discuss this with some random person on the internet. If you'd like to tell me that you think I did something morally wrong, feel free to do so, but have the courtesy of not disingenuously cloaking it as a question. (FWIW, I haven't been with the company since 2012.)
- mb_72 11y ago
  I wouldn't work for gaming company in the same way I wouldn't work for a weapons company. Poker machines cause a lot of problems to not only individuals but to families; time and again I read about someone massively in debt in the local paper or internet news, someone who often has been driven to theft or fraud to support their habit. Where I live (Adelaide, South Australia) one local politician has 'made' his career on a no-pokies stance. In addition to the gambling issues, the presence of poker machines in my city has help kill off the live music scene. Pub owners now prefer to make their money from zombies-slot players, and the community and friendly atmosphere created by humans playing music has been practically destroyed as a result. IMO poker machines, especially, are a blight on the gaming world. I only feel lucky the dumbed-down 'game play' is nothing that would appeal to me or people I know, and personally speaking I would never want to use my software skills to help separate some of society's most vulnerable and naive from their money.
  - n72 11y ago
    Thank you for being straight forward with your criticism. I can't say I disagree all that much. There is a legitimate other side which would argue that your stance is too paternalistic. E.g. where do we draw the line as a society to protect ourselves from ourselves? Alcoholism is a terrible and wide spread disease. Should we outlaw pubs? I'm not arguing for one side or the other, but merely that it's a rather complicated issue and the arguments on both sides should recognize that.

jrpt 11y ago

Just double checked because I didn't believe what you said about the highest grossing game. The top grossing games on iPad varies by market but is one of Clash of Clans, Game of War: Fire Age, or Candy Crush Saga, except in Japan where it's Puzzles & Dragons. Doubledown Casino is high up there but it isn't the highest grossing game on the iPad. Clash of Clans and GoW:FA are making a multiplicative factor more than Doubledown Casino. I believe you about the slot machine mechanic though.

n72 11y ago
I was simply going by this. I have nothing to do with the company anymore and don't actively follow things in that space so could well be mistaken: http://bgr.com/2015/04/16/top-paid-ios-apps-double-down-casino/ http://bgr.com/2015/04/16/top-paid-ios-apps-double-down-casi...