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Pocket Gems leverages PubNub to create a greater sense of community and heighten player engagement in their mobile strategy game, War Dragons.
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries
- Software
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
- Remote Collaboration
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
When Pocket Gems began building War Dragons in 2013, they intended for the game to be heavily reliant on multiplayer interactions. However, they soon realized the importance of social interaction for player engagement and retention. Initially, they built their own in-game chat, which allowed for simple text exchanges. This solution worked for private chats but was insufficient for real-time battles where players needed to communicate quickly and effectively. The challenge was to provide a robust, real-time chat solution that could handle the high volume of messages and users during large-scale battles and events.
About The Customer
Pocket Gems, based in San Francisco, has been creating graphically rich and innovative mobile games for over 11 years. They specialize in offering unique mobile experiences that appeal to a wide range of players, from narrative games to strategic, multiplayer titles with a focus on combat. A common theme in all their games is the ability to unite players globally. One of their flagship games, War Dragons, is a 3D real-time mobile strategy game where players collaborate to build dragon armies, form guilds, and battle rivals. The company emphasizes creating interactive experiences that connect players worldwide.
The Solution
To address the need for robust real-time communication, Pocket Gems implemented PubNub as their in-game chat solution for War Dragons. This allowed them to offer real-time chat for private conversations, group chats between guild members, and large-scale battles. Players could share contextual information like battle positions, enhancing their sense of connection and engagement. Additionally, PubNub enabled real-time updates, allowing Pocket Gems to push notifications about crucial events or changes in the game. This made the game more captivating and lively, as players received updates in real-time rather than only when they logged in. The implementation of PubNub was quick and seamless, allowing Pocket Gems to scale their chat and update features effortlessly.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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