Data Analytics Beyond Music: Lessons for Gaming Platforms

Explore how gaming platforms use data analytics to boost user engagement, personalize gameplay, and improve competitive player strategies.
Data Analytics Beyond Music: Lessons for Gaming Platforms
Matic Magister

Data Analytics Beyond Music: Lessons for Gaming Platforms and User Engagement

Data is a useful tool that can help us better understand any fan base. Most might be familiar with how it is used in music. Producers and even bands might research the data in order to make a decision about which direction they should take their music. But, it isn’t just music apps or producers that can greatly benefit from data analysis.

Many have pointed out that all entertainment can find something good in the data. The 21st century is an era of digital progress and rapid development. No platform benefits more from these two factors than video games. That is why we are going to take a look at how data analytics can change gaming platforms and improve user engagement if used correctly.

Curated Gaming on an Individual Level

Data analytics invokes a sense of multiplicity for many. The process can work to explain how a large group of people might react to a given change in a game. This is in part why video games have beta testers. Game studios can change up the game in a way that will appeal to the broadest population of gamers possible by analyzing the reactions of the beta players. But, what if they could take it one step further? What if game studios could curate games for each individual player?

Something of the sort is already being done in iGaming. Game studios are creating unique lists of games for each player. They base the games on the user’s history on the website, and with the help of AI find similar games that might satisfy that player. The tactic used by real money casinos online seems to be very effective. After all, their popularity has skyrocketed in the past ten years. Data analysis in this case is an invaluable tool that elevates the iGaming experience on a whole new level.

The iGaming market is not the only one that can benefit from this type of data analysis. Mainstream video game shops are also taking a step to create better and more exciting lists of recommendations for each individual user. Steam is doing a pretty good job of creating curated lists based on a player’s past proclivity. It saves time on browsing the shop and gives hardcore gamers a way to discover games that they will certainly enjoy. All thanks to data analysis. 

Learning More About the Players’ Desires

Gaming analytics can shape the future of the industry in many ways. Game companies can truly study what gamers want to see in the future, and use that knowledge to create a better and more vibrant gaming market. Music artists will almost certainly pay close attention to song analytics in order to understand their fans better. Game designers also study a game’s analytics in just such a way. They research which games players enjoyed and why, and using that knowledge create new games that focus on the aspect that the gamers want more of. 

This kind of approach to game design can be a double-edged sword in some cases. That is when the game designer puts too much stock in the data. Many of the games that people like to play are valued because of their originality. An attempt to replicate that originality can be a success. However, it can also be seen as a cheap knock-off by many fans and derided. The worst part is that game developers can’t really tell which side the windmill will tilt to until it is too late. That is why relying solely on data analytics might not be the best approach.

Ignoring them entirely is also not the best course of action. Many successful MMORPGs have taken a massive hit to their player base and revenue because the developers ignored fans’ desires and stuck to their guns on a new patch. The fans will walk away if they don’t enjoy the product that has been given to them. It would have done some good to pay attention to the game’s analytics in these instances. The trouble is deciding when it is best to trust the data fully, and when it is best to use it as a guiding light.

How Data Analysis Can Help Competitive Players

In this last segment we are turning our sight towards the eSports segment of gaming. Data analysis can help competitive players formulate better strategies and rise to the top. Observing the past tournaments and competitions can yield valuable information about players’ approach to gaming. It can shed light on how one player might use the map to great effect or how another can pull off an incredible combo using the abilities given to them. A savvy player who wants to improve might use this data to adjust their own gameplay in the future.

Of course the data could also be used in different, shrewder ways. It is a common strategy in sports to observe the opposing team before playing against them. Observation gives players the ability to understand their strategies and even come up with counters. The same logic could be applied in eSports. Competitive gamers can come up with some pretty sly counters by watching how others play their characters. They can also look into the statistics on which character is best suited to go up against their upcoming opponent’s main. Data analytics like these are almost certainly being used in professional gaming, and quite effectively at that.

Closing Remarks

The video game industry is thriving now more than ever. Online gaming is particularly a successful sub-segment of video games. However, even small independent games have a chance to make it big. We would attribute this rise in popularity to several factors. The biggest is certainly the growing availability of highly advanced technology that allows indie creators to put out high-quality games that can compete with the top dogs. The other reason is the success of data analytics and the availability of the research after it has been published. Indie creators know what the fans want, and are willing to give them an unforgettable experience.

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Matic Magister

Matic Magister

Head of Database at Viberate
Experienced team leader, wielding precision and adept interpersonal skills, effortlessly navigating the most intricate data challenges.