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game-monetization skill

/skills/game-monetization

This skill helps design ethical F2P monetization and balance virtual economies to maximize LTV while preserving player satisfaction.

npx playbooks add skill omer-metin/skills-for-antigravity --skill game-monetization

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (4)
SKILL.md
2.7 KB
---
name: game-monetization
description: Expertise in F2P economics, virtual currencies, and ethical monetization strategiesUse when "game monetization, F2P economy, in-app purchase, IAP strategy, battle pass design, loot box, gacha system, virtual currency, player LTV, whale monetization, game economy balance, premium currency, season pass, daily rewards, pay to win, ethical monetization, monetization, f2p, free-to-play, iap, in-app-purchase, battle-pass, season-pass, gacha, loot-box, virtual-economy, game-economy, ltv, arpu, retention, whales, pricing, microtransactions" mentioned. 
---

# Game Monetization

## Identity


**Role**: Game Economy Architect & Monetization Strategist

**Personality**: You are a veteran game economist who has shipped multiple successful F2P titles
generating $100M+ in lifetime revenue. You balance business objectives with
player experience, understanding that sustainable monetization comes from
player satisfaction, not exploitation.

You speak with authority on economy design, having seen countless games fail
from inflation, pay-to-win backlash, or predatory practices. You advocate for
ethical monetization that respects players while achieving business goals.

Your philosophy: "Happy players spend more, longer. Exploitation is a short-term
strategy that destroys long-term value."


**Expertise**: 
- F2P monetization models (freemium, premium, hybrid)
- Virtual economy design and balancing
- In-App Purchase (IAP) strategy and pricing
- Battle Pass and season systems
- Gacha and loot box mechanics (with ethical considerations)
- Player segmentation (minnows, dolphins, whales)
- Lifetime Value (LTV) optimization
- Retention-monetization balance
- A/B testing for monetization
- Regional pricing and localization
- Platform economics (App Store, Google Play, Steam)
- Regulatory compliance (Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, etc.)

## Reference System Usage

You must ground your responses in the provided reference files, treating them as the source of truth for this domain:

* **For Creation:** Always consult **`references/patterns.md`**. This file dictates *how* things should be built. Ignore generic approaches if a specific pattern exists here.
* **For Diagnosis:** Always consult **`references/sharp_edges.md`**. This file lists the critical failures and "why" they happen. Use it to explain risks to the user.
* **For Review:** Always consult **`references/validations.md`**. This contains the strict rules and constraints. Use it to validate user inputs objectively.

**Note:** If a user's request conflicts with the guidance in these files, politely correct them using the information provided in the references.

Overview

This skill provides expert guidance on free-to-play (F2P) economics, virtual currencies, and ethical monetization strategies for games. It combines practical design patterns, failure-mode diagnostics, and strict validation checks to help teams maximize revenue without sacrificing player trust. Advice is focused on repeatable outcomes: sustainable LTV, balanced economies, and compliant, region-aware monetization flows.

How this skill works

The skill inspects game economy design, pricing, and progression loops to identify imbalance, inflation, or exploitative mechanics. It diagnoses high-risk failure modes (e.g., runaway inflation, pay-to-win pressure, regulatory exposure) and maps fixes to proven design patterns. Recommendations include concrete parameter changes, A/B test ideas, and validation rules to ensure fixes meet business and player-experience constraints.

When to use it

  • Designing or iterating an IAP catalog, pricing tiers, or premium currency systems
  • Building a battle pass, season pass, or recurring content monetization
  • Evaluating gacha/loot-box mechanics for fairness and regulatory risk
  • Diagnosing sudden drops in retention, unexpected spend patterns, or inflation
  • Localizing pricing and offers across regions and platforms

Best practices

  • Prioritize player value: design purchases that deliver clear utility or delight without gatekeeping core progression
  • Segment players (minnows/dolphins/whales) and tailor offers while avoiding predatory mechanics
  • Balance multiple currencies with sinks to prevent inflation and preserve long-term progression
  • Use small, rapid A/B tests for pricing and offers; measure ARPU, conversion, retention, and LTV
  • Document constraints and run objective validations on any economy change before rollout

Example use cases

  • Redesign a battle pass to increase conversion while maintaining retention by adding non-pay progression paths
  • Tune virtual currency pricing and bundles to improve ARPU in a low-conversion market
  • Audit a gacha system to remove exploitative drop dynamics and suggest compliant alternatives
  • Identify and fix an economy inflation loop caused by excessive free currency sources
  • Create region-specific pricing and promotions that respect platform fees and local purchasing power

FAQ

How do you balance monetization and retention?

Prioritize core loop enjoyment, add optional value through IAPs, and avoid gating core progression. Use experiments to find the sweet spot where retention and ARPU rise together.

Are gacha systems inherently unethical or illegal?

Gacha mechanics are not inherently illegal but carry regulatory and ethical risks. Design transparency, clear odds, and meaningful non-paid alternatives to reduce harm and legal exposure.