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How Super Mario Run Onboards New Users

useronboard.com

34 points by samuelhulick 9 years ago · 8 comments

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georgeecollins 9 years ago

This is hilarious, but the only thing I disagree with is taking a screen to introduce saving the princess. Yes the original Mario didn't need a narrative hook and this one doesn't either. But reinforcing the narrative of Mario adds value to their brand that has a long term payoff. Mario isn't just a video game anymore, in case you missed the closing of the Olympics. Yeah, saving the princess is a worn out narrative, but they get grandfathered in on being able to use it.

zimmund 9 years ago

I wonder through how many hoops devs have to jump to ship a "simple" game for a big company.

The numerous steps until the game starts makes me think there are more managers than actual [gaming] experts chipping in on the concept. The game is more fun if those who are making it have fun too!

samuelhulickOP 9 years ago

Super Mario Run was a smash hit in terms of downloads -- over 50 million in its first couple weeks -- but was a disappointment in terms of revenue: not quite so many of those trial players turned into paying ones as anticipated.

What part did player onboarding play in that surprise?

  • intoverflow2 9 years ago

    >What part did player onboarding play in that surprise?

    Most important part of onboarding for Super Mario Run and the most important part in it's success* was the 31 year onboarding that a chubby red plumber jumping on pipes is actually fun.

    * can't really call it success by Nintendo standards only current day App Store standards.

  • sprite 9 years ago

    Of course they got a ton of downloads. Apple promoted it in the App Store before it was even launched and also sent out an email blast when it launched.

wodenokoto 9 years ago

At least he didn't have to create a nintendo account. That was brutal, especially on an old phone, where the in-app browser kept crashing without error notification.

ckdarby 9 years ago

73 clicks to go through the slides just to reach a to be continued for the game portion.

The irony...

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