How often should I show ads to user?

Hi guys,

I am nearly done with my mobile game and been wondering how often should I display full screen ads to users?

Also how is it done? Do you measure the X amount of times player loses or put a timer?

Thanks in advance

 

IMO dont show any, ask for donations to make cash, just my opinion, think about how you prob dont like ads yourself

 

I guess it depends on what type of game it is, does the player get a benefit for watching or a 'penalty' for not watching, is there an opt out option (pay $1 for ad free version?), etc ?

I've deleted games that pop ads up full screen & stop me playing but I've also watched ads where I get the choice (to kick some $ to the devs e.g. Out of lives, gain some by watching ads or wait 30mins for regen; would I like to get 20 free gold by watching an ad? Would I like a hint (for puzzlers) for watching an ad)

Banner ads are painful on small devices as they end up being close to the game controls & in the middle of hectic bits you end up hitting the banner & loading the ad page = instant delete on my stuff.

 

It depends on your game, and how to fit them in the flow.

If it was a very short game like Flappy Birds, I would consider putting in an ad every Nth game or wait for a game finish after Nth minute since the last ad. But people seemed happy with an ad after every Flappy Bird game as it wasn't too much trouble to dismiss.

If it is a medium length game such as a shoot-em-up, the one after each game should not be too much.

If it is a long game such as Monopoly, at an opportune position after Nth minute since the last ad.

Just make sure you don't use a service that animates a full screen ad coming in, but makes it clickable immediately. Tap Titans is terrible for that. Click to bring up on a menu and immediately click on an option, but an ad is appearing that you don't see until after the click and you have to wait for the app to send you to the App Store (or hit the Home button and don't return). That is the kind of trick that gives ads a bad name.

 

Thanks for replies,

For now I am displaying an ad every 3 games only when player loses. Full-screen ad comes up before any buttons appear. Not when player quits the game and not when he opens shop/settings etc.

In what way would it stop you from playing? Would it pop-up when the level starts/randomly in the middle?

I am planning to add "Watch video get coins" function. It would be a nice feature

I guess I will do that kind of thing in the future. Like post dev logs and get revenue from donations + video ads, but I don't think that'll work here since I've already spent money on that. Donation won't be a good source of revenue here.

 

It was just in between each level, or on those endless games it was when I died, which can be every few seconds. What basically annoyed me was being forced to watch ads that broke the flow of the game.

 

They show ads everytime you died/went on new level?

 

Certainly seemed like it. It was so incessant that I removed it. I don't mind running the odd ad to help the devs but this was just blatant abuse of the player

 

Do you remember the name of the app?

 

No, but it was one of those ketchapp games.