Rules of Play

Use these prompts to guide post-game or between-round discussion. The best learning happens when students connect in-game decisions to real industry dynamics.

Monetization vs. retention

• 1.Which monetization strategy produced the most long-term value? Why?
• 2.How did aggressive monetization (M1) affect your user base over time?
• 3.Is there a 'right' balance between revenue per user and retention? What does that look like in real games?

Acquisition strategy

• 1.When is it worth paying $20K for 500 users vs. $0 for 20 users?
• 2.How did rising costs in later rounds change your acquisition decisions?
• 3.Compare CPI across strategies. Is lowest CPI always best?

Bankruptcy & risk

• 1.Which teams went bankrupt? What sequence of decisions led there?
• 2.How does the bankruptcy threshold create tension? Would the game feel different at −$10K vs −$50K?
• 3.Is it ever strategically correct to risk bankruptcy?

Long-term thinking

• 1.How does the valuation multiplier reward long-term retention strategy?
• 2.If you played again, what would you do differently in rounds 1–2?
• 3.What real-world metrics map to the game's formulas? (LTV, CPI, ARPU, D30 retention)

Connecting to real metrics

• 1.How does this game's retention model simplify real-world cohort analysis?
• 2.What market dynamics does the rising cost mechanic represent?
• 3.How would you extend this model to include factors like seasonality, virality, or competitor launches?