365games: eSports platform and website development

About the project

365games is an eSports platform for online gaming enthusiasts. Its goal is to unite gaming fans and diversify the gameplay. With the help of this platform, one can create a team, complete tasks, participate in partners’ tournaments, and receive prizes. In addition, players could convert their points for completed tasks to cash rewards according to the platform’s competitive rating.

Assignment

365games platform should convey the following product features:

Global product:

• Worldwide accessible platform;
• 6 languages support;
• Constantly expanding the top games list.

Daily gaming addition:

• The atmosphere of competition;
• Live interaction between players;
• Possibility to relax and receive bonuses.

Server security:

• Payment for subscriptions;
• Fast players’ personal data processing;
• Wallets support;
• End-to-end encryption to prevent cyberattacks and data leaks.

Marketing website:

• Product’s benefits showcase;
• Platform sign-up point;
• Inspiring conventional gaming industry design.

Strategy

Cooperation model: “technical partnership”.The client gives business ideas, while the technical team turns them into assignments. Thus, the client focuses exclusively on business while saving time on deep software analytics and technical execution.

Implementation

Platform’s MVP was developed to analyze the audience, understand the basic needs, and develop hypotheses at the early stages of product development. We’ve divided all the functions into two versions:

1. MVP with main features (5-6 months to launch).
2. The second platform version with regard to new features and tested theories.

MVP development

Tournaments

The client considered a “partner platform” — new features ortournaments would be added through integrations with partner services. However, during idea testing, we found that integrations overload the platform.

Instead, we offered our tournament system. It consists of creating an event, invitation of teams, match management, and a system for awarding points and cash prizes. This system is more flexible,as tournaments are easily manageable by the client.

Leaderboard

The leaderboard flow is the following:

1. Player connects an account to the platform.
2. Profile is automatically included in the game’s standings.
3. Completed tasks and prize points move players in the leaderboard.
4. The best players receive cash bonuses monthly.

Subscription system

The platform’s subscription system allows players to receive more bonuses in tournaments, for completed tasks, and on standings.

Each subscription level also expands the abilities of the gaming platform.

Subscribers receive more rewards and additional tasks.

Reward system

There are two types of rewards on the platform: basic and additional. Basic rewards are given to top players and the platform’s competition winners. Additional prizes motivate subscribers. There are the following types of these prizes:

• Lucky Drafts — a daily reward for a randomly selected winner;
• One Dollar Day — a daily bonus for players with paid subscriptions.

Server Architecture

We required a redistribution system to meet the global platform goal. So, we installed the platform on Amazon Web Services servers. We chose this option for two reasons:

1. First, the Amazon platform automatically distributes the load to servers worldwide.
2. Second, Amazon servers are protected from cyberattacks by special encryption. As a result, the platform is fully reliable and user-friendly.

Creating a marketing website

The product’s benefits showcase and the sign-up point were realized by creating a separate marketing website that motivates potential users to join the platform.

The website was designed according to eSports traditions to engage people in the gameplay immediately.

Results

The client received a ready-made MVP of the platform in 6 months. The final project included detailed server logic, essential functions, and a marketing website.

In addition, we added the in-platform and e-mail user notification system according to the client’s request. The platform is being tested by esports players, gaming bloggers, and streamers.

According to the plan, the next version of the product will have the following elements:

1. In-game store to exchange points for gaming merch.
2. Chat for players inside the platform.
3. Mobile application based on the ready-made server logic from the web application. It’ll allow using the platform without folding the game on the PC.
4. Micro-management opportunities for gaming teams. For example, communication and fan events.

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