To make any game a success, it has to tap into a passionate audience (unless, of course, you’re taking a huge risk by trying to innovate and create a whole new genre). Therein lies the challenge: since you only have so many fans of a given genre to reach, which is further limited by your advertising budget, you’ll have to pick your battles wisely.

Today, we’ll be looking at 3 examples of clever marketing that lies at the very forefront of these games’ design. If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s best to siphon it from those who have had the insight necessary to press all the right buttons and combine two passions into one and build a game that speaks to both audiences.

But enough talk. Let’s look at some practical examples instead.

America’s Army

So if we know that young boys tend to like playing video games and our objective is to get them to sign up for the army, why not create a game that hypes them up for it? Brilliant! America’s army, however, is much more than that. In fact, it’s an army training simulator that offers a realistic glimpse into what it’s like to be a soldier and keep it interesting at the same time. Since it was released, millions of gamers have given it a spin.

The fact that it was distributed as a free download was likely a huge part of its success. Coupled with its online multiplayer-driven community, and it’s a recipe for success right there. It’s very much a role-centric experience too: would you rather be a part of the action in the heat of battle or a paramedic that acts as a supporting unit away from the main spotlight? If it’s the latter, you’ll have to pass a realistic combat medic simulator first! Among the other things, it teaches you to always tend to the most critically injured soldiers as the main priority, then work your way down.

Diablo III

This MMO title accomplished what no one else had dared trying before: its in-game auction house allowed you to purchase and sell items and equipment and trade with other players. Unlike typical in-game purchases and similar mechanisms found in other online games, this meant that, for a limited time only, it was made possible for anyone to make real money by playing Diablo III without resorting to third-party marketplaces, coaching, and similar. The kind you could take to the local bank and feed your family with.

To put it in perspective, the system functioned similarly to eBay. As a buyer, you were presented with an opportunity to search for an item you were interested in, and the seller enjoyed the benefit of selling it to the highest bidder. Although the developers decided to remove this breakthrough feature as time went on, it secured its place in the history of gaming as the first of its kind.

Casimaru

It’s no secret that the Japanese are absolutely nuts about gaming. Traditionally speaking, they are also known to enjoy their gambling vices. It doesn’t take long to notice all the Pachinko slots in various parlors all around Japan and Baccarat is the most popular game in their casinos by far. If anything, these casinos are only growing in popularity.

As time went on, the game devs caught onto the idea of combining gaming with gambling, which is what gave birth to Casimaru. It goes without saying that it soon became a big hit on a national level. In essence, it’s taking a proven recipe – a typical casino slots game – and infusing it with RPG elements. In other words, leveling up a character as you progress through the game, collecting new gear, and unlocking new abilities that allow you to stand a better chance against tough bosses in this RPG-like casino adventure. It won’t take long for other developers to learn from the example, so we may be entering an era of the 2.0 online casino.

Conclusion

All of these titles accomplished something amazing by tapping into multiple passions that various groups if gamers have, all while finding a way to fulfill all of them within a single product. Without a shred of doubt, these all serve as examples to learn and draw inspiration from.