游戏邦注：本文作者是Matthew Tubergen。Matt是手机内容领域的专家，他已同迪斯尼、NFL和卢卡斯影业之类的品牌公司合作10年之久。Matt目前主管W3i旗下的发行工作室和投资基金Recharge Studios。

我们曾谈到通过折扣通知促使玩家回访游戏。折扣可以运用至应用当中的各类产品（游戏邦注：包括虚拟商品和限时打折）。还有另一通知类型是极限通知，这是我们今天要谈论的主题。

screen from iosnoops.com

什么是极限通知？

限时通知是关于玩家完成游戏任务但未活跃参与的通知。当免费玩家触及极限数量或完成某项任务，需要下步前进指示，其就面临极限情况。

极限通知类型

随着免费增值游戏的发展，极限类型中的任务和成也将发生改变。以下是几大极限类型：

* 时间极限

* 消亡极限

* 数量极限

当游戏活动达到规定时间限制（游戏邦注：如建造、钓鱼和种植内容），就会出现时间极限。通知告诉玩家，“现在我完啦，该怎么办？”

消亡极限通常是指游戏元素过期，或存在“鼎盛时期”。这些通知通常运用至植物/食物、动物和魔法元素。通知告诉玩家“快点，在内容过期或消失前完成”。

数量极限通常指内容达到定额或顶峰。很多融入收割或收集商品元素的社交游戏都有关卡道具持有限额。当玩家达到此极限时，通知就会提醒玩家扩大存储选项，或登陆游戏，利用所收集的商品进行某些操作。

何时使用极限通知

极限通知最好充当促进公告，通知会先于其他行为发生前出现。虽然我们也可以运用本地通知，但这价值不大，因为此时玩家已经开始重返游戏，能够清楚知晓达到极限会出现什么情况。

通知必不可少

不论你觉得哪种通知最适合，需确保植入一种。通知在促进免费增值游戏获得成功方面是个必不可少的元素。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

Freemium Game Mechanics: Threshold Alerts

by SmartApp Marketing

Last week we examined the use of discounting alerts to drive users back into your game. Discounts can be applied to a variety of products within an app including virtual goods and discounts of time (making something hurry or rush). Another realm of alerts include threshold alerts, the subject of this week’s Mastering .

What are threshold alerts?

Threshold alerts are alerts associated with completing tasks within a game while not actively playing the game. Anytime a maximum quantity has been hit or a task has been completed and needs direction to move forward, a freemium gamer has hit a threshold.

Kinds of Threshold Alerts

As freemium gaming involves, note that tasks and achievements that fall under the threshold category very likely will change. For the purpose of this post here’s a started list of what could be considered a threshold.

* Time Thresholds

* Decay Thresholds

* Maximum Thresholds

Time thresholds are met when actions with in a game have completed their prescribed time limit, such as building, fishing, and planting. An alert tells the gamer “okay, I’m done, now what?”

Decay thresholds most often refer to elements of a game that expire, or have a “prime period.” Often these alerts are applied to plants/food, animals and elements of magic. An alert tells a gamer “hurry up and get it before it’s rotten or gone.”

Maximum thresholds refer to hitting quota or caps. A lot of social games that involve harvesting or collecting goods throughout the game have a limit on how much of one item you can retain at each level. When you hit that threshold an alert will remind a gamer to bulk up storage options or to come into the game and do something with all the goods collected.

When to Use Threshold Alerts

Threshold alerts are best served as a push notification, a notification that pre-empts other activities taking place on the phone. While a local alert could be used, it wouldn’t be very valuable as a gamer is already on their way back into the game and should be able to clearly see if any of the thresholds have been met.

Alerts are a must.

Whatever you decide that works best in your schedule, make sure you have one. Alerts are an absolute must in driving the success of your freemium games. Do you have a question about freemium gaming or a topic you’d like us to explore? Let us know in the comments or catch us on twitter @rechargestudios or @w3i.

Matthew Tubergen, Product Manager, Recharge Studios, W3i, LLC

Matt is a mobile content expert with a decade of experience working with brands that include Disney, NFL and LucasArts. Matt heads up W3i’s wholly owned publishing arm and investment fund, Recharge Studios（Source：smartappmarketing）