Any game marketer can tell you how challenging it is to create ads to market your game. Getting your game discovered by the players requires you to produce and test new ad concepts constantly. No matter how big or small your team is, this process is extremely time-consuming and non-trivial. In this case study, we’ll take a closer look at how using Layer and Playable Factory’s Gearbox and combined can help you create ads - focusing on playables- cheaper and more efficiently.
What are Playable Ads?
Playable Ads are one of the leading ad formats used in mobile gaming which has been proven to be a more effective way to grab the attention of potential players. These ads, by definition, are interactive ads which allow users to experience a game before downloading it. In comparison to other types of mobile ads, they have been shown to have higher engagement and conversion rates and, therefore, became an attractive ad format for many marketers. In this case study, we’ll take a closer look at how using Layer and Playable Factory’s latest solution Gearbox and combined, can help you create ads cheaper and more efficiently.
Playable Factory is a Key Player.
Playable Factory is a significant player in the ad-tech industry, known for creating a 'wow' factor with their engaging and interactive advertisements. This company enjoys the trust of the biggest game developers, with their games having been played millions of times.
Their suite of tools - Gearbox Playable, Gearbox Flex, and Gearbox Insight - aid in simplifying the process of creating playable ads. These tools allow users to edit, create, and iterate their fully customizable playable ads and use insights to identify the top-performing ads.
Committed to being a comprehensive provider for digital advertising, Playable Factory consistently pushes the envelope in creating engaging, interactive, and successful advertising campaigns.
What Art Assets were Needed to Create this Playable Ad?
Characters
Background images
Environments
UI elements
How Did Playable Factory use Layer.ai to Create Production-Ready Game Assets?
1. Train a character style
Playable Factory utilized character assets to train Layer.ai in specific art styles. By uploading these assets to Layer, they enabled the AI to learn the art style and generate new character designs. Layer Pro and above plans support style training. Read more about our plans here
2. Or use public styles...
Due to time constraints and limited existing assets, Playable Factory employed both public styles provided by Layer and styles developed in-house. The chosen styles, such as Game Backgrounds V2, Game UI v1, and Game Icons V2, were used for backgrounds, environment items, and UI elements.
3. Generate assets
Whether utilizing public styles or in-house styles, Playable Factory generated new assets using the forge screen, providing a diverse range of options for ad creative.
4. Refine in the canvas
For assets that required minor adjustments, the Playable Factory team employed Asset Studio, Layer's AI-powered canvas, to make necessary edits.
5. Export the assets to Layer drive
Exported assets were stored on Layer Drive, then uploaded to Gearbox Playable creation platform, streamlining the process of turning creative assets into engaging playable ads.
6. Upload and deploy
Upload them to Gearbox Playable creation platform, and the rest is history.
Conclusion: Embracing AI for Creative Advancement
In the dynamic landscape of the gaming industry, staying ahead of the curve is not just a strategy but a necessity. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era of possibilities, and its benefits to ad creative production is a game-changer:
AI offers unparalleled efficiency in the creation of marketing assets, significantly reducing the time it takes to conceptualize, design, and iterate on ad campaigns. What took days can now be accomplished in a matter of hours.
This accelerated pace not only allows us to seize emerging trends promptly but also ensures that our messages remain fresh and relevant in a fast-paced digital landscape.
Beyond the evident efficiency gains and cost savings, AI holds the promise of unlocking new dimensions of creativity: By leveraging AI, you can produce and test more concepts faster and enhance user engagement establishing a deeper connection between players and the games we promote.
Acting like your creative assistant, AI helps inspire you with novel ideas that could form the foundations of marketing campaigns that transcend the boundaries of convention.
As we stand on the precipice of a transformative era, the call to explore AI-powered ad creative production is resounding. The journey may seem unfamiliar, but it is a path worth treading. The speed, cost-effectiveness, and creative potential offered by AI are not mere promises but tangible opportunities waiting to be seized. By embracing AI, we are not only streamlining our processes but also positioning ourselves as pioneers in an evolving industry. The fusion of human ingenuity with AI's computational prowess is where the future of game marketing lies – an intersection where innovation flourishes, and success is redefined.
So, let us embark on this journey together The future is calling, and it's time to answer with AI-enhanced creativity leading the way!