Retention by design, with a Rovio art director: creativity, games, and keeping your users

Retention Masterclass

We tend to think of great design as something that captures attention. But is it also something that keeps attention … and fosters retention?

In this episode of Retention Masterclass Peggy Anne Salz and I are talking with Tatu Petersen-Jessen, an art director at Rovio, about design and creative in mobile games from acquisition to retention.

Rovio’s mission statement is to “craft joy with player-focused gaming experiences that last for decades.” That’s kind of amazing … decades. Most gaming companies don’t think like that … they think of a day, a week, a few months. Rovio’s thinking retention right out of the gate. It seems to be working, too. In 2018, Rovio announced that their apps had been downloaded 4 billion times … and used in places like the International Space Station and Antarctica.

But now … I’m guessing it might be 5 or 6 billion.