Merge "docs: Updated Google Play distribute docs" into mnc-docs

page.title=Get real user feedback with beta tests

page.metaDescription=Run alpha and beta tests from the developer console, and make improvements and correct issues before you release.

page.image=images/cards/distribute/engage/beta.jpg

Xnonavpage=true

@jd:body

<p>

  With alpha or beta tests run from the Developer Console you can collect user

  feedback on early versions of your app, then make improvements and correct

  issues before you release to the full Play Store audience.

</p>

<img src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/googleplay/dev-console_running-a-beta-test.png"

  srcset="{@docRoot}images/distribute/googleplay/dev-console_running-a-beta-test.png 1x,

      {@docRoot}images/distribute/googleplay/dev-console_running-a-beta-test_2x.png 2x"

  width="500">

<p>Testing your app with a select group of users will give you a chance to fix any technical or user experience issues before you release it widely, so that you can be confident about releasing the best version of your app to the majority of your users. Feedback from your test users won't affect your app’s public rating.</p>

<p>

  Learn more about <a href=

  "https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3131213"

  class="external-link">how to run a beta test.</a>

</p>

<h2 id="how-to">How to Do It</h2>

<ul>

<ul>

  <li>

    <strong>Open beta —</strong> Use an open beta when you want any user who

    has the link to be able to join your beta with just one click. One of the

    advantages of an open beta is that it allows you to scale to a large number

    of testers. However, you can also limit the maximum number of users who can

    join.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Closed beta using email addresses —</strong> If you want to

    restrict which users can access your beta, you have a new option: you can

    now set up a closed beta using lists of individual email addresses which

    you can add individually or upload as a .csv file. These users will be able

    to join your beta via a one-click opt-in link.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Closed beta with Google+ community or Google Group —</strong> You

    can continue to use betas with Google+ communities or Google Groups. You

    can also move closed betas to an open beta while maintaining your existing

    testers.

  </li>

</ul>

<h2 id="tips">Tips</h2>

<ul>

  <li>Your testers will need to have a Google Account (<code>@gmail.com</code>)

  or a Google Apps account to join a test.

  </li>

  <li>Use alpha tests for early experimental versions of your app that might

  contain incomplete or unstable functionality, and use beta tests for apps

  that should be complete and stable.

  </li>

  <li>Start testing with a small group of more trusted testers in an alpha

  test, then expand your test to a larger group of testers in a beta test.

  </li>

  <li>Testers can't leave public reviews for alpha/beta apps on Google Play, so

  include a feedback channel or provide the option to send feedback by email,

  website, or a message forum.

  </li>

  <li>For an APK to be available to alpha testers it must have a higher version

  number than your beta or production version, and for beta testers the APK

  must have a higher version number than your production version.

  </li>

  <li>Alpha testers receive the alpha, beta, or production version of your app

  with the highest version code that is compatible with their device, while

  beta testers receive the beta or production version of your app with the

  highest version code that is compatible with their device. This also means

  that posting a higher version number APK cancels earlier tests of earlier

  versions, so posting a production 2.0 version would cancel a beta test of

  version 1.9 and that beta test would have canceled an alpha test of version

  1.8.

  </li>

  <li>Also consider using <a href=

  "https://www.google.com/insights/consumersurveys/" class=

  "external-link">Google Consumer Surveys</a> to conduct market research and

  gather user feedback at scale.

  </li>

</ul>

<p style="clear:both">

</p>

<div class="dynamic-grid">

<div class="headerLine">

<h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2>

</div>

<div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13"

  data-query="collection:distribute/googleplay/beta"

  data-sortOrder="-timestamp"

  data-cardSizes="9x3"

  data-maxResults="6"></div>

  </div>

        <span class="en">Drive Engagement with Ads</span></a>

    </div>

  </li>

  <li class="nav-section">

    <div class="nav-section-header empty" style="font-weight:normal"><a href="<?cs

        var:toroot?>distribute/engage/game-services.html">

        <span class="en">Integrate GCM</span></a>

    </div>

  </li>

  <li class="nav-section">

    <div class="nav-section-header empty" style="font-weight:normal"><a href="<?cs

        var:toroot?>distribute/engage/beta.html">

        <span class="en">Get Feedback with Beta Tests</span></a>

    </div>

  </li>

</ul>

<script type="text/javascript">

page.title=Encourage Competition

page.metaDescription= Bring out the competitor in your users with cloud save, multiplayer game play, and more.

page.tags="games"

page.image=/images/google/gps-play_games_logo.png

page.image=/images/cards/distribute/engage/card-game-services.png

@jd:body

<div class="figure" style="width:330px;">

  <img src="{@docRoot}images/google/gps-play_games_logo.png">

<div id="qv-wrapper">

  <div id="qv">

    <h2>Features</h2>

    <ul>

      <li><a href="#simplify">Simplify your game development</a></li>

      <li><a href="#acquire-users">Acquire and engage users</a></li>

      <li><a href="#socialize">Socialize your games</a></li>

      <li><a href="#extend">Extend across form factors</a></li>

      <li><a href="#manage">Manage your games</a></li>

    </ul>

  </div>

</div>

<p>

  Increase game installs, in-app revenue, and engagement with <a href=

  "{@docRoot}google/play-services/games.html">Google Play

  Game Services</a>. Bring out the competitor in your users with cloud save,

  multiplayer game play, and more.

  Three out of four Android users download games to their device, making games

  one the most popular additions to users’ devices. Making your games stand out

  from the crowd is therefore key to success.

</p>

<ul>

  <li>

<div class="figure">

  <img src="{@docRoot}images/google/gps-play_games_logo.png"

        srcset="{@docRoot}images/google/gps-play_games_logo.png 1x,

            {@docRoot}images/google/gps-play_games_logo_2x.png 2x"

      alt="" width="170" />

</div>

<p>

      <a href=

      "https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/achievements">Achievements</a>

      encourage players to try new features, resulting in more time spent in

      your games.

  Google Play game services save you from implementing popular game features

  yourself such as achievements, leaderboards, real-time multiplayer, and

  others. You can also let players sign in using their Google identity and

  share their gaming experience with friends. And there is comprehensive

  reporting and statistics to help you track and improve your game’s

  performance.

</p>

  </li>

  <li>

<p>

      <a href=

      "https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/leaderboards">Leaderboards</a>

      are a fun way to drive competition among your players.

  Start now by visiting <a href="https://developers.google.com/games/services/"

  class="external-link">Google Play game services.</a>

</p>

<h3 id="simplify">Simplify your game development</h3>

<ul>

  <li>

    <strong>Set up Google Play Games Services:</strong> Use the Google Play

    Developer Console to manage games services and configure metadata for

    authorizing and authenticating your game.

  </li>

  <li>

    <p>

      <a href=

      "https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/cloudsave">Cloud

      Save</a> allows users to continue where they left off on another device

      or platform.

    </p>

    <strong>Use the Play Games APIs:</strong> Start integrating popular gaming

    features into your games by using the <a href=

    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/" class=

    "external-link">Google Play Games Services APIs.</a>

  </li>

</ul>

<h3 id="acquire-users">Acquire and engage users</h3>

<ul>

  <li>

    <p>

      Multiplayer features allow users to invite friends to install games and

      play together in <a href=

      "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer">

      real-time</a> or <a href=

      "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/turnbasedMultiplayer">

      turn-by-turn</a>.

    </p>

    <strong>Player Analytics:</strong> View details on multiplayer games,

    average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), sessions per user, and more; as

    well as set and monitor daily revenue targets from a comprehensive

    dashboard of player and engagement statistics.

  </li>

  <li>

    <p>

      <a href=

      "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games">

      Google Play Games App</a> provides additional exposure to increase

      downloads and gameplay. It helps users play with friends, see what others

      are playing, and discover featured games.

    </p>

    <strong>Achievements:</strong> Set goals to encourage players to spend more

    time in your games and try new features; reward them with experience points

    that players redeem to gain level-ups in their Play Games profile.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Quests:</strong> Offer players in-game rewards and benefits for

    exploring your game more deeply: use particular items, reach a certain

    level, or perform a specific game action. And set up quests without the

    need to release an app update.

  </li>

</ul>

<p>

  And there is no need to worrying about device or OS version support. Google

  Play Game Services is backward compatible, allowing you to reach more

  users with less effort. Get started on <a href=

  "{@docRoot}google/play-services/games.html">Google Play

  Game Services</a>. For more tips on keeping gamers engaged, see the <a href=

  "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/best-practices/games.html">

  Game Developer Best Practices</a>.

</p>

<h3 id="socialize">Socialize your games</h3>

<div class="headerLine">

  <h2 id="related-resources">

    Related Resources

  </h2>

<ul>

  <li>

    <strong>Leaderboards:</strong> Drive competition among your players with

    daily, weekly, and all-time leaderboards. Create multiple leaderboards for

    game levels or other game features.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Multiplayer games:</strong> Add the challenge of playing against

    others to your real-time and turn-by-turn games. Players can invite friends

    to install your game across form factors and supported platforms.

  </li>

</div>

  <li>

    <strong>Game gifts:</strong> Drive downloads and engagement by giving your

    players the ability to send virtual in-game objects to their friends. Also

    let players request gifts and use gifts as a trading mechanism within

    games.

  </li>

</ul>

<div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13" data-query=

"collection:distribute/engage/googleplaygames" data-sortorder="-timestamp"

data-cardsizes="9x3" data-maxresults="6">

<h3 id="extend">Extend across form factors</h3>

<ul>

  <li>

    <strong>Saved Games:</strong> Save game states to the cloud and enable

    players to resume games anytime on any of their devices. Cover images and

    descriptions show players where they left off and attract them back.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Nearby Connections API:</strong> Enhance the experience of your

    games for Android TV by connecting seamlessly with smartphones and tablets,

    to use them as second-screen controllers.

  </li>

</ul>

<h3 id="manage">Manage your games</h3>

<ul>

  <li>

    <strong>Easily update your game metadata:</strong> Simplify your game

    testing and player account management with the <a href=

    "https://developers.google.com/games/services/management/" class=

    "external-link">Google Play games services Management API.</a>

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Automate your game production and distribution tasks:</strong>

    Modify listings and upload icons for achievements and leaderboards with the

    <a href="https://developers.google.com/games/services/publishing/" class=

    "external-link">Google Play games services Publishing API.</a>

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Insights and alerts:</strong> Get information on how to improve

    your multiplayer, leaderboards, achievements, and other game services

    implementations from the Developer Console.

  </li>

  <li>

    <strong>Anti-piracy:</strong> Optionally disable game services for games

    not purchased from the Play Store.

  </li>

</ul>

<h3 id="tips">Tips</h3>

<ul>

  <li>The best Google Play game services integrations are highly visible,

  customized, achievable, and incentivized.

  </li>

  <li>Prompt players to sign in to Google Play game services when your game

  launches. This ensures they get access to the game service features, and also

  maximizes the number of players online and ready to collaborate.

  </li>

  <li>Avoid creating achievements that rely too much on elements beyond the

  player's control or cannot be earned once the player has made a decision in

  your game.

  </li>

  <li>With Google Play game services, you can add seamless interaction between

  Android and your games on the web and other platforms.

  </li>

</ul>

<p style="clear:both">

</p>

<div class="dynamic-grid">

<div class="headerLine">

<h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2>

</div>

<div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13"

  data-query="collection:distribute/engage/gamesservices/related"

  data-sortOrder="-timestamp"

  data-cardSizes="9x3"

  data-maxResults="6"></div>

  </div>