Challenge
Reevaluate the Monetization System: Tanbii originally lacked a defined monetization strategy. We needed to establish a foundational system that not only generated revenue but also enhanced engagement through an in-game shop experience.
Build from the Ground Up: With minimal pre-existing assets, we had to develop a complete visual language and asset suite to support the new shop interface and content.
Out of Shop UI Updates: The original UI lacked intuitive pathways to the shop. Integrating a new access point required rethinking the game’s broader navigation and flow.
Shop Purpose: There was no clear reason for players to visit the shop, we needed to craft compelling incentives tied to the game's core mechanics to justify its existence.
The Approach
1. Gather Inspiration
To maintain cohesion with Tanbii’s existing art style and UX, we drew inspiration from titles with strong monetization and UI systems:
Cats & Soup: Tabbed navigation and intuitive UI pop-ups informed our shop structure.
Clash of Clans: Influenced scalable shop interactions and reward feedback.
Genshin Impact: Provided reference for deeply integrated monetization systems aligned with gameplay mechanics.
2. UX/UI Overhaul
Figma served as our central platform for designing and collaborating across the remote team. We used it to prototype and iterate on a completely reimagined shop experience, aligning with Tanbii’s aesthetic while introducing new user flows. Every asset, from shop buttons to reward icons, was built from scratch to match specific use cases. The updated UI emphasized clarity, accessibility, and consistency, ensuring the shop felt like a natural extension of the game rather than a bolt-on feature.
3. Monetization System
The intention in creating the shop the team agreed that it would be best to create a monetization system that would be integrated within the game and shop. As there was a challenge to create this shop with no clear direction and changes were made:
New Resources: Introduced systems like water, Tanbii tokens, and premium items to drive progression.
Exchange Shop: Allowed players to convert and trade resources, adding depth and utility.
Reward Structure: Layered incentives across gameplay and shop activity to encourage consistent engagement.
Results
Established Monetization System: Developed a cohesive and integrated monetization framework aligned with gameplay.
Revamped Resource Economy: Introduced new and updated existing resource types to support the shop and enhance player motivation.
Custom Asset Creation: All visual elements were built from scratch and handed off cleanly to the development team.
Stakeholder Presentation: Final designs and systems were presented in a comprehensive prototype to stakeholders.
Conclusion
This project not only introduced a monetization system to Tanbii but also demonstrated the power of UX-driven game design. By creating a player-focused shop experience and building all components in-house, we were able to establish a scalable framework for future content and monetization opportunities. This was the first experience I was able to cultivate with a team on a impactful scale and I learned much working with the team I was in!
