Playable ads are an exciting and engaging ad format, but developing them can come with high costs, depending on the method used. Traditionally, playable ad development requires extensive coding in HTML5 and JavaScript, making it a time-consuming and costly process. Developers need to code everything from scratch, including the visuals, game mechanics, and interactions. On average, creating a playable ad from scratch takes about 2.5 weeks and costs between $800 and $1,000, depending on the developer’s expertise and location.
Let’s break down the different methods for developing playable ads and explore how PlayBuild offers a more cost-effective solution.
Traditional Playable Ad Development
In the traditional development process, the majority of the ad must be coded manually. Here’s what contributes to the cost:
- Developer Rates: For a playable ad, you typically hire an experienced developer who is well-versed in HTML5 and JavaScript. The average rate for such developers ranges from $40 to $60 per hour.
- Time Commitment: Developing a full playable ad from the ground up takes around 100 hours. This includes coding the ad’s entire structure, physics, game logic, and user interaction.
- Final Costs: With the developer working around 100 hours, the total cost can range from $800 to $1,000, which is standard for producing a single playable ad using the traditional method.
Challenges with Traditional Development
While traditional development offers full control over every aspect of the ad, it comes with several challenges:
- Time-Intensive: Creating a playable ad from scratch takes significant time, slowing down the launch of ad campaigns.
- High Development Costs: With developers needing to write every line of code, the cost can quickly escalate, making this method less accessible for smaller studios or independent developers.
- Revisions: The iterative process of making revisions to the playable ad can further increase costs, as each change may require additional coding and testing.
How PlayBuild Lowers Playable Ad Development Costs
With PlayBuild, the process of developing a playable ad becomes much more efficient and affordable. PlayBuild uses a visual development system that drastically reduces the need for custom coding, allowing developers to focus on fine-tuning the core mechanics rather than building the entire ad from scratch. Here’s how the cost structure changes when using PlayBuild:
- Reduced Coding: PlayBuild allows developers to create most of the ad’s components visually. Things like scene physics, colliders, and basic interactions are all managed through Cocos Creator engine interface. The only coding required is for the game mechanics, such as point scoring and the game loop, which is done using TypeScript. This reduces the amount of work needed for each ad.
- Faster Development Time: Because most of the development process is visual, the time required to create a playable ad with PlayBuild is reduced from 2.5 weeks to around 1 week. This significantly cuts down on the development hours and allows for quicker turnarounds.
- Lower Costs: With less time spent on coding and development, the overall cost of creating a playable ad drops to between $300 and $500. This makes PlayBuild an attractive option for businesses looking to create engaging, high-quality playable ads without a large budget.
Cost Comparison: Traditional Development vs. PlayBuild
To give you a clear picture, here’s a comparison of the two approaches:
| Aspect | Traditional Development | Using PlayBuild |
|---|---|---|
| Development Time | 2.5 weeks (100 hours) | 1 week (30-40 hours) |
| Developer Cost | $40 – $60 per hour | $40 – $50 per hour |
| Total Cost (Estimate) | $800 – $1,000 | $300 – $500 |
| Coding Requirements | Full ad coded from scratch | Minimal coding, mostly visual |
| Revisions/Adjustments | Time-consuming, expensive | Fast, easy to implement |
As you can see, the savings offered by PlayBuild are significant, both in terms of time and cost. By focusing on simplifying the development process and reducing the need for extensive coding, PlayBuild makes it much more feasible to create playable ads without breaking the bank.
PlayBuild’s Unique Advantages
For developers and marketers, PlayBuild offers several distinct benefits over traditional development methods:
- Ease of Use: PlayBuild’s visual development platform makes it easy for developers to build and customize playable ads without needing to write complex code.
- Faster Production: With PlayBuild, you can significantly reduce the time it takes to bring a playable ad to market, allowing you to deploy campaigns faster and more efficiently.
- Affordable: By reducing the need for full-time development work, PlayBuild keeps the costs low, making high-quality playable ads accessible even to smaller businesses or independent game developers.
- Scalability: With a faster, more affordable process, companies can create multiple playable ads at a fraction of the cost, helping scale their marketing efforts and reach more users.
The PlayBuild Workflow: A Faster, Smarter Way to Build Playable Ads
The PlayBuild workflow makes the development process easier and faster by allowing developers to focus on creating the interactive and engaging elements of the ad without the need for extensive coding. Here’s how it works:
- Step 1: Import your game assets into PlayBuild’s platform. Use the visual editor to build the ad’s scenes, define physics, and set up interactions.
- Step 2: Add custom TypeScript code only for the core mechanics, such as scoring systems or game logic. Since PlayBuild takes care of the rest, this coding step is minimal.
- Step 3: Test and preview the ad to ensure it functions correctly across different devices with Applovin testing tool.
- Step 4: Export the playable ad and deploy it across ad platforms, with the ability to make quick adjustments as needed.
This process drastically reduces the complexity of creating playable ads, giving you a high-quality end product at a fraction of the cost and time.
FAQs
How much does it cost to develop a playable ad using traditional methods?
On average, developing a playable ad traditionally costs between $800 and $1,000 due to the extensive coding required for visuals, mechanics, and interactions.
How does PlayBuild reduce playable ad development costs?
PlayBuild reduces costs by enabling visual development of most ad components, with only minimal coding for the game mechanics, bringing the cost down to $300 – $500.
How long does it take to create a playable ad with PlayBuild?
Using PlayBuild, a playable ad can be developed in 1 week, compared to the 2.5 weeks typically required for traditional methods.
What coding experience is needed to use PlayBuild?
PlayBuild minimizes the coding required. Only basic TypeScript knowledge is needed for mechanics, while most other components can be built visually.
How much do developers typically charge when using PlayBuild?
Developers using PlayBuild charge between $40 and $50 per hour, with total development hours around 30 to 40 hours, leading to a total cost of $300 to $500 per ad.
Is PlayBuild suitable for non-technical users?
Yes, PlayBuild is designed for ease of use, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users who want to create playable ads without extensive coding.
