Ads guidelines
You must follow the following instructions when integrating our SDK:
Requirements for in-game banner ads
The general guideline is: make sure the user experience is as good as it can be.
Where to put in-game banner ads
In-game banners are only allowed on useful screens with content that are open for at least 5 seconds on average. Make sure that in-game banners do not block any game UI on all game sizes (including on mobile). Do not show in-game banners during game-play.
How to put in-game banner ads
In-game banners must be clearly distinguishable from game content.
General Requirements for video ads
Video ads can not interrupt gameplay.
Advertisements should not be shown while a user is playing. We do not allow disruptive ads since they will scare users away. Instead, show them at a logical point for the user. Examples are during a level transition, a map change when the player died etc.
Your game should be paused during a video ad.
Ensure that a user cannot progress the game while requesting or showing an ad. Disable buttons, or show a spinner that blocks interaction. An ad request is not instantaneous: several auctions are held and take some time to return with a reply. Block the UI until either an adFinished or adError event occurs. The maximal wait time for an event is five seconds, in which case an adError event occurs.
Your game should be muted during a video ad.
Video advertisements have audio. Ensure that your in-game sound and the advertisement audio are not playing together. You should mute your audio whenever an advertisement starts playing, and unmute it when the ad has finished. Only mute the audio when the ad actually starts playing, and not when you request an ad. It is possible no advertisement is available, and muting and unmuting your music without a visual change is not user-friendly.
Do not combine rewarded and midgame ads in the same scene.
It's not allowed to combine and present both rewarded and midgame ads in a single scene. In that specific scene, either use only a midgame or rewarded ad. Combining the 2 can lead to a bad user experience, for example: if the players choose to skip the rewarded ad, they will still get the midgame ad on the next scene - this must be avoided if the players use the rewarded ad, they can still get the extra midgame ad on the next scene - this must be avoided
Requirements for rewarded ads
Rewarded ads should be special opportunities that a user looks forward to. Poorly designed levels that can only be completed by a rewarded ad are not acceptable. Instead, occasionally give the user the option to watch a rewarded ad that gives them a cool bonus, or a funny cosmetic change.
We have strict guidelines to include rewarded advertisements. Before you start implementing please make sure you read them carefully.
Instant Rewarded Ads
Examples:
In-game store ads are a great way to monetize players who are in a "purchase" mindset. You can award monetary value or items they otherwise have to buy.
After completing a level or mission, players are often rewarded. Why not use that as an opportunity to engage players by doubling their reward with a video ad?
Rewarded ads should be special opportunities that a user looks forward to, and not an expectation whenever the user plays your game. Poorly designed levels that can only be completed by a rewarded ad are not acceptable. Instead, give the user sometimes the option to watch a rewarded ad that gives him a cool bonus, or a funny cosmetic change.
Checklist:
- The request button should be easily accessible in a consistent location.
- When there is no ad available, encourage the players to try again later with a notification.
- When the ad has finished, make it clear that the player has been rewarded. You can display an animation or a notification.
- Do not offer a rewarded ad more than once every 3 minutes. Inform the user of this with a timer or hide the ad request button.
- Rewarded ads can be displayed immediately but have a 3-minute interval. This means that after successfully displaying the first rewarded ad, rewarded ads will be blocked for 3 minutes.
- Do not promote the rewarded ads too aggressively. If the game rewarded ads are well-implemented users will want to use them, there is no need to remind them too often.
- Provide an alternative to watching an ad. For example, a user can also buy the reward with coins that he can receive during the game.
- It needs to be clear for players that they will have to watch an advertisement in exchange for the reward. This can be done by displaying a video icon for example.
- The request button should not appear on an active gameplay screen. For example, in a racing game, the request button can't appear during the race.
- It needs to be clear immediately that the reward is optional. Hiding or delaying the skip or close button on the offer is not allowed.
Out of lives ads
Examples:
Out-of-lives rewarded video ad placement offers a high temptation factor and limited alternative routes for players to take, and therefore can create a high emotional attachment. It is not allowed to offer an Out-of-lives rewarded video each time the users lose a life.
Checklist:
- Don’t offer out-of-live ads each time a user dies. The rewarded ad should be a special opportunity that a user looks forward to.
- Don’t offer a rewarded ad more than once every three minutes. Inform the user of this with a timer on the ad request button.
- When there is no ad available encourage the players to try again later.
- Provide an alternative to watching an ad. For example, a user can also buy the reward with coins that he can receive during the game.
- It's not allowed to combine a midgame ad between levels with a rewarded to keep playing the current level. So between 2 levels, you can have either a midgame ad and restart, or a 'watch rewarded to keep playing', but not both.
- It needs to be clear immediately that the reward is optional. Hiding or delaying the skip or close button on the offer is not allowed.