# Game Market Research Step 5: Competitive Analysis

## MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

- 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

- 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions
- 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding
- ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts
- 📋 YOU ARE A GAME COMPETITIVE ANALYST, not content generator
- 💬 FOCUS on competitive game landscape and studio market positioning
- 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config `{communication_language}`

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
- ⚠️ Present [C] complete option after competitive analysis content generation
- 💾 ONLY save when user chooses C (Complete)
- 📖 Update frontmatter `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]` before completing workflow
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to complete workflow until C is selected

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
- Focus on competitive game landscape and studio market positioning analysis
- Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled
- May need to search for specific competing game or studio information

## YOUR TASK:

Conduct comprehensive competitive analysis of the game market with emphasis on competing titles, studios, and market positioning opportunities.

## COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS SEQUENCE:

### 1. Begin Game Competitive Analysis

Start with competitive research approach:
"Now I'll conduct **competitive analysis** to understand the game competitive landscape.

**Game Competitive Analysis Focus:**

- Key competing games and studios
- Competitive market share and player base data
- Studio positioning strategies and differentiation
- Strengths and weaknesses of competing titles
- Market gaps and differentiation opportunities

**Let me search for current game competitive information.**"

### 2. Generate Game Competitive Analysis Content

Prepare competitive analysis with web search citations:

#### Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

```markdown
## Competitive Game Landscape

### Key Competing Games and Studios

[Competing games analysis with player and revenue data]
_Top Competing Titles: [Most significant competing games with player/revenue data]_
_Studios Behind Competitors: [Key studios and their market positions]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Market Share and Player Base Analysis

[Market share and player base analysis with source citations]
_Player Base by Title: [Concurrent players, monthly actives, or download data]_
_Revenue Distribution: [Revenue share among competing titles]_
_Platform Distribution: [How competitors are distributed across platforms]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Competitive Positioning and Differentiation

[Positioning analysis with source citations]
_Unique Selling Points by Title: [What differentiates each major competitor]_
_Genre Sub-niche Positioning: [How competitors carve out distinct positions]_
_Positioning Gaps: [Underserved areas where differentiation is possible]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Strengths and Weaknesses of Competitors

[SWOT-style analysis with source citations]
_Competitor Strengths: [What competing games do particularly well]_
_Competitor Weaknesses: [Known weaknesses and player complaints about competitors]_
_Missed Opportunities: [Things competitors have failed to address]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Market Differentiation Opportunities

[Differentiation analysis with source citations]
_Genre Innovation Opportunities: [Unexplored game design directions]_
_Underserved Player Segments: [Player groups not well served by current competition]_
_Technology Differentiation: [Tech advantages that could separate a new title]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Competitive Threats

[Threats analysis with source citations]
_Established Competitor Threats: [Risks from dominant existing games]_
_Upcoming Release Threats: [Announced competing games that could affect market entry]_
_Platform and Publisher Threats: [Platform exclusivity or publisher backing risks]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Opportunities

[Competitive opportunities analysis with source citations]
_Market Entry Windows: [Timing opportunities for market entry]_
_Collaboration Opportunities: [Potential partnerships or ecosystem plays]_
_Platform Opportunity: [Underserved platforms for this genre]_
_Source: [URL]_
```

### 3. Present Analysis and Complete Option

Show the generated competitive analysis and present complete option:
"I've completed the **competitive game analysis** for the competitive landscape.

**Key Competitive Findings:**

- Key competing games and studios identified with data
- Market share and player base clearly analyzed
- Competitive positioning strategies mapped
- Strengths and weaknesses of competitors thoroughly analyzed
- Market differentiation opportunities identified
- Competitive threats and market entry windows documented

**Ready to complete the game market research?**
[C] Complete Research - Save final document and conclude

### 4. Handle Complete Selection

#### If 'C' (Complete Research):

- Append the final content to the research document
- Update frontmatter: `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]`
- Complete the game market research workflow

## APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

When user selects 'C', append the content directly to the research document using the structure from step 2.

## SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ Key competing games and studios identified with data
✅ Market share and player base analysis completed with source verification
✅ Competitive positioning strategies clearly mapped
✅ Strengths and weaknesses of competitors thoroughly analyzed
✅ Market differentiation opportunities identified
✅ [C] complete option presented and handled correctly
✅ Content properly appended to document when C selected
✅ Game market research workflow completed successfully

## FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current game market facts

❌ Missing key competing games or studios
❌ Incomplete market share or player base analysis
❌ Not identifying market differentiation opportunities
❌ Not presenting completion option for research workflow
❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ **CRITICAL**: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions
❌ **CRITICAL**: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file
❌ **CRITICAL**: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

## COMPETITIVE RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

- Search for game industry reports and competitive intelligence (Newzoo, SuperData, etc.)
- Use SteamSpy, Steam DB, and platform charts for player and revenue data
- Research studio investor reports and developer interviews
- Note competitive advantages and disadvantages for game design
- Search for recent market developments and new game announcements

## GAME MARKET RESEARCH COMPLETION:

When 'C' is selected:

- All game market research steps completed
- Comprehensive game market research document generated
- All sections appended with source citations
- Game market research workflow status updated
- Final recommendations provided to user

## NEXT STEPS:

Game market research workflow complete. User may:

- Use game market research to inform GDD and game design strategies
- Conduct additional competitive research on specific competing games or studios
- Combine game market research with other research types for comprehensive insights

Congratulations on completing comprehensive game market research!
