Making Data-Driven Apps with GDevelop - Interview with Gerardo Garcia from NETZEN

NETZEN offices.

Gerardo García is the creator of leading software in the direct sales and multi-level marketing industry. Additionally, he is an expert in the analysis and evaluation of business and compensation plans for companies in this sector. Today, we interview Gerardo about his work at agency NETZEN, which has presence in 40 countries and over 900 customers.

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Can you please explain what you use GDevelop for? It's not necessarily to make traditional, commercially-oriented games

The development purpose has not been conventional, I mean creating games. For instance, NETZEN developed a Metaverse in two modes: 2D and 3D, designed for use as a virtual office for direct sales company representatives, including Natura, McBerry, among others.

NETZEN MLM app.

Additionally, fully functional Android and iOS apps have been developed, allowing distributors in this industry to purchase products, view their key business indicators, graphs, messages, and many more tools aimed at enhancing their performance.

In addition to achieving a functional app, given the features of GDevelop, visual elements were incorporated to create gamified environments that are much more appealing than a standard platform.

What made you choose GDevelop as the tool to create these apps and gamification environments?

We chose, without any regrets, the GDevelop platform because its simplicity and rapid development capabilities enable straightforward export to various ecosystems, such as Android, the web, desktop applications, and, with a little practice, using Cordova for iOS.

Not only can you create your app or development easily, but you can also add that gamification spark to it, resulting in a unique and highly impactful product.

During a meeting with our product designer, you mentioned you used to use Unity for developing these experiences, but you switched to GDevelop. Why?

Unity may have more elements, but it lacks simplicity, which translates to additional costs and longer development times. However, the absence of certain elements does not mean they cannot be implemented. For example, a list selection element does not exist as such, but by using layers and scrolls, you can solve the problem and make it 100% customized to your style.

RELATED: Unity Vs. GDevelop Comparison

So far, we have resolved everything to satisfaction. Perhaps the only outstanding element for GDevelop is the inclusion of push notifications, which I am confident will pleasantly surprise us soon.

What are your thoughts on using an open source product versus a proprietary commercial tool? What are the pros and cons of each?

Using open-source platforms enables continuous collaborative growth; otherwise, it only grows based on the visions of developers.

Do you use other open source tools in your workflow?

Absolutely. At NETZEN, nearly 100% of our entire infrastructure is based on open-source platforms. Starting with operating systems, we rely on Linux as a foundation, using specific distros that provide what we need. The same goes for programming languages, where we use PHP and Python. We have even collaborated with the community by sharing large amounts of code and tips, as well as using routines created by other users, thus enhancing the growth cycle for the entire community.

In the beginning, with GDevelop, everything involved reading and understanding solutions from other users. Now, with pride, we have shared many of our own solutions through forums. We are firm believers in the open-source concept.

NETZEN offices.

You are also adamant about the importance of gamification in the commercial space, for stuff like training, stock tracking and so on. Why do you think gamification can play such an important role in the future of these spaces?

When I hear the concept of "gamification," I immediately become happy. I believe it's more than just a trend or a way of doing things; it's about transforming the dull and tedious aspects of what we do into a challenging, competitive, and enjoyable environment by applying the psychology of gaming to routine tasks, thus achieving user engagement.

Let's remember the following: The best application is the one that gets used! If it's not appealing, even if it functions well, it won't be used. If you implement gamification, your new challenge will be how to get them away from the screen.

What are some of the current barriers you face as a developer that, if solved, could make your life (and other people's lives) easier?

For those aiming to create a general-use app, I first recommend creating a set of elements to be used. For example: list selectors. Convert this into a function and use it as naturally as you do with checkboxes or input boxes.

The main barrier was changing our way of thinking. Normally, a program has a start and an end, but when you're making games, you need to think in loops, meaning the code runs multiple times. Hence, the need to control not painting certain elements only once, as conditions change cycle by cycle, etc. It's just a matter of getting used to it.

3D learning Metaverse created with GDevelop.

The other issue we faced was adapting the view to different devices. To address this, we created functions that scale and reposition elements based on factors derived from the corners. Once programmers work with this, they will find it quite simple. Perhaps there are other alternatives, but this is the one we discovered, and it has worked very well for us. Our entire application adapts well to tablets and various phones, maintaining the graphical and textual elements with the desired proportions and placement.

Some words for aspiring developers about using GDevelop to create commercially-viable products

Certainly, the world is shifting towards gamification environments; therefore, viewing GDevelop solely as a game platform limits the mind. If you have a powerful yet user-friendly platform that creates games, then the question becomes: how can you gamify what you've already done? The possibilities are endless.

The 2D portion of NETZEN's Metaverse app.

Indeed, NETZEN has set itself apart from its competition, and I believe it could serve as an example to inspire developers in areas such as inventory management, sales, goal setting, controls, costs, training, and more, as these concepts often cause headaches for many people. Believe me, using GDevelop will bring happiness and even generate positive addictions for many users. In the end, your programmers will thank you for choosing GDevelop as the development platform.

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Gamify your experiences, or create gamified experiences for your clients using GDevelop!