This leading Romanian sports media platform showcases an exemplary implementation of multiple authentication models across their gamification features. This case study examines how they've balanced user experience with data collection through strategically implemented free-to-play, lead generation, and registered user journeys, achieving impressive engagement rates across their Fans United features.
1. Introduction
Romania's premier sports media platform has successfully transformed from a traditional print publication with a century-long legacy into a digital leader that complements their renowned investigative reporting with engaging gaming features.
Their Fans United implementation journey began in early 2023 with Top X, followed by Match Quiz in early 2024, and subsequently Classic Quiz and Either/Or in late 2024. What makes their approach particularly noteworthy is how they've strategically implemented different authentication models to balance frictionless user experiences with effective data collection.
2. Platform Authentication Overview
This Romanian platform has strategically implemented all three Fans United authentication models across their platform:
- Free-to-Play: Games that require no registration or user data input
- Lead Generation: Games that collect minimal user information without requiring full registration
- Registered Users: Games that require users to be fully logged in
This multi-tiered approach allows them to balance user experience with data collection needs. The platform features a dedicated Game Center that serves as a central hub for all gamification features, while also strategically embedding games within relevant editorial content for contextual engagement. By implementing differing authentication requirements across different game types, they create a natural progression that encourages deeper platform engagement.
3. Free-to-Play Implementation
The Romanian sports media platform primarily uses the free-to-play model for games that don't offer rewards. This creates a frictionless entry point for users to experience their gamification features without any barriers.
The user interface for free-to-play games is straightforward and focused on immediate engagement. Users can play the game to completion, see their results, and then choose to either replay or try other games. This approach serves two key purposes:
- It eliminates friction in the initial user experience, allowing anyone to participate without commitment
- It creates interest in their gaming ecosystem, potentially leading users to engage with lead generation or registered-user games later
The platform's free-to-play implementation has been particularly successful at drawing in new users and introducing them to the broader gaming ecosystem, serving as an effective top-of-funnel engagement tool.
Free-to-play game interface showing direct access without any login requirements
4. Lead Generation Implementation
The lead generation model represents the platform's "golden middle" approach – balancing frictionless user experience with necessary data collection. This model is primarily implemented for games that offer rewards, collecting only the essential data needed to contact winners (name, email, phone, etc) without requiring full registration.
A particularly innovative aspect of their lead generation implementation is their conditional approach. For example, in some of their Either/Or games, the lead generation form appears only when a user achieves the perfect score of 160 points – the threshold for reward eligibility. This ensures they only collect data from users who are actually eligible for prizes, avoiding unnecessary data collection and maintaining a smooth user experience for all participants.
The lead generation forms maintain consistency across different game types (Either/Or, Classic Quiz, etc.), creating a familiar experience for users regardless of which game they're playing. Fans United's flexible lead form configuration allows the platform to customize the required data fields while maintaining this visual consistency.
Lead-generation game interface: Collecting only essential user data without login requirement
5. Registered Users Only Implementation
For some of their gaming experiences, the Romanian platform implements a full registration requirement. The user journey for these games begins with initial engagement – users can see and click on the game, but upon attempting to play, they encounter a login wall with a prominent "Continue" button that redirects to either the login or registration page.
This approach allows them to showcase the value of the game before requiring registration, increasing the likelihood that users will complete the authentication process. The full registration model provides the platform with comprehensive user data and creates opportunities for deeper personalization and engagement strategies across their platform.
Registration-required game interface: Prompting user registration before quiz participation
6. Cross-Feature Authentication Strategy
The Romanian media platform maintains remarkable consistency in their authentication approach across different game types. Regardless of whether users are engaging with Top X, Match Quiz, Classic Quiz, or Either/Or features, the authentication experience feels intuitive and familiar.
For example, their lead generation forms maintain a consistent look and feel across all game types, creating a seamless experience as users move between different features. This consistency extends to visual design, form fields, and the overall user flow.
Their strategic placement of authentication requirements appears to follow a clear pattern:
- Games without rewards: Typically free-to-play
- Games with rewards: Lead generation or registered-user models
This logical progression creates a natural user journey that gradually increases engagement while collecting progressively more user data.
7. Results & Best Practices
The platform's authentication strategy has yielded impressive engagement results, particularly for their lead generation games. Their series of LaLiga-themed Either/Or games (featuring matchups like Real Madrid-Valencia, Barcelona-Girona, and Alaves-Real Madrid) achieved high participation rates, with some games exceeding 2,500 participants.
These games offered attractive rewards (20 official PUMA Orbita LaLiga game balls) and implemented a consistent user journey: play the game, complete the lead generation form after completion, and receive information about potential rewards.
Real-world engagement metrics showing impressive participation numbers for LaLiga-themed Either/Or lead generation games
Key best practices from this Romanian platform's implementation include:
- Strategic Authentication Placement: Using the appropriate authentication model based on game type and reward offering
- Conditional Lead Generation: Only collecting user data when necessary (e.g., after achieving the score required for reward eligibility)
- Consistent User Experience: Maintaining visual and functional consistency across authentication models
- Clear Value Exchange: Providing transparent information about what users receive in exchange for their authentication
This balanced approach to authentication has enabled the Romanian sports media platform to enhance their already thriving gamification ecosystem that complements their core journalistic content while significantly enhancing user engagement across their digital properties.
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