Roblox Dev: City of Dreams Monetization Guide

Introduction to Roblox Development

Roblox is a global platform where millions of players imagine, create, and share experiences. For developers, it offers Luau (a version of Lua), an integrated physics engine, and a built-in global marketplace using Robux.

Success in the "City Roleplay" genre depends on Social Status and Customization. Younger demographics value rarity and "flexing" their achievements to peers.

Prompt Engineering for Game Dev

To build a high-conversion game like City of Dreams, you must use AI as a "Tech Lead." Use the following steps to prompt your way to a finished game.

Step 1: The Architecture Prompt
Start by defining the data structure. You need a system that tracks not just money, but VIP status and owned items.

"Write a Roblox Luau DataStore script using ProfileService or standard DataStores. It must save a table containing: Coins (Int), Gems (Int), OwnedFurniture (Table), and IsVIP (Bool). Include a 'soft-fail' mechanism so player data doesn't wipe if the API is down."

Step 2: Designing Monetization Loops
Prompt for a "Limited Time Offer" (LTO) system. These create FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

"Create a Luau script for a shop UI that displays 3 random items from a 'Legendary' table. Use os.time() to ensure the items rotate every 24 hours. Add a function that checks if the player owns a '2x Luck' Game Pass before rolling the items."

Step 3: Creating Job Mechanics
Jobs should be simple but offer upgrades.

"Write a script for a 'Pizza Delivery' job. The player touches a part to start. If they have the 'Super Delivery' Game Pass, their walkspeed increases to 32 and their reward is multiplied by 1.5. Output the code for the Reward Event and the Pass Check."

Monetization Hook Table

Feature	Spending Hook	Psychological Trigger
Apartments	Premium Floor Themes	Creative Expression
Vehicles	Neon Underglow Upgrades	Social Status / Flexing
Job System	Instant Paycheck Payout	Impatience / Convenience
Daily Login	Streak Protection (Robux)	Loss Aversion

Best Practices for Younger Demographics

Small, Frequent Purchases: 10-50 Robux items (stickers, emotes) convert better than 1,000 Robux items.
Visual Feedback: When a player buys something, use ParticleEmitters so everyone else sees the "Unboxing."
Scalable Code: Use ModuleScripts for your shop items so you can add new 1-day-only cosmetics without rewriting the entire system.