Technical knowledge isn’t just for Game Devs.

Technical knowledge isn’t just for game developers. Managers need it too. I was shocked by some comments on my recent post— some managers don’t realize that game designers don’t need to code to work within an engine. 🤯 That’s why I’m ready to die on this hill: understanding the technical details of game development is critical, even for producers and managers.Why? Because without this knowledge, you’re at risk of making costly mistakes, like:• Hiring only game designers who can code• Expecting 3D models to be animation-ready without rigging and skinning• Assuming a game will run smoothly on all devices because it works on one• Ignoring technical debt until the codebase falls apart• Adding "just one small feature" that could take a year to develop• Delaying QA until the last minute because "finding bugs isn’t a big deal"Some might argue that […]

Anton Slashcev September 17

Journal

Want to break into game development in 2024?

Want to break into game development in 2024? Here’s how to start from scratch:𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟬: Don’t spend a dollar on paid game design courses. → Focus on free, high-quality resources.𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟭: 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬→ Use these resources to build your foundation:𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀: 🎥 Game Maker’s Toolkit (https://lnkd.in/eV8jiCC3) 🎥 Brackeys (https://lnkd.in/emePzUpy) 🎥 Thomas Brush (https://lnkd.in/e7NFK9vH)𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘀: 📝 Deconstructor of Fun (https://lnkd.in/eMdVqAPZ) 📝 Gamasutra (https://lnkd.in/e2cFCDBe) 📝 Game Design Skills (https://lnkd.in/ewXVpJ6H)𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀: 📚 Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (https://lnkd.in/etk_WeP5) 📚 The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell (https://lnkd.in/eFt9MRdf) 📚 Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier (https://lnkd.in/ebvmm7Ty)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟮: 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘→ Apply your knowledge in game jams every month:🕹️ Ludum Dare (https://ldjam.com) 🕹️ itch.io Game Jams (https://itch.io/jams) 🕹️ Game Jam Central (https://lnkd.in/et3fqfrk) 🕹️ One Game a Month (https://onegameamonth.com/) 🕹️ Global Game Jam (https://globalgamejam.org/) 🕹️ GMTK Game Jam (https://lnkd.in/ecSD6V_K)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟯: 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞→ Connect with industry pros:𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄: Sergei VasiukGökhan Üzmez Jakub Remiar 𝗙𝗼𝗿 […]

Anton Slashcev September 16

Journal

Roadmap to Improve Game LTV

A roadmap to improve a game's LTV isn't as complicated as it sounds. Here's a straightforward process to follow:1. Nail short-term retention first. ↳ Focus on optimizing the onboarding experience to hook players2. Drive high engagement. ↳ Make a compelling and fun gameplay loop 3. Then, focus on long-term retention. ↳ Add new content and features↳ Create strong progression and goals to keep players invested over time4. Convert players into paying users. ↳ Create resource shortage and offer tailored starter packs 5. Increase payment frequency. ↳ Add time-limited deals or season passes to encourage consistent spending6. Raise the average transaction value. ↳ Offer high-value bundles and adjust prices based on player segmentation7. Explore additional revenue streams. ↳ Experiment with ads and subscription tiers through A/B testing → The challenge lies in the execution. • Each step offers multiple approaches. • […]

Anton Slashcev September 15

Journal

Live-Ops Features Starter Pack

Live-Ops Features Starter Pack Here is a list of references from top games for each feature:𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀• Piggy Bank• Double & Tripple Offers • Rolling Offer• Starter Pack Offer𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀• Happy Hours• Daily Quests• Race Tournament• Solo Tournament• Win Streak • Milestone Tasks• Time pressing challenge𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀• Daily Bonus• Push Notifications• Album Collection𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀• Partners • Clans • Friends• Team Tournament 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 \ 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲• Board Minigame• Treasure Hunt Minigame• Plinko• Slot Machine / Wheel Minigame• Puzzle𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀

Anton Slashcev September 14

Journal

List of 10 Free / Open Source Game Development Tools:

1. Godot Engine (Game Engine) https://godotengine.org/2. Blender (3D Art) https://www.blender.org/3. GIMP (2D Art) https://www.gimp.org/4. Taiga (Planning) https://www.taiga.io/5. Twine (Narrative) https://twinery.org/6. Drone (CI/CD) https://drone.io/7. Penpot (Whiteboard) https://penpot.app/- Excalidraw (Whiteboard) https://excalidraw.com/8. Ardour (Sound) https://ardour.org/9. AppFlowy (Documents) https://www.appflowy.io/10. Colyseus (Networking) https://www.colyseus.io/

Anton Slashcev September 12

Journal

Engaging FTUE: Make or Break Your Game

Creating an engaging FTUE can make or break your game.Here’s a cheatsheet to get it right:1. Onboarding 🚀• Start with a strong hook to captivate players.• Clear objectives guide the player smoothly.• Introduce features gradually.• Keep tutorials short and effective.2. User Flow 🌐• Ensure easy access to gameplay.• Make controls accessible.• Provide progress indicators.• Use an intuitive UI.3. Core Gameplay 🎯• Focus on game feel.• Implement a fun mechanic.• Allow for immediate action.• Keep rules easy to understand.4. Visuals 👀• Use smooth animations.• Prioritize art style consistency.• Ensure readability.• Add some juiciness to the experience.5. Progression 📈• Set clear goal setting.• Offer early rewards.• Implement retention hooks.• Enable fast initial progression.6. Monetization 💰•Clarify your value proposition.• Time your introduction wisely.• Consider ads integration carefully.• Ensure monetization doesn’t disrupt user experience.

Anton Slashcev September 9

Journal

Match Factory Grew From $1M to $17M in 9 Months

Here is what you need to know: 🕹 Game Details:• Genre: Match-3D• Monthly Downloads: 2.2M (+400%)• Market Share: 49%• Launch Date: Nov 01, 2023• Audience: 90% Female, 10% Male🤑 Key Success Factors:• Strong LiveOps: Constant tournaments and activities keep players engaged—similar to Royal Match.• Balanced Difficulty: Easy at the start, but challenges escalate, keeping players hooked.• Top-Notch Quality: Stunning object physics, effects, and a user-friendly interface.💢 Main Competitors:• Triple Match 3D• Happy Match Cafe• Tile Match 3D

Anton Slashcev September 7

Journal

Most Popular Engagement Mechanics in Mobile Games 2024

Based on an analysis of 4,000 updates, here are the most popular mechanics influencing player engagement: 1. ⏳ Time-limited Bonuses (51%) • Description: The player receives a certain advantage during the event.• Examples: Happy Hours (Short-term), Album/Collection Rewards (Long-term).2. 💎 Treasure Hunt Minigame (16%)• Description: A minigame where players dig tiles in search of treasures. Players earn resources in core gameplay to play treasure hunts.3. 📑 Tasks Rewards (12%)• Description: The player completes tasks and receives rewards.• Examples: Daily Quests, Stage Tasks, Win Streaks.4. 🎲 Board Minigame (10%)• Description: A minigame where players roll the dice and move along the board to win rewards.• The player earns dice in core gameplay or other mechanics.5. 🤝 Co-op Events (5%)• Description: The player cooperates with a friend to complete event tasks.• Examples: Partners, Team Tournament, Group Rewards, Clans.6. 🎮 Other Mechanics (6%)• […]

Anton Slashcev September 7

Journal

Player Journey Funnel Breakdown

Each stage of the funnel drives revenue. Here’s how it works:🔍 Aware User↳ These are players who know about your game but haven’t played it yet.• Tools: Ads, social media, influencer marketing.• Key Metrics: Impressions, click-through rate (CTR), ad recall.🎮 Player↳ These players have downloaded and started playing.• Tools: ASO, user-friendly onboarding.• Key Metrics: Install rate, tutorial completion rate.🔥 Active Player↳ Players regularly engaging with your game.• Tools: In-game events, daily rewards, progression.• Key Metrics: Daily Active Users (DAU), playtime, retention rate.💸 Paying Player↳ These players have made at least one in-game purchase.• Tools: IAP options, special offers, exclusive content.• Key Metrics: Conversion rate, ARPU, purchase frequency.🐋 Whale↳ Players who spend significantly more than the average.• Tools: VIP programs, personalized offers, premium content.• Key Metrics: Lifetime Value (LTV), ARPPU, high-value transaction rate.🌟 Advocate↳ These players promote your game enthusiastically.• Tools: […]

Anton Slashcev September 5

Journal

FOMO: Secret Sauce For Driving IAP

It’s everywhere:• Offers and discounts• Limited-time events• Time-pressing mechanics• Short-term boosts like Happy Hours• Player tournamentsFOMO taps into a basic human instinct, making it incredibly effective.But here’s the catch:→ A ticking clock alone won’t help if you sell sh*t.FOMO works best when paired with something players already want.Something that has value.→ Then FOMO is the final nudge that pushes players past indecision.So, before you add that timer, ensure your offering is worth it.

Anton Slashcev September 3

Journal

Which setting should you choose for your mobile game?

Here is the download and revenue distribution among the top 10 settings: Top 3 settings by revenue:1. Fantasy• $26B• 56.5% of total revenue• YoY growth: +5%2. Real Life• $7B• 14.9% of total revenue• YoY growth: +16% 💰3. Military• $4B• 9.5% of total revenue• YoY growth: -4%But revenue isn't the full story.Here's the downloads distribution:Top 3 settings by downloads:1. Real Life• 9.9B downloads• 37.2% of total downloads• YoY growth: +15%2. Sports• 6B downloads• 22.7% of total downloads• YoY growth: -1%3. Fantasy• 5.6B downloads• 21.1% of total downloads• YoY growth: +24% 💹Notable trends:• Fantasy leads the way in both engagement and earnings. A 24% YoY download growth and a 56.5% revenue share prove its dominance.• Real Life settings are booming, with a 15% rise in downloads and a strong 16% boost in revenue.• Horror and Historical settings are struggling, with double-digit declines […]

Anton Slashcev September 1

Journal

Career Paths for Game Designers

Starting as a game designer is just the beginning.Let's explore the possibilities:𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁• Lead Game Designer ➡️ Product Owner ➡️ Creative Director ➡️ Chief Product Officer (CPO)𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁• Associate Producer ➡️ Producer ➡️ Executive Producer ➡️ VP of Strategy• Team Lead ➡️ Project Manager (PM) ➡️ Development Director ➡️ Chief Operating Officer (COO)𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽• Game Design Generalist ➡️ Game Director ➡️ Co-Founder𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿• Indie Solo Developer ➡️ Indie Studio Head ➡️ CEO• Freelance Game Designer ➡️ Game Design Consultant ➡️ Advisor𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻• Content Creator ➡️ Influencer ➡️ Media Owner• Guest Speaker ➡️ Lecturer ➡️ Game Design School Owner𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴• Publishing Manager ➡️ Publishing Producer ➡️ Head of Publishing• Analyst ➡️ Lead Analyst ➡️ LiveOps Director𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴• Creative Manager ➡️ Creative Producer ➡️ Lead Creative Producer ➡️ Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Anton Slashcev August 31

Anton Slashcev

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