Anton Slashcev

Game development looks simple on the surface. But this is an "Iceberg" hiding many underwater obstacles. Above the water: • Come up with a good idea • Choose a game engine • Create a prototype • Cool logo and title • Post a launch tweet • Click ‘export game’Sounds straightforward, right?But the real work happens below the surface:• Gather a strong team • Fun gameplay • Balance progression and difficulty • Optimization and bug fixes • Retain players long-term • Build a community • Effective monetization strategy • Get funding • Run a successful marketing campaign • Meet deadlines • Bring the game to release • Keep the passion for gaming alive • Achieve profitabilityEach layer gets harder.Each challenge is critical.Game development isn’t just about creativity.It’s about perseverance, problem-solving, and commitment.Because what seems like "just a game"is really years of […]

As a Narrative Producer, I was responsible for a narrative of a dozen games. Here's how the narrative pipeline in game development works:1 🎮 Start with the Game Concept • Define the genre, platforms, target audience, and core mechanics. • Establish the unique selling points (USPs) and the game loop.2 📖 Develop the Synopsis • Create a brief overview of the story (1-2 pages). • Use a three-act structure to outline the main plot, characters, and story arc.3 💡 Write the Logline • Condense the story into 2-3 sentences. • Highlight the protagonist, goal, and conflict.4 🌍 Dive into Worldbuilding • Design the game’s setting. • Focus on elements that shape the story, characters, and gameplay.5 👤 Character Passports & Speech • Define character backstories, motivations, and traits. • Develop unique speech patterns and sample dialogue.6 🗺️ Build a Story […]

10 rules every game designer must follow: 𝟭. 🎁 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 ↳ Players hate losing something they worked hard for. • It feels unfair if it’s taken without their input. • Let them give it up only by choice (e.g., selling or swapping). 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: During the FTUE, you can give something cool & powerful to hook them and then take it away. Players are fine with this because they didn’t 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 it. 𝟮. 🎯 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 ↳ Players should always know what to do next. • The path can be hard, but the goal must be obvious. 𝟯. 🏆 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 ↳ Avoid confusing win/lose conditions. • Players need to understand how they can succeed, and why they failed. • Visual cues like progress bars or danger symbols (e.g., red […]

Daily Bonus Do's and Don'ts Based on the Playliner research, here’s a quick breakdown of what works and what doesn’t in daily bonus design:--- What doesn’t work: --- • Confusing progress bars • Lack of clarity on the next reward • Poor visualization of player progress • Missing timers • Distracting visuals--- What works: --- • Clear headers that don’t distract. • Progress bars for additional rewards as long-term motivation. • Well-visualized progress, with the next reward clearly indicated. • A big reward on key days (e.g., Day 7) to keep players coming back. • Precise countdown timers for the next reward.

Retention is key for game success. Here are 22 proven tips to keep players coming back for more: 1. Keep the tutorial short and fun. Teach the basics without overwhelming. 2. Ensure the first-time user experience (FTUE) is smooth and clear so players start having fun quickly. 3. Start strong with a surprising and unique hook to grab attention. 4. Match gameplay with ads and expectations. Deliver what is promised. 5. Set clear goals to keep players focused and engaged. 6. Include fun rewards like win streaks, daily bonuses, and challenges. 7. Make sure the game runs smoothly with no bugs or crashes. 8. Balance difficulty. Keep it challenging but not frustrating. 9. Analyze where players drop off and fix those churn points. 10. Add progression systems to keep players motivated. 11. Introduce fresh mechanics as the game progresses. 12. […]