Game Designers: Beyond Titles

🗺 Here’s why 150,000+ game designers don’t share the same tasks. What’s the biggest takeaway here?🚀 Think of building a spacecraft.You need different experts to design:Engine,Interior,Controls,Navigation,Mission, etc.Each part is equally ‘’important’’and ‘’MUST’’ work together!Game design skills are similar,Different designers focus on different parts:✦UX Designers✦Level Designers✦System Designers✦Combat Designers✦Narrative Designers✦Creative Art Designer✦Game Economy DesignersEach designer’s job is unique.Together, they make the game work.The biggest takeaway I found out?All these titles can be hidden under one role‘’ex. product manager’’ or separated among other titles,yet each ‘’subject’’ crafts and adds a ‘’unique’’ value.

Gökhan Üzmez August 29

Journal

Mobile Game Race: Shooter vs RPG vs 4x

Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate, and that’s exactly what 4X mobile games are doing to top charts right now, but how?35% of top-grossing Mobile Games are 4X.How does this sub-genre stand against the main genres?I think of 4 main reasons (see what I did there 🕺)1️⃣ They blend widely common mechanics,Such as RTS and RPG (Example: Top Heroes).2️⃣ They are a perfect place of gameplay to showVarious level and difficulty curve designs.Therefore they keep a high retention.3️⃣ They get ‘’creative’’ on User Acquisition.Some say it is a misleading, or false ad,While data argues they get, ''results''.4️⃣ They can be enjoyed by ALL player types:Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers.Do you think 4X will get higher?

Gökhan Üzmez August 27

Journal

Master these for success.

30+ Tools cheat sheet, highlighting 6 main pillars of game development that I find useful for the Video Games Industry.Game development is a form of Art.6 Pillars are essential for a strong foundation:ResearchDesignArtDevelopmentLive Ops DataMonetizationMaster these for success.

Gökhan Üzmez August 26

Journal

The untold truth about why we play games.

The untold truth about why we play games. While there are 20+ major reasons, I believe ‘’the one’’ shines the most.This one reason feeds the industry over and over.The First Video Games were created in the late 1950s.With increasing popularity and mass appeal,They are now part of our daily life.And they are here to stay…Here are some reasons people play games:CreativityStress ReliefEntertainmentSkill DevelopmentSocial Connections This List goes on and on… However, one reason ‘’clicks’’ the most:‘’Motivation and Reward Systems’’And it can be ‘’simply’’ explained:We like to overcome challenges,And getting rewarded for doing so.This leaves us with ‘’satisfying’’and ‘’great accomplishment’’ feeling.These feelings,Creates a long-term ‘’Retention’’.We seek more and more ways of doing so…Therefore, ‘’The Video Game Industry’’leverage these concepts and combine themto craft virtual experiences that are enjoyable.Again and again…So, Why do YOU play?Cheers!PS: These systems are part of sophisticated and […]

Gökhan Üzmez August 22

Journal

Game Economy Loop 101

How to balance your video game in 4 basic steps. It all starts with mastering the game economy loop.Every video game play loop works with math.Math that connects different dots.A game economy is the ''blueprint''For any good game out there.Master these steps, and,Get better results!「1」TAP:List the resources of your gameExperience, currency, loot, etc.「2」ENGAGEMENT:Create a fun gameplay mechanicTo engage players generate resources,Over and over again.「3」FEEDBACK LOOP:This is where it gets really tricky.You have to define game contentTo trigger players going forward,Better items, more levels, a leaderboard, etc.「4」TRADE:Carefully designed game currencies,To draw a monetization line betweenThe soft and hard currencies.Resulting profitable & fun game experience.Master these, and eventually,You get results.Now, go hug your game economy designers,Buy them a cup of coffee,Take them out for lunch,Or tag them to show your gratitude.PS: The Secret on the drawing is my terrible handwriting that my […]

Gökhan Üzmez August 15

Journal

2024 Half-1 Top Downloaded Midcore Mobile Games

Midcore Mobile Games Top Chart is hotter than a jalapeño 🌶. Take a look at my 7+ ''1'' takeaways to cool things down! 🍹🥇 Despite all the noise,RPG is not in the top 10.🥈 Though, Top 10 is depending onPlayer vs Player content.🥉 4X Strategy games are still offeringGreat potential for new games.(Jakub Remiar told you so! )👩‍🔧 There are no dominant mechanics.🤷‍♂️ Certain genres are held tight byBig IPs, such as sports or FPS games.Activision EA SPORTS🏆 Supercell is, literally dominating.⚔ We are warriors! seriously though...Lessmore💁‍♂️ As we see Hyper-Casuals movedTowards the ‘’Hybrid’’ casual games,We are seeing a clash of Core vs Casualgame design and art in the same way.Don't believe me?Cool..dont..I do 💪Am I too old to play Brawl Stars? No Brawlers were harmed analyzing this chart, besides my 5 game loss streak, I am gonna need a tissue, thanks 🤧

Gökhan Üzmez August 12

Gökhan Üzmez