#GameDev

How to design your player journey map? (5-step checklist)A player journey map visualizes experiences↳ aligns gameplay, monetization & retention.Here’s how to design one for your game:1️⃣ Define your map’s purpose• Focus on 1 goal: onboarding, retention, etc.• Set detail level, e.g., purchase journey.• Identify segment: casual, whales, etc.2️⃣ Identify player personas• Casual: focus on easy access & discovery.• Influencers: reward w/ social recognition.• Spenders: highlight exclusive offers.3️⃣ Analyze behaviors and touchpoints• Observe key systems: core, meta, etc.• Track streamers and community activity.• Check top items for awareness/purchases.4️⃣ Map the player journey stages• Awareness: Buzz from gameplay & socials.• Consideration: Reviews & personal offers.• Purchase: Easy checkout & seamless flow.• Usage: Impact on gameplay & recognition.5️⃣ Validate and refine your map• Test it with player actions and feedback.• Align it with KPIs like retention rates.• Keep evolving as the game grows.❗Things […]

Solo Tournaments Guide Here’s how they work, based on the Playliner breakdown of Match Factory tournaments:𝟭. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸 • Players qualify by completing at least one level. • Inactive players are excluded, and everyone begins on equal ground. 𝟮. 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 • Win a level on the first try? Your event token multiplier increases. • Fail? The multiplier resets, adding stakes to every move. 𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 • Players are grouped into pools of 30–50, matched by activity or spending habits. • Bots may fill gaps, keeping the competition alive. 𝟰. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 • Event tokens come from core gameplay: --- Completing levels --- Collecting special items • More tokens = higher leaderboard rankings. 𝟱. 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Tournaments run for 1–3 days, with a visible countdown timer to maintain urgency. 𝟲. 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 • Tiered prizes motivate participation: --- Top 3: […]

🗺 150.000+ Game Designers around the world!7 unique differences you should know about: They all do different things,To accomplish one thing!🚀 Its like a construction project. You need different experts to design:Foundation,Landscape,Electrical,Exterior,Statics,Interior,Roof,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 Designers.Each designer’s job is unique.Together, they make the game work.Also, often we see ‘’one’’ title,That does it all, or connects them,Game Product ManagerProduct Director etc.

How to make your game look stunning? It comes down to six key fundamentals:1. 🎥 Camera A great camera is your starting point. • Pick the right angles and horizon line. • Highlight the most important gameplay elements. • Avoid awkward, disorienting views.2. ⚫⚪ Contrast Make important objects pop. • Bright and dark areas should balance for clarity. • Separate key objects from the background visually. • Use contrast to guide the player’s attention naturally.3. 🎨 Composition Lead the player’s eye where it matters. • Add guiding lines to focus attention. • Follow the rule of thirds for balance. • Make every shot purposeful and easy to read.4. 💡 Light Lighting is more than mood—it’s direction. • Highlight paths and objectives with light. • Use shadows and highlights for depth. • Dynamic lighting can boost immersion.5. 🕺 Animation Movement makes […]

Things TRUE gamers don't care about: Some game developers learn these the hard way…Don't get me wrong,DLCs, customization etc., they are all great..But they are not what truly matters!Here are 5 key elements that shouldn't matter:1. Early Access↱ Driven by mostly ‘’Fear of Missing Out’’,↱ Most of these are just money grabbing.2. Micro-Transactions↱ Pay extra on top of what you just paid,↱ Just to fast travel in game? No, thank you. 3. Release Date↱ Buggy gameplay mechanics, rushed story,↱ Tons of technical issues, including login issues,↱ Because of profit promises for upper management?↱ We don’t deserve this, we can wait. 4. Character Customization↱ Sure, diversity is great, but tons of cosmetics,↱ Details on eye lid colors and eye lashes? No…5. DLC Promise↱ Why do I pay for a promise that should have,↱ Been in the original game in the first […]

🎲 Bringing Friends = Bigger Rewards! Just unlocked an event in "Dice Dreams" that caught my eye. It ties rewards to your social network: the more friends you connect, the better your rewards. Simple idea, but it feels fresh and meaningful in execution. What stands out for me: 1️⃣ It adds a social layer. You’re not just playing solo—you’re encouraged to involve your friends, making the experience feel more collaborative and connected. 2️⃣ Win-win for players and the game. Players enjoy bigger rewards, while the game drives higher engagement and organic growth. 3️⃣ The Facebook connection. Beyond the rewards, it’s a clever way for the game to collect user data for future targeting. Whether it’s ads, re-engagement campaigns, or more personalized offers, this is data gold for game developers. It’s an interesting mix of player benefit and business strategy. What […]

𝟎𝟓 - 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 In previous posts about navigable levels, I've often been asked whether elevation changes and ramps significantly affect player's perception. The short answer is yes; ramps are also a design tool! By using ramps, we can guide the player's attention, control their visibility, and carefully pace their movement through the environment. This helps us tell a story through the space itself. In the sketch I'm sharing today, I illustrate two scenarios (extreme case examples) where elevation is used to craft different gameplay dynamics.In simple terms, the key elements of a route that we see in these examples are:- Where the player is (𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧),- Where they need to go (𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞),- The surrounding navigable areas near the objective (𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧),- And the path to reach the objective (𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡).𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨, the objective is positioned beyond an upward […]

Which game engine should you choose for your game? Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 game engines in 2024:1. Unreal Engine🔹 Complexity: High🔹 Price: $$🔹 Pros: AAA graphics, photorealistic rendering, robust tools.🔹 Cons: Steep learning curve, not optimized for low-end devices.🔹 Best for high-end 3D games on PC and consoles.2. Unity🔹 Complexity: Medium🔹 Price: $$$🔹 Pros: Versatile 2D/3D support, cross-platform deployment, huge asset store.🔹 Cons: High licensing fees, some features gated.🔹 Best for indie to mid-size games, mobile, and VR/AR projects.3. Godot Engine🔹 Complexity: Low to Medium🔹 Price: Free🔹 Pros: Open-source, lightweight, node-based architecture.🔹 Cons: Limited 3D features, fewer third-party tools.🔹 Best for indie developers, 2D games, and learning projects.4. GameMaker🔹 Complexity: Low🔹 Price: $🔹 Pros: Drag-and-drop interface, custom scripting with GML, great for rapid prototyping.🔹 Cons: Limited for complex games, paid export modules.🔹 Best for beginners, 2D indie […]