R&D Framework for Game Prototyping

🕹 R&D Framework for Game Prototyping 🕹 Below is the framework we often use when starting work on new projects:I. Pre-Production (2-4 weeks)1. Idea Generation: ▶ Market analysis, gathering references; ▶ Brainstorming to pick the most promising ideas2. Greybox Prototyping: ▶ Focus on a single core feature; ▶ Find the fun factor3. Conceptualization: ▶ Preparing the GDD, user flow, and key shots;▶ Selecting the right tools and creating a roadmapII. Production (4-10 weeks)4. Features Development: ▶ Concentrate on key gameplay mechanics and speed in development;▶ Minimal meta or progression5. Content Creation: ▶ Craft key art, and fun levels, and use ready-made assets;▶ Secondary art, vfx, sounds, etc. can be draft6. Minimum Viable Product: ▶ Ensure the game offers 20-40 minutes of engaging gameplay with a distinctive style and polished game feel▶ Better fewer, but betterIII. Product-Market Fit Validation (1-3 weeks)7. […]

Anton Slashcev December 26

Journal

Smart Design Meets Convenience!

🎮 Smart Design Meets Convenience! 🚀 I came across this intriguing feature in Color Clash by Voodoo. Typically, upgrading your troops requires winning battles to get upgrade packs. The catch? Only one pack can unlock at a time, so you have to keep coming back to start unlocking the next one.Here’s the twist: they’re now offering an *auto-start* option for a price! It’s a clever way to keep players engaged while introducing a monetization opportunity.

Michael Kopelovich December 26

Highlights

Mobile Gaming Today: 40

Hej Fam!Ready for the last Mobile Gaming Today of the year?Let's go!Some cool news here 🕺🏻Was included in the ‘Top Gaming Insights Sources’ list made by AAA Agency.Kudos to everyone who supports this lovely industry 🐿️Let’s get this party started!Weekly Quote: Christmas & NY Edition“Our minds deserve unplugging, no Slack pings, no emails, no LinkedIn scrolls—just you, your priorities, and the freedom without interruptions.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Mobile Marketing» Match Factory’s Success & Gameplay Mechanics⚡️ Game Analysis: Spyke Games’ Tile Busters🎅 2025 App Marketing Predictions 🤝 Power of Partnerships in Gaming🌏 Mobile Gaming in South East Asia🎢 ‘Pick Me Up’ By SuperSonic📊 New AdROAS in Meta🔔 Push Notifications Guide📚 New week & New case study🔗 Cross-Promotion for Mobile Games🧠 Smart Signal IntegrationIndustry Highlights» Top 10 Predictions for Mobile Gaming in 2025☃️ Survive(d) to 2025🌍 Mobile Games Downloads Heatmap🏅Sports Apps are becoming increasingly popular💼 […]

Gamigion December 24

Journal

LiveOps Full Breakdown

LiveOps Full Breakdown Here's a list of the most popular LiveOps events:𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 📅 • Collection / Album • Single Season Pass • Double Season Pass 𝟮. 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🏆 • Weekly Contest • Leaderboard • Solo Tournament • Race Tournament • Team Race / Regatta • Team Tournament • PvP / Duel Tournament 𝟯. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 ⏳ • Unlimited Lives • Daily Bonus • Double Rewards • Cost Reduction • Faster Production • Better Drop Rates • Special Mechanic • Stat Improvement 𝟰. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 🤝 • Clans / Teams • Friends • Leagues • Partners (Co-Op) • Heist / Raid 𝟱. 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 ⭐ • Level Completion Streaks • Multiplier Streaks • Group Challenge Streaks • Tournament Point Streaks • Time-Limited Streaks 𝟲. 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 🥇 • Milestone Tasks • Team Chest • Daily Quests • Time-Sensitive Challenge […]

Anton Slashcev December 24

Journal

Mobile Gaming Today: 40

Hej Fam! Ready for the last Mobile Gaming Today of the year? Let's go! Some cool news here 🕺🏻 Was included in the ‘Top Gaming Insights Sources’ list made by AAA Agency. Kudos to everyone who supports this lovely industry 🐿️ Let’s get this party started! Weekly Quote: Christmas & NY Edition “Our minds deserve unplugging, no Slack pings, no emails, no LinkedIn scrolls—just you, your priorities, and the freedom without interruptions.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Mobile Marketing » Match Factory’s Success & Gameplay Mechanics ⚡️ Game Analysis: Spyke Games’ Tile Busters 🎅 2025 App Marketing Predictions 🤝 Power of Partnerships in Gaming 🌏 Mobile Gaming in South East Asia 🎢 ‘Pick Me Up’ By SuperSonic 📊 New AdROAS in Meta 🔔 Push Notifications Guide 📚 New week & New case study 🔗 Cross-Promotion for Mobile Games 🧠 Smart Signal Integration Industry Highlights […]

Gamigion December 23

Journal

My Top 10 Predictions for Mobile Gaming in 2025

My Top 10 Predictions for Mobile Gaming in 2025: 1. 🚨 Stagnation ahead • Expect slow growth in revenue and a slight drop in downloads. Rising costs for user acquisition and marketing are making things tough.2. 💳 Alternative stores take the stage • Developers are moving to platforms like Amazon, Appstore or Galaxy Store and embracing web payments to avoid heavy app store fees.3. 🤝 IP collaborations will thrive • Big games are teaming up with famous brands for live-ops events. It’s a marketing and engagement win-win.4. 🧩 Puzzle games rise to the top• Puzzle games will dominate revenue growth, while action, arcade, and simulation games lead in downloads.5. ⚡ Hybrid casual is the new trendsetter • Games with simple yet engaging mechanics are blending monetization models and extending live-ops.6. 📈 M&A heats up• Major players will expand portfolios through […]

Anton Slashcev December 23

Journal

Your favorite Game to play in 2024?

I asked 6 more game industry experts, 6 more games. What is your favorite game to play in 2024? Part III: Arin, Sr. Talent Marketing Specialist at Blizzard,Picks a top notch ARPG DLC, dark and intense…Anton, Executive Game Producer, Picks an innovative mobile game called:Cup Heroes by Voodoo, casual take on a Roguelike RPG, definitely worth checking out. Ömer, Founder of Gamigion,Goes with another dominating mobile RPG,Cappybara GO! RPG clashes social casinoWith adventure and innovation. Joe, Head of Talent at Play Ventures,Goes with everyones fav indie card gameBalatro, is an excellent choice. Ryan, marketing partner at A16Z picks UFO 50, collection of retro art game console style gamesHe always pushes me to think with His newsletters, did it again with his game pick.Mariusz, CEE of Mobile Gaming at GoogleLoves Monopoly series, and picks Monopoly GO!Many thanks to Part III contributors ofGame […]

Gökhan Üzmez December 23

Journal

Feedback Made Simple!

🚀 Feedback Made Simple! 🎮 Spotted this smart and user-friendly Feedback feature in Match Factory by Peak Games. 📝 It lets players instantly share their thoughts, directly from the game—no need for extra steps or complicated forms.This is such a great way to keep the feedback loop active, build trust, and show players their opinions truly matter! 💡✨

Michael Kopelovich December 23

Journal

Is your game fun?

🚀 Ultimate guide to understand if your game is fun 🔑 11 key items on measuring Fun𝟭. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻• Return Rates: Measures how often players come back.• Churn Analysis: Helps identify why players stop playing.• Time Spent Playing: Indicates how captivating the game is.𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄• Progression Curves: Smooth difficulty increases keep players motivated.• Balance Between Challenge and Skill: Ensures the game is neither easy nor hard.𝟯. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆• Multiplayer Features: Enhances fun through cooperation or competition.• Community Engagement: Active forums and events foster a sense of belonging.𝟰. 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴• Player Choices Impacting Story: Increases investment through agency.• Engaging Plot and Characters: Deep stories and relatable characters draw players in.𝟱. 𝗨𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘀• Intuitive Interface: Easy navigation keeps focus on gameplay.• Responsive Controls: Smooth mechanics enhance player satisfaction.• Accessibility Options: Makes the game enjoyable […]

M. Ali Saatchi December 19

Journal

‘Pick Me Up’ By SuperSonic

HYBRIDCASUAL STUDIES“PICK ME UP” BY SUPERSONIC & HIBOX Hello, Mobile Gaming Fanatics! 🤪Last month, I posted about Supersonic from Unity's competition for new Hybridcasual titles (link in the comments). 💪Among the sub-genres being focused on in the competition is Idle Resource Management (IRM).To support your search for a new IRM 🤩, I bring you a study of the new game that is starting to be successful, “Pick Me Up”.Developed by Hibox and published by Supersonic, “Pick Me Up” is an excellent case of how to build an IRM game from an everyday theme.The theme of “Pick Me Up” is the car-sharing business (a.k.a. Uber). 🚗📲Hibox's version is detailed and fine-tuned, giving the player the feeling of opening a new ride-sharing startup! 👏👇 Swipe through the slides below and see similarities between the game and the Uber app. 👇The game has […]

Carlos Pereira December 19

Journal

Experts’ Favorite Games of 2024

What is your favorite game to play in 2024?I asked 5 Game Industry Experts, here they are: Matej , UA and Marketing Consultant,Capybara Go!You know him from two & a half gamers,His pick is an absolute revenue making machine,Scaling big time in mobile platform, Eric, Principal at Gossamer ConsultingWorld of Warcraft: The War Within.‘’Even after 20 years, WoW remains the gold standard for the MMO genre.’’And he is absolutely right.This particular expansion features‘’ ↳ a compelling storyline ↳ innovative additions like scalable Delves, ↳ the Hero Talents system, ↳ and Warbands for shared character progression’’ Renata, Head of PR at UGC NinjaRoyal Match by Dream GamesShe is particularly interested in Level and progress system, and as she isAround lvl 777, it’s safe to say she is addicted.Sergei, LiveOps Director Wargaming,Astro Bot and also mentioned Helldivers 2.We know he like spending […]

Gökhan Üzmez December 18

Journal

Mobile MMOs: Innovation Opportunities in 2025

Mobile MMOs: Innovation Opportunities in 2025 🎮🌍 The mobile #MMO genre remains an interesting frontier, offering opportunities for creative disruption. While high barriers to entry deter newcomers, the potential for innovation—and rewards—makes it a ripe area for exploration. Trends to Look in Mobile MMOs:1. Lapsed and Underserved Audiences 👨‍🔧🗡️Western gamers who grew up on #MMOs like #WorldofWarcraft now face 'constraints' by life. #MobileMMOs designed for short, flexible play could attract these players, offering them nostalgic experiences in an accessible format. E.g., creating systems where players feel empowered without excessive grinding, such as streamlined progression mechanics inspired by lighter ARPGs, would be worth to be studied. Additioanlly, MMOs can be mixed with open and non-open design, making them light while retaining key elements.2. Eastern Market vs. Western Market 📉📈MMOs flourish in Asian markets, where habits are around long sessions and intricate […]

Antti Kananen December 18

#GameDev

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