Overview This post focuses on three primary forms of F2P game design: gameplay, systems, and social. The console and PC world are currently dominated by a “units sold” business with emphasis on gameplay focused design. However, the F2P (free to play) business model requires additional forms of design to be successful. I explain requirements for […]
“Key Risks” Based Mobile Game Pre-production
Context: Mobile game pre-production teams often focus on the wrong activities. An early focus on playables in software or building a game’s core loop may be useful but not the best approach. Any team with limited resources should prioritize what’s most critical to maximizing the success of a game. Unfortunately, the most common approach I encounter shortcuts or […]
Crazy, Destructive Executives and the “Giant Spider” Problem
Introduction Steve Jobs was famous for creating some of the most successful products ever built. He made significant, positive impacts on the the product teams and with product decisions. However, with many executives we find the opposite phenomenon happening where high level executives make poor decisions that negatively impact products teams and product decisions. Steve […]
The “Strange Attractor” in Video Game Design
Context Before gameplay, mechanics, monetization, or any other key design consideration, a new video game design needs to consider the most important aspect of all: a good concept. Feature film screenwriter Terry Rossio (credits include Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin, and many others) developed the notion of a “Strange Attractor” to help other screenwriters understand how to […]
Mobile Game Design: Iteration vs. Planning, MVP = Dangerous!
Mobile game design typically follows two primary schools of design philosophy: Iteration based design = Just get some core mechanics in and then keep iterating until you get something fun; some initial but not extensive design before development Planning based design = Think through all of the features, every key screen, all of the dependencies […]
+1 Game Design: A Problem-centric Framework
I was recently asked about the best approach to come up with a +1 mobile game design and wanted to cover this topic. In my view, a very specific approach and process to maximize your chances for success should be considered. What is that approach? I call it a “problem-centric” framework. What does that mean? […]
Mobile UI and Game Design: Screens vs. Flows
Context: Mobile game design by flows refers to the concept of mapping out the entire set of screens a user can tap through in a mobile game: the user flows. While many of the larger mobile game studios such as Zynga or GREE routinely design UI/UX by flows, many mobile application designers are still designing […]
The Compulsion Loop in Game Design Explained
A man can surely do what he wills to do, but cannot determine what he wills. – Arthur Schopenhauer John Hopson introduced the concept of the compulsion loop applied to video games as early as 2001. Since then, compulsion loop mechanics continue to get integrated into video games fairly broadly. The compulsion loop concept regained popularity […]
Implications of “Alpha” and “Beta” in Mobile Gaming
Bear with me on this post. There will be some financial jargon and a bit of math but the conclusions drawn I believe will be worth your read (at least I hope so!). Let’s first start with some financial theory which will form the basis of the arguments I make. In finance, the “efficient markets […]
Why Mobile Games Need a Strong “Heartbeat”
Introduction Humans require a heartbeat to live. The heart pumps blood including essential nutrients throughout the body to sustain life in a regular cycle and rhythm. Similarly, mobile games in particular require a similar concept of a “heartbeat” in order to sustain an audience and user interest in a regular cycle and rhythm. This is […]
Micro vs. Macro Gameplay
Context: Surprisingly, a large number of people in the video games industry expressed ignorance on the concept of micro vs. macro gameplay. If you’re not familiar, now’s your chance to learn. It’s an important concept in video games and a concept that raises some interesting questions in the context of a mobile device. Stop and […]
12 Critical Mobile Monetization Concepts (Part 1 of 3)
Are you ready to level up your mobile app monetization? Context: In October of 2011, an article about DeNA included a number of key mobile monetization insights: High Ass ARPU: Claimed $12 ARPU (average revenue per user) – this was a strong indicator that there was a meaningful way that DeNA was designing monetization in […]
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