In this episode of "Building Better Games," Benjamin Carcich and Greg Street, also known as Ghostcrawler, delve into the intricacies of game design during the ideation phase. Greg shares his extensive experience from his time working on League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Age of Empires, and his current venture at Fantastic Pixel Castle.

Key Discussion Points:

• Early Stages of Game Development:
  • How to initiate a new game project and the unique challenges that come with it.
  • Differentiating game design during the ideation phase compared to later stages.
• State of the Gaming Industry:
  • The current landscape of the gaming industry, including the impact of layoffs and economic shifts.
  • Greg's perspective on the future of the industry and the potential for recovery.
• Innovations in Game Design:
  • The importance of focusing on specific areas for innovation while adhering to established industry standards in others.
  • Examples of innovative design elements planned for Greg's current project, "Ghost."
• Social Dynamics of MMOs:
  • The unique social fabric of MMOs and the challenges of designing for player interaction and community building.
  • Strategies to enhance social interaction and make it easier for players to play together.
• Player Feedback and Iteration:
  • The value of incorporating player feedback early in the development process.
  • Balancing the creative vision with player expectations and feedback.
• Leadership and Team Dynamics:
  • The role of leadership in guiding a team through the early stages of development.
  • Building a collaborative and productive team environment.
• Estimation and Planning:
  • The importance of estimation in managing early game development tasks.
  • Balancing estimation with the flexibility needed for creative exploration.
• Defining Vision and Audience:
  • The significance of having a clear vision and understanding the target audience.
  • Strategies for identifying and catering to the intended player base.
• Challenges and Risks:
  • Identifying and managing risks in the early stages of game development.
  • Strategies for mitigating potential issues and ensuring project stability.

Greg also shares personal anecdotes and insights from his career, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and maintaining a clear vision throughout the game development process. This episode provides valuable guidance for aspiring game developers and offers a deep dive into the complexities of game design in the ideation phase.

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games:

https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

And if you're interested in more of our content, links below.

"Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught" online course for game producers: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

Greg's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-street-b356447/

Greg’s Website: https://fantasticpixelcastle.com/

Greg’s Twitter: https://x.com/Ghostcrawler

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames

In this episode of "Building Better Games," hosts Benjamin Carcich and Aaron Smith dive into the complex and often frustrating topic of estimation and planning in game development. They address the challenges, misconceptions, and emotional reactions surrounding estimation, drawing on their extensive experience in the industry. The episode also covers current trends in game development, including the ongoing issue of layoffs and economic pressures affecting studios.

1. Challenges of Estimation:

   • Estimation is a universal pain point in game development, often leading to frustration and cynicism.
   • The misconception that precise estimates can accurately predict future outcomes is widespread and problematic.

2. The Importance of Flexibility:

   • Effective estimation requires flexibility in scope, time, resources, and priorities.
   • Establishing clear levers that can be pulled to adjust plans as needed is crucial for successful project management.

3. Relative Estimation and Calibration:

   • Estimations should focus on accuracy rather than precision, using confidence intervals to provide a more realistic view of project timelines.
   • Techniques like throughput and relative estimation help teams make faster and more reliable predictions.

4. Prioritization and Learning:

   • Estimations are valuable for prioritizing tasks and understanding the relative importance of different features.
   • Tracking past performance and learning from previous estimates can improve future predictions and planning.

5. Balancing Creativity and Control:

   • Overly rigid plans can stifle creativity and lead to subpar games.
   • Creating systems that allow developers to exercise their judgment and creativity is essential for producing high-quality games.

6. Trust and Communication:

   • Building trust between managers and teams is vital for effective estimation and planning.
   • Clear communication about the realities of project timelines and the inherent uncertainties in game development is necessary.

7. Tools and Techniques:

   • Various estimation techniques, including ideal days, story points, and throughput, offer different benefits and can be tailored to specific project needs.
   • The hosts emphasize the importance of choosing the right method for the context and being willing to adapt as new information emerges.

By addressing these points, Ben and Aaron provide valuable insights into how to navigate the complexities of estimation and planning in game development, ultimately helping studios ship better games with less stress and frustration.

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

And if you're interested in more of our content, links below.

"Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught" online course for game producers: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

Aaron's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doublearon00/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames

Episode 63: People, Products, Playtests (Republish of E1 of BBG)

Welcome to Building Better Games!

Due to Ben's recent knee surgery, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes from season two. In this episode, originally titled "People, Products, Playtests," we dive deep into the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with the games we create.

By the way, our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

Key Topics:

1. Playtesting and Engagement: We discuss how regular playtesting can prevent teams from getting lost in the technical aspects and keep the focus on creating an engaging player experience.

2. Internal Playtests: We explore different company cultures around playtesting and how frequent testing can lead to better team behaviors and more successful products.

3. Gamer First, Developer Second: We talk through the impact to our own careers of being a gamer before a developer and how this perspective can lead to better game design and development.

4. Approach to Playtests: Aaron shares insights on the mindset and cultural aspects of playtesting, emphasizing the importance of playing the game from a player's perspective rather than just a developer's.

Join us for this episode on how to build better games through effective playtesting while maintaining a meaningful connection with both the product and the audience.

Don't forget to check out our new Discord server for game development leaders and producers to continue the conversation and solve the right problems together.

Enjoy the episode!

And if you're interested in more of our content, links below.

"Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught" online course for game producers: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

Aaron's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doublearon00/