Indie Games - From Prototype to Polish, Tips & Tricks making your own indie game. (Shanghai 2014)
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The document provides tips for indie game developers. It discusses connecting with users through playtesting prototypes, focusing on the first-time user experience with intuitive tutorials, and establishing a brand identity across multiple games. Key recommendations include failing often with quick prototypes to identify fun, teaching game mechanics seamlessly through level design, and understanding the target audience to tailor the game experience and marketing appropriately. The overall message is that indie developers should solicit frequent user feedback, emphasize accessibility and usability, and develop a consistent brand to help discoverability and growth across multiple game titles.
Indie Games - From Prototype to Polish, Tips & Tricks making your own indie game. (Shanghai 2014)
- 1. Indie Games Tips & Tricks Nov 2014 By Anna Grueter @ ReignDesign
- 2. Anna Grüter Studied Computer Science & Digital Media
- 3. Anna Grüter Studied Computer Science & Digital Media over 10 years a developer
- 4. Anna Grüter Studied Computer Science & Digital Media over 10 years a developer 5 years experience making mobile games
- 5. We made a lot of indie games
- 6. Successful Ones Games with 4M downloads Main App Store Feature in China multiple times Ranked #2 Best Games in the USA App Store Ranked higher than Angry Birds in their good days Featured New & Noteworthy sections in many countries
- 7. A ton of failures 1 year of working hard == minimal users no return of investment bad reviews, nono or minimal revenue ranking store-versions with bugs, crashes, bad UI
- 9. And less original ones…
- 10. Why Make Games?
- 11. Why Make Games? MMoottiivvaattiioonn
- 15. But there are lesser known rewards
- 16. Pigs picture
- 26. Thats Awesome!
- 29. Thats Awesome!
- 31. THATS AWESOME
- 32. A scientist contacting us for the flocking algorithm he saw in our game, because he is working tiny robots that enter the human body and that need to be controlled like a flock. THATS AWESOME
- 33. Thats Awesome!
- 35. #1Connect with your users
- 38. #2Prototype Or Fail Often
- 39. 1. Make a Quick Prototype. Strip out anything but the absolute essentials that make it fun. No special graphics either, nothing.
- 40. 1. Make a Quick Prototype. Strip out anything but the absolute essentials that make it fun. No special graphics either, nothing. 2. Give it to someone. Observe them, is it as good as in your mind? Do they think it’s fun? No?
- 41. 1. Make a Quick Prototype. Strip out anything but the absolute essentials that make it fun. No special graphics either, nothing. 2. Give it to someone. Observe them, is it as good as in your mind? Do they think it’s fun? No? 3. Throw away your idea. Work on something else. This is essential for all parts of the process. If it sucks, throw it out.
- 42. 4.Don’t expect everyone to share your vision from day one.
- 43. YEAH ITS A LOT OF FUN BUT… IT’S LIKE TETRIS IN BLACK & WHITE WITH BALLS.
- 44. What did she really say?
- 45. YEAH ITS A LOT OF FUN BUT… IT’S LIKE TETRIS IN BLACK & WHITE WITH BALLS.
- 47. #3 First time Experience
- 48. Why?
- 49. Why? How do you use apps?
- 50. Why? How do you use apps?
- 51. Why? 50% How do you use apps? 1 day Retention
- 52. Why? 50% 33% How do you use apps? 1 day Retention 7 day Retention
- 53. Why? 50% 33% 8% How do you use apps? 1 day Retention 7 day Retention 30 day Retention
- 54. 100 Levels
- 55. 10 Levels
- 57. #4 Tutorials Or Show, don’t tell
- 58. 1. Show Don’t Tell Tutorials should be noticed as such
- 59. Teach the user seamlessly through your level design
- 60. Teach controls in a safe environment
- 61. Introduce each new challenge or obstacle in a controlled environment… … where you can learn without immediately dying.
- 63. Too hard Boring
- 64. Too hard A fun Challenge Boring
- 65. Too hard A fun Challenge Boring
- 66. 2. Create smart levels - or why your game should be as smart as a dog.
- 72. #5 Branding
- 73. Especially indie developers should make use of this.
- 74. Are you making more than one game?
- 75. Your games need a posse.
- 76. Make use of these branding rules:
- 77. Make use of these branding rules: 1. Brand the icons (findability)
- 78. Make use of these branding rules: 2. Brand the names (findability) If one game is successful and its called • Crazy Grandma in the jungle or • MiniApps - The Race All games will show up in the search results.
- 79. Make use of these branding rules: 3. Cross-promote your other games If you’ve gotten one user, and he played your game - make your own in-game ads for your other games. It can even be tied to achievements even.
- 81. Make use of these branding rules: 4. Brand quality & visual style When you brand something there is a expectation involved when people download a second app. Make sure that the visual style + level of quality are comparable / consistent.
- 83. #6 Know your Game Or Not all Success looks the same.
- 84. Know your audience Is your game targeted at China?
- 85. Know your audience Are you making a gap-filler game?
- 86. Know your audience A game for kids?
- 87. Know your audience A game for middle aged women?
- 88. Summary #1 Connect with your users #2 Prototype - Fail often #3 First time experience #4 Tutorials - Show don’t tell #5 Branding #6 Know your game
- 89. Thank you