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Indie Games - From Prototype to Polish, Tips & Tricks making your own indie game. (Shanghai 2014)
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.
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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 StudiedComputer Science & Digital Media
- 3. Anna Grüter StudiedComputer Science & Digital Media over 10 years a developer
- 4. Anna Grüter StudiedComputer Science & Digital Media over 10 years a developer 5 years experience making mobile games
- 5. We made alot of indie games
- 6. Successful Ones Gameswith 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 offailures 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
- 8.
- 9. And less originalones…
- 10.
- 11. Why Make Games? MMoottiivvaattiioonn
- 15. But there arelesser known rewards
- 16.
- 26.
- 29.
- 31.
- 32. A scientist contactingus 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.
- 35. #1Connect with yourusers
- 38. #2Prototype Or FailOften
- 39. 1. Make aQuick Prototype. Strip out anything but the absolute essentials that make it fun. No special graphics either, nothing.
- 40. 1. Make aQuick 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 aQuick 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 everyoneto share your vision from day one.
- 43. YEAH ITS ALOT OF FUN BUT… IT’S LIKE TETRIS IN BLACK & WHITE WITH BALLS.
- 44. What did shereally say?
- 45. YEAH ITS ALOT OF FUN BUT… IT’S LIKE TETRIS IN BLACK & WHITE WITH BALLS.
- 47. #3 First time Experience
- 48.
- 49. Why? How doyou use apps?
- 50. Why? How doyou use apps?
- 51. Why? 50% Howdo 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.
- 55.
- 57. #4 Tutorials Or Show, don’t tell
- 58. 1. Show Don’tTell Tutorials should be noticed as such
- 59. Teach the userseamlessly through your level design
- 60. Teach controls ina safe environment
- 61. Introduce each newchallenge or obstacle in a controlled environment… … where you can learn without immediately dying.
- 63.
- 64. Too hard Afun Challenge Boring
- 65. Too hard Afun Challenge Boring
- 66. 2. Create smartlevels - or why your game should be as smart as a dog.
- 72.
- 73. Especially indie developers should make use of this.
- 74. Are you makingmore than one game?
- 75. Your games need a posse.
- 76. Make use ofthese branding rules:
- 77. Make use ofthese branding rules: 1. Brand the icons (findability)
- 78. Make use ofthese 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 ofthese 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 ofthese 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 Connectwith your users #2 Prototype - Fail often #3 First time experience #4 Tutorials - Show don’t tell #5 Branding #6 Know your game
- 89.