Amir H. Fassihi, co-founder and studio director at Dead Mage, discusses creative game design and planning, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving and task prioritization within game development. He highlights the challenges faced during development milestones, including quality issues and misaligned priorities, suggesting a structured approach to planning that focuses on identifying new problems and solutions. Fassihi advocates for tactical task management to enhance creativity and ensure a successful game development process.

1. Amir H. Fassihi
June 2022
Creative Game Design Planning
Planning Chaos

2. About Me
Amir H. Fassihi
Co-founder and Studio Director at Dead Mage
Background: Programming - Design - Production
Interests: Creative Teams (Leadership and Teamwork)

3. Independent game development studio
focused on PC and Console games.
Founded: 2010
Studio size: 25

4. Garshasp: The Monster Slayer
Action/Adventure, PC
Garshasp: Temple of the Dragon
Action/Adventure, PC
Shadow Blade
Action Platformer, Mobile
2011
2014
2012
Released Games

5. Epic of Kings
Action RPG, Mobile
Shadow Blade: Reload
Action Platformer, PC, PS4, Switch,
Mobile
Children of Morta
Action RPG, PC, PS4, Xbox One,
Switch
2015
2019
2016
Released Games

7. What is a creative game?

11. Why do we need creativity?

14. Fun from games arises out of mastery, it is
the act of solving puzzles that makes games
fun. In other words, with games, learning is
the drug.
Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun

16. Marketing and Creative Games

20. Creative
Design

21. Solving a New Problem
1
A new Solution to an
existing Problem
2
Creative
Design

23. Puzzle Simulation Game
Simulate border officer Stylized Presentation

24. Problem Disaggregation

25. Puzzle Simulation Game
Simulate border officer Stylized Presentation
Technology
Story
Balance Pixel Art
Music
SFX

26. Puzzle Simulation Game
Simulate border officer Stylized Presentation
Technology
Story
Balance Pixel Art
Music
SFX
New Problem

28. 2D Platformer
Stylized Presentation Fast and Tight Controls
Story about Personal Struggles

29. 2D Platformer
Stylized Presentation Fast and Tight Controls
Story about Personal Struggles
Solution

30. A Solution is:
A Combination of Problems

31. Solving a New Problem
1
A new Solution to an
existing Problem
2
Creative
Design

33. Multi-genre Games

34. A Strategy Game
City Building Survival
Emotional Narrative

35. New Solution
A Strategy Game
City Building Survival
Emotional Narrative

37. Let's Plan!

44. "Every gamedev team has a plan
until the first milestone meeting!"

46. Why
aren't we
happy
when the
milestone
date is
reached?

47. Tasks are
not done!

48. Tasks are
not done!
Team member not
fast enough!

49. Tasks are
not done!
Team member not
fast enough!
Team member had
to learn first!

50. Tasks are
not done!
Team member not
fast enough!
Team member had
to learn first!
New Technical
Issue!

51. Tasks are
not done!
Team member not
fast enough!
Team member had
to learn first!
New Technical
Issue! Pandemy!

53. But!
For Creative Game Projects...

54. Tasks are done, but...

55. Quality is not good!

59. We didn't build the right product.

60. Our Priorities Were Wrong!

61. Task
Priority?

62. What task
will you
work on?

63. The task I like?
What task
will you
work on?

64. The task I like?
The task I know?
What task
will you
work on?

65. The task I like?
The task I know?
The task that is
cool?
What task
will you
work on?

66. The task I like?
The task I know?
The task that is
cool?
The task that
makes me learn?
What task
will you
work on?

67. P = Importance x Urgency

68. Urgency = time to do / time left to do

69. Importance?

70. Solving a New Problem
1
A new Solution to an
existing Problem
2
Creative
Design

71. Important Tasks:
Tasks Related to Creative Design

72. Important Tasks:
Tasks that solve a new problem, or
are part of a new solution!

73. Project

74. Project

75. Project
Tasks

76. Project
Tasks
New Problem

77. Project
Tasks
New Problem
Important Tasks

79. Project
Where in the tree
is it?

80. Project
Where in the tree
is it?

81. Project
Where in the tree
is it? Not now!

82. Project
Where in the tree
is it? Not now!

83. Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

84. Find the new Problem or Solution
1
Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

85. Find the new Problem or Solution
1
Disaggregate to find tasks
2
Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

86. Find the new Problem or Solution
1
Disaggregate to find tasks
2
Prioritize and do those tasks
3
Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

87. Find the new Problem or Solution
1
Disaggregate to find tasks
2
Validate your solution's quality
4
Prioritize and do those tasks
3
Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

88. Find the new Problem or Solution
1
Disaggregate to find tasks
2
Validate your solution's quality
4
Prioritize and do those tasks
3
Repeat step 2
5
Planning
for
Creativity
is this:

89. And...

91. Time?

92. Problem: Wish Date

93. Problem: Derived Date

94. Task End = Task Duration +
Start Date

95. Problem Derived Date =
F(Tasks, Assignee Speed)

96. Developer B
Developer C
Developer D
Task 5
Task 8
Task 13 Task 14 Task 15 Task 16
Developer A Task 1 Task 2 Task 3
Task 4 Task 6 Task 7
Task 9 Task 10
Task 11 Task 12
Problem X

97. Developer B
Developer C
Developer D
Task 5
Task 8
Task 13 Task 14 Task 15 Task 16
Task 1 Task 2
Task 4
Task 10
Problem X
Developer A Task 3
Task 6 Task 7
Task 9
Task 11 Task 12
Derived Date

98. Wishful Planning
VS
Calculated Planning

99. Project Roadmap
P 1 P 3 P 5
P 2 P 4 P 6
P 7 P 9
P 8
P 10
P 11
Time

100. Best Plan:
Do the most important
thing today!

101. Thank you!
amir@deadmage.com
@ahfassihi