Recently I've tried to help some experienced game developers prototype their new game ideas. I wanted to be open to new ways of working, so didn't push hard for them to use the methods that have worked for me. But after months of watching them struggle, I've come to believe

I stopped writing many months ago because I became busy. We started talking to folks about fundraising and ended up selling the company [https://www.destructoid.com/krafton-will-acquire-subnautica-developer-unknown-worlds/] . It's been a huge amount of work, legally, financially and logistically but it's finally starting to calm down (it's been great and

You know those game or design discussions that leave you energized, where things get clear and you're excited to get back to work? Where you everyone is suggesting ideas and they all fit together and seem feasible and cohesive? Where you can feel the game improving with every passing minute?

One great technique from design thinking is the reframe [https://medium.com/nyc-design/reframing-the-problem-200f6c966dfc]. This is where you figure out how to solve a problem through a new understanding of the problem's context. If you're stuck finding a solution, change the problem. And not just change it, but get a

During a game's chaotic and bloody early development, player feedback often centers around the game being too complex or hard to learn. Feedback like: * The interface being ugly or overly complex * Concern about too many keys, controls or rules * Concern about player onboarding or tutorial * Weapons, abilities or effects that

What came first, the chicken or the egg? * How do you build levels if you don't know what weapons you'll have? * How do you concept a creature whose abilities you don't know will work? * How do you design recipes and loot progression when you don’t know how long the

A bunch of examples of how to use Miro for multidisciplinary planning, interfaces & even making printable board game prototypes.

After last week’s post [https://www.charliecleveland.com/the-theme-mechanics-seesaw/], a few people (4!) asked for examples of how this works in practice, as well as having some other related questions. So here are the questions I received, with the best answers I can muster: > Could you provide some examples