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In theory the easiest step, but in reality – it all starts here. Here it is about considering type of game, what mechanics, where is the catch and why in general it is such a coool idea that you want to invest your time further. Let’s always start here and even test the very basic idea with some colleagues and friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check Point<\/strong>: Share the idea with 5 random colleagues who do play games and they mus give their \ud83d\udc4d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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2. Design: Where idea becomes reality<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
First things first: the game has to make sense. Expert (Adam Kwapi\u0144ski) says your “theme and mechanics need to be a cohesive unit<\/strong>“. It\u2019s not just about a cool setting; the rules have to feel like they truly belong there to be engaging. But… is it possible at this moment? <\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point: In this step I should have a playable game ready to be tested! \ud83e\uddee<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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3. Alpha: Break It in Private<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Before it show it to wider audience, run internal loops<\/strong> to find the big glitches. It\u2019s all about managing that early project risk so that the time or money is not wasted on a broken machine. And also remember about the time of those later testers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: The game worked and now is ready for wider testing. \ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udc66\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udc66\u200d\ud83d\udc66<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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4. Beta: Fresh Eyes and Brutal Honesty<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
This is where the game is taken to the local groups, ideally about prototyping . You need people who don’t love you to playtest the fun and balance \u2014 otherwise, you’re just designing in a vacuum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check Point<\/strong>: Feedback gathered allowing educated decission on the project future \ud83d\udc94<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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5. Legal: Your safety – net<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
You need a solid contract for anything that is contractual. As example – you are securing all the economic copyrights<\/strong> for the art so that you actually own the business asset you’re building. But not only graphics – it applies to anything that either you will do or you will hire others to do it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: I have signed needed contracts for the work on the project \ud83d\udd10<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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6. Crowd: Create Community<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
It is a process that is hard to put in timeline. Probably – the sooner, the better. But maybe too soon is also too soon as the interest may fade? All in all -sharing the “Real Work”<\/strong> here with the community. Document the sweat, the laser burns, and the failed builds that lead to a great game.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: I have reached around … 50? Yes, at least 50 people asking me about the project \ud83d\udce3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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7. Risks: Expect and be ready for the “Oh No” Moments<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Living the corporate life taught me that the project management is really about managing risk<\/strong>. Setting milestones, building a cash buffer, and always keeping a Plan B <\/strong>in the back pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point: Plan is built, Risk are laid out, budget is ready, success criteria are clear \ud83d\udc54 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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8. Blind: The Silent Treatment<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
This is to handle the rulebook to the players (testers) and staying completely quiet while watching along. If they can\u2019t figure out how to play without me hovering, the instructions aren’t ready<\/strong> (or the game) for the world. You would also see some reactions, some hickups… last moment for corrections!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: Players are happy with the game and at least 20% say, that they would actually buy it \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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9. Edit: Final Battle Against Errors<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Experts call this a “battle against errors”<\/strong>. We\u2019re hunting down every typo, wonky icon, and stray comma to make sure those final print files are technically flawless. Also in translations!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: Independent readers as well as automated checks show that there are no errors \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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10. Budget: Play it smart about the money<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Let’s face it – Manufacturing is bloody expensive for small scale game, especially those high fixed costs for offset printing<\/strong>. This is where you need to consider your final strategy with your expected method of production. Probably also at this point you might consider goals for the campaign in a rare case if you go beyond your funding goal \ud83d\ude01 And can’t forget those transportation costs!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck Point<\/strong>: You have manufacturing plan tightly connected with campaign setup \ud83d\udcb0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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11. Campaign: The moment of truth<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
This is the moment of truth. Based on your budget you lift off and bite your fingers hoping not to have heart attack. After all you won’t hit “print” until you know the interest is there. Using crowdfunding lets you validate the market so you only produce what people actually want to buy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check Point<\/strong>: Wow! It worked… or not \ud83c\udfc5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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12. Manufacture: Meet those expectations!<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Now it is time to hit the production. Time control, quality control, delivery control… boy this must be stresfull. But this is all about customers! You now have their huge credit and you better not ruin it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check Point<\/strong>: The game is produced along the schedule and ready for shippment \ud83c\udf81<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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13. Delivery: The art of being on schedule<\/strong><\/span>+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Let’s be honest. How often have you seen a campaign being actually on time? Or one, that didn’t delay one year? Or… more? And I know, crowdfunding is special… bla bla bla. I do believe that this should all be managed in risks. Your backers shoulnd’t have to wait and worry. They should be surprised with timely delivery and joy of having a game ready!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check Point<\/strong>: On schedule delivery! \ud83d\ude99<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAnd that is the list I compiled for the purpose of tracking. Feel free to re-use it for your games \ud83d\ude0e I guess… it will evolve with time, but for start – this is it. Probably if I have more games – I would show the design process in more details. For now – nope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A place to track progress on different games. I mean… for now one game and some vague ideas \ud83d\ude00 Hmm but maybe I should post here the projects from the past? Yes! Let’s do that. This table represents what I think of a progress towards the end of the journey, where the game could potentially […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-95","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/95","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=95"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/95\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102,"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/95\/revisions\/102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reversegames.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=95"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}