PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

If I’m happy with this design, I’ll prototype it and test that prototype. I played around with a few ideas and one of them was a simple cube rolling puzzle game. But I think the main lesson is to test more, test sooner, test elaborately and don’t only test for the game’s mechanics. From there I take it step by step.

Dev 104

Dev Puzzle Prototyping Playtesting 104

Logic Simplified

AUGUST 8, 2023

Let’s take the popular example of Candy Crush Saga , a level-based puzzle game. Game designers must work closely with other development team members, like developers and artists, to guarantee that the video game mechanics and elements work together smoothly. Let’s take the example of Candy Crush again.

Game Design 86

Game Design Game Designer Art Prop 86

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 22, 2021

Especially since the game seeks to dominate the puzzle genre, which is the largest and arguably the most competitive genre in mobile games. Royal Match Royal Match is a perfect example of finding success through improvements - not step-change innovation - cherry-picking the strongest mechanics from the best games to create a new top game.

Puzzle 69

Puzzle Mobile Mobile Mechanics 69

Brand Game Development

JULY 22, 2019

So often, when we’re balancing our designs , it’s because we’re trying to nail down board game pacing. In each of the design diaries that I have written so far, I have focused on a specific game mechanic or isolated portion of the game. Acquiring more Leader tiles gives the player more to try to balance.

Tile 130

Tile Games Playtesting Balance 130

Designer Notes

AUGUST 2, 2021

None of these systems were any fun and weren’t intended to be so; they were mechanics put in place to keep the players from ruining the game for themselves by founding too many cities just because it was simply the most effective strategy. I was well aware that the city sites of Old World would be a controversial feature.

Tile 52

Tile Build Mechanics Prototyping 52

Designer Notes

MARCH 31, 2023

Here are some screen’s from the game’s prototyping phase. Civ inherited this mechanic directly from Empire, a game from the 80s which had much of the same tile-based, turn-based combat as Civ but without the scope of all human history. A good example is what I’ll call “Every Unit Moves” which is how Civ has always worked.

Tile 98

Tile Point and Click AI Mechanics 98

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

Running through the market by genre, Kress noted that King has done quite well, but other genres had suffered badly, with strategy, RPG, match puzzle, and casino games all down double digits. Diversify revenue model Cilingir urged game-makers with games skewed heavily toward either ad or IAP-based monetisation to balance their revenue mix.

Games 59

Games Cross platform Mobile Mobile 59