Anton Slashcev’s Post

Thanks, Anton Slashcev; teaming up to create this decision tree for game development was a pleasure! The tree outlines crucial questions studios should ask, from FTUE completion and player engagement to long-term goals. Each factor clarifies where improvements can be made, helping you decide whether to iterate, pivot, or cut losses. Data and feedback should always guide your decisions. It’s essential to stay agile and make informed choices to ensure the success of your game! 🚀🎮

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 Have you ever wondered why those cool little cheat codes appear in your favorite games? You know, the ones that grant you limitless access to your preferred weapon or make you an unbeatable god? It sounds fascinating, doesn't it, like discovering a hidden menu at your preferred restaurant? Let's explore the world of game production and find out why these digital Easter eggs are there. It's a common misconception that cheat codes are only free gestures from developers. They serve a much deeper purpose. Imagine creating a challenging gaming environment with challenging enemies, intricate puzzles, and a compelling story. That is a huge task, am I right? Here's where using cheat codes comes into play. For developers, these are simply shortcuts that let them test various game systems rapidly without having to start from scratch. That's not all, Cheat codes are also a fun way to reward dedicated players. Finding a hidden code is thrilling and gives a sense of success similar to unlocking a secret. There are benefits for both creators and players. So, remember to appreciate the effort and creativity that went into creating a cheat code the next time you come across one. It is, after all, it's a small token of gratitude from the developers to their loyal fanbase. Want to know more about the psychology behind game design? Stay tuned for our next post! #gamedevelopment #cheatcodes #gamingindustry #secrets #gamecommunity #game #gamedev

Have you played Boba Tales? It's a fun game that lets you run your own boba tea shop. But here's the thing - it's missing a tutorial at the start. So, players have to figure things out as they go, which can be a bit tricky if you're new to this kind of game. To make things better for everyone, they could add add a "skip tutorial" button. This way, players who like a bit of guidance can get it, while those who prefer to dive right in can do their thing. It's like having a 'skip ad' button - giving players more control. Some users love the help, while others enjoy the challenge of figuring it out themselves. So, having both options - a quick tutorial you can skip - would make Boba Tales more fun for all kinds of players. Check out my full breakdown on my website! #uxwriting #mobilegaming #gamedesign #gamedevelopment

There's no single right approach to a feature or a game. I learned this lesson early on at Playrix. Years ago, I reviewed a new feature prototype for Fishdom. It was complex, experimental, and heavily inspired by another game. After playing, I felt the prototype missed the mark. The feature didn't evoke the desired emotions like its reference. So, I prepared detailed feedback: • Pointed out the flaws and differences • Suggested changes to align it closer to the reference I was confident my feedback was perfect. I thought I found the only "right answer," as if it was a math equation. Later on, my mentor looked at my feedback and said: 💬 "Anton, your feedback boils down to remaking everything from scratch to get closer to the initial reference. While that may be valid, did you consider finding something that works well and could be developed in a new direction, even if it’s not like the reference?" 💬 I was stunned. I hadn't considered another way except following the reference. And in the end, the team indeed found a different path for the feature. Since then, I've always reminded myself: There are always multiple paths to solve the problem. None are absolutely right or wrong.

🕹 Latest updates from Arcade: April 2024 --- 📖 Collections: Combine multiple Arcades into a single, streamlined landing page. 🙈 Invisible hotspots and callouts: Progress through an Arcade without clicking on a (visible) hotspot or callout. ➕ Add from another Arcade: Import all steps from a different Arcade in one click. 🖊️ External titles: Choose the title you want your audience to see while staying organized on the backend. 📹 Callouts and hotspots on videos: Provide context on any video steps. ---- Plus, more visual polish features and building improvements from the team, including: - Folder re-ordering - More voiceover languages - Export CSV formatting - Mail:to in chapters - Sharing single videos and screenshots ----- Check out our April Changelog blog to learn more and take these features for a spin. https://lnkd.in/evhf54KQ

Announcing our April monthly changelog: Check it out for goodies! A few highlights: Collections: Our latest update with building landing pages with Arcades. It's awesome for account based sales (a specific Collection for a customer), or changelogs. Invisible Hotspots: One of our top feature requests - this is great for "demo mode" if you want to progress through a demo at a conference or during a presentation by clicking anywhere in the page. Merging of Arcades: If you want to remix Arcades, it's easier for you to do so now. You'll see this option after every new Arcade capture, as well as from starting a new Arcade from scratch. Plus, lots of other usability improvements. Check it out!

Master the types of in-game customization with this cheat sheet!🎩🎀Version 2.0, extended and improved thanks to the Linkedin Community feedback. (previous version: https://lnkd.in/dpZ9_itY ) 🪴Major changes: — Added extra elements to Core, Meta, Character Creation and Profile — Added some narrative-driven customization — Added a little UGC block 💫I've decided to not include gameplay changing customization to this page, because it looked too chaotic and rather not structured. UGC is an exception, because it can be used only for gameplay needs or to mostly customization needs (like building some fancy castle in Valhelm or V:Rising). What prompted me to create a new version was that the first diagram was incomplete. So I decided to fix it so I could sleep peacefully without regrets. ———————————— Did I miss something? Please share if so! :) → If you want to learn about specific Game Design topics, please write them in the comments!

A good post about how game tutorial should be.

It's finally published 🧑🎓 I learned from Richard Rumelt that framing a challenge the right way can itself constitute a strategic advantage. That's what we tried to do with this report: offer different perspectives on game remakes, using a few examples, so devs and publishers can think about their own more coherently. Download the report now and I might get a promotion 🥸 https://lnkd.in/e86aQwFh

What to do when your game has Low Retention? We have teamed up with Anton Slashcev to create a decision tree to help tackle retention issues in your game. If your game is struggling, ask these questions: 1. Is the FTUE completion rate high?  2. Are players engaged with the core loop?  3. Are paywalls causing drop-offs?  4. Are there difficulty spikes?  5. Is the player funnel strong?  6. Is the game technically stable?  7. Do players have clear long-term goals?  8. Are players pursuing those goals?  9. Is feedback on gameplay positive?  10. Does your team still believe in the vision? Depending on the answers, you have 3 paths: • 🔁 Iterate: Minor fixes can boost retention.  • ↩ Pivot: Core gameplay has potential but lacks depth.  • ☠ Kill: Systemic issues with no clear solution. Use data to guide your decisions. Iterate, pivot, or cut your losses. And if your studio needs help testing or scaling the next game idea, let’s chat.