Player Profiles vs. Demographics in Playtesting
Some teams spend hours defining their playtest recruitment criteria, obsessing over getting the perfect mix of ages, genders and geographic locations. The issue with this approach is that they recruit the right demographics, but can end up getting the wrong feedback. When testing how players experience your game, it’s important to focus more on their […]
3 Things Publishers Look for When Funding Games (That Most Studios Miss)
Getting funding for your game is tough right now. Publishers and investors are more selective than ever and the competition is fierce. I spend a lot of time talking to game publishers and I’ve noticed some clear patterns in what makes studios stand out. While there’s no magic formula that guarantees funding, I’ve seen three […]
Playtesting Doesn’t Improve Your Game. Acting on Feedback Does
I’ve seen this pattern too many times. A studio runs a playtest, gets feedback from players and then… nothing changes. The same issues that players flagged show up in the next build and eventually, at launch. It’s like asking for directions and then choosing to drive the other way. After 10+ years in this […]