In my opinion, to win over skeptics, I'd first craft a killer prototype that showcases my vision's potential. Then, I'd dive into the details and data, backing up my ideas with solid market research and player insights. I'd also be upfront about potential hurdles and my plans to tackle them. Transparency and passion go a long way in building trust. The final bit would be showing the financial impact, should the concept sit well with players. This can help stakeholders consider the opportunity cost of not running with my concept. In the end, it's about convincing them that backing your concept is the better option. So I think it will help to show them the alternative and demonstrate how and why going with your concept is a no brainer.

Winning over skeptical stakeholders starts with understanding their concerns and perspectives. I prioritize transparent communication by actively listening to their worries and addressing them with clear, data-backed insights. For instance, if there are doubts about a project’s ROI, I’ll present forecasts and break down how the project aligns with our goals. I also emphasize consistent updates and involve stakeholders in key stages, ensuring they feel connected to the progress. By demonstrating reliability and a proactive approach to problem-solving, I’ve found that trust and confidence gradually build, turning skepticism into support.

When presenting my game concept to stakeholders, I start by sharing a clear vision and detailed roadmap, illustrating each stage from concept to execution. I find that creating an initial prototype or mockup lets stakeholders experience the core gameplay, which is often more convincing than just an explanation. I also rely on data-driven insights, drawing from industry trends and similar successes to underline the market potential. Outlining projected ROI shifts the focus to potential returns, helping to address financial concerns. Regular updates and open feedback channels keep stakeholders involved, and by sharing early user feedback from targeted beta tests, I build confidence in the game’s potential.

- Listen actively: Understand their concerns and ask clarifying questions to ensure I grasp their perspective. Learning about multiple perspective will always result in clearer picture. - Offer prototypes or demos: Give stakeholders a tangible experience of the game, so they can see the concept in action. - Be open to feedback and iteration: Demonstrate a willingness to adjust and refine the design based on their input. - Share the 'why' behind the design: Break down complex design decisions with simple examples (if possible or some visual examples) and share the thought process behind them. By being transparent and solution focused, I can build trust and address concerns, ultimately earning the stakeholders' confidence in design concept.

Depends solely on who the stakeholders are. 1. If other designers/director - run it through a design framework for soft validation or do prototype+playtests for hard validation. Whatever makes more sense in the context you're in. 2. If business people are feeling cute & artsy and are meddling with design process without shame then seek out companies where that's not the case. But if your designs are created in a vacuum because no processes exist and no clear expectations are set then the problem lies somewhere else entirely - somebody above you isn't doing his job.