Trailmix Games’ Post

We’ll let you in on a little secret 🤫 There’s 2 common themes that successful runner games on the top charts have shared: 1) Gate runners 2) Big visual changes in creatives That’s why it’s no secret that Build A Queen stuck to these themes and has ruled the charts since its launch 👑 If you’re feeling inspired by Build A Queen’s success, check out our tips & tricks for building your own runner game: https://lnkd.in/d85N7Pbn

I don't wanna say that there's a lot to unpack here (because that's such a liberal-millenial combination of words BTW), but there is. IMHO, this is NOT how great games are made (those Market Research and Monetization parts lowkey make me wanna gouge my eyes out). I'd go the extra mile and say that this thinking towards making video games (or any form of entertainment) misses the point and rips away the soul. It's always ***very circumstantial***, since you can't really predict what people want like they're just statistics. People's preferences and tastes are NOT statistics. Additionally, the "perfect game idea" isn't guaranteed to translate well into an actual game. Though DEI and anti-consumerism are certainly what people DON'T want judging by how the last few years in gaming have gone by, that's for sure. Whatever you propose, NEVER have "Don't like it, don't buy it" in your vocabulary. Besides, even if you do plan out a game idea, you have to still actually CREATE the game. What matters at the end of the day are that the games, not the ideas. Also, the fact that live-service games that have lasted a long time and gacha games exist already prove the opposite of OP, that "successful games" aren't always made with "good game ideas." Not even making a game is a guarantee for success; it has to be a "good game" (either genuinely or at least with caveats that could be ignored until they're too late to fix, which by then you should have made your money).

I posted this yesterday, but I'm reposting a better, straight-to-the-source link. Surprisingly, for this time of the year (in my experience), I've been having some interviews here and there, and sometimes I have difficulty explaining the way I see my role to interviewers until now. This graphic translates beautifully to what I think should be our role as concept artists because, unlike what tons of people seem to believe, it's not only about creating cool art. That cool art, in my opinion, should be conceived considering what your team can actually and realistically produce, what players really want (and being able to future proof for time of release), which then would lead to future profit because, let's be honest, at the end of the day we all need a profit that would justify our fees, salaries, and raises. This is why having close conversations with the rest of the team, not only ADs and other supervisors, is most important. If we as creators don't have at least something close to a clear vision of the product, we risk creating content that won't be necessarily effective. Also, if you design what's already cool, then you're behind the curve. At this point you're following the market, and like with stocks, never follow the market. To achieve this, you need to create your own secret crystal ball sauce, and that takes both time and experience. I know, I know, I've said this before, but now I have this graphic that portrays really nicely the whole concept in a most efficient way! Have a fantastic way and keep on drawing! -H

Some good insight here.

How to Find the Perfect Game Idea Spoiler: It's not just about having a 'cool concept'. It’s about aligning key areas: • Fun Concept – A 'toy' that’s enjoyable to play • Team Expertise – A project your team is capable of building successfully • Players' Demand – Gameplay that players want and are excited to play • Monetization Potential – A genre with the potential to generate profit True success lies at the intersection of all four. Hit that sweet spot, and you’ve got your next big game idea.

Part 1/2 🎮 Excited to share my latest 2D game creation! In this game, your challenge is to untangle the birds and strategically place them to advance through the levels. 🐦✨ I've integrated ads, in-app purchases, and added many more features to enhance the gameplay experience. Check out the video to see it in action! 🚀

🧩 Win Streaks in Puzzle Games 🧩 Hey everyone! I just stumbled upon this win streak screen from Dream Blast by Rovio, and I LOVE it! 🎉 The screen is super fun and clear, and the animation is amazing. It got me thinking about how effective win streaks are in keeping players engaged. What is a Win Streak? 🤔 A win streak rewards players for consecutive wins with escalating rewards or bonuses. This mechanic not only incentivizes continued play but also creates a sense of achievement and progression. Check out the screenshot below! 👇 I'm gathering research for a new article on this super important topic and would love your help. Do you know other games with cool win streak mechanics? Share your favorites and examples in the comments! 💬 ---- #gamingIndustry #monetization #gamedesign #mobilegames #marketing

What’s your best tip for a happy remote team? Take10's internal research with 20+ teams shows that engaging, interactive games can make a difference. 🌟👩💻👨💻 Sign up now and transform your team-building with Take10 here: https://take10.ai/ #take10 #teambuilding #teamtimeout

Secure your spot in the game industry by adding your vision to gameworlds 🎮 Your quest is beginning so mark your calendars! Feb 28th we’ll kick off elevating games one level at a time. https://lnkd.in/dYqpZaKW #gameindustry #gamewriting #gamelevel #gamedesign #gamedevelopment

I did another game jam over the weekend, and it was a wonderful experience 😊 It was the Wholesome Games Jam 2024, and the theme was ‘Handmade’ ✂ I joined this game jam to help make a game, in a small timeframe ⏲ and to work within a team once again; with new and previous teammates. There were a couple of struggles, this time, that have been familiar from experience. The first struggle was the scoping of the project, the game jam was only two days long 📅 so it was important to know what was more achievable; to solve this, we discussed 💬 with each other what we could all do and made to-do lists 📜 for each department. The second struggle was understanding what more I could do to help with the team 🤔 as I was only a Game Designer and Writer. I solved this struggle by talking to the team 🗨 and completing the tedious work they needed to do. This experience established even more the importance of communication within a team 💬 and the fun 🎉 that comes with working with other people who have different disciplines. Thank you for making it this far. How much fun have you had in a team? Let me know in the comments. #GameJam #LearningExperience #Teamwork #WholesomeGames