Building Better Games
Feb 1, 2022
E1 People, Products, And Playtests: Staying Connected To Your Players
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It's our first episode of Season 2! We've renamed ourselves Building Better Games, and we're going to start by talking about the importance of maintaining a connection between game devs, the game they're making, and the audience. Get ready to talk about playtests, product thinking, and player empathy. Enjoy!
More episodes from Building Better Games
20 hours ago
E46 The 3 Ways Game Producers Fail and How YOU can Avoid Them
In this episode, Ben and Aaron delve into the critical role of game production and shed light on common misconceptions and pitfalls often encountered by producers. The discussion uncovers three distinct categories of production traps: suboptimizers, unskilled supporters, and the actively dangerous. Ben and Aaron underscore the importance of steering clear of these pitfalls and emphasize the significance of effective leadership in driving both team and project success. They explore how leadership in game production diverges from traditional management roles and underscore the producer's need to prioritize value and the project's overarching objectives, rather than becoming entangled in processes, tools, or excessive planning.
Key Takeaways:
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Effective game production requires leadership, not just management.
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Suboptimization, focusing too much on process, tools, or planning, can hinder the success of the project.
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Unskilled supporters who take on tasks without providing true leadership can create friction within the team.
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The actively dangerous, such as those who always have an answer or act as authoritarian taskmasters, can harm team dynamics and hinder progress.
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Producers should focus on the overall goal and value creation, rather than getting caught up in specific tasks or processes.
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for bi-weekly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you think we could help your studio or company build better games, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doublearon00/
BBG LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
BBG Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
BBG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
Content Editor: Jonathan Singh
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Sep 12, 2023
E45 How to Become an S-Tier Manager in Games
Aaron and Ben discuss the challenges of poor management practices in the gaming industry. They explore the lack of transparency, the flawed promotion system, and the need for managers to prioritize their role as people managers. They introduce four principles of being a good boss: growth, integrity, accountability, and advocacy. They emphasize the importance of investing time and effort into effective management and advocate for creating a system that supports the growth and success of employees.
Key Takeaways:
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Poor management practices are prevalent in the gaming industry, but there are steps that can be taken to improve as bosses.
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Clear expectations and growth trajectories are essential for effective people management.
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Creating a system that has integrity is crucial. Systems with integrity are knowable and consistent, they create a reliable frame for management.
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Accountability is crucial for ensuring that goals are met and progress is made.
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Advocacy is an important aspect of being a manager, and managers should be willing to use their influence to recognize and reward their team's achievements.
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for bi-weekly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you think we could help your studio or company build better games, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doublearon00/
BBG LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
BBG Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
BBG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
Content Editor: Jonathan Singh
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Aug 29, 2023
E44 How to Build Your Game Better in a Live Service World
Ben and Aaron discuss the importance of understanding where your game falls on the live service spectrum and how that impacts your development process. They emphasize the need to build live service stewardship into the culture of your teams and train new employees to think about the live service. They also stress the importance of setting clear expectations with players and communicating openly with them. Overall, they provide valuable insights and advice for running a successful live service game.
Key Takeaways:
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Understand where your game falls on the live service spectrum to determine the level of investment needed.
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Build live service stewardship into the culture of your teams to ensure everyone takes responsibility for the live service.
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Train new employees to think about the live service and how it relates to their work.
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Determine the relationship you want to have with your players and communicate openly with them.
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Set clear expectations with players and be proactive in communicating any changes or updates.
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for bi-weekly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you think we could help your studio or company build better games, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doublearon00/
BBG LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
BBG Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
BBG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
Content Editor: Jonathan Singh
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