From Prototype to Vertical Slice in Game Dev
How Game Designers or Product Owners turn early insights into real production milestones Game development always starts in exploration mode. You try ideas, test mechanics, and validate what feels good to play. But eventually, every team reaches the same turning point: You need to turn what you’ve discovered into something that can actually be built. […]
Building a Business Case for Your Game
Game development is an art form, but for those of us working in the industry, it’s also a livelihood. Creativity fuels the spark, but business realities determine whether a project survives. And in today’s climate of rising budgets and studio closures, building a solid business case for your game is no longer optional. The heart […]
The Case for Product Owners in Game Development
This month, I became a Certified Product Owner Professional. It wasn’t about collecting another credential, it was the natural next step after 17 years in software development, 11 of those in games, and six years building myself as a project manager. That path began with a project that burned me out. It was messy, conflict-heavy, […]
Game AI Planning: GOAP, Utility, and Behavior Trees
When we talk about Game AI, most developers start with behavior trees, A*, or perception systems. These tools are great for controlling moment-to-moment decision making, but what about bigger-picture choices? That’s where AI planning comes in. Planning systems give NPCs the ability to evaluate options, weigh trade-offs, and pursue goals in a way that feels […]
Perception in Game AI: Smarter NPC Awareness
When players talk about Game AI, they often jump straight to pathfinding or decision-making. But before an NPC can move or decide, it has to perceive the world. That’s where perception systems come in, they’re the bridge between raw game data and believable character behavior. Done right, perception creates tension, immersion, and the illusion of […]
AI Movement in Games: Beyond A*
When developers talk about movement in Game AI, the conversation usually starts, and often ends, with A* and NavMeshes. And for good reason: A* pathfinding solves about 95% of what most games need. But movement isn’t always about getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. Sometimes you need to find instead […]
Introduction to Game AI: Brains, Controllers & Entities
The primary goal of Game AI is to increase player engagement and fun — whether that’s by creating enemies that provide a satisfying challenge, companions that feel alive, or systems that enhance gameplay through physics, animation, and interaction. But to achieve that goal, you need more than clever tricks. Good Game AI development relies on […]
Digital Prototyping: Building Playable Game Ideas Fast
While you can always jump straight into a digital prototype from the start, it’s important to remember what this stage is really for: putting your idea into the same format as the final product, a videogame. Unlike paper prototypes, boardgame prototypes, or rulebook prototypes, which abstract away systems and mechanics, a digital prototype puts your […]
Rulebook Prototyping: A Fast Way to Test Missions and Systems
Not every prototype needs a controller or a piece of software. Sometimes the best way to test a game idea is by writing rules, gathering a group of people, and simulating the experience in real life. This method is called a rulebook prototype works because instead of implementing mechanics in code, you implement them as […]
Boardgame Prototyping for Faster Game Development
Boardgames aren’t just for family nights, they’re also one of the fastest ways to prototype game ideas. Unlike coding, where you might spend weeks before anything is playable, boardgames let you test rules, pacing, and player interactions within hours. A paper prototype can be enough to sketch an idea, but board games add another layer: […]