Vertical Slice 101: Your Secret Weapon and How to Build It
If you’re into game development—or even if you’re just curious—you’ve probably heard the term “vertical slice” tossed around like the latest power-up. But what exactly is it? Why do so many game developers swear by it like it’s some kind of secret weapon? Think of a vertical slice as a fully playable (aka ‘first playable’), […]
Taming Scope Creep: Keep Your Game Dev Project on Track
So, you’ve got this epic game idea. You can see it now: stunning graphics, a compelling storyline, gameplay so addictive it’ll have players forgetting to eat. You gather your team, set your deadlines, and start the work. But then… it happens. A wild idea appears: “What if we added an extra feature here?” And then […]
Agile Dilemma: Scrum Master Vs. Product Owner – Who Does What?
Picture this: you’re at an Agile team meeting, coffee in hand, and suddenly, a heated debate breaks out. On one side, the Scrum Master, with their sticky notes and burndown charts, passionately argues for their essential role. On the other side, the Product Owner, clutching a prioritized backlog like it’s a prized possession, insists they’re […]
Waterfall, Scrum, or Kanban? What’s the Best for Your Game Project
So, you’ve got a killer idea for a game, right? Maybe it’s the next big MMORPG that will have players lost in a world of dragons and dungeons, or perhaps it’s a cozy farming sim where you can finally have that pet cow you’ve always dreamed of. Whatever it is, you’re stoked, your team is […]
Avoiding the Game Dev Death Spiral: Your Ultimate Survival Guide
Welcome, brave game developer, to the wild, exhilarating, and sometimes maddening world of game development. If you’re reading this, you probably already know that creating a game isn’t all fun and games (pun intended). It can feel like riding a rollercoaster with no safety harness, where every loop-de-loop might fling you into the dreaded game […]
What is Cargo Cult, How it Hurts Game Dev (And How to Fix It) in 2024
Imagine a game development team diligently following every step of a well-documented and successful development process, only to end up with a product that’s uninspired, inefficient, and fraught with issues. What went wrong? They might have fallen victim to what is known as “cargo cult” in game development. In 2024, the game industry is more […]
Meetings Vs. Emails: When to Choose Which to Stay Productive in 2024?
Picture this: You’re knee-deep in coding a groundbreaking game feature when a calendar alert for yet another meeting pops up. Do you really need to pause your flow for this? On the flip side, imagine trying to convey the nuances of a game design vision through an email thread that quickly spirals into chaos. We’ve […]
Mastering the Triple Constraint in Project Management: What’s the Deal?
If you’re diving into project management, there’s one concept you’ve got to get familiar with: the triple constraint. Think of it as the magic formula that keeps your projects on track. It goes by a few names—the project management triangle, the project triangle, or the iron triangle—but we’ll just call it the triple constraint to […]
Ready, Set, Create: 8 Game Dev Tips for Your First or Next Game
Got a game idea buzzing in your head? Whether it’s your very first game or the next in your series, the game development process is always an adventure. But where do you start, or how do you make your next game even better? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are 8 straightforward (and I’ll […]
Game Development Disciplines You Need to Make a Game in 2024
Hey there, future gamemakers! If you’re gearing up to create the next big hit in 2024, you’re probably wondering what skills (and teammates) you need to bring your vision to life. The game development landscape is constantly evolving, with new tools, technologies, and techniques emerging every year. Aiming to build an indie gem or work on […]