First launched in 2006, Roblox has become one of the most prominent user-generated gaming platforms - it’s also one of the closest things we have today to a metaverse. Much of that success comes down to platform-design. In this episode, we dive into the nuances of building platforms with Roblox’s Chief Product Officer, Manuel Bronstein. Manuel is a distinguished consumer product builder, with a wealth of experience beyond Roblox, having worked on such platforms as XBox, Xynga, Youtube, and more. In this episode, we get into the systems thinking that is critical for such work. Just as important, Manuel shares with us his vision for developing in the spirit of Roblox being an open and accessible platform for all users.
Building platforms is inherently different: The old ethos that “if you try to serve everyone you serve no-one” doesn’t quite fit. A platform has to allow for all sorts of unanticipated bottom-up creation and requires a different building philosophy than other products.
Think systemically: When building a platform, you should start with a vision and plan that considers both the current needs of your user as well as future expansion. You need to have a vision that goes beyond thinking about first derivatives and all the way to secondary derivatives and downstream applications.
Be intentional about being open: Roblox prides itself on remaining an open platform, and brings a lot of intention to that ethos - even when they take things to market, every feature on Roblox is design to accessible to all users from day one.
Listen and find out why building for platforms is different from building for any other product.
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