Ben Carcich, a game industry consultant with a military background and experience at Riot Games, shares valuable insights on game production. He discusses why successful games often come from challenging development processes and the dangers of premature scaling. Ben emphasizes the importance of balancing creative vision with technical execution and addresses the critical role of leadership in navigating uncertainties. He also highlights lessons from military training that can enhance adaptability and decision-making in the high-pressure world of game development.
Successful games often rise from challenging development processes, highlighting the importance of embracing difficulties in game creation.
High development costs necessitate a reevaluation of budgeting and sustainability to align expenditures with revenue expectations.
Cultural differences in game development can lead to varying success rates, emphasizing the need for a focus on core gameplay over visuals.
Fostering a culture of iteration and learning from failure encourages innovation and ultimately increases the chances of successful game launches.
Effective leadership through a shared vision and open communication cultivates team cohesion, while addressing challenges enhances project success.
Deep dives
Comfort with Uncertainty
Having a low comfort level with uncertainty can hinder leaders, especially in innovative fields like game development. Leaders should assess their own and their team's comfort with uncertainty, as it directly affects their ability to navigate challenges. Resolving uncertainty is considered a primary responsibility of leaders, as it allows teams to focus on creativity and decision-making rather than fear and doubt. Acknowledging challenges in the face of uncertainty is crucial, instead of pretending they do not exist.
Challenges in Game Development
The podcast discusses the structural problems within game studios, particularly in Western markets, that have contributed to high-profile game failures. Rising costs of game development have caught many studios off guard, causing a disconnect between expenditures and expected revenue. As development costs soar, studios must rethink their approach to financial sustainability, from budgeting to project management. The lack of successes in new game releases emphasizes the need for innovation and efficient resource use.
The Budget Dilemma
As costs for high-quality games increase, studios are faced with a critical moment where production expenses may meet or exceed revenue. The podcast describes this situation as a fragile balance that studios need to maintain, with costs rising alongside players' expectations for content and quality. Successful game development depends on keeping operational costs manageable while enhancing player satisfaction. The pressure to produce profitable games must coincide with the realities of scaling a development team and managing studio resources effectively.
Different Approaches to Game Success
Differences in game development approaches between Western studios and those from countries like Japan and China have been highlighted. Comparisons drawn from notable successes demonstrate how these studios prioritize delivering good gameplay experiences over solely focusing on visual fidelity and craft quality. The podcast suggests that Western studios may overlook fundamental game design, leading to unengaging titles. Adopting a holistic approach that enriches gameplay while embracing core mechanics may prove beneficial for future developments.
Learning from Failures
Many industries, including gaming, see failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. The podcast highlights that the more teams can iterate and learn from mistakes, the better their chances of developing successful games. Companies should encourage a culture of experimentation where the team members feel comfortable exploring new ideas, even if they might not initially succeed. By evaluating outcomes, studios can pave the way for improved strategies and innovative ideas.
Leadership and Vision
Effective leadership plays a crucial role in ensuring successful game development and team coherence. The podcast emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision shared among all team members, as misalignment can lead to project failures. Leaders must compel their teams to embrace realities, communicate challenges openly, and pursue unified goals. A consistent focus on a clear vision helps drive teams toward success and minimizes confusion in the workflow.
Focusing on Core Development
In the fast-paced environment of game development, early identification of a core gameplay loop is essential for success. Teams should prioritize refining this aspect before diversifying into other features or elements of the game. The podcast suggests that staying concentrated on the fundamental game experience can streamline resources and reduce scope creep, ultimately aiding in product development. Establishing a strong foundation allows for better exploration of creative designs in later stages.
Cultivating a Culture of Caring
A caring culture within game studios contributes to overall team morale and productivity. The podcast highlights the trend of studios valuing employee well-being as they recognize the impact of a positive work environment on project outcomes. Cultivating love for the game and the players not only drives team motivation but also fosters creativity and innovation. Building this supportive atmosphere enhances collaboration and ultimately leads to better game experiences for players.
Long-term Vision and Community Building
Building Better Games aims to enhance leadership within the game development space by fostering meaningful conversations around key challenges. The podcast notes a focus on promoting long-term growth while addressing immediate concerns, encouraging industry professionals to seek personal and professional development. Engaging with a community of like-minded individuals allows for exchanging ideas, strategies, and valuable insights to navigate uncertainties in the future. Continuous improvement and relationship-building are vital for achieving success and finding new opportunities in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
In an industry where development costs have skyrocketed, and market success has become increasingly challenging, understanding the true drivers of successful game development has never been more crucial.
In this discussion with Ben Carcich from Building Better Games, we highlight the counter-intuitive patterns of success and practical frameworks for modern game development leadership.Key Focus Areas:
🔑 Why the most successful games often emerge from the most visibly challenging development processes
🔑 How premature scaling and uncertainty avoidance doom projects before launch
🔑 Critical success patterns observed across AAA and indie studios
🔑 Practical approaches to balancing creative vision, technical execution, and business reality
Listen to this episode for actionable insights that challenge conventional wisdom about building successful games in 2024.OUTLINE:0:00 Intro1:45 How costs impact game success6:05 Other major problems with game success10:30 Zero sum time problem and the rise of live operated games11:40 Success from China and small devs12:30 Importance of delivering on a player experience14:35 The Alignment problem15:24 Fighting to expand the percentage of new game time18:25 How bigger production cost impacts decision making20:15 Major production problems - comfort with uncertainty24:35 Fear and pride25:55 Game projects with big problems succeed more often29:40 Pride and Insecurity31:52 The rush to production39:45 Obsession with planning42:20 Importance of development speed44:25 What derails planning: the wrong person and bad decisions47:09 The problem with the creative auteur49:52 Decision analysis vs. prioritization54:15 Scope creep: The ooh ooh ooh idea problem1:00:50 Taking lessons from the military and football1:04:52 Why do great lessons come from military and sports1:13:42 The problem with big plans1:14:37 Why you shouldn’t “always have an answer”1:19:00 The #1 rule: common sense rules1:22:34 How to find time to think deeply1:24:43 You don’t need to solve every problem1:30:02 How to think about long-term issues1:37:12 What are characteristics from successful game studios1:58:12 You should push when you’re young2:01:01 More about Building Better Games consultancy👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Building Better Games: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/- Ben Carcich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS:- Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i- Newsletter: https://gamemakers.com/😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! — • MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1• TWITTER → @jokim1• LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/
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