Changing Almost Everything What you need to know about running free 2 play games David Nixon, CEO,...

Changing Almost Everything

What you need to know about running free 2 play games

David Nixon, CEO, Gemini Hive, Inc.

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Throw away what you know...

• ...about project management• ...about production timelines• ...about QA practices• ...about game design process• ...about partnership structures• ...about player preferences and play patterns• ...about critical-path efforts• ...about key success factors• ...about problem solving practices• ...about team communication

• ...Or you will most likely fail...

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Why?

Because your business has changed from the goals up!

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“Product”

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“Service”

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Practical Implications

“Start at the beginning”

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Development Process

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6-12 months (more?)

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Development Process

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6-12 months (more?)

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Project Management

• “Cycle” is 1 week• Nobody important cares about

your launch date• Managing iterations, feedback,

priority changes• The end is the beginning• You are NEVER done

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Product performance

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Product performance

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Product performance

• Success criteria changes. Accept it, discuss it.

• Maintain a “Commitment to Act”

• Understanding “why” is crucial• You are NEVER done*

• *Don’t give up!

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Game Design

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Game Design

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Game Design

• Begin at the beginning• Theories, Mini-specs, A/B tests • Design measurable results• Start & end with customer

feedback• Don’t get too attached• You are NEVER done

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Marketing?

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Marketing?

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We are all Marketing now!

• “Direct Marketing” / “Direct Response” business• Everybody’s job is to get & keep customers• Your game is a marketing tool• “Product Management” is single point of failure• Oh yeah...and...

• YOU ARE NEVER DONE!!!

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Some Encouraging Words?

(what the heck did we get ourselves into!?)

Good Luck!

David NixonCEO & Founder

Gemini Hive, Inc.david@geminihive.com