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Episode Name:
What Players Really Want From Games
Episode Description:
Game developers spend years trying to make their games fun, but the answer to finding the fun for players may have less to do with mechanics and more about how players actually feel.
In this episode, we explore what fulfillment actually means from both the player’s and developer’s perspective, and how design decisions influence that experience. We’ll discuss everything from progression systems to player motivation, and the tradeoffs teams face when balancing business goals with meaningful player experiences. The difference might be smaller than you think, and more impactful than you’d expect.
Q?Box Round Answers
Biggest gaming pet peeve?
Bad UI
What was your childhood favorite game?
Tie between Half-Life 1 and SWAT 3
What game are you playing now?
Slay the Spire 2
TIPS and ADVICE
We covered quite a bit today. Could you list 3 suggestions or tips you would recommend to indie devs based on our discussion?
- Playtest often
- Cut as much as you can
- Manage your own expectations for release
RESOURCES and LINKS
How to get in touch with Michael Tsarouhas
Website: https://www.tsarconsulting.com/
Twitter: @dev_mikee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-tsarouhas-17604b41/