The author reflects on the importance of being able to describe a game in one or two sentences, using examples from their experience showcasing Ridiculous Fishing. They emphasize the power of simplicity in identifying a game's uni...
About:
My goal is to make games, pay rent, and help others do the same. If your goal is similar to mine, Levelling The Playing Field exists to answer the questions I get most frequently from my consultancy clients, and to help you avoid the issues I solve most often in their work or business.
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0New Beginnings
2024-04-04 •
The author reflects on the end of Vlambeer, the indie studio he co-founded, and his decision to let his partner buy out his share. He discusses his future projects and initiatives to support the game development industry.
0Ask Rami: Prototyping Pros
2024-03-09 •
The author discusses the common dilemma programmers face when trying to transition to doing more design work and offers advice on how to avoid getting lost in tweaking values during prototyping.
0On Bluf, and writing copy
2024-02-16 •
The blog post discusses the concept of BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) in writing copy, emphasizing the importance of starting with the most important information first. It provides tips on how to write more effectively, especially in...
0Ask Rami: The Ten-Thousands Rule
2023-12-25 •
A new studio in South America seeks advice on negotiating with publishers after getting multiple interested parties. Rami provides guidance on negotiating with publishers and introduces the Ten-Thousands Rule.
0One Way Doors
2023-12-06 •
Many game studios struggle with a flexible development process that leads to unpredictability, wasted resources, and a less motivated team. The concept of One Way Doors, inspired by airport security, suggests treating transitions ...
0Ask Rami: When the euphemism is bad enough.
2023-11-09 •
The blog post discusses a situation where a lead hired at a studio is causing issues within the team, leading to a team member quitting. The author advises the worried studio lead to acknowledge their mistake and carefully conside...
0Pitch Stalling & The Risks of Publisher Feedback
2023-10-26 •
Pitching and getting funding for game development has become slower due to economic downturns, leading to Pitch Stalling and risks associated with publisher feedback. Developers are advised to be skeptical of publisher requests an...
0Ask Rami: Don't roll the credits just yet.
2023-09-25 •
A developer of a roguelike game is facing issues with players finding the game too easy and needing to add new levels before release. The importance of playtesting earlier is emphasized to prevent such issues in the future.
0Harnessing Regret
2023-08-24 •
The blog post discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in game development and entrepreneurship, focusing on the impact of regret on decision-making and leadership. It emphasizes the need to accept and embrace regret as ...
0Pitch Template
2023-07-21 •
The author has created a Pitch Template for developers to use when pitching their games to publishers. The template is designed to help developers establish credibility, showcase their game's strengths, and prove they have a reali...
0The Publisher's Lie
2023-05-01 •
The text discusses how indie games are funded by indies themselves, not publishers, and the importance of understanding the distinction between funding and purchasing publishing rights. It explains how publishers offer money and s...
0Milestones
2022-11-30 •
The blog post discusses the importance of milestones in game development, focusing on the different phases such as Research, Pre-Production, Production, and Wrap-Up. It emphasizes the significance of well-defined milestones in gui...
0Upfronts, Guarantees, Recoups
2022-11-08 •
The blog post discusses the revenue share in independent game publishing, focusing on upfront, guarantee, pre-recoup, and post-recoup revenue sources. It explains common revenue splits, negotiation strategies, and scenarios based ...
0Saplings
2022-10-10 •
The author discusses the metaphor of a sapling in relation to game design, emphasizing the importance of decision-making and allowing creativity to grow organically. He encourages designers to embrace the unpredictable nature of t...