o que aprendi trabalhando 5 anos como game designer | baptixta

Summary

In this video, Batista, a game designer with five years of experience, shares key lessons from his career working on various games. He covers the evolution of his first project, Avalon, and the importance of organization, playtesting, and clear communication. He emphasizes the value of spreadsheets, rapid prototyping, and learning from mistakes. Batista also reflects on working with larger teams on games like Cobra Kai 2, the challenges of multiplayer game design with Razek, and the power of simplicity in game development. Finally, he highlights the importance of marketing and social media for indie game success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Batista has been working as a game designer for 5 years, and has worked on games for PC, mobile, and console platforms.
• 😀 The journey began with Avalon, a precision platformer inspired by Celeste, which started as a university project and grew into a much larger and more successful game.
• 😀 Organization and documentation are crucial for a game designer, especially when managing increasing complexity in game development like new obstacles, enemies, and levels.
• 😀 Playtesting is essential to identify issues with progression, difficulty, balance, and bugs that developers might miss due to being too close to the project.
• 😀 Working on a larger team for Cobra Kai 2 taught the importance of adapting communication based on the team you're working with, such as explaining enemy design to art and programming teams differently.
• 😀 Spreadsheets are vital tools for a game designer, helping with organizing game data, balancing mechanics, and making simulations faster and more efficient than in-game testing.
• 😀 Embracing failure is part of the process. Quick prototyping and iterating helps identify which ideas work or not, allowing for faster adjustments to improve the game.
• 😀 Working on Razek, an MMO RPG, expanded the designer's knowledge of multiplayer games, highlighting the unique challenges and possibilities they offer compared to single-player experiences.
• 😀 Developing a game as a small team for their own commercial project emphasized the power of simplicity and doing the basics well, as even simple mechanics can be incredibly engaging if executed effectively.
• 😀 Marketing is crucial, even for indie games with limited budgets. Social media efforts, like YouTube videos and posts, have helped gain attention, increase wishlist sign-ups, and attract publisher interest.

Q & A

What was the first commercial game that Batista worked on as a game designer?

Batista's first commercial game was for Vivo Cade, a sports club. The game was called AVAL, which is a precision platformer with pixel art inspired by Celeste.

How did the development of AVAL evolve from its initial prototype?

AVAL started as a prototype called Pixel 8, created by Batista and his friend Felipe in college. After presenting the prototype to the company, they liked it, and the project grew into a much larger and better version than originally expected.

What key lesson did Batista learn from working on AVAL?

Batista learned the importance of organization and documentation in game design. As the game grew in complexity, he needed to track and document processes clearly to remember what had been done and communicate it effectively to others.

What role do playtests play in the game development process?

Playtests are crucial because they allow developers to identify problems in progression, fun, balance, and levels that may not be visible to those who are too familiar with the game. External feedback can help improve the game's experience by highlighting issues such as bugs or difficulty spikes.

What was Batista's role in the development of Cobra Kai 2: The Karate Kid Saga Continues?

In Cobra Kai 2, Batista worked on the design of systems and combat. The project, being larger in scope and with more team members, allowed him to focus more specifically on certain aspects of game design.

What lesson did Batista learn about communication while working on Cobra Kai 2?

Batista learned the importance of adapting his communication style based on the audience. The way he communicated the design of an enemy to the art team differed from how he communicated it to the programming team. Effective communication with various teams is crucial for success.

How does Batista view the importance of spreadsheets in game design?

Batista emphasizes that spreadsheets are essential for game designers. They help with organizing and balancing game elements such as character stats, level layouts, and progressions. Spreadsheets allow for quick simulations and easy access to vital game data.

What mindset does Batista recommend when encountering failure during game development?

Batista advises that failure is part of the process and should be embraced. He believes that it's important to fail quickly and learn from mistakes to improve rapidly. Prototyping fast allows for validating ideas and making necessary adjustments efficiently.

What was the new challenge Batista faced when working on the Razek project?

In the Razek project, Batista worked on an MMO RPG for the first time. He learned the importance of studying references from similar games and finding the best solutions within the scope and limitations of the team. The multiplayer nature of the game presented new challenges compared to single-player games.

What advice does Batista give regarding marketing for independent game projects?

Batista stresses that marketing is vital for the success of indie games, even when there is limited funding. He shares that creating posts, videos, and social media content has been crucial in gaining attention for his current project, helping to build a following and even attracting publishers.