LEAN STRATEGIES FOR INDEPENDENT GAME DEVELOPERS by Ian “Rip” Van Winkle
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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• WHAT IS LEAN? • HOW IS IT APPLICABLE TO GAMES? • PRE-PRO • PRO / POST
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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WHAT IS LEAN?
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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TOYOTA’S LEAN MANUFACTURING
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION + JUST-IN-TIME MANUFACTURING = LEAN MANUFACTURING Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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PRODUCTION TO MANUFACTURING
DESIGNERS TO USERS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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ERIC RIES
THE LEAN STARTUP
LAURA KLEIN
UX FOR LEAN STARTUPS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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1. HYPOTHESIZE 2. TEST / VALIDATE 3. DESIGN 4. TEST 5. REPEAT
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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HOW DOES THIS EQUATE TO GAMES?
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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ELIMINATE WASTE AKA DON’T CREATE UNNECESSARY THINGS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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PRE-PRODUCTION
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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THIS IS WHERE THE HEAVY LIFTING TAKES PLACE.
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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TREAT IT LIKE A BUSINESS THAT SOLVES A PROBLEM
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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DEFINE TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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DESIGN BASED ON WHAT MOTIVATES THOSE PLAYERS:
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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IMMERSION • ACCOMPLISHMENT • SOCIAL IMAGE • ETC. •
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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LEARN FROM OTHER GAMES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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LAURA KLEIN WARNS ABOUT VALIDATING THROUGH OTHER PRODUCTS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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DON’T MIMIC OTHER GAMES. LEARN FROM THEM.
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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LEARN FROM OTHER GAMES TO DETERMINE SIMILAR PLAYER MOTIVES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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CROSSY ROAD FOR EXAMPLE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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LEARN FROM OTHER STRATEGIES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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PREPARE FOR METRICS* GATHERED DURING TESTING
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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KNOWING WHEN TO USE DIFFERENT FORMS OF RESEARCH AND TESTING
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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COMMON UX STRATEGIES: LANDING PAGES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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COMMON UX STRATEGIES: LANDING PAGES PAPER TESTING
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE LANDING PAGES* TO:
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE LANDING PAGES* TO: VALIDATE EARLY CONCEPTS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE LANDING PAGES* TO: VALIDATE EARLY CONCEPTS MARKET TO FUTURE PLAYERS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE PAPER TESTING* TO:
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE PAPER TESTING* TO: DEFINE RULES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE PAPER TESTING* TO: DEFINE RULES BALANCE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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USE PAPER TESTING* TO: DEFINE RULES BALANCE LOGIC FLOW
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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SPORE FOR EXAMPLE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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PROTOTYPING
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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A BUILD SPECIFIC TO TESTING GAME MECHANICS
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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IMAGINE A PLAYABLE WIREFRAME
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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VERTICAL SLICE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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A VS IS THE TESTING EQUIVALENT TO AN MVP*
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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CONTROLS • ART • ANIMATION • SOUND • ETC. •
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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MOST IMPORTANT STAGE ASIDE FROM LAUNCH BECAUSE...
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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•
FURTHER VALIDATES
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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FURTHER VALIDATES • INVITES FREE TESTING •
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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FURTHER VALIDATES • INVITES FREE TESTING • GARNERS METRICS •
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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FURTHER VALIDATES • INVITES FREE TESTING • GARNERS METRICS • FREE ADVERTISING •
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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PRODUCTION / POST PRODUCTION
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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AFTER VALIDATING A SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION, WORKFLOW BECOMES LESS STRICT
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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MINECRAFT FOR EXAMPLE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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LEAN GAME DEVELOPMENT IS EFFICIENT BY BEING ITERATIVE
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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IT PROMOTES A CLOSER PLAYER TO DESIGNER RELATIONSHIP
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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RESULTING IN A MORE DESIRED PRODUCT
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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BE ITERATIVE & INNOVATIVE THROUGH LEAN DEVELOPMENT
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
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THANK YOU
Senior Thesis // Presentation // Lean Strategies for Independent Game Developers
ianvanwinkle.com
rip@ianvanwinkle.com