21 questions to ask about every new game concept:
1. CORE GAMEPLAY 🎮
• What actions will the player perform over and over?
• What are the clear win / lose conditions?
2. DIFFICULTY 🔥
• What prevents players from acting, and how do those obstacles evolve?
3. FUN FACTOR 😄
• Which moment-to-moment action feels so good that you’d do it even without objectives?
4. MOTIVATION 🎯
• What long-term goal pulls players through challenges?
5. VARIETY 🎲
• Which fresh mechanics or twists appear as the game progresses, and are they paced to avoid fatigue?
6. PLAYER PROGRESSION 📈
• Which systems visibly signal growth—XP, gear, narrative beats, cosmetics?
7. SKILL MASTERY 🏆
• How are razor-sharp execution and deep understanding rewarded?
8. NARRATIVE 📖
• Is there a story, theme, or emotional arc that amplifies key moments?
9. MARKETABILITY 📣
• Can a 5-second GIF sell the loop? Can you pitch the concept in one sticky sentence?
10. WOW FACTOR 🌟
• What surprise will players brag about compared with genre peers?
11. SOCIAL INTERACTION 🗣
• How will players cooperate, compete, or flex achievements to drive organic growth?
12. MONETIZATION 💰
• What will players willingly pay for, and how does spending enhance—never gate—core play?
13. RETENTION HOOKS 🔄
• Which daily, weekly, or seasonal loops keep the community returning?
14. ACCESSIBILITY
• Can people with different skills, devices, or abilities enjoy the game without friction?
15. SESSION DESIGN ⏳
• How long is a typical session, and does the loop respect both “snack” and “meal” play styles?
16. TECHNICAL RELIABILITY ⚙️
• Will performance, controls, and load times feel rock-solid on target devices?
17. ANALYTICS & ITERATION 📊
• Which metrics shape decisions from day one, and how does player feedback feed the roadmap?
18. CONTROLS 🎛
• Are inputs intuitive and responsive—especially on touch screens—and can core actions be executed with one hand?
19. PLATFORM FIT 📱
• Does the design leverage each platform’s strengths (haptics, sensors, cloud saves) while respecting constraints?
20. CONTENT PIPELINE 📦
• How will you deliver fresh levels, characters, and live-ops events at a sustainable cadence?
21. COMMUNITY FEEDBACK 👥
• Through which channels will you gather sentiment and bug reports, and how will insights be prioritized?
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Which questions would you add?