Anton Slashcev

Core Gameplay is King 𝟭. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🎮 • Choose one crisp verb players will repeat nonstop • Make it feel fast, tactile, and satisfying even when nothing happens • Start simple, then layer timing and combos later𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀:• Super Mario – jump / throw / capture• Call of Duty – aim / shoot / slide• Royal Match – swap / match / decorate𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 ⚔️ • Obstacles give your verb meaning • Calibrate difficulty to stay in the flow zone • Telegraph danger clearly - no cheap surprises • Mix soft walls (time, resources) with hard walls (bosses, skill checks)𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 👹• Time pressure• Enemy swarm• Limited lives• Precision jumps• Environmental hazards• Hidden info• Boss patterns 𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 🥇 • Short-term (seconds–minutes): instant rewards👉 Coins, XP, hit flashes • Mid-term (sessions–days): visible growth👉 Unlocks, new tools, […]

Game designer isn't just a job title. It's a journey of evolving skills.From Junior to Senior, here's how a game designer grows:--- 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 ---Start with the foundations:• Core gameplay literacy – play widely, understand loops and pacing• Basic balancing – tweak difficulty, set reward rhythms• Documentation – write clear specs, map flowcharts• Prototyping – build, test, iterate• Collaboration – sync with art & engineeringYou're learning how games FEEL and how to make them real.--- 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 ---You start thinking deeper:• Analytics – query data, drive design changes with insights• UX/UI excellence – co-create flows, apply psychology• Production awareness – understand scope, risks, limitations• System design – design economies, improve using KPIs• Mentoring – guide juniors, share what you’ve learnedThis is where your impact multiplies.--- 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 ---Now, you lead:• Vision & pillars – define direction, align with business goals• […]

Treasure Hunt Event Guide Here's a full breakdown of a treasure hunt event loop.❓ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆? • Players dig on a grid to find hidden items. • They use tools earned by playing the core game. • The goal: uncover and collect all target items.🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽:1. Earn pickaxes by beating core levels2. Enter the event via a home screen button3. Tap tiles to dig4. Reveal hidden objects or empty tiles5. Collect full items automatically6. Complete the grid → move to next stage7. Repeat until all stages are done🪓 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀:• Linked to main game progress• Harder levels = more tools• Give a small starting amount to everyone🧱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱:• A tiled grid covered with “soil”• Hidden items (e.g. gems) placed randomly• Items can be different sizes (2x1, 3x3, etc.)• Some tiles are empty• Dug […]

Most game choices are boring. Too many games offer decisions that feel the same, or don’t matter at all.Great choice design makes every option meaningful. Here's how to do it:𝟭. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀😡 hot-headed – impulsive, aggressive, risky"I punch him to teach him respect."🖤 cold-hearted – manipulative, self-serving"I lie to gain his trust, then betray him."🤝 kind – cooperative, hopeful, resource-dependent"I help her now, hoping she’ll return the favor."Each one supports a different player fantasy. All must feel viable.𝟮. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀💎 premium – monetized or high-value outcomes🧑‍🤝‍🧑 character – select allies with gameplay/story impact⏳ timed–pressure choices to raise tension🔒 resource-locked – require stat or item thresholds🔁 irreversible – world-altering and permanent𝟯. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀🔍 Signal clearly – foreshadow outcomes⚖️ Balance payoffs – mix short- and long-term rewards🎲 Hide variables – let […]

Mobile game design is mostly dead. 90% of game design tasks today are “copy this from Royal Match”.Sorry, but that’s NOT game design.At best, it’s reverse engineering.(at worst – it’s theft).And look, I get it.Studying competitors is smart.Understanding why a mechanic works? Even smarter.But copying blindly?That kills innovation.And it ignores the most important question:𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿?Great game design starts with the player experience.Not with a top-grossing chart.Yes, sometimes the best solution looks similar to what's already out there.But sometimes it means doing the complete opposite.If your entire strategy is low-budget imitation,you’ll always be behind the games you’re copying.Want proof?Look at Royal Match. • They’re not winning because they copy others. • They’re winning because they can’t. • There’s no one to follow – so they experiment. • They build. They try. They *invent*.And that’s what sets them apart.

Prioritizing what to improve next in the game is tough. A clear framework to prioritize your game metrics: from first session to monetization.Follow the order. Start at the top.𝟭. 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Ensure a smooth and rewarding first-time experience𝟮. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Set clear goals • Deliver quick wins in the first few sessions𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 • Design compelling mechanics that keep players engaged longer𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 • Identify and fix drop-off points • Keep difficulty progression smooth𝟱. 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Use daily missions and goals to drive progression𝟲. 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 • Encourage consistent routine play with short, daily challenges𝟳. 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 (𝗗𝗔𝗨/𝗠𝗔𝗨) • Increase return rate with events, updates, and surprises𝟴. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Build deep meta-systems • Create meaningful social features𝟵. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 • Offer strong first-time bundles • Use smart starter packs𝟭𝟬. 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗨 […]

Mobile games use various psychological tricks. Here are 10 techniques used to keep players hooked:𝟭. 𝗙𝗢𝗠𝗢 ⏳ Limited-time events and exclusive offers create urgency. • Players feel it’s now or never.𝟮. 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 😣 Failing hurts more than winning feels good. • Lose a level, get an offer to buy back progress. • The closer you are to winning, the harder it is to quit.3. 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 🎰 Unpredictable rewards tap into our dopamine system. • Free spins, no loss, no limits. • Often combined with other features for more excitement.4. 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗪𝗶𝗻 😬 Almost winning makes players try again. • One move away from victory. • First-time wins come with extra rewards.5. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 🏆 We play more when others are watching. • Join teams for bigger rewards. • Leaderboards increase pressure to stay engaged.6. 𝗢𝗽𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 💸 When spending […]

Mobile Game Meta Guide 🏡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮?• It’s not a new hero, booster, or ability.• It’s the layer outside the core loop: rewards, progression, collectibles, narrative.• It gives players goals that feel fresh—without breaking the game’s balance.❓ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮?Because it:• Adds depth without power creep• Scales cheaply (mostly art & narrative)• Opens up easy A/B tests• Boosts retention and ARPU• Creates endless Live-Ops hooks: collections, events, FOMO⭐ 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀: • Decoration: rooms, gardens (Homescapes)• Leaderboards: ranks, badges (Marvel SNAP)• City-building: slots → coins → village (Coin Master)• Collections: stickers, pets (Merge Mansion)• Storylines: chapters, cut-scenes (Episode)• Campaigns: world maps, biomes (mid-core RPGs)• Customization: skins, outfits (Overwatch)• Romance: branching relationships (Choices)🕵️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲?• Match-3: decoration + light story• PvP: skins + ranks• Mid-core: base-building + epic cut-scenes• Casual sims: expansive city + collectionsBut skip meta […]

Think games are made only by programmers? Think again! Here’s a glimpse into the professionals it takes to bring a game to life:Development • Programming: gameplay programmers, AI engineers, full-stack developers • Art: concept artists, 3D modelers, illustrators • Game Design: level designers, narrative designers, system designers • Quality Assurance: QA testers, compliance testers, automation engineers • Animation & Audio: character animators, sound designers, audio engineers Localization & Community • Localization: translators, cultural adaptation specialists • Community Management: community managers, social media managers, moderators Marketing & Sales • Marketing: creative producers, content makers, growth managers • Business Development: sales managers, licensing managers, monetization experts Administration • Management: CEOs, CTOs, product managers • HR & Finance: recruiters, payroll managers, legal counsel • Support: customer service reps, player support specialists Other Key Roles • Esports & Events: tournament organizers, coaches, commentators • […]

Dream Games knows how to keep players engaged 𝟭. 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 🧩 • Use event currency from core gameplay • Add familiar puzzles from other games • Encourage smart spending with fun problem-solving𝟮. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🤝 • Team-based item collection • Shared and bonus rewards for top players • Builds social bonds and gives players mid-term goals𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 🔥 • Win streaks vs. 100 players • One loss = out • Big prize for the top, high-stakes excitement𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🏁 • 1–7 day cycles, solo or team • Harder levels give more event resources • Keeps players returning with daily goals𝟱. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ⏱️ • 30 or 60-minute events • Starts when the player joins • One leaderboard winner — short, intense fun𝟲. 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀 🎟️ • Free and paid tiers • More points […]