Plan. Playtest. Perfect. Produce.
When you combine a passion for games, deep experience across dozens of titles, and the largest nationwide playtesting program, you can move mountains. We're adept at working at all scales and parts of a game's pipeline. How we help is up to you.
Services
We currrently offer services in two main areas: Game Development and Commissioned Design.
Game Development
Got a signed game or internally developed prototype? Our team will take that prototype and refine it for publication. What that looks like is different for every game, but it might include any or all of these methods:
- Playtesting & playtest program coordination: We have the largest nationwide network of playtesters ready to play your game, whether you have a broad or niche audience in mind. Beyond the contacts, our team knows how to manage the A/B testing, the playtesting schedule, and all the logistics, data collection and analysis that leads to great insights and tactics to improve.
- Systems work and streamlining: Based on what we learn through rigorous playtesting, we'll crunch the data and mine the anecdotes. We watch and listen to real player experiences to find, elevate, and showcase the great game inside the potential.
- Solo mode & player count expansion development: Sometimes your game prototype needs more players — or fewer. Options for play for single players or larger groups makes your game more likely to be chosen on game night or brought from the shelf again and again. We'll work to maintain an excellent player experience at any player count.
- Crowdfunding and product consulting: We've helped many industry partners learn what product combinations, pricing, add-ons and tiers will work best for their audiences and generate successful campaigns that blow past their original goals.
- Rulebook usability testing and game learnability consulting: Rulebooks are the hardest part of game design. You need clear, concise, understandable steps to begin play and explanations for questions that might come up. You want your game to be easy to learn: shortening the time from opening the box to starting that first turn. Playtesting informs what the rulebook needs to create great gameplay experiences.
- Content Design: What else does this game need? More lore? New Characters? An expanded roster of ability options? We'll fill in the sparse bits and enrich the game by exploring the corners of the design space.
Commissioned Design Work
Sometimes you know what you want, but need someone you can trust to bring it to life. We'll listen to your ideas, help you analyze the market and competition, and work with you to create a concepting brief. After you approve the brief, we'll move into full game design.
- Contract Game Design: We can start with a general them, like "a cooperative card game about magical girls and their familiars" or concept several games that might hit a market segment or mechanical core you're targeting.
- Expansion & Line Extension Design: Need new cards or modules for an existing game? Perhaps additional characters, a spinoff game that plays faster or is more accessible, or one that is crunchier and more in-depth for serious gamers — all are things we've delivered across dozens of titles.
- Games based on Intellectual Property or Licenses: Fans of an IP want to immerse themselves in the world, stories and characters that they love. Games are a great way for fans to tell their own stories, play out the "what if" scenarios, or finally decide the argument of which character is the fastest, strongest, smartest. Games in an IP need to feel authentic and strike the right balance for super-fans and newbies alike.
- Promotional or Kickstarter Add-on Gameplay content: People excited about your core game often want to go all-in on custom covers, additional components, limited editions, and swag. We'll help you decide and design add-ons that boost excitement and totals for your game.
Fee Structure
Games vary widely in scope and services — let's set up some time to talk about yours! Initial consultation is free, so reach out and we'll set up some time to talk.
We work on a flat fee on a project by project basis for most development and production work. Commissioned design work typically involves a flat fee and a low royalty.
Once we determine together which of our services make sense for your unique project, we'll provide a custom, inclusive quote based on that scope. Our team can save you time and money by freeing up your resources for the work you do best and by working in parallel to accelerate your time to market.