The games industry is probably going through its most exciting time with mass-market audiences, more new devices, the ability to self-publish, etc. However, at the same time we have to compete harder for the attention of our audience against a backdrop of over 900,000 apps, just on the iOS app store, let alone all the other devices. In this presentation Oscar Clark will ask an important question which all developers need to ask themselves. “Why Would Anyone Play your Game?” In this presentation you will learn: - Why we can’t just make games for ourselves in a mass-market - Practical techniques to help think like other players - Why other perspectives help us make better games - Why embracing other players helps our game get discovered

1. Why would anyone
play your game?

2. A freestanding
activity outside
normal Life...

3. ...Absorbing the
player intensely
and utterly...

4. ...Promotes the
formation of
social grouping...
* Johan Huizinga (Homo Ludus 1938)

12. * Scott Rogers (Level Up 2010)

13. * Tadhg Kelly (What Games Are 2012)

14. What is your
repeatable
mechanic?

15. What is your
progression or
'Context' Loop?

16. What about the
Metagame?

17. Challenges?

18. Uncertainty?

19. Failure?

20. Purpose?

21. Rewards?

22. Repetition?

23. Sharing?

24. Bob
44 year old male IT professional living in the San Francisco
Bay Area with wife & 2 kids. Used to play hardcore FPS but
no longer has the time or reflexes for that to be satisfying.
Tends to play more on his phone on the go nowadays;
occasionally if the game gets his attention he will play on a
tablet in the living room whilst the family take over the TV.
No longer a pure ACHIEVER now more motivated by
EXPLORATION or COLLECTION

25. Rachel
34 year old woman living in Italy with her Husband and
young baby. Uses games to provide her a much needed
escape from the day to day mundanity and especially to
provide a social connection into the world. Historically
played casual games, but genuinely open minded. Needs
a game which can be interrupted at any point if the baby
needs attention; and picked up without any repetition.
She needs a Social Context but acts as a COMPLETER
who needs to finish every level with full marks before
continuing

29. Any Questions?
oscar@applifier.com
@Athanateus
@Everyplaydev
http://blog.everyplay.com
Thank you :)