Cem AKKAYA

Scopely is unstoppable. Massive cash flow and deep pockets they can plow into acquiring anything that breaks through on mobile. They have almost no competition on the M&A front right now and the West largely to themselves.

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Game Design Approaches: Experience vs. Mechanics In collaboration with Playliner (by SensorTower) we broke down two the most common approaches to design games: 𝟭. Experience-First Design ("The Fantasy") 🏰 • Starts with a specific fantasy or feeling • "I want to be that" or "I want to feel that" • Mechanics serve the fantasy, not the reverse • Pros: Strong emotional resonance • Easier to market to a broad audience • Guides art and sound direction clearly • Cons: Harder to scope as fantasies are big • Requires high polish for immersion • Higher competition in popular genres • Risks: Scope becomes unmanageable • Gameplay fails to deliver the promised feeling 𝟮. Mechanics-First Design ("The Hook") ⚙️ • Starts with a unique system or twist • "Genre X, BUT with Y" • Relies on a clever rule change to differentiate • Pros: Easy to brainstorm • Cost-efficient to prototype • Creates intrigue for designers • Cons: Often feels like a "gimmick" • Interest fades after novelty wears off • Hard to build a deep world • Risks: Cool system fails to connect emotionally 𝟯. Summary 📝 • Mechanics catch the eye • Experience captures the heart • To maximize sales, define the "Appeal" first • Then build mechanics that support it --- Find mobile game references at Playliner (by SensorTower)

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Recently, I wrote a new blog where I shared some practical insights on improving collaboration between artists and developers in game projects. In many projects, both teams are highly skilled, but small gaps in communication or workflow can lead to delays, rework, and inconsistency. In this blog, I covered key areas such as: • Setting clear communication from the beginning • Aligning art style with technical requirements • Building a structured production pipeline • Encouraging regular feedback and iteration • Using the right tools for better collaboration From our experience working on multiple projects at Gamecrio Studios Pvt Ltd., strong collaboration always leads to better quality and smoother development. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/dKb2KxYR If you are working on a game and need support with artwork or development, feel free to reach out. Contact us: https://lnkd.in/dk_9Snb9 WhatsApp us: https://lnkd.in/dsGiT4dA #gamedevelopment #gameartwork #gamedesign #gamestudio #gamecrio #2dart #3dart #gameanimation #mobilegamedevelopment

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Just out of curiosity how do you see AI shaping the future of game development? The good news is your input could help map out what’s next. Researchers at Erasmus University Rotterdam are running a quick industry survey (see the post) on the impact of AI in our field. It only takes a few minutes to share your perspective. And just a small favor, could you share this with others in your network who care about where our industry is headed? Nixxes Software &ranj IJsfontein abstraction Stellar Entertainment Software Guerrilla Breda University of Applied Sciences HKU (Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht) Vertigo Games Farshida Zafar and Ellen Loots thank you for making me aware of this study!

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The Amir Awards Are Coming Back - With a Focus on What Matters Most I know we haven’t had the Amir Awards in video form for the past two years. Part of that was simple. I’ve been very busy. But if I’m being honest, part of it was something deeper. An identity question. I kept asking myself if I was creating something that truly felt like us. Something differentiated. Something that genuinely reflected what this community stands for. Because today, there are many shows and awards that celebrate games. And that’s great. It should exist. But I realized something important. There are very few places in our industry that truly celebrate the people who make it better. The ones who show kindness. The ones who help others quietly. The ones who give their time, their energy, their care, often without recognition. That’s the show I’ve always wanted to create. So I want you to know: The Amir Awards will be back this year, likely in December or January. But with one major change. The heart of the show will now be recognizing individuals who have done good for the games industry. Not as a side award or single award.. Not as a single moment. But as the main focus. We don't have something like this right now. Because right now, in most places, this kind of contribution is either overlooked or given a single category at best. I believe there should be one show entirely dedicated to it. I will also include a small number of traditional recognitions like Game of the Year or other special achievements. But the center of gravity will be different. It will be about people. It will be about impact. It will be about what it means to show up for others in this industry. I’ll be building this with the community, and later this year I’ll open up nominations so you can help spotlight the people and organizations who truly made a difference. This is what an ASGC Awards show should be. This is my dream show.

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My Level Design Part II will guide you the basics with 3 REAL, recent successful games. All made in Türkiye 🇹🇷 Industry says we figured out Casual Puzzle games, In reality, we built a know how on level design. And these fundamentals on mobile games, Helped us building Taller games, therefore  Higher users, higher retention, higher revenue. No coincidence. All hard work. Best side? Cant be copied and paste, easily. Let me show you some basics: Level Difficulty-> Your level difficulty are all the elements on your screen: literally count everything you see, and there you have all the things you can implement under defining how hard a level is. Level Depth-> This one is tricky, how far can you push your players with only ONE MECHANIC. Yes, just one. Thats where you get creative. I mean look at how many beautiful assets does Match Factory have? Fine Art.. Level Pattern & Rotation-> Pattern and Rotation go together, and this is where it starts becoming tricky because your user may act differently. But in Find The Cat, you play 3 levels, Easy-Mid-Hard, over and over again, literally 427 times. Thats their core, thats their pattern and rotation. That works for them. Level Funnel-> When can you define your power user? How far are they willing to go? How often they come to play? Yeap, all analytics.... Level Progress-> And this is straight User Experience Your players have different moods, Therefore, their experience will change. Figure it out for higher ARPDAU with IAP. There, I tried to add AN ASPECT to your level know how. Obviously there are more ways to do it, but I find these easy to teach and easy to implement. All powered by AppMagic. Make sure to follow for weekly new puzzles, > Top grossing Games, > New articles written by professionals, > and some surprises! Happy Sunday! Cheers! PS: Good Game Design does not exist. Player Experience fitted design does. And that, is almost impossible to copy. #gamedevelopment #videogames #puzzle #gamedesign

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Ranko Trifkovic designing dynamic narrative systems with a focus on player agency and emotional resonance. Specialist in narrative structures, character arcs, and gameplay-integrated narrative. Tired of the three-act structure? Discover how the semiotic square can supercharge your game’s narrative design. This talk examines why traditionally structured storytelling often falls short in games and how embracing flexible, emotionally charged structures can enhance player agency, episodic content, and narrative impact. Perfect for devs looking to deepen the story without sacrificing gameplay. Rgistration https://lnkd.in/gMzau3xC

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