Unveiling the Secrets of Creating a Memorable Game

The question of what makes a great game has many answers, and it was a topic of discussion during the Develop Brighton keynote, featuring Shuhei Yoshida and Greg Rice. With decades of combined experience in working with developers, particularly indies, the pair shared their insights on the common characteristics of acclaimed games and studios. Rice noted that technical mastery in one or two areas is no longer sufficient to elevate a game. "In the past, having a good art style or game mechanic might have been enough, but now, with so many games available, you need to excel in multiple areas," he said. "You need a unique and recognizable art style, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a personality that reflects creativity and passion." Yoshida emphasized that the key to greatness lies in how a game plays. "When you press a button, what happens? That interactivity is core to this medium," he said. "When I was managing first-party or helping indies, I would pick up the controller and point out issues that the developers might have missed." Both Rice and Yoshida stressed the importance of having a clear vision and iterating on your game. "You should be showing your game to people who aren't directly involved in the project, and be open to feedback and testing," Yoshida said. "The repetition of iteration is critical to improving your game." The pair also discussed the common mistakes developers make, such as "scope creep" and not asking for enough money. "It's easy to let a game grow and balloon, but having a clear vision and focusing on what's possible to achieve is key," Rice said. "Not every game needs a lot of detail in terms of story and character, but rather a focus on mechanics and clarity." Yoshida added that developers should be aware of their limitations and not be afraid to ask for help. "Having a strong creative lead and a strong producer is a key formula for success," he said. "They should be able to trust each other, but also be willing to challenge each other to create something great." The conversation also touched on the importance of inspiration and where the best ideas come from. "A lot of people only look to games for inspiration, but when you see something that draws from other forms of media or everyday life, that's powerful," Rice said. "Developers need to be self-aware and understand what makes their game unique, and then lean into that." Yoshida concluded that the best games are those that elicit a response that goes beyond entertainment. "Some developers can describe their game in terms of the emotion they want to evoke in the player, rather than just talking about mechanics or genre," he said.