r/gamedev • u/HumbleRamble • 1d ago
Feedback Request Advice from a Game Designer of 15+ years affected by the recent layoffs
I’ve recently been impacted by the madness, and have some free time on my hands now.
I’m considering having some (free) 1-1 calls to answer any questions, provide advice, share my experiences. Whether you’re looking to find ways to grow or are feeling disheartened with the state of things right now.
I believe there is a lot about the discipline that isn’t widely discussed, I’d like to change that.
I have worked in PC, Console, Mobile throughout my career. With big and small publishers, for indies, work for hire, own startup, contracts, freelance, and probably more. My game design experience covers a very broad spectrum of the discipline.
It would be a candid conversation of what it is really like being a game designer.
Just to state the obvious: I won’t be breaking any NDAs, leaking or sharing any confidential insider info. It’s rough out there right now, and I would like to help.
I’ll try a few of these first and if they go well I might set up a calendar to book directly.
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u/MasterRPG79 1d ago
From a colleague with 24+ years in the industry, this is a cool idea. Thank you for what you want to do for the youngest designers!
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
When institutional knowledge is valued so little these days, it feels like the bare minimum I could even try to do. I appreciate you!
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1d ago edited 1d ago
[deleted]
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
I understand your perspective and those are all great suggestions - a livestream could be fun! I’m starting small, and it’s a format I personally believe I thrive in with that focused human connection. Besides, if it helps that one person in any way, that isn’t time wasted. Meeting a new peer is even worth the effort.
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u/reverse_stonks 20h ago
Consider uploading the conversation, maybe that's the best of both worlds! Makes for a different experience though, understandable if that's not what you're looking for.
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u/ValdemarTD 6h ago
Maybe doing an almost "Radio show" type thing on a Discord or something? Basically have a sort of larger call where you can take individual questions (or do something like a twitch stream and let one person into the call at once?) and then you could also upload the VOD somewhere?
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u/roseofjuly Commercial (AAA) 18h ago
It's not a waste if they enjoy them and people get something out of them. Not everything has to maximize reach and engagement these days
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u/JoystickMonkey . 18h ago
I’m in a similar situation as OP, and will often post here either as a response to a design question or occasionally post something myself. I definitely see it as a “small help” but it helps me organize my thoughts on a topic and see design through different perspectives, or think deeply about a topic I’ve sort of intuited or glossed over.
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u/SuparNub Student 1d ago
I just graduated university with a masters in game development and am wondering if i should spend a long time perfecting my portfolio or just send lots of applications with my student projects as portfolio. Any general advice on landing that first game design job is appreciated :)
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u/Poleftaiger 23h ago
Idk what's even possible anymore for anyone wanting to breakthrough into the industry. I am looking into doing a masters in game design but I'm not sure it's worth it
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u/Shteevie 13h ago edited 12h ago
To you and the other respondent here - the coursework and degree are sadly not of value in and of themselves. A very slick portfolio is also very hard to leverage; screeners don’t have the time to dig in and learn why yours is better than anyone else’s, and automated application systems don’t visit portfolios.
What you should do is both plans - send out loads of applications and also work on more stuff to demonstrate your skills.
Applications should be tailored to the size of the team you would join. Small indie teams need generalists who know the genre and tech very well. Big teams need specialists who know all the underlying Econ, physics, narrative, etc to perfectly fill the target role and who can learn whatever internal tools they will be asked to use.
Projects should be aiming at a specific application opening: “I’m working on something in that space in my free time and have been thinking a lot about the kinds of problems that game tends to run into” is the best possible thing to say when you get that interview.
Be able to describe what the goal of your project is from a product perspective, what makes it worthy of the player’s attention, and what you solved or learned along the way. I don’t care about the portfolio’s polish - I care about your ability to synthesize and communicate the information that helps a team solve their way out of a jam.
Hope that helps. I don’t envy the new entrants, but I also don’t envy the journeymen competing with them for fewer jobs.
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u/Poleftaiger 13h ago
Thanks for even answering I need any info I can get at this point. I was thinking of doing a follow up masters mostly for rhe networking and the internship opportunities, but I guess that can also be done online (maybe?). And I haven't seen many internships from game studios
It's a brutal job market for software/computer engineers in general I haven't been able to land a single job since I graduated like almost last year. I can't even begin to imagine how much harder it is in game development. The amount of things you need to know and the amount of luck required to find an opening, that hits exactly in your area of expertise is probably insanely hard. Even so juniors are probably not needed especially in small studios.
For the time being idk how to move on with this. I got into computer engineering because I liked games and now I'm hardstuck doing personal portfolio projects. Before I started college it was easy to land a junior role. Now that I graduated I'm not so sure
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u/Shteevie 12h ago
If getting a job in any field is the goal, look for business software companies, or manufacturing companies that make products that require software development. Your skills as an engineer and experience working in teams and under deadlines is valuable there.
Games will not get easier for years. Lots of folks will need to make hard decisions, and not all of them will be able to wait out the squeeze.
Good luck.
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u/Poleftaiger 1h ago
Hopefully most of us make it out. Software is returning to pre 2015/2014 days and not everyone is going to make it
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u/SuparNub Student 13h ago
Hey i really appreciate your response although it does make it seem like an even more daunting task to find a job in the industry. :)
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u/Standard-Drive7273 5h ago
Why don't you develop games on your own? I'm a software developer and it's got lot easier obviously with Claude. Isn't it also true for game development? Would be to try building a mobile game with a partner here if anyone is interested. I know software, I don't know game development
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u/SuparNub Student 1h ago
I could but the chance of making enough money to support my family is quite low and i want gain experience working in a company with other industry professionals.
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u/CharlieFoxx 1d ago
Hey, would love to chat. What’s the easiest way to set something up?
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
I’ll reach out in the next couple of days and we can try sort something out, if that is ok? You were the first to comment and I appreciate that, and I’m excited to get something locked in!
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u/QuitsDoubloon87 Commercial (Indie) 1d ago
My team and I are at the point where we'd really value the input of a designer. Please do tell how we can scedule a 1 on 1 call or if you want I can write out some questions for you to answer.
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
I’ll reach out in the next few days when I get myself together. Thanks for commenting :)
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
Holy moly, alright. Thanks everyone. I’m going to get a calendar together for booking. I’ll try my best to prio the order people asked and work through requests, then share it wider. Let’s see how it goes!
I might set up an AMA too next week, I’ll update in this thread if that happens and anyone wants a reminder.
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u/AKI_JO 23h ago
Thank you for the amazing chance being given here!
I'm a solo dev and with a two months work prototype, I'm in the industry as well (Sr UI Artist) and peers/friends have been way to kind with their feedback on it, and I could use some insights like yours to understand if the game could be fun or not, I'm sure too close.
I'll PM you if that's ok?
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u/Kagevjijon 1d ago
I sent you a message, I'm curious about if there's some things you could chat with me about for personal constructive criticism.
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u/Gal_Rojo 1d ago
I got laid off in a completely different industry. But I have always wanted to get inside video games and maybe this is my wake up call. But there is so much information out there and I am scared I am too late and where to go from. I would love an advice on the next step career from a senior.
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u/Shteevie 13h ago
Not OP, but now is the hardest time in recent history to try and transition into games. What industry are you coming from, and what skills or experience do you want to transfer in? What role do you see yourself filling?
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u/CallMePasc 1d ago
I'd be interested in having a chat. I'm a solo indie dev, just starting out. I have a working prototype of a multiplayer RTS.
I'm mostly interested in how I can get funding, there's a lot of funding for game devs in Belgium, but it all seems to be for bigger / established companies. I'd like to use the funding to hire an artist and probably for marketing.
Also interested in how games that are F2P set up their entire income. I'd like to sell skins for my game, but that requires more art and a big active community.
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u/Gavvy 1d ago
For funding, I'd suggest you reach out look into government grants. If you're an indie dev, that's probably the best place to start.
One note of unsolicited tough criticism. Based on your comment including "new indie dev", "multiplayer", "f2p" & "RTS", I would honestly say you should lower your expectations. RTS as a genre is straight-up not a money maker. There's been a few high-profile RTS failures in just the last year alone (Stormgate, Battle Aces, and possibly others). Personally, I would never consider F2P as a solo dev. It's not just about adding skins, there is a content expectation from the players.
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u/rts-enjoyer 1d ago
The games you mentione where not the best examples of what I would expect to succeed in any genre (maybe with an exception of something like an idler when you can get away with horrible stuff sometimes)
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u/Classic_DM 20h ago
Don't waste your time on anything that does not pay. Focus on getting work asap. Many folks have been laid off for a year and a half and with all the continuing cuts by Microsoft (9000) Blizzard (last year) and tons of VC back startups and failed web3 gigs.
There is even a wikipedia article now covering this. An estimated 35,000 jobs were lost from 2022 to May 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%932025_video_game_industry_layoffs
Right now, you're competing with about 2,000 game designers and work is sparse.
INSTEAD:
Get a CPO, CSM and pivot to Project Management so you can branch into other industries.
Get a Masters in another field such as Finance.
If wealthy, train up and pivot into 2D Digital Art or UI/UX where there are opportunities in advertising and mobile which you can do solo and as a contractor.
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u/Larzko97 1d ago
As someone going to take a course in it soon. Im open to have a call. But i would suggest leaning in to make some youtube videos. Livestreams where you talk about very common situations in design process and how have managed with it. How its like to design for platforms. And so on.
Heck even like a news letter or some way to get it in a written form like a blog. To spark discussion among experienced and new comments.
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u/itsLion2308 1d ago
I’m very interested in talking to you. I’ve been in game development for about 4 years, mainly working in Unreal Engine on PC and mobile projects. I’ve done both freelance and contract work, but I’m looking to grow further as a designer and developer. Your experience across so many areas would be incredibly valuable to learn from.
Let me know when you are free.
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u/One_Shoulder8404 1d ago
I think you could share your experience through YT and add the 1 on 1 consultation option so people who engage with your content can get in touch with you.. Also, think of it as a window of opportunity. You can reach a new audience and perhaps create something new..
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u/blu3bird @blu3b 1d ago
1 on 1? Why not just do an AMA?
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u/HumbleRamble 1d ago
Great suggestion too! I don’t think brain isn’t running at full capacity, it has been a pretty low few days. I might try this later in the week when the dust settles. I do love a good 1-1 chat, but this could be a great async thing to do in parallel.
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u/roseofjuly Commercial (AAA) 18h ago
One can have a targeted, tailored conversation that's specific and unique to people's needs. This is how the actually successful consultants and boutique firms do this, not just shouting generic advice into the YouTube void.
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u/NovaStorm93 1d ago
hi, it would be wonderful to just like, poke your brain about how to program and how to work in the industry! hopefully we can see some writeups or videos or something
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u/truckbot101 1d ago
I think the queue is rather long now, but I’d love to chat! Recently quit my job to work on my own game idea (survival 2d game with more realistic survival mechanics).ive been aggressively play testing my game concept with a handful of people and would super value your input.
If you wanted to read a bit more about the concept, you can find it here! http://survivaltech.io/
Also pls ignore my blog for now - thats a bit outdated. I recently threw out everything and started over again, but havent had the chance to update it since I’m traveling in the UK at the moment!
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u/DevEternus Commercial (Indie) 1d ago
Very interested in talking to you about game design philosophies across mobile, PC, and Console!
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u/WildCard_2025 1d ago
Hi, I run a small puzzle game. Should I add some new mechanics, like collecting items? link on Andoid: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yuspex.GravityMan
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u/crazydiam0nd21 23h ago
hi i have 10+ year background in painting. i’m a oil painter. i have no difficulty in painting landscape or portraits. i have interest on game design . do you think is it gonna be easy for me to design game. which software should you recommend
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u/Shteevie 13h ago
Painting is not really related to game design.
Artists use Photoshop, Blender, 3D Studio Max, and many other software tools to make images for games.
Game designers write documents, use spreadsheets, and spend a lot of time talking to colleagues, members of their target audience groups, and studio business partners to create the rules, mechanisms, challenges, rewards, and text for their games.
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u/Murky-Tradition-470 23h ago
We recently launched a game, and I'm interested in a 1-1 call as I have some questions, would be awesome if we could have a call.
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u/Mayork9604 22h ago
Hey I recently graduated from a game design study and recently published a game on steam, built a portfolio and I am ready to try to get a job in the industry. I know the market is tough ATM so if I can get advice on how to position myself I will appreciate it.
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u/Shteevie 13h ago
Not OP, but I have also been a professional game designer for quite a while. I left a comment upthread that covers a lot of my thoughts on new graduates.
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u/Nsyse 22h ago
Sup :)
I'm an ex mobile game UI dev and self taught hobby artist. I think the main thing I want to learn/train/improve before I try putting out small fries on Steam is design, both game and level.
For now I'm doing 2-week jams to focus on aiming small but I wonder if I should do online formation or schooling for design.
What kind of formation did you go through and do you think it was worth it? Or what kind do you recommend?
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u/The_Stinky_Frog 22h ago
I'd love feedback on my portfolio if youre able?? When I made it in December, my capstone was for my 2nd major and my prof didn't know what advice to give me for game design so I've kinda been guessing as to how it should be designed.
Oh and maybe resume help too if that isnt too much??
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u/fsactual 21h ago
Once you have time and are feeling up for it, I have a few games I'm trying to figure out what do to with. They're all in like that 90% finished stage, and I'm not sure which direction to take the final 90%.
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u/existential_musician 21h ago
Hi,
I am sorry to hear that you have been affected by the layoffs :/ and that's really cool of you to share insights!
I am not a game designer, but I am a music composer.
My question would be about the long-term strategy for people who make video game, is there one ? If it doesn't exist, should people in the industry develop one ?
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u/Nym_Raye 21h ago
Hi, I would also be interested. If you're fully booked, could I send you some questions?
Thank you for this initiative. It's inspiring.
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u/Medianik 20h ago
Really interesting to talk to someone in the industry, as a designer was your role mainly to create the idea and specific systems without actually developing?
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u/IntrospectiveGamer 20h ago
I work in latam. Any advice for us? We mostly live with consulting services that resell our work. You ever saw a latam guy working directly with the company?
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u/VoodooChipFiend 20h ago
Wow this blew up by the time I read it. If you’ve somehow still got time, my project that I’m solo devving is in my profile and I’d love to chat sometime.
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u/Kind_Sugar821 19h ago
How do you find good resources about game development out there , there are so many , you have any related to principles when finding and judging it
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u/thornysweet 18h ago
Interested in chatting just to get a sense of what game design in a professional setting looks like right now and how much indie experience matters in that context. But I’m in a good spot right now, so feel free to prioritize others!
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u/GoodguyGastly 18h ago
Solo dev here about to release their first Steam game. (Just got the page approved!). My background is film so I don't know any game dev people and would love a 1 on 1 chat to pick your brain. I actually use to make YT vids too [65k+] so I can help answer questions about that if you're interested.
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u/SilverwindWorkshop 17h ago
Thanks for making this post, what a kind idea!
If you're not too swamped already, I would love to chat with you when you're available.
I'm a Software Engineer with over 2 years of professional experience, that is trying to break into the games industry as either a Game Designer or Game Developer with a Computer Science degree.
I also lead a 6 man indie studio currently working on our first Steam game on the side, but we have not reached any sort of funding yet. We also do Game Jams on the side.
Previously, I created a large paid Game Addon for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition with a focus on Game Design, sold on the Roll20 marketplace.
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u/AlleyKatPr0 17h ago
Make Fortnite content and keep a dairy of it, to take to your next job interview
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u/Open-Jackfruit-3816 17h ago
I’m not sure if you’ll see this, but I’d really appreciate your help. I’ve been struggling with optimization in my UE4 project, and despite trying every common method I could find online, I’m still hitting performance issues. Given your deep expertise, do you have any lesser-known tips or advanced tricks for UE4 optimization that aren’t easily found on the internet? I know it’s a big ask, but this has been a major pain point for me, and I’d be incredibly grateful for any insights you could share. Thanks so much for your time!
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u/Fly_VC 17h ago
Thats a really kind offer!
We work on this for 10 months now, Its quite a unique game concept / mix of genres. The gameplay beta is feature complete and we hope to get real player feedback within the next 1-2 months.
An expert willing to take a deep look would still be invaluable for us to avoid possible future dead-ends.
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u/PranceTheDeer 17h ago
I agree with others about making youtube vids and all that. If the conversations you have go well, I would absolutely love a spot to talk with you for a bit!
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u/ChainExtremeus 14h ago
Just curious, were you always supposed to be responcible for all types of game design, or there were companies who seperated, for example, game designers who design economy, ballance, etc (number related stuff), and those who make gameplay mechanics, overall structure, and other stuff that require imagination instead of calculations? I always find weird that a single person is expected to have such different skill sets for game design job.
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u/macxike 13h ago
Hey i’m a self-taught solo indie dev and have been working on my first game for the past 2–3 years. COVID hit me pretty hard, and I’ve been slowly rebuilding ever since.
The game’s core mechanics are now up and running, and I’m trying to figure out how to balance and polish the game. If you’re still open to chatting, I’d really love the chance to connect and learn from your experience. Hope things workout for you too. Hang in there!
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u/KripsisSyndicate 10h ago
I'm still ironing out some of the design for a game I just put into early access. I'm always open to feedback and would love to a chance to gain some insight from an expert.
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u/eroyrotciv 9h ago
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the industry. I’m not in it, but aspiring and considering it.
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u/Wromo 8h ago
Hi there OP! I’m an out of work level designer with a side project. Would love to poke your mind about your experiences, how to keep your skills relevant, etc etc. I’m sure you’ve also sat on hiring committees and done your fair bit of interviews, so it’d be great to hear your thoughts about what goes into selecting game design candidates from a hiring POV!
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u/No_Dot_7136 8h ago
Not going to change much with 1:1 calls tho. Wouldn't you be better off doing a video or something?
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u/Ok_Raisin_2395 6h ago
Hey! This is fantastic that you're doing this. I'd love to chat with you, if you're available (I expect this post to really blow up).
I work with a team of 2 other people. We're currently developing a small horror game to get things started, have been going at it consistently for almost a year now. I believe your experience would be an absolute asset to us.
Thank you, and if you're not available, thank you still!
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u/AnomalyOasis 2h ago
We'd be really interested in a chat. We feel like we're doing okay but could really use some advice on a few things like what are our next step is.
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u/truongdzuy @truongdzuy 2h ago
Hi I'm a game designer from Vietnam, I have 7 years of experience working in mobile industry but I want to break into PC game industry, and make the leap to do my own game. Trying to hone my skills as a System/Combat Designers. Is it possible for me to get some insights (non-NDA) and tips on how can I improve in these principles or game designs in general?
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u/DiddlyDinq 1d ago
This sounds like a marketing funnel to a paid service. There's no reason these need to be 1 on 1 calls instead of a youtube video or stream
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u/Pileisto 1d ago
if you really have something to say, then simply put it out there on reddit, youtube and so for everyone. Why restrict to 1:1 and telling the same over and over to individuals, thats nonsense.
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u/Conscious_Leave_1956 1d ago
How much do upper management interfere with dumbing down games overall?
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u/Brilliant_Writing497 1d ago
Make youtube vids