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Mastering Retention Podcast

Ep.76: Quest Design

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEjAurdGZbo⁠

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🎙️ Mastering Retention Podcast: Game Design and Live Ops Insights with Kurt Sparkle

Host: Tom Hammond, Co-founder of UserWise

Guest: Kurt Sparkle, Former Blizzard Veteran and Game Designer at Amazon Games

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Introduction

👋 About Kurt Sparkle:

Former game designer at Blizzard Entertainment, with extensive experience on World of Warcraft.

Currently working on mobile game development at Amazon Games.

Passionate about game design and live operations (LiveOps).

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Journey into the Gaming Industry

🎮 Early Beginnings:

Grew up in the 80s and 90s playing NES, Sega, and PlayStation games.

Started creating game mods as a teenager for games like Doom, Half-Life, and Elder Scrolls.

Developed a love for level design and modding, initially as a hobby.

🚀 Breaking into Game Development:

Realized in college that making games could be a career.

Faced challenges entering the industry despite a degree and a mod portfolio.

Received valuable advice from a design manager during an interview:

Learn Unity, which was new at the time.

Consider Quality Assurance (QA) as a pathway into game design.

Landed a QA position at Blizzard after expanding his job search.

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Transition from QA to Game Design

🔄 Skills Gained in QA:

Learned to anticipate and identify potential issues in games.

Developed thoroughness and foresight, crucial in game design.

Emphasized the importance of thinking about how to break the game to improve its robustness.

🎯 Impact on Game Design:

QA experience helped reduce bugs and issues during development.

Encouraged designers to be proactive in identifying problems before they reach QA.

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LiveOps and Long-Running Games

🌍 Insights on World of Warcraft (WoW):

Discussed the extensive content release schedule for WoW.

Explained that expansions and major content updates are planned years in advance.

Highlighted the challenges of designing for a diverse player base with varying playstyles.

👥 Catering to Different Player Types:

WoW accommodates hardcore raiders, casual players, PvP enthusiasts, and storytelling fans.

Emphasized the need for both vertical (power progression) and horizontal (variety of activities) advancement.

📈 Importance of Player Analytics:

Acknowledged the role of analytics in understanding player behavior.

Recognized that "aha" moments vary among players and are crucial for retention.

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Quest Design and Player Engagement

📝 Crafting Compelling Quests:

Core quest mechanics in WoW have remained consistent over the years.

Bread and Butter Quests:

Familiar mechanics like killing enemies, collecting items, and exploration.

Provide a foundation for storytelling and are intuitive for players.

🌟 Keeping Quests Fresh:

Introduce novelty by changing 15% of familiar mechanics.

Use new narratives, visuals, and slight gameplay tweaks to make quests feel new.

Leverage player fantasies and environmental themes to enhance engagement.

🎭 Example Strategies:

Incorporate elements from popular culture to resonate with players (e.g., Indiana Jones in jungle settings).

Design zones and stories that cater to different player preferences.

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Designing Replayable Content

🔄 Difference Between One-Time and Repeatable Quests:

Replayable quests require intrinsic fun factors to prevent player boredom.

Intrinsic Fun Factors Include:

Novelty: Offering new experiences within familiar mechanics.

Control: Ensuring gameplay is intuitive and enjoyable.

Fulfilling Fantasies: Aligning with what players find exciting.

🦋 Case Study: The Moth Quest

Players transform into a moth with abilities focused on avoidance rather than combat.

Offers a fresh twist on the core game loop, enhancing replayability.

🧪 Testing for Fun:

Emphasized iterative design and playtesting.

Gathering feedback is crucial for refining content.

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Transition to Mobile Game Development

📱 Embracing Mobile Platforms:

Moved to mobile development to reach a broader audience.

Sees mobile as the future of gaming due to its accessibility and massive player base.

🎯 Challenges and Opportunities:

Recognizes differences in control schemes and monetization models.

Excited about the potential for AAA-quality games on mobile devices.

Cited Genshin Impact as a benchmark for high-quality mobile experiences.

⌚ Considering Play Session Length:

Importance of designing for varying play session lengths on mobile.

Mobile games need to accommodate both quick sessions and longer engagements.

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Tips for Player Retention

🔑 Building Player Trust:

Essential to maintain trust by delivering valuable and reliable content.

Breaking trust can significantly harm player retention.

💎 Offering Value:

Players should feel they are receiving good value for their time and money.

Monetization should feel like a win-win situation, encouraging voluntary spending.

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Conclusion

🌟 Final Thoughts:

Stressed the importance of understanding player needs and designing accordingly.

Encouraged designers to think critically about play session lengths and core gameplay loops.

📞 Connecting with Kurt Sparkle:

LinkedIn: Preferred platform for professional connections.

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