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Product Management Starter Kit

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Product Management Starter Kit

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1. Be User Focused

This is the #1 thing to keep in mind when developing any product. But when the app is strictly about maximizing engagement — as games are — it’s absolutely critical.

Before you set about building your app, develop a clear idea of who your target user is. It can be helpful to create personas about the types of people who will gravitate to your game. Additionally, you should perform market research into the wants, likes, and needs of your target audience, so you can build a product that responds to these interests and improve the user experience (UX).

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4. Have a Hook

Dynamic characters, a special sound, an appealing storyline, a piece of animation — these are all examples of hooks. A hook grabs the audience’s attention from the get-go, bringing them into the fold of your game, drawing them to it, and making them want to stay.

What’s...

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6. Have Different Elements of the Experience in Mind

Games are involved, perhaps more involved than most other types of apps. The experience isn’t static — it’s highly interactive. You must keep all the different elements of the experience in mind, being cognizant of, for example:

Story
Color s...

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9. Test It

The smallest, seemingly insignificant bug could derail your game. You should thoroughly and rigorously test the game throughout the dev cycle and prior to deployment. This is critical because games are interactive, dynamic products that require attention to detail.

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2. Research Trends and Competition

In addition to pinpointing the interests and wants of your target users — that is, the would-be gamers — you’ll need to consider the conditions of the market itself. What ideas are in vogue at the moment? Which types of games have stood the test of time? What are your competitors up to?

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7. Assemble a Stellar Team

The backbone of any dynamic, engaging product is the team behind it. Gaming development requires skills beyond those of a standard software developer. It also demands the talents of a product manager who will research trends and develop a roadmap for the product, a project manager to coordinate t...

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8. Create a Plan

Plans are, of course, critical for successful product development. Gaming is an especially complex process, and it demands carefully thought-out procedures. To manage your plans, you can use a generic project management platform, or you can use one specifically designed for game development overs...

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3. Differentiate Your Game

Now that you understand your competitors and your own audience, you’ll also have to identify ways to set your game apart from well-established products and newcomers alike. As you probably know, the gaming market is very large and very crowded, so your vision for your app must offer something you...

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5. Keep It Simple — at First

When you’re just diving into game development for the first time, make your game straightforward, steering clear of elements that are too intricate. Otherwise, you risk deterring gamers with a confusing product. Remember that the point is to attract users and keep them there. Once you’ve been at ...

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