Inside a Game Design Consultancy, with Adrian Crook

Playmakers - The Game Industry Podcast

In this episode:

Jordan interviews Adrian Crook, an award-winning game design consultant with over two decades of experience across social, casual, and core game sectors. Adrian has worked on platforms ranging from early Nintendo consoles and Sega Genesis to PlayStation 1 & 2, Xbox, Wii, PC, mobile, and online games. He is the founder of Adrian Crook & Associates, the game industry’s leading freemium product management consultancy, and has worked with over 300 clients, including major companies like Microsoft, Zynga, and Capcom. Adrian shares valuable insights into running a game consultancy, working with third-party tools, common mistakes in free-to-play game design, and his views on the future of the game industry.

Topics covered:

• Adrian’s journey from game developer to starting his consultancy in 2008
• Key lessons learned from working with over 100 game studios worldwide
• How to adapt game design strategies for different platforms (mobile, console, etc.)
• How third-party tools can help game studios improve production and analytics
• The importance of soft launches and live operations in free-to-play games
• Effective strategies for mobile game monetization and acquisition
• How to balance creativity and monetization in game design
• The evolving role of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in the game industry

For more game industry tips:

• Learn more about Jordan & Bright Black
• Listen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)
• Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!

Timestamps:

[02:44] Adrian’s background: From Relic Entertainment to founding his consultancy

[07:05] Early challenges in the free-to-play landscape

[10:22] Third-party tools and their role in game production

[13:30] Common mistakes studios make in live operations

[16:50] Soft launches: Why they are crucial to F2P success

[19:30] How to evaluate acquisition channels and user retention

[22:40] Adrian’s advice on balancing creative freedom with business goals

[28:02] The evolving game industry: Mobile, freemium, and the potential of VR

[34:25] Adrian’s insights on managing a game design consultancy

Resources & media mentioned in this episode:

Learn more and Connect with Adrian Crook:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Learn more about Adrian Crook & Associates:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Klipfolio (dashboard tool)
• YouCanBookMe (scheduling tool)
• BidSketch, Qwilr (proposal tools)

Games & companies mentioned:

• Microsoft
• Zynga
• Capcom
• Relic Entertainment
• Hempire (LBC Studios)
• The Outfit (Relic Entertainment)
• FrontierVille (Zynga)
• iWin
• Microsoft
• Zynga (Frontierville)
• Capcom
• EA