This article references the following article: 5 things to learn from AAA studios

After being online for nearly a month, "Black Myth: Wukong" as a legendary domestic AAA game continues to thrive. According to VG Insights data, as of September 12th, the game's sales on the Steam platform have exceeded 19 million copies. Its first investor, Wu Dan, predicted that the game's sales during its lifecycle are expected to reach 30 million copies, and from the current trend, this goal is indeed likely to be achieved.

The reason "Black Myth: Wukong" can demonstrate such strong market appeal is mainly due to its development team "Game Science" strictly adhering to the high standard production process of AAA-level games - from exquisite graphics, narrative-driven design, to deep community interaction, all demonstrating excellent professional standards. The successful experience of Game Science and other AAA-level studios provides important inspiration for developers, including Web3 games.

In fact, many independent game developers with limited budgets and resources have created numerous high-quality games that are both interesting and well-received by learning from and borrowing from the standards of AAA game developers. For Web3 creators, they can also refer to these experiences and practices, focusing on quality and user experience when building games, in order to stand out in the competitive market and win broader user support and market share.

1. Game production quality is crucial

High production quality is a standard feature of AAA games and is also one of their core characteristics. This involves the coordinated work of three main elements: exquisite graphics and cinematic effects, powerful art direction, and high-quality sound design. These elements together create an overall presentation effect, creating a stunning experience for players.

Exquisite graphics

AAA games are known for their visually impactful scenes, and independent developers can achieve similar effects by pursuing excellence in detail. "Hollow Knight" developed by Team Cherry is a good example. The developers, a three-person team from Australia, created astonishing visual effects despite limited independent development resources through high-quality art and sound design. This demonstrates that independent teams can also maintain a high level without a large amount of resources by using easily developed tools like Unity and Unreal Engine, as well as high-quality materials and unique styles.

Art direction

Instead of pursuing resource-intensive hyper-realistic graphics, independent developers can focus on a unique and consistent visual style. "UNDERTALE" developed by American game developer and composer Toby Fox is a prime example. It almost covers all development work from game concepts to graphics, gameplay, and music. This "humble" game greatly enhances its appeal and charm through exquisite pixel art and unforgettable character design. Clearly, maintaining a consistent and unique visual style helps independent games stand out in the market.

Sound design

Investing in solid sound design and excellent music can significantly enhance the player's experience. In "Black Myth: Wukong," there are a large number of impressive and stylistically diverse game music, combining modern performance orchestration concepts with a large number of Chinese elements, adding color to the game's battles and storylines. These music pieces were immediately popular among players after the game's release, leading "Black Myth: Wukong" to launch an offline thematic music tour. For independent developers, collaborating with emerging musicians and creative talents can enhance the game's sound atmosphere.

By carefully refining the above elements, independent developers can achieve production quality comparable to AAA games, or even match AAA games in overall impact, providing players with exquisite and immersive experiences.

2. Active community engagement is key

AAA studios invest a significant amount of resources in marketing and community building before the game is released, thereby attracting a large player base on the day of release. Although independent developers have smaller marketing budgets, they can still learn from this practice. Early marketing is crucial. For example, American game designer Eric Barone (alias ConcernedApe) built a game community by using developer blogs and forums during the development of "Stardew Valley" several years before its official release, successfully generating widespread interest and anticipation among players through sharing development updates, screenshots, and progress reports.

Marketing

Regular updates on social platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram can maintain community awareness and excitement, especially when combined with developer updates released on Steam. Based on this, some Web3 games also release their "cut-down versions" on the Steam platform. Discord and Reddit also help in direct interaction with fans to understand their preferences and feedback. For example, the game "Among Us" developed by InnerSloth maintained long-term popularity after its release through social media and an active community.

Crowdfunding

Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo not only raise funds for projects but also help build a loyal fan base. Successful crowdfunding projects usually include detailed project descriptions, development timelines, and frequent updates, creating a loyal community among supporters. "Shovel Knight" developed by Yacht Club Games successfully used Kickstarter to raise funds and build an enthusiastic fan base, closely following the game's development progress.

Regular updates and feedback

Regular updates and feedback interactions with players are crucial for building an active community. Early access programs, beta stages, and trial versions can provide valuable insights and help improve the game based on player feedback. American game developer Supergiant Games successfully used this method in the development of the Rogue-like game "Hades," continuously adjusting and optimizing the game based on community feedback through Steam's early access stage.

3. Returns from Iterative Development and Game Testing

AAA studios typically rely on iterative development processes to refine games through planning, execution, and evaluation cycles, continuously improving based on game testing and player feedback. Adopting a similar approach can greatly benefit independent developers, helping them to identify and address issues early on, ultimately releasing a more polished and engaging product.

For example, the platformer indie game "Celeste," designed and developed by Canadian game designers Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry, initially had only 30 levels designed for speedrunning. To achieve the goal of creating a game with simple mechanics yet deep gameplay, the development team continuously invited playtesters and iterated on the game content. This helped them optimize the game's mechanics, difficulty balance, and overall design. By addressing feedback in a timely manner, "Celeste" received widespread acclaim for its design, storyline, and music immediately after its official release, and even received perfect scores from multiple media outlets, ultimately earning a nomination for the 2018 Game Awards Game of the Year.

In general, the iterative development process includes:

Early Prototype Release

Independent developers can release early prototypes or alpha versions to a small group of testers. Platforms like the digital game store itch.io provide channels for developers to share early versions or host game development contests, gathering feedback from enthusiastic gaming communities. For example, the action-adventure game "Rogue Legacy" developed by Cellar Door Games benefited from early access and player feedback, helping the developers optimize the game's procedural generation and difficulty settings.

Game Testing Phase

Developers can organize game testing at different stages of development to collect diverse feedback, including internal testing with friends and family as well as through online communities. Game testing not only helps identify bugs and game issues but also provides valuable insights into player behavior and preferences. The Canadian game developer Polytron Corporation spent 5 years developing the action-adventure game "Fez," extensively testing the game during development, which was crucial in refining its unique puzzle mechanics and ensuring a smooth gaming experience. The game received high praise upon release and won the top award at the 2012 Independent Games Festival.

Beta Testing Platforms

Utilizing beta testing platforms can provide more extensive feedback before the official release. Independent developers can open their games to more players through beta testing, collecting data on the game's performance on different systems and under various conditions. Motion Twin successfully used this method in the development of the action-platformer game "Dead Cells," releasing the game through Steam's early access to promptly receive community feedback on game mechanics and balance. According to the development team, 40% to 50% of the changes made during the early access period were based on player feedback.

4. Strong Narrative and World Building are Crucial

AAA games are often adept at creating deep narratives and detailed worlds that immerse players for extended periods. In "Black Myth: Wukong," the character encyclopedia system "Shadow God Diagram" records the background stories of hundreds of small and large monsters defeated by players, captivating both domestic and international players. Game developers can learn valuable lessons from this, even with potential limitations in budget and team size, by focusing on strong narrative elements and world building, significantly impacting the game's popularity and player engagement:

Game Narrative

Engaging narratives typically include stories that resonate with players, accompanied by memorable characters, emotional arcs, and meaningful choices. Creating a coherent world with consistent background settings and visual styles can enhance immersion and deepen the connection between players and the game. Small independent works like the action-adventure game "Hyper Light Drifter" developed by Heart Machine demonstrate the power of effective world building. Despite minimal in-game dialogue, the game relies on detailed pixel art, atmospheric sound design, and environmental storytelling to convey a rich post-apocalyptic world.

Environmental Storytelling

This approach uses game environments to convey narrative elements, rather than relying solely on dialogue or cutscenes. For example, the adventure puzzle game "Inside" developed by the Danish indie game development team Playdead Studios largely succeeds in storytelling through its visual design. The game reveals its dark, dystopian world through meticulously designed levels and uses environmental clues to convey the narrative. IGN stated that players can feel the game's beautiful, eerie, and terrifying atmosphere within just ten minutes of experiencing "Inside." Game developers can use this technique to add depth to the game without relying heavily on dialogue or narration.

Collaboration

To enhance the game's narrative effect, developers should not hesitate to invite external writers and artists. For example, the narrative-driven action-adventure game "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" developed by Ember Lab received assistance from external teams such as the Singapore game developer Virtuos in asset production, level design, and visual effects. This collaboration allows the primary developers to focus on the core vision of the game while benefiting from external expertise. By prioritizing strong narrative elements, independent games can achieve depth and player engagement comparable to the most refined AAA works.

5. Ongoing Support Ensures Game Longevity

AAA studios maintain player engagement and extend the lifespan of their games through ongoing support and continuous updates. Providing ongoing support means:

Post-launch Updates

The subsequent patch updates help maintain the health of the game. Through these updates, bugs can be fixed, game balance adjusted, and performance or compatibility issues that may arise after release can be addressed. Take the AAA masterpiece ARPG game "Cyberpunk 2077" as an example. Before its release, it received high praise from critics for its artistry and playability. However, after the official release, the game's performance on console platforms was disappointing, and it was widely criticized by players for numerous bugs. The developer, CD Projekt, focused on bug fixes over the next few years and released multiple patches to improve the game's performance and visuals. Ultimately, after the release of the new DLC "Cyberpunk 2077: Shadows of the Past" in 2023, its reputation was reversed, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam.

Community Feedback

Independent developers can interact with players through forums, social media, and in-game surveys to gather feedback on what players want to improve or add. The game "Dead Cells" developed by Motion Twin is a typical example. The development team interacted with viewers through live game streaming on Twitch, allowing them to vote and directly influence the game process, such as deciding what weapons come out of chests, the strength of monsters, and character health restoration effects. Their continuous optimization received praise from many players, and the official release also received widespread media appreciation.

Downloadable Content (DLC)

Independent developers can create meaningful and reasonably priced DLCs that enhance the game's fun and playability by providing novel and significant content. As mentioned earlier, "Hollow Knight" released multiple free DLC packs, introducing new areas, bosses, and abilities, greatly expanding the game's content and maintaining player engagement without additional charges. This not only added value for existing players but also attracted new players who saw ongoing support as a strong testament to the game's quality.

Regular Updates

Planning for post-launch content should begin early in the development process. Developers can pre-plan future content scenarios, including additional levels, new features, or story expansions. For example, the card-based roguelike game "Slay the Spire" developed by MegaCrit regularly releases updates and new content, keeping the player community engaged and passionate about the game. These updates include new characters, cards, and balance adjustments, greatly enriching the overall game experience.

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