Game design advice for the “7” team:
- Success is in the subtleties, but don’t ignore the “lizard brain.”
- When designing a new interface, consider first how a user would do things wrong; start with the “fail” state, rather than the preferred state.
- What works as a video game won’t necessarily work as a slot machine/casino game.
- Does the bonus game meet the player’s expectation after all the work they’ve done to get there?
Sound design advice:
- Good sound design is about layers and context, moods and emotions.
- Gross exaggeration sounds normal to the listener.
- For sound design ideas, play a movie that has a similar theme as your game, only don’t watch it, just listen!
On players:
- Players like to feel as if they have a good sense of the odds.
- Players are enticed by leader board-type displays that show what others have won.
Industry speak:
- A high volatility casino game pays out more, but less often.
- A low volatility casino game pays less, but more often.