So you want to develop an eSport title?

Ohad Barzilay

SideKick Games

Who Am I

• Ohad Barzilay

• Deepmist, Mytopia, New Legends

• Worked w/ Dreamworks, MGA, Endemol, Showtime, Lionsgate etc

• Teaching in Academic game studies for past 8 years

• Currently at Sidekick, working on new titles for Dark Matter and Rovio.

New Legends

• HQ competitive multiplayer mobile games

• Geared for streaming from mobile

• In-game Community Management

eSports keeps growing!

Source: https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/global-esports-market-report-revenues-to-jump-to-463-million-in-2016-as-us-leads-the-way/

What is an eSport

“A popular competitive real-time game, that pits players against each other in a skill based, time

boxed match.”- Ohad Barzilay

Does Your Game Fits eSports

You can build for eSport, but you cannot build an eSport game.

You should develop a game that is..• Competitive • Real Time• Matches based• Operate a community

• Still doesn’t guarantee the game will be popular

Does Your Game Fits eSports

There are main 3 factors that affect game progress:

• Player Skill: Better control skill = Better outcome

• Unit Skill: Better unit = Better outcome

• Luck: How Random is the outcome

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Does Your Game Fits eSports

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

WoW Starcraft Candy Crush

LoL Angry Birds

Puzzles & Dragons

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Hearthstone

Skill Centric but Not Only

Player Skill

Unit Power

Luck

Skill Curve

• Allows players to develop unique or impressive strategies• Much more fun to watch for players at all levels• Allows “Star Players” to become known & attract audience• eSport titles aspire to have “endless” skill curve

Real-Time Competitive Play

• Competitive• Players vs Players: 1x1, 3x3, 5x5• Allows teams, star players to emerge = creates fans

• Real Time • Encourage group viewing, on schedule• Required to have sports-like events = brings fans together

Real-Time Competitive Play

Real-Time Competitive Play

Real-Time Competitive Play

• Competitive• Players vs Players: 1x1, 3x3, 5x5• Allows teams, star players to emerge = creates fans

• Real Time • Encourage group viewing, on schedule• Required to have sports-like events = brings fans together

This combination is where the drama can emerge from.

Real-Time Competitive Play

• Design to have a sequence of dramatic moments• Don’t try to have one contentious non-stop action.• Breaks in action allows players to plan ahead and highlights dramatic

moments in the match.• Shoutcasting is a huge part of the eSports experience. Allow breaks in

action so casters could talk.

Time Boxed Matches

• Match duration relay on skill difference but limited in time.

• Time limit adds strategic layer to the game = adds Drama• In teams, matches adds an interesting layer of team-play sync• Required to allow tournaments and ranking• Allows broadcasters to plan length of broadcast

• Striking a balance is challenging – Optimal play time vs Optimal view time

Simple & Clear Game Rules

• Clear Success / Failure Conditions• Clear Participants• Clear Game Arena • Clear Sub Goals (awards bonus/penalty)

• Complexity: Units with different abilities,• Different Game Arena, Time limit, Different Sub Goals.

• Results in • Easy to learn, Hard to Master for players• Easy to understand for spectators

Development Priorities

• Game actually work (Stability)• Clear game loop (rules, visuals)• Balanced gameplay mechanics

• Do not prioritize automated competition features. • Players can solve these themselves.

Real-Time Competitive Play

Community - Fans

• THE major factor b/w good competitive game – and an eSport.

• eSports games are about viewership • The emotional connection fans develop to players and teams• Nurturing pro athletes and teams is key factor

• Done right, this is can be a key growth channel of the game• As opposed to paid UA being the major source on mobile

Community - Fans

Much more than community everywhere else:• Caring for amateur players• Caring for pro players (professional athletes/teams)• Catering for viewers/fans (spectator mode, content etc)• Partnerships (ESL, Twitch, Streamers, Youtubers)• Run/Support Tournaments

Community - Fans

• Work with Pro Players early on to balance the game

• Wow Moments – extreme places pro players can take the game• Ensure pro players can create these moments• Publish these moments – this what attracts viewers

• Encourage knowledge and know-how sharing• Players creating guides on best strategy • Stay in constant contact with your community and share update

Take Away Points

• Your players decide if the game is eSport or not

• Build for it by making a good real-time competitive game

• Allow long skill curve (easy to learn, hard to master)

• Clear game rules and visuals, balanced game

• Work with Pro Gamers on wow moments

• Support pro players, teams to allow emergence of fans

• Create, publish content and encourage others to do so as well

Fun To Watch Games

ThanksQuestions?

Ohad Barzilay | @Civaxo