So you’ve decided to work with an educational game studio on your next project, but you don’t know where to start. At Filament Games, we have experience working with a wide variety of clients, so we are adept at determining the best fit for just about any project. That being said, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before starting your project:
What problem is this game going to solve?
Games are really good at solving problems in an extendable and adaptable format. And we have solved many! Our designers are highly skilled at creating experiences that teach audiences of every age and demographic. Having your list of learning objectives and high level goals ready helps us create our pitch and proposal for your project. Examples of problems we have solved with previous projects include:
- Creating engaging activities for teaching early literacy (Superkids Online Fun)
- Raising awareness about the first ten amendments of the US Constitution among teens (That’s Your Right!)
- Creating an accessible way for healthcare learners to practice their foundational CPR and basic life support skillsets (Saving Lives!)
Do I need to have an idea or design already?
Nope! The majority of the time clients come to us with a problem rather than a solution. That being said, if you do have an idea, please share it with us! We’ll work with you to make it the best idea we can pursue under the constraints of your schedule and budget. Speaking of budgets…
What is the scope of the project?
Filament can create experiences that vary greatly in terms of scope, from AAA level polish and scale to the simplest prototypes. Knowing the budget range and schedule ahead of time helps us create the best design possible within the scope of your project. If you don’t know yet, we can help you figure it out! Come prepared with answers to questions like:
- Is the success of this project dependent upon a specific launch date?
- Does it involve research or playtesting that must occur at certain times?
- Are you planning on seeking external funding?
- Do you plan on having a marketing or advertising budget?
- Is this product planned for institutional, internal, or commercial use?
- What is the product strategy?
What technical goals should I have?
Our estimation process for quoting on projects is extensive. We don’t just throw ballpark figures around. Filament puts together a team to talk about how the game will be built, what the art will look like, and what problems could arise from development. We then use this information to meticulously estimate every feature we have identified to give our clients an accurate schedule and budget To make this process as seamless as possible, the more information we have from our clients, the better. Information like:
- Who is the intended audience for this project? How old are they?
- Where will players access the game?
- Does the game need to integrate with any external platforms, such as an LMS?
- What platform will the game be played on? Phones, tablets, PCs?
- Where will the game be played? Schools, homes, rural areas?
- How long will the players be playing the game in a single session and/or over the lifetime of the game?
- Do you want or need to assess the player’s progress?
- Is there research about what the game is based on? Can we see it? We love research!
None of these things are required, but they do help us create the best project possible for you. If you are interested in starting a project with us, drop us a line!