Comments on: Ignore Early Adopters

By: Busby SEO Test

Busby SEO Test — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:10:56 +0000

Many game designers run into a similar issue. GD's are hardcore game users and start to make a game that appeals to their own demographic. When the game is done, only hardcore gamers are into it, and each hardcore gamer has a different idea of what the perfect game is. New Game A might hit that target for a minor percentage of of the market, but it will miss for a bunch more.

Experienced designers will try to make the game accessible and fun for many tastes, game goals, and usage patterns. Leveraging the early adopters as advocates is key. If they get involved and talk up the game, it gets a good reputation in groups that are considered knowledgeable. Then the second and third wave adopters find it and get involved. The churn of hardcore gamers can be volatile, so plan to keep or exit those players. Don't just abandon them.

Rambling conclusion: Pay attention and plan for when your audience shifts from early adopters to second (and eventually mass) market.

By: seotest

seotest — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:04:57 +0000

those things look creepy, but its ok,
thanks for the game designer, they are amazing

By: firewallender

firewallender — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:07:01 +0000

Plurk. Ughhhhhh. So unsightly.

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:40:40 +0000

I really wish it was

By: jeremyvaught

jeremyvaught — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:56:13 +0000

Plurk?! Is that a joke? Because even I have used it and moved on when it was obvious it was a huge time suck.

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:10:05 +0000

I have always been amazed by game designers… so much passion, so much time.

Great example.

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:04:26 +0000

always rough, but sometimes they really are right… startup to startup..

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:03:05 +0000

Not yet, just ordered it!

By: BugFrog

BugFrog — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:29:05 +0000

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:28:47 +0000

'Early-adopters' has become a prize almost, a label sought after by those in the tech community, as a mark of someone forward thinking. It seems like one of the biggest problems with the tech community is that it is so incestuous…with so many applications being made, is anyone stopping to wonder if these have any resonance with non-techies?
Anyways the problem with chasing that early-adopter label is that it really becomes much more about who is using the latest app, like a tech version of keeping up with the Jones' … and less about someone seeing a great product and using it because it simplifies or somehow betters their lives.