Designing WorldWinner’s Engaging Games

Designing WorldWinner’s Engaging Games – Audrey, Game Designer

What’s your favorite part about designing games for WorldWinner?
One of the best things about designing games at WorldWinner is that we really get to own our designs. Every idea I’ve had has been heard and explored by the team. I love the brainstorming and creative freedom during our standups, where we can experiment early in development. Many of my ideas for Lotería Fantástica made it into the final game or evolved into other projects. The smaller teams also mean faster feedback, and there’s a great culture of open-mindedness that has led to amazing results in our games!

What inspires you when creating new game ideas?
I draw inspiration from all areas of entertainment and personal experiences. Music, in particular, inspires me. Concerts help me think about how audio can build tension and elevate the gaming experience. I always consider how a game will look, feel, and sound, because they all need to work together to create an immersive experience.

How do you know when a game is going to be a hit with players?
Analytics and KPIs give us a realistic measure of success, but it’s really during playtests when we know. When people start talking about their high scores and enjoying the gameplay instead of focusing on bugs, it’s a great sign. If the devs are having fun and getting competitive, that’s when we know we’ve got something special.

What’s a fun fact about a game you’ve worked on that players might not know?
For Lotería Fantástica, I drew inspiration from my own heritage as I’m half-Mexican. I even went to my mom’s house to grab the card game we played growing up to refresh my memory! Designing from both a personal and professional perspective made this project extra special, and my family was so excited when it shipped. You can read more about my experience in an article I wrote for Game Developer here. I’m very proud of it as my first shipped title.

What do you enjoy most about working in game design?
As a designer, I get to wear many hats, bridging the gap between art and engineering. I love curating the player’s experience from start to finish. WorldWinner has also allowed me to gain experience in production and marketing, like writing a blog, creating demo videos, and being featured in VentureBeat. The wide variety of roles keeps me constantly learning and growing, which is what I enjoy most about game design.