Johan Pilestedt Discusses the Importance of Game Fundamentals Over Features
In a recent talk, Arrowhead Games' CCO Johan Pilestedt emphasized the significance of focusing on core gameplay fundamentals instead of merely adding features.
Visualize, then execute.
Helldivers 2’s success last year was partly due to its focused gameplay. While many titles overwhelm players with microtransactions, features, and stats, Helldivers 2 simply asks, “Do you enjoy shooting bugs? Here’s a variety of guns for that!”
Johan Pilestedt, CCO of Arrowhead Games, shared his insights at GDC. He argued that people often misattribute a game’s success to individual factors like pricing or timing, asserting, “If you believe that just adding one element will ensure your game’s success, you’re mistaken.”
His approach emphasizes fundamentals as the foundation of game design, suggesting that studios often neglect their core philosophies. According to Pilestedt, it’s vital to understand the essence of what makes your studio unique, which subsequently informs feature development.
He compares this to car design, staving off the urge to create a multi-purpose vehicle targeting everyone, which ultimately leads to dissatisfaction. Instead, studios should harness their distinct identities to create compelling experiences, avoiding the trap of feature imitation that dilutes originality.
Ultimately, Helldivers 2 showcases a blend of arcade action and tactical gameplay tailored to its core mission, proving that adherence to fundamentals is key.
