How can you collaborate with other mobile game developers to improve industry standards?

As someone who has worked and taught in the industry for almost 20 years now I can definitely attest to the truth in this statement. Who you know is everything in specialist fields.

In my experience, reaching out to freelancers who are in your same industry can also be a very good way of networking. By working on a project with a fellow professional, not only you are building a relationship with them but you are also learning and sharing knowledge.

Taking this step is often our most challenging obstacle. Many of us worry about judgment or whether what we share is the best approach. The key is understanding that this is all okay. There will always be room for improvement, but if you don't share, how will you discover those better ways? Without questions, how will you learn from others? While some folks may be critical, our industry is filled with individuals eager to learn, help, explore, mentor, and collaborate. Embrace the opportunity to grow collectively by openly sharing in forums, collaboration networks, or start with smaller social group meetups. Once you start doing this you will love the results.

Sharing knowledge and skills with other mobile game developers holistically elevates industry standards. Collaboration facilitates the exchange of insights, innovative techniques, and best practices, and collective learning. By openly sharing experiences and expertise, developers collectively elevate the industry's overall skill set and standards. This collaborative approach accelerates progress, encourages continuous improvement, and ensures a more robust and dynamic mobile gaming ecosystem.

I think companies need to outline and instruct their employees. Show them the customers importance. Reinforcing the employees’ proper techniques and correct improper practices. Give them room to experiment, grow and fail to a point but encourage when they champion themselves to a confident empowered workforce. Empowering them with confidence builds a valuable team which treats your guests with the experiences and expectations they deserve

Consistent standards streamline development processes, enhance interoperability, and elevate the overall quality of games. Shared standards enable developers to learn from collective experiences, reducing errors, and fostering innovation. A more unified approach benefits the entire industry by establishing a foundation for excellence, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring a more cohesive and user-friendly gaming landscape.

Diverse perspectives bring a range of ideas, innovation and creative solutions. Inclusive collaboration creates platform for a variety of voices, thus contributing to decision-making, and leading to more representative and culturally sensitive games. By embracing diversity, the industry can address a broader audience, creating games that resonate with players from different backgrounds and preferences, ultimately enhancing the overall quality and inclusivity of mobile gaming standards.

I am sure many of us have experienced games that delve into dark design patterns, leaving you frustrated as you try to enjoy something we all love. Some of us might have even encountered requests to engage in manipulative practices to coax open players' wallets. We all know the free-to-play aspect of games and it is a thin line but we know when too far is too far. I think a big part of not having issues around this is finding a studio or team that is aligned with your values. I think that is crucial in ensuring you're not pressured into actions that contradict your principles.

If mobile development is your interest, then just keep progressing on games. Seek out collaborators, to start creative and unique ideas. Most important is the push to bring the projects to life. I emphasized the actual release of your work. There's immense value in having tangible products out there, allowing you to track usage metrics and gain insights into the real-world impact of your theories and assumptions. If you encounter challenges in finding collaborators, don't be disheartened. The demands of a developer in a "9-5" job can be draining, often extending beyond the designated hours. Keep at it though because this industry is filled with passionate folks eager to contribute and their stamp on the industry.