Your team is divided over game genres. How can you unite them towards a common goal?

Each person has their own liking or its own favourite genre of game....and most of the time they tend to make games in their favourite genre. While working in a team, if each team member has different genres the best thing they can do is that each team member can make a list of things they like in that genre...for example i like "story driven" games because it gives players a purpose or emotional connection to play the game. Once everyone has their points they can share it with the team, this way each team member's opinion is shared and each team member gets to know about other Genres and its plus points as well. This will surely bring all team members from different genres together.

Uniting a team divided by game genre preferences requires a strategic approach that goes beyond mere compromise. The key lies in discovering the underlying passions that unite your team members, rather than focusing solely on their differences. By encouraging open dialogue and fostering a collaborative environment, you can uncover shared values and aspirations that form the bedrock of a unified vision. For instance, while one team member might be drawn to the immersive storytelling of RPGs and another to the fast-paced action of shooters, both might share a passion for creating unforgettable gaming experiences. By identifying these shared elements, you can establish a foundation upon which diverse perspectives can flourish.

Take the best from all the genres and elements that the team members have shared, and try to combine them into a new hybrid game concept. In most cases, it's reasonable to do so and can bring all the members from different genres together.

As a narrative designer, my vote is always for what best serves the story and player experience. I think the team should have a discussion about what the actual goal is and work from there. I once started a project as a first person horror game that turned into a more lighthearted, but still spooky point and click adventure. It was just a better way to deliver the lore and concept to the players that felt slightly less common of an idea. To summarize: I think common ground should be sought in the areas of story, gameplay, and innovation. Then the discussion of the real decision maker should come in: budget. Certain genres may lend to a less costly development for the game you’re trying to make.

Finding common ground is crucial for uniting a divided team. By identifying elements that everyone values, such as core game mechanics, themes, or target audience preferences, you can create a shared vision. For instance, even if the team has differing genre preferences, they might all appreciate innovative gameplay, strong storytelling, or a specific art style. Focusing on these commonalities helps align the team’s efforts and fosters a sense of collaboration, ultimately steering the project toward a unified goal that incorporates diverse ideas.

Goal setting is your best tool for creative decision making. And secondarily, a good old fashioned hierarchy. Before ever ideating, your team should settle upon objectives and constraints for the game. A few objectives should be classic metric based ones. "We want X sales" or "We want to learn Y new skill" etc. But focus more on Gameplay Pillar-like goals. "We want to portray the darkest timeline," or "We want the player to cry with joy at the end." Once these types of goals are set, decision making becomes way easier. Will an FPS make the player cry with joy? Probably not as well as a narrative RPG. And if all else fails, have your areas of ownership and hierarchy clear. "We can't agree, what do you think Creative Director?"

Unifying a team divided by game genre preferences requires a strategic approach. Establishing clear, measurable, and time-bound goals is crucial. When every team member understands the project's ultimate success criteria, it becomes easier to align their efforts. By defining a clear endpoint and tracking progress, everyone can see how their individual contributions contribute to the overall objective. This shared vision fosters a sense of purpose, encouraging collaboration even among those with differing genre inclinations. It's about transforming diverse perspectives into a unified force working towards a common, achievable end goal.

It is almost always correct and found true by the people of various disciplines that a visible and clear goal directly contributes to its achievement. Abstraction is a part of the game development process, but it should not be considered in goal setting. Clear, and not abstract goals also motivates the team and gives them a sense of direction in making the game and helps in creating a coherent idea of what is being developed. Utilize applications such as TickTick, Whimsical etc. to visually put your ideas on a canvas and encourage your team to do the same so that communication of ideas can be achieved.

Unifying a team divided by game genre preferences requires fostering an environment of open dialogue and mutual respect. By creating a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and passions, you ignite a spark of creativity. Encouraging this exchange of perspectives not only broadens the horizon for innovative game concepts but also deepens understanding among team members. As they begin to appreciate the unique strengths of different genres, a sense of empathy emerges, laying the groundwork for collaboration. This shared understanding becomes the fertile ground where diverse ideas can be merged, resulting in game designs that transcend genre boundaries and captivate a wider audience.

When team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns, it not only leads to unique solutions but also builds mutual understanding and empathy, enhancing team dynamics.

You never know which idea can become the foundation of a great game! Ideas are abundant with almost everyone, the highlighting question is that which ideas are worked upon. It's not uncommon in the game industry that games are build upon the idea of a team member who isn't a story pro. It becomes probable thorough communication and collaboration. Talk to your team, encourage them to open up with their perspective. The best way to do this is to hold a meeting in a week when all the team members can share their ideas on how to do things differently and how to innovate. You'd be surprised by the creativity of your own team members.

One thing I have found helpful is to create a culture where the team members can share their passion and interests from other genres and learn from one another. This can help provide new solutions and innovative concepts.

A mage isn't high on strength, and stealth types are not fit for head on combat. This holds true IRL as well, none of us are Aces in every field and skill. We're jack of all and ace of one, but when the aces of different field are paired up, an amazing creation is formed. Think creatively on how to utilize the strength of your own team members.

A shared vision is the cornerstone to unifying a team divided by genre preferences. Instead of viewing differing opinions as obstacles, recognize them as a rich tapestry of creative potential. By collaboratively crafting a compelling game vision, you can harness the energy of these diverse perspectives. This shared blueprint should be a dynamic entity, detailed enough to provide direction without stifling innovation. The key lies in creating a game concept that feels both fresh and thrilling, a concept that seamlessly integrates elements from various genres into a harmonious whole. This collective enthusiasm becomes the driving force, propelling the team towards a unified goal.

A game requires power, equipment, and technology. That is the fuel on which it runs. We, the developers are not unlike games, we work our best on fuels such as motivation and inspiration. Keep in mind that a high energy person will liven up the entire room and propel others to show enthusiasm as well. Align with the gamer in you, resonate with the mission that the protagonist must complete, and share that vision with the team. They'll be able to perform much better with Powerful vision to set their eyes upon. Go Plus Ultra!

Listen very closely because this is all too common a mistake: don’t default to a clone of the currently popular titles on the market! It sounds counterintuitive, but it is astoundingly true. Studios regularly make the mistake of following trends instead of attempting to innovate. Not everything needs to be brand new, but it needs to be done very well. Ensure your team is doing research and looking towards the future. Ask yourself if you can actually improve the genre du jour with your product or if you’re just chasing paper. You MUST take your pipelines, current staffing, tools, and onboarding timelines in respect to your goals or you run the risk of being overlooked after the fad has passed.