Your team is divided on the target audience for a game. How can you align everyone's vision for success?

1 Understand Concerns

To align your team's vision, start by understanding each member's concerns and the reasoning behind their target audience preference. Hold a meeting where everyone can express their thoughts in a structured manner. Listen actively and acknowledge the different points of view. This initial step is about gathering information and not making decisions. It sets the stage for finding a middle ground and emphasizes the importance of each team member's input in the decision-making process.

2 Analyze Data

Once everyone's opinions are on the table, it's time to analyze existing data. Look at market trends, competitor analysis, and any available demographics that pertain to your game genre. This objective data serves as a common reference point for discussions and can help steer opinions based on facts rather than personal preferences. It can also highlight potential opportunities or gaps in the market that your game could fill, providing a more strategic approach to defining your target audience.

3 Define Objectives

Defining clear objectives for your game is essential. Discuss as a team what you want to achieve with your game. Is it to create a narrative-driven experience, to innovate gameplay mechanics, or to reach a wide audience? Setting these goals helps to narrow down the target audience that would be most receptive to your game. When everyone understands and agrees on the objectives, it becomes easier to align on who the game is being developed for.

4 Explore Personas

Creating player personas can be an effective way to visualize your target audience. These are fictional characters based on research and insights that represent different segments of your potential players. Discussing personas can help your team empathize with the audience and understand their needs and motivations. This exercise can bridge the gap between different opinions by focusing on the end-user's perspective.

5 Compromise Solutions

Finding a compromise is often necessary when opinions are split. Look for solutions that incorporate elements from different team members' visions that still align with your defined objectives and player personas. This could mean targeting a primary audience while also catering to secondary groups with specific features or content. Compromise ensures that all voices are heard and can lead to innovative ideas that appeal to a broader or more nuanced audience.