Overview
Little Grimm was developed as part of the MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program 2017, with the goal of taking a concept through ideation, user testing, and MVP development, culminating in a global launch. As the product lead and game designer, I was responsible for defining the vision and strategy, shaping gameplay mechanics that were fun, technically feasible, and user-driven.
In just six months, my contributions led to the successful launch of a polished product that incorporated player feedback, scalable systems, and engaging mechanics. This hands-on experience gave me expertise in end-to-end product development, from concept to a globally celebrated release.
Ideation
To create a game that resonated with players, I focused on qualitative, observational research during the early stages. My team and I developed prototypes to explore what gameplay mechanics were the most fun, conducting playtests with a diverse group—including adults, children, middle-aged women, and older adults. Observing how users interacted with the prototypes helped us identify patterns and refine the mechanics.
- Facilitated brainstorming sessions to translate insights into actionable goals.
- Scoped ideas into a design document and a monetization plan to align long-term objectives.
- Defined the game’s unique value proposition through market research and user feedback.
Result
This research-driven approach gave me a clear understanding of player preferences, allowing us to focus on a single core mechanic that was both easy to learn and fun to master. By narrowing scope early, we avoided scope creep and set the team up for a smooth development process.
Development
In the production phase, we created and tested multiple MVPs to validate core mechanics, level progression, and player engagement. To support this, I designed a procedural generation and level progression system, allowing the game to deliver infinite levels while maintaining engaging difficulty progression.
- Designed reusable classes to ensure smooth scaling across levels.
- Developed a custom procedural map generation system to reduce manual effort.
- Documented the system for easy maintenance and future enhancements.
Impact
Leveraging MVPs and procedural systems helped us quickly test ideas, saving time and enabling the team to focus on refining the user experience.
Launch
Our go-to-market strategy began with closed alpha testing, where we analyzed KPIs and iterated on gameplay mechanics. Using tools like Google Play Console, I monitored performance and refined the experience based on early feedback. This phase allowed us to address key improvements before expanding the audience.
- Organized structured playtesting sessions to gather user feedback.
- Turned feedback into actionable improvements, prioritizing key fixes and features.
- Used analytics to align development with player preferences.
For the soft launch, we targeted English-speaking countries, incorporating additional feedback to polish the game further. After several months of refinement, we executed a worldwide launch, delivering a highly polished product.
- Coordinated with the team to ensure a seamless soft launch.
- Integrated feedback into updates, continuously improving the experience.
- Focused on delivering a delightful, engaging product for players worldwide.
Learnings
Developing Little Grimm was an incredible opportunity to manage a product end-to-end. I gained key skills, including:
- Conducting qualitative research to translate user insights into actionable plans.
- Leveraging MVPs to test ideas early and save resources.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver polished results on time.
- Balancing creativity with technical feasibility to exceed player expectations.
This project wasn’t just about making a game—it was about building a product that players loved, and creating frameworks to ensure its long-term success.
