What We Can Help With
Below is an honest breakdown of what we do, how it works, what it costs, and where our limits are. We'd rather be clear up front than oversell and underdeliver. If you're not sure whether we're the right fit, the contact page is the place to ask.
Narrative Game Development
When This Makes Sense
You have a story concept or thematic idea that you want to express through interactive gameplay — not cutscenes bolted onto a generic engine, but mechanics and narrative that inform each other. Maybe you've tried building it yourself and the branching logic got out of hand. Maybe you have a writer who understands story but not systems, or a programmer who understands systems but not pacing. We work at the intersection of those disciplines.
When It Doesn't
If your project needs real-time multiplayer networking, procedural world generation at scale, or mobile-optimized free-to-play mechanics, we're not the right partner. We've turned down projects where the core need was outside our skill set, and we'll do the same here. Better to say no early than waste your budget and our credibility.
Process and Deliverables
We start with a two-week discovery phase: understanding your concept, identifying the core interactive loop, and mapping the narrative structure. From there, we move to prototyping — a playable vertical slice within four to eight weeks that demonstrates the key mechanic and one major branching point. If the prototype works, we proceed to full production with milestone-based delivery. You get source code, design documentation, and a narrative bible at every stage.
Pricing
Project pricing depends entirely on scope and is discussed during the discovery phase. We don't publish fixed rates because every narrative development engagement is different — a short interactive piece and a multi-month production have very different requirements. We provide a detailed written estimate after the discovery phase, not before, because guessing at price without understanding scope is how projects go over budget. Reach out through the contact page to start that conversation.
What's Included and What Isn't
Included: Game design, narrative design, systems programming, prototyping, playtesting coordination, design documentation, source code delivery.
Not included: Art asset creation (we can recommend artists), sound design, music composition, marketing, platform submission and certification, ongoing post-launch support beyond an initial bug-fix period.
- We don't build free-to-play monetization systems
- We don't integrate ad networks or analytics SDKs designed for behavioral tracking
- We don't take on projects that require us to misrepresent the game to players
Not a fit for: Projects requiring AAA-scale content production, live-service infrastructure, or mobile F2P mechanics.
Game Design Consulting
When This Makes Sense
Your game exists in some form — a prototype, a vertical slice, a design document — but something isn't working. Players aren't engaging with the mechanic you thought was the centerpiece. The narrative feels disconnected from the gameplay. The pacing drags in the middle and you can't figure out why. You don't necessarily need someone to build the thing; you need someone to look at it with fresh eyes and articulate what's off.
When It Doesn't
If you're at the very beginning and don't have anything tangible to review — no prototype, no document, no playable build — consulting is premature. We need material to work with. We also aren't a substitute for playtesting with real users. Our feedback is informed by experience, but it's still one perspective. You still need to put the game in front of players who aren't game developers.
Process and Deliverables
Typical engagements run two to six weeks. Week one: you share your build, design docs, and any playtest data you have. We play through it, review the materials, and prepare a written assessment. Week two: we deliver the assessment — a document that identifies specific issues, explains why they're happening, and suggests concrete next steps. If you want ongoing check-ins, we can schedule follow-up sessions at two-week intervals.
Pricing
Consulting engagements are priced per engagement, not hourly. A standard review with a written assessment is our baseline offering; extended consulting with multiple follow-up sessions is priced higher based on the additional time involved. We'll provide a specific quote after seeing the scope of what needs reviewing — email us with a brief description of your project and we'll respond with a range.
What's Included and What Isn't
Included: Playthrough and analysis, written assessment document, one live discussion session, optional follow-up sessions.
Not included: Implementation of suggested changes (that's a development engagement), art direction, technical code review beyond design-relevant architecture.
- We don't consult on monetization optimization or player retention dark patterns
- We don't provide art asset production or animation services
Not a fit for: Teams looking for ongoing production outsourcing or art pipeline support.
Writing About Games
When This Makes Sense
This one's a bit different. We publish analysis and essays about indie game development on this site — covering design decisions, the realities of small-team production, and the gap between what marketing promises and what actually ships. If you're looking for honest writing about game development from people who do it, this blog is that. It's free to read, no account required.
When It Doesn't
If you're a brand looking for sponsored content, native advertising, or "contributed post" placements, that's not something we do. We don't accept payment for editorial coverage. We also don't write game reviews for hire, walkthroughs, or strategy guides.
Process and Deliverables
Articles are published on our site on a rolling basis. Each piece goes through our internal review process — see the methodology section on the About page for details. We update existing articles when we learn new information that changes our view.
Pricing
Free to read. We don't charge for access and we don't run ads on the blog.
What's Included and What Isn't
Included: Long-form analysis, development post-mortems, design breakdowns, honest takes on industry topics.
Not included: Sponsored posts, paid reviews, ghostwriting for third-party sites, press release distribution.
- We don't accept paid reviews or sponsored content
- We don't publish affiliate links in editorial content
Not a fit for: Brands seeking content marketing placement or SEO link building through guest posts.
General Boundaries
Across all our services, there are a few things we don't do regardless of the project:
- We don't work on projects that deliberately deceive players about cost, content, or functionality
- We don't build systems designed to exploit compulsive behavior
- We don't claim expertise we don't have — if your project needs something outside our wheelhouse, we'll say so and try to point you toward someone better suited
Have a project in mind? Get in touch and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.