ELECTROTANK GAME STUDIO

Phase 2:
The Product Definition phase formally initiates a client engagement or internal project and results in a more formal definition of the product, including product requirements, a summary of the game design, and an approximate budget.

Phase 3:
In the 3rd Phase this definition is then fleshed out into a first draft of the Game Design Document and subsequently translated into a Technical Design. A detailed project plan is created that incorporates the feature development plans, scalability requirements and all of the creative asset production that will need to be developed and expanded upon over the course of the timeline.

Phase 4:
Electrotank undertakes a rigorous multi-angle approach to arrive at a production plan, staffing plan and budget. Our team has experience planning productions spanning from two weeks to two years and budgets from $10,000 to $10 million. We typically seek input from multiple parties, drawing on the production experience of a half dozen leaders in order to appropriately plan a project.

Phase 5:
Once the Game Design Document and Project Plan have been approved, the Development & Production phase begins. Development includes rapid prototyping, where functional prototypes are built quickly to allow for testing by the client team. Our development team utilizes a modified version of Agile methodology in producing games. This software development methodology enables the refinement of our clients’ product ideas and cultivates the creation of a game that represents target users’ interests. During the Development phase, the Game Design Document is revised typically through several iterations.

Phase 6:
We typically perform Usablilty Testing on sections of our game at a “first playable” state to gather as much information as possible from players. Usability tests are repeated as often as schedule and budget allow.

Phase 7:
Employing an adapted Agile methodology, our Core Game Development Phase is focused on delivering playable features with a minimal volume of ‘near final’ art and content, in four-week cycles.

Phase 9:
Beta Testing & Iteration is typically the point at which the remaining feature changes are implemented. At the point when features are functioning to the satisfaction of players, our content team accelerates its production of 2D and 3D art and animation, writing and audio. At this stage, we begin significant load-testing to ensure that the environment will support the volume of concurrent players.

Phase 10:
Launch is typically less of an ‘event’ for our games because they are already in use by hundreds if not thousands of players on the actual production environment. If a sudden spike in players is anticipated in conjunction with a specific marketing event, the environment is thoroughly load-tested to ensure that it is capable of handling the volume.

Phase 11:
Post-Launch Production & Iteration is incredibly important. In developing new features, we typically create a substantial list of features, utilize A-B testing to rapidly test success with players, and then iterate on features that work best. Integrating new content and features regularly and seamlessly is essential to a game's success. We typically recommend a planned weekly downtime to build players’ psychological acceptance of any required time for updates.

There is extensive resource planning required in any design and implementation project, however, the game industry represents one of the more rapidly-changing environments in the technology industry today. Many companies would like to build game technologies but few game studios have the experience to manage the complex array of both art and architecture requirements that support true multi-player, multi-platform distribution. Electrotank Game Studio excels at this type of complicated project planning. Our project leads have a unique diversity of expertise across the range of industries that are converging into tomorrow’s social networks and game environments including broadcast TV and film, AAA console game productions, and browser and mobile gaming. Over the course of the last nine years of fast-paced production, these competencies have merged into what is now Electrotank Game Studio’s development process and the lessons learned over that time lie at the heart of our designs, implementation process and project plans.

Electrotank Game Studio is among the fastest-growing game studios in the world. Our clients seek us out because of our understanding of the complex technical constraints of today’s technologies. They select us as their development partners because we have a proven track record of building engaging, great-looking products with high performance that scale to a record numbers of users.

Our approach is unique because our experience is unique. We were among the first to develop multiplayer browser-based games and our solutions have been used as examples of how-to for the last nine years. We are also among the first to integrate broadcast quality art and animation with complex character libraries into browser based casual games. This differentiated approach is a direct result of the diverse creative experience across our team.

• Social game experiences with multiplayer functionality.
• Social game business mechanics for optimizing monetization.
• Multi-platform architecture for mobile, iPhone®, Android and browser-based integration.
• Multiplayer architecture for multi-platform applications.
• Writers with significant drama, comedy and kids broadcast TV credits.
• Top Tier artistic talent from award-winning animation and film production.
• Turn-based games.
• Multiplayer games.

• Singleplayer games.
• Performance optimization across multi-platforms.

• Rich character narrative and storytelling for immersive environments.
• Resource planning that maximizes quality and output for complex designs.
• Re-use and re-purpose architecture.
• User acquisition and conversion.
• Design mechanics for extending play cycles.

The budgets we have worked with range from US$10,000 to US$10,000,000. Our client list includes: Disney, Neopets, MTV, Comedy Central, Mattel, Spinmaster, Halmark, P&G, Ubisoft (this current list is limited based on existing confidentiality agreements).

If you would like to speak with someone in more depth about any of the above, please contact us.

Electrotank Game Studio is well regarded for its unparalleled expertise in real-time multiplayer capabilities and for its ability to design, produce and deliver game experiences across multiple platforms: Destination Browser, Arcade, Social Networks, Mobile, iPhone®, AAA Console, Wii and XBL. This mindset is the driving force behind the design and creativity in the Studio.

We also offer a unique diversity and depth of creative experience that spans broadcast television, film and AAA console games. Team members have produced award-winning television series for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, BBC Kids, and others. They have connections with some of the most talented art, animation and writing talent available today, and they leverage these relationships to produce the most engaging character libraries, environments, and character narrative for our clients.

Electrotank Game Studio releases have been recognized with industry awards, such as the 2006 Broadcast Design Association (BDA) Award for Interactive Media/Games, and they have enjoyed some of the largest networks of simultaneous users playing games online.

The driving force behind this long-term success is the creative vision of the Studio which stems from an unwavering belief that the most powerful creative ideas are inspired from a combination of concrete experience, intimate knowledge of a system's constraints and a rigorous mindset. We've learned the ins and outs of the driving technologies that are the future of online gaming and social networking and we've learned a lot of essential lessons both in terms of architecture solutions and the implementation process. This concrete knowledge has made us the premier provider of multiplayer, multi-platform games, social networks and virtual worlds.