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Rami Ismail

Gamedev. Exec.Director of gamedev.world & creator of presskit(). Speaker, consultant, helps devs globally. 33% of the The Habibis podcast. Traveler. Was 50% of Vlambeer. He/Him. Muslim. Dutch/Egyptian

Design

That Tricky Platformer About Climbing Mt. Anxiety But That's Not The Name Of The Mountain

On why that game about stamping passports is so successful.

That Tricky Platformer About Climbing Mt. Anxiety But That's Not The Name Of The Mountain
Blog

New Beginnings

Vlambeer will always be part of who I am, I will always be one of the founders of the studio, but starting today, I will no longer be part of Vlambeer.

New Beginnings
Ask Rami!

Ask Rami: Prototyping Pros

Rami answers a common question from a programmer about why they just can't seem to get better at prototyping.

Ask Rami: Prototyping Pros
General

On Bluf, and writing copy

A pattern most of us learn in school holds us back from writing clearly. Over the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of time discussing writing with clients: not games writing, but copy writing - for pitches, store pages, press releases, & everything else. One simple trick - to BLUF - could help out.

On Bluf, and writing copy
Ask Rami!

Ask Rami: The Ten-Thousands Rule

Rami reassures a South American developer on how much they can negotiate on a publisher deal before the publisher might walk away.

Ask Rami: The Ten-Thousands Rule
Production

One Way Doors

A lot of studios spend years making a bad version of a good idea - until they go and figure things out. It's not because their ideas or team are bad - it's because their development process does not have One Way Doors.

One Way Doors
Ask Rami!

Ask Rami: When the euphemism is bad enough.

Rami challenges and assists a development team that had a trusted team member quit over a team leads' behaviour.

Ask Rami: When the euphemism is bad enough.
Business

Pitch Stalling & The Risks of Publisher Feedback

Throughout 2023, the ecosystem for games has contracted significantly. That has made the practice of something I'm calling "Pitch Stalling" far more common, and as a massive risk to your game project, So what is Pitch Stalling, what dynamics create it, and how do you avoid it?

Pitch Stalling & The Risks of Publisher Feedback
Ask Rami!

Ask Rami: Don't roll the credits just yet.

Rami answers the question of a small development team that finds themselves stuck late in development with a roguelike that is too easy.

Ask Rami: Don't roll the credits just yet.
Management

Harnessing Regret

I know this is a development newsletter, but stick with me for a moment, and let's please talk about an old friend I have had to discuss a lot with various clients over the last year: regret.

Harnessing Regret