What We Believe
The principles and values that shape how we approach arcade game development and collaboration.
Back to HomeOur Foundation
We started Arcadian because we noticed something: arcade games require a different kind of attention than other game genres. The immediate engagement, the pick-up-and-play accessibility, the need for tight feedback loops—these qualities demand specific considerations during development.
Our approach emerged from working on these projects and learning what actually helps versus what sounds good in theory. The principles we've developed aren't abstract ideals but practical responses to real challenges we've encountered.
What drives us is fairly straightforward: we want to make arcade games that people enjoy playing, and we want to make the development process clear and collaborative for the people we work with. Everything else follows from there.
How We Think About Development
Game development involves making hundreds of decisions, many of which only reveal their full impact when players actually interact with the result. We believe the best way to navigate this is through early testing and continuous refinement rather than trying to predict everything upfront.
This doesn't mean we lack direction. We plan extensively, but we distribute that planning throughout the project as we learn what works. Think of it as adjusting course based on actual terrain rather than solely on a map drawn before the journey begins.
We believe arcade games should feel immediate and engaging. That quality emerges through careful iteration—adjusting timing, refining feedback, polishing interactions until everything clicks. This level of refinement requires time spent with the actual game, not just documents describing it.
Core Beliefs
Feel Matters More Than Features
A shorter game that feels right beats a longer game that feels off. We prioritize the quality of interaction over the quantity of content. Players remember how a game made them feel, not how many features it had.
Honest Communication Prevents Problems
When something isn't working, we say so. When timelines need adjustment, we discuss it early. Difficult conversations now prevent bigger issues later. Transparency isn't always comfortable, but it's always helpful.
Testing Reveals Truth
No amount of discussion replaces watching someone actually play the game. Player behavior shows what works and what doesn't, often revealing things we never anticipated. We test early and test often.
Quality Takes Time
Polish isn't optional for arcade games—it's fundamental to the experience. We budget time for iteration and refinement because that's where good becomes great. Rushing through this phase compromises the entire project.
Collaboration Improves Results
The best outcomes emerge when everyone involved contributes their perspective. Your understanding of your vision combined with our technical expertise creates something neither could achieve alone. We view development as partnership.
Documentation Serves Understanding
We document decisions and rationale, not just specifications. When we return to a feature months later, understanding why we made certain choices helps maintain consistency and avoid repeating old mistakes.
Principles in Practice
These beliefs shape specific decisions throughout development.
Regular Playable Builds
Our belief in testing drives us to create playable builds every two weeks. These aren't polished demos—they're working snapshots that let you experience progress and provide meaningful feedback. This rhythm keeps development grounded in actual gameplay rather than abstract planning.
Direct Communication Channels
Honest communication requires accessible channels. You have direct contact with the people actually building your game, not filtered through account managers. When you have a question or concern, you talk to someone who can address it immediately.
Iterative Scope Management
Our focus on quality over quantity means we prioritize depth over breadth. If time becomes constrained, we'd rather deliver fewer features that work beautifully than many features that feel rushed. We work with you to make these priority decisions explicitly.
Continuous Integration
Quality takes time, but time doesn't guarantee quality without structure. We integrate new work continuously rather than in large batches, allowing issues to surface when they're still small and manageable. This prevents the nightmare scenario of discovering fundamental problems late in development.
Respecting Individual Needs
Every project comes with its own context, constraints, and goals. A methodology that works perfectly for one project might be wrong for another. We adapt our approach based on your specific circumstances rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all process.
This means listening carefully during initial discussions to understand not just what you want to build, but why it matters to you and who you're building it for. Those answers shape how we structure development and where we focus attention.
We also recognize that people have different communication preferences and availability levels. Some clients want daily updates; others prefer weekly summaries. Some like detailed technical explanations; others want high-level overviews. We adjust to work the way that makes sense for you.
Thoughtful Evolution
We stay current with development tools and techniques, but we don't adopt new approaches just because they're trendy. When we consider a new methodology or tool, we evaluate whether it genuinely improves outcomes for the types of projects we handle.
This means we sometimes use established techniques that have proven reliable rather than cutting-edge alternatives that haven't yet demonstrated clear advantages. Innovation for its own sake often creates more problems than it solves.
However, when we do identify improvements, we implement them systematically. Our current development approach evolved significantly from where we started, incorporating lessons from completed projects and feedback from both clients and players.
Honest Practices
We believe in being straightforward about what we can and can't do. If a requested feature would require significant rework or extend the timeline substantially, we explain that upfront rather than agreeing and hoping to solve it later.
This honesty extends to acknowledging mistakes when they happen. Development involves complexity, and sometimes things don't work as planned. When issues arise, we explain what happened, what we're doing about it, and how it affects the project.
Transparency also means clear communication about costs. If changes will impact the budget, we discuss that before implementing them. There shouldn't be surprises when it comes to what you're paying for or what you're receiving.
Working Together
Development works best as a collaborative process rather than a service transaction. We're not simply executing orders; we're working together to solve problems and make decisions that serve the game.
This collaboration means we offer our perspective based on experience, but you make the final calls on direction and priorities. Your vision guides the project, while our expertise helps realize that vision effectively.
We also believe in supporting the broader development community. This means sharing knowledge when appropriate, contributing to tools and resources, and generally trying to make the industry more accessible and collaborative.
Beyond Launch
A game's launch isn't the end of its story. Players discover issues, suggest improvements, and request new content. We build games with this reality in mind, creating architectures that accommodate updates without requiring extensive rework.
This long-term perspective influences decisions throughout development. We document thoroughly, write maintainable code, and structure systems modularly. These practices take slightly more time initially but save considerable effort when updating or expanding the game later.
We also aim to build relationships that extend beyond individual projects. If your game succeeds and you want to create a sequel or expansion, we're already familiar with the codebase and design philosophy. This continuity benefits everyone involved.
What This Means for You
These philosophical principles translate into specific expectations you can have when working with us.
You'll Know What's Happening
Regular updates and playable builds keep you informed. You won't wonder about progress or where the project stands.
Your Input Matters
We listen to feedback and incorporate it into development. Your perspective shapes the final result.
Quality Comes First
We prioritize making the game feel right over hitting arbitrary feature counts. Polish and refinement get the attention they deserve.
Communication Stays Clear
We explain technical concepts in understandable terms and keep you informed about both progress and challenges.
Long-term Support Available
We build games to last and maintain relationships beyond initial launch. Post-release support and potential expansions benefit from our existing familiarity with your project.
Does This Approach Resonate?
If these principles align with how you'd like to work on your arcade game project, we'd welcome the opportunity to discuss your vision and see if collaboration makes sense.
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