2. Game Design for Time-Management Games
Nick Fortugno
Co-Founder/CCO, Rebel Monkey

3. The Time Management Genre
Born from "twitch" gameplay
Essentially about clicking on the screen, and managing the timers of various game objects

4. The Time Management Genre
Whack-a-Mole

5. The Time Management Genre
Tapper

6. What Makes a Good TM Game?
Flow State
Must be fast
Speed allows players to get out of conscious decision-making
Fast doesn’t mean frantic
Use level rhythms to manage flow state

7. The Time Management Genre
Sally’s Salon

8. What Makes a Good TM Game?
Flow State
One-Click Intuitiveness
Game MUST have simple controls
You can have complex decision- making…
But that cannot interrupt the quick- clicking

9. The Time Management Genre
Cake Mania

10. What Makes a Good TM Game?
Flow State
One-Click Intuitiveness
Complexity in Level Design
If clicking is simple, rich decision making comes from where to click
Not about forcing players to think; rather, make the next action not obvious
Example: two valuable but mutually exclusive places to click

11. The Time Management Genre
Diner Dash

12. Ornaments for TM Narrative Level Progression
Often control a character anyway
Of course, new narratives mean new gameplay
Level Progression
Any twitch gameplay needs break
Use this to dole out variety

13. How to Differentiate your Game
Find a New Narrative
Not all TM games need to be service jobs!
Concentrate on Meaningful Choice
It’s not just about how fast you click.
Work the Progress Model
Find reasons for players to want to progress from level to level