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Video: Deconstructing the successful design of Crossy Road

At GDC 2015, Crossy Road devs Andy Sum and Matt Hall offer deep insight into their game's production and how the viral hit was developed in just 12 weeks as an experiment in free-to-play game design.

Being a mobile game maker in 2015 is an intimidating proposition: with an estimated 500 games per day launching on iOS alone, you need design savvy, marketing skill and a fair bit of luck to ensure your work stands out.

Hipster Whale's "endless Frogger" game Crossy Road proved to be one such standout hit last year; at GDC 2015, developers Andy Sum and Matt Hall spoke at length about how it happened.

Sum offered deep insight into the development of Crossy Road and how the viral hit was developed in just 12 weeks as an experiment in free-to-play game design, while Hall "opened the books" on Crossy Road to show exactly how the studio made money by distributing the game as a free-to-play title with video ads and select in-app purchase opportunties.

Together they shed light on what it's like to succeed in the modern mobile market, and if you missed seeing them in person you can now watch the pair's hour-minute presentation for free via the GDC Vault.

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its new YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC Next already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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