HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Ricky D’s Rib Shack

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ricky D's Rib Shack is a BBQ restaurant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We wanted to create an app that could replicate my restaurant digitally through gamification.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Pricing fits our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

HZF is doing game development for us from scratch for Android and iOS — we have already launched the app, and we're currently working on phase two of development. 

Regarding the process, we started by having an initial call to tell them what I was looking for, and they told me what they could provide in terms of resources, tools, and experience. Now that we've kicked off, we give them constant information throughout the engagement about what we like about the game's looks, flow, and story.

In terms of features and functionalities, the game allows users to connect their Facebook account, play a game about serving food to customers, earn coins, rank on a leadership board, and even earn a 10% discount on our physical restaurant.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We’ve had around 600 downloads in both Android and iOS app stores, with a five-star rating in both. In addition, they’ve taken care of the few bugs we’ve encountered. Overall, the game they’ve created for us meets my expectations and functions according to them.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project has taken a bit longer than expected and cost more than anticipated. However, we’re getting what we asked for. I’m happy with the product so far. Nevertheless, it still needs further development. Regarding tools, we use Slack and emails for communication.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They’ve been able to overcome the issues that have arisen throughout the project. I can see the improvement in communication and budget management compared to the previous phase of the project. In addition, I like their graphics work, which is coherent with the look of our physical restaurant.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

They could improve with their commitment to deadlines, but we’re already noticing how they’re doing better with that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & CEO of Outplay Entertainment Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Game Development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?
I took the support of HZF for my Ludo Game Development Project. I asked them to develop the 6 player game using Python script on the Unity 3D engine with quick and multiplayer mode. These plugins are hard to integrate. Moreover, I needed 3D animation and high-quality graphics in the game which would have made the application heavy in size and difficult to run smoothly.
I conveyed my concerns to the team. They assured me nothing will go wrong. On submission date, HZF delivered a game application that supported all platforms and had an amazing User Interface. They technically comprised the size without cutting off any features. I was truly satisfied with the outcome.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

I told them I wanted an application that supports all platforms, android, windows, iOS, etc. After noting down my requirements, their development team proposed a presentation. I suggested some changes and added a few more features. For development, we preferred the Unity 3D engine and Python language. 
The team distributed my projects in steps - front-end and back-end development, graphic designing, animations, features and plugin integrations, testing, support, and maintenance. The result was appealing and fantastic. App ran smoothly on all platforms, and it is still working correctly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

My players love the UI/UX and animations in the game. Graphic design is amazing. It brought us more users. People are playing the game daily. They took care of my preferences. The security of the game is amazing. Their advanced features help me in managing the game well.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management is swift. There are no communication gaps between the team. Everyone knows what they have to do. The project manager also guides them properly. They follow correct strategies and develop accordingly. We would communicate over Skype and track the project's progress.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Everything was good about HZF but if I have to choose specifically then I will choose their teamwork. Their team is amazing. No lagging, no communication gap. Just the good work!

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

Nothing I could suggest

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Games Technology of Outright Games

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Outright Games is a gaming company known for creating fun and family-friendly titles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We hired HZF to help us with game development.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

Online Search

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

HZF designed and programmed the entire game from scratch. They offered us advice on how to make our game wireframes better before we started any technical development. Their team created our game from scratch for iOS and Android devices when we settled on those details. They wrote the coding, designed the 2D animations, and conducted product testing. They assisted us in releasing the game, and they continue to support the platform whenever necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were able to release the game on time, which was very important to us. The quality of the code and overall game is strong. We’re fully satisfied with the art and functionality of the platform, too.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We used Jira and Bitbucket to manage the project. To communicate, HZF was available for Skype calls and used Slack, as well. They handled the work effectively, and we had agreed upon timelines and budgets. Their team incorporated our feedback to their work. We worked in sprints and had regular meetings to maintain a productive and informative collaboration.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their team was highly skilled and communicative—every member was talented and professional. We had a successful development process because of their approach. They knew what we wanted and ensured all questions were answered early on in the project. We were impressed with the work their developers and artists produced.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

There’s nothing I can think of for them to improve, everything was done professionally and on schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive at Starni Games

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Strarni Games is a game development studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• I had an idea for a game and wanted to develop it rapidly. I wanted to hit deadlines and manage costs with experienced people.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We worked together from conception to release. I gave them the idea, specifications, and design, and they generated the code for the whole game. The game runs on Unity. It’s a mobile game for iOS and Android. It’s a word game that has levels of progression and puzzles. There’s always a level editor they created that’s quite good.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

It’s a high-quality game. We set development targets when we started, features to produce by a certain date. Obviously, the work evolved as all projects do, but they pretty much stuck to the original plan. We had a couple of weeks to test the app and put it live. The feedback on the game has been generally good. I’m still learning what to do with it in terms of the business, but it’s well-polished.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They were nice, and I liked their style of work and processes. They gave me options and didn’t try to force me to choose one or the other. They’re highly responsive and communicative, and they would fix something for me if I found it today. We spoke via Skype, Telegram, and shared documents where we made edits. We also incorporated Trello at my request to make sure I had a handle on everything, especially as we worked on bug fixes.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was impressed by their knowledge, and that’s something that’s hard to come by. They have a lot of experience and are able to apply it to my project. One person can’t account for everything, so it was good to have another set of eyes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

Despite their communication being good and having good opinions, they could sometimes be too strong with their opinions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of Pingle Studio

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Pingle Studio is a game development partner for developers and publishers worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We enlisted the services of HZF to use their skills in game design and development to produce a fully functional and polished game.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fits our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Initial concept creation and planning. 
• Design and development of gameplay mechanics, levels, and assets. 
• User interface design and implementation. 
• Testing and quality assurance. 
• Final execution and release of the polished game.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Among the quantifiable results was the smooth and polished game launch that fulfilled our requirements for both functionality and design.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They successfully handled resources, tracked milestones, and kept up-to-date information. They were attentive to our needs and quickly resolved issues. Additionally, the project was delivered on schedule.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The way that HZF's game production approach smoothly combines technical know-how and creativity pleased us the most. It was rather amazing how well they managed the entire project, from conception to completion.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

While the overall experience was positive, there could have been more frequent communication updates during certain phases of the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Real Estate Agent of Terrace Real Estate Company Ltd.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

we are real estate company and we provide our clients with the assurance of honest service and an intimate familiarity with the area and strive to grow the personal relationships with our clients we work with.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We wanted to automate the lead generation process for real estate agents.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

Online Search

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

They’ve worked on three apps for us. Two of them are basically identical; one is for Android and one is for iOS. The third is a web app, which was built using the PHP framework Laravel. I laid out the specification and design and they did the work. 

The apps allow real estate agents to share referrals with one another. Agents typically service one area, and they can share leads they get outside their area. When a lead comes in, agents in that area get a push notification, and they can accept or reject it. We allow up to three agents to accept each lead. If one of them gets a sale, they share the commission with the person who put the lead in.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The code they delivered worked reasonably well. We found occasional bugs, but they were fixed. They were well-priced, reasonably competent developers and excellent communicators.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their communication skills are excellent. They were available on Skype every day, and they responded quickly. They asked smart questions and they got things done within the deadline for the most part.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The communication was always awesome and first-rate. I’ve never had better with overseas developers. I can’t imagine it being better; they were really on top of it. They were pretty proactive. Whenever they had a question, they wouldn’t try guessing at the answer, they just asked me directly. There were minimal errors because of that.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

I think their design could improve a little, and their coding is a bit messy and hard to read in some bits. That might have been because we were in a rush, as we’re building an MVP, not a final product. Getting it out quickly was more important than producing beautiful code.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Moonbug Entertainment

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are entertainment company inspiring kids everywhere to laugh, learn and grow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We needed an extra developer with some Unity expertise for our VR content.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We were developing a cross between a game and an educational program, and HZF provided Unity development expertise. We had already done an amount of work within our team, and we relayed the rest of the project to their side. We also provided some code snippets along with the graphics and images for the game. 

The HZF team built against our instructions and improvement recommendations, especially when it came to the design, textures, and effects. They also introduced mechanics for throwing arrows and anything related to life and architecture in the Middle Ages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

This program is not online yet as we’re still working with educational and cultural institutions to create the bigger library that it will be a part of. That being said, we don’t have any metrics yet, but our progress is encouraging. 

We’ve received a lot of positive opinions about the game from the partners and institutions that we’re working with. Our project is very complicated, but it has moved along quite well with HZF’ help. It has been a very nice experience, and we’re very satisfied at this point.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I have a very high opinion about their organization. They’re careful, they take notes, and they put in a lot of effort to understand what we mean. It’s not always perfect, as you can imagine, but they have a solid sense of communication. I’m very comfortable working with them.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Though it sounds corny, I’m most impressed by their kindness. They’re very nice people, and we’ve never had an argument with them. It’s very important to work with a team on peaceful terms, and HZF has been very helpful whenever we’ve had to deal with stressful situations. Whether it was informing partners about deadlines or needing to make changes, they understood exactly what we needed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

I would suggest that they clarify the services that they offer. I had found out just a few weeks ago that they had a 3D artist, and if I’d known sooner, I could’ve worked with them on some stuff instead of buying assets from places like CGTrader.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Producer of 505 Games

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are game publishing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• We wanted assistance creating games for many platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

HZF is our outsourcing partner in game development and publishing. They develop games based on the documents given to us by the publishers. They design games from the ground up; among the titles they have produced are shooting, UNO, and Sudoku. The games are then made available on three different platforms: HTML5 games, WinZ0, and Mobile Premier League. 

These sites rely on advertising to make money. The game development process is very iterative. They work through the initial documents we give them and throughout the development, they provide us with updates and data on the progress. Documentation is a must-have because we can check the specific features and decide what we want to keep and take away.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I've noticed a decrease in errors in my games ever since I partnered with HZF. The games are produced flawlessly and with lightning speed. The publisher sends us user input whenever it comes in, and due of the excellent communication, the team always responds quickly.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They handle both modern and classic games with ease. When we ask them a question, they always make time to answer it the same day, even on the weekends. Usually, Slack is used for file sharing while Skype is used for communication.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Working with them is enjoyable because of their experience; they anticipate our needs far more than we do. Despite my seven years of expertise, their combined knowledge allows them to offer the most insightful improvement proposals. The HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency crew was the most adept at solving issues.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

With a larger squad, I believe they could perform better. Things may move along much more quickly if there are more people. They would save a ton of time and money if they also had contact with a concept artist, who is especially needed for the games they create.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Cognii

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cognii is a leading provider of Artificial Intelligence based educational technology to K-12, Higher Education, and Corporate Training industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• HZF helped us build and lunch the first versions of our mobile app-based virtual AI-powered English tutor for children.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Since our product is the first of its kind, a great deal of experimentation was needed throughout its construction. While our team worked on the product's back end and AI, HZF took care of Unity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

During the first year of our collaboration, three prototypes were developed and evaluated. Among these prototypes, one was chosen for the market introduction. The application that was made using cookies. Immediately upon launch, the App Store included game support. Over 3 million families worldwide had downloaded the app by this point, and it had been highlighted more than 100 times.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We had guys from HZF that were on our team. We made use of Slack and Jira, two project management platforms of our choosing. We felt like a cohesive team since communication was always simple.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are knowledgeable developers who have access to a large professional network in nearby places. Dealing with them was enjoyable and simple. They grasp the project, become fully dedicated, and share the founders' objectives and vision.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Production coordinator of Detroit Lions

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Lions' foundation is a blue-collar work ethic that emphasizes grit and determination, just like the city and community they represent, all four of the major professional sports teams are housed in a thriving sports and entertainment district that includes Ford Field, the home of the Lions since 2002.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency to accomplish?

• I had a horrible-looking Unity prototype for a casual mobile game. To make the game enjoyable, amiable, and well-branded, I wanted to completely redesign the user interface.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Phase 1: Review – I went over the game with HZF and explained how it operated during a series of intake sessions, during which they took screenshots of my current mobile app. 
• Phase 2: Design - HZF created the new game app's look and feel, logo, and icon. We also gave the in-game characters personality and brought them to life so that we could heavily brand the game app with them. Next, HZF created a wireframe for each screen before creating a mockup of it. 
• Stage 3: Put into Practice. HZF collaborated with my developers to implement the remaining screens after completing a few of them. HZF was ready to help if my developers had any problems or inquiries. Me

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The app has been released, and I'm really happy with the outcomes.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

HZF was open to implementing Jira and a weekly standup as part of my project management approach.

What was your primary form of communication with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their commitment to their client and their readiness to go above and beyond impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency could have done differently?

We were impressed by their willingness to go above and beyond and their dedication to their client.