HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the product owner of a company developing online versions of board games for the Asian and European markets. We have around 100 employees, and our headquarters are located in Dubai.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?
We needed help with developing a board game.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
HZF has helped us develop a board game from scratch. Initially, we had a call with them, during which we provided them with a general idea of the kind of game we wanted to develop, as well as two PowerPoint slides detailing our idea. After that, we had two other calls with them and a few of our company members, during which we asked a lot of clarification questions.

As part of those meetings, HZF wrote everything down and created documentation, which they later provided to confirm that what they had understood was what we actually wanted them to build. Then, HZF provided several options to create the game, some more expensive and others less expensive.

We chose one of the middle-range options, agreed on the project scope, and received budgetary and timeline estimations detailing how long the project would take and how much it would cost. Once we agreed on the project scope and estimation, HZF started developing the game using Unity. Now, we're in the final stages, so we're about to publish the initial version of the game to start collecting user reviews.

The first version will be a one-versus-one game only to see how it's accepted by players. This game will be available for both iOS and Android platforms. In parallel, HZF is also developing the game on JavaScript to create a web version. Moving forward, we'll probably continue working with HZF on adding other features and improvements.

What is the team composition?
We've worked with HZF's entire team, which is comprised of around 10 teammates.
How did you come to work with HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?
HZF came as a referral. Someone told my boss that HZF was a good team to work with, as they had good prices and talented teammates who could build everything from scratch without overpaying.

How much have you invested with them?
We've spent around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around August 2023, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
HZF has helped us get very fast results. The fact that they've been able to implement this game from scratch within four months is a testament to our success.
How did the company perform from a project management standpoint?
They've worked on sprints, so we've been able to see their progress. They also send us reports every two weeks, one report per sprint cycle. For each sprint, we also receive a demo showing the current results. Throughout the project, we've been able to provide feedback and change requests, and HZF has accepted pretty much all those changes.

Like with any other development process, HZF has found some bugs along the way. The team has made major fixes throughout the development process. More recently, we've only found minor bugs, but nothing has been critical, and their team has covered everything.

Still, the most pleasant aspect of HZF's project management is that they've followed the deadlines pretty strictly. Whenever there have been hiccups, we've been told about them. Overall, we haven't gone over the expected budget, and everything has been on time.

As for collaboration tools, all our tasks and backlog reports are placed on Jira. Moreover, we communicate via a shared Slack channel with HZF's developers, and we also have WhatsApp chats for additional communication with their management team. We have biweekly calls for the product demos and exchange regular emails for additional requests from either side.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?
I've really enjoyed collaborating with HZF's project manager. They provide us with instant feedback, and if anything happens, we can immediately make a report. They've made the process very transparent for us, which has been very important for our business.
What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, it has been a pleasure working with HZF; that's why I'm leaving a review for them. I really like that HZF has suggested a lot of improvements along the way, demonstrating that they don't only focus on what we asked for but are also involved in the project, suggesting things we didn't initially think of. We've actually implemented a lot of those suggestions.

Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything they could improve on.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Don't be afraid of working with a Ukrainian company. If you're looking for a team of professionals within an accessible cost, HZF is a great team to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of DON'T NOD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are gaming website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• We hired HZF to develop our latest mobile game, Victory Belles.

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

Referral

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

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

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 used a lean framework to get them oriented and developing, using iOS, Droid and PC as our platform targets. We started with monthly playable clients, and eventually moved to two week and then one week playables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most important deliverable of all: the game client, tested, hardened, maintainable and (nearly) ready for release. HZF demonstrated great flexibility under changing conditions, and never wavered in their support. We knew from day 1, and every day since, that they would be the partner to deliver.

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

They adapted to our own preferences in communication, even as they changed over time. They used every tool, met every request, and clearly communicated in English.

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

Virtual Meeting

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

HZF is goal oriented; this means they are not chasing a set of hours or a contract term, but worked with us to develop the right product, regardless of setbacks. It's very rare to find a company that wants to share the product vision.

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

It's hard to see something that isn't specific to the product or its unique development as an area of growth or improvement. Generally, a deeper bench, perhaps.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Overseas Sales Manager of TP-Link

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

TP-Link is a global provider of reliable networking devices and accessories, involved in all aspects of everyday life.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Game development

SOLUTION

How did you find HZF –– Gamedev Outsourcing Agency?

• Online Search
• Referral

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

• High ratings
• 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.

HZF created detailed game designs, including characters, levels, and user interfaces, all of which were visually stunning and user-friendly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

TP-Link's brand recognition increased rapidly as the game increased our networking products.

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

HZF's project management was unique. They consistently met our terms and conditions. We always have progress meetings to ensure that we are always updated on the project's status. They were flexible and reliable when we requested changes or additions to the game.

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 took our vision and brought it to life in a way that exceeded our expectations. Their team was passionate about the project and genuinely cared about its success.

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

None, working with HZF on game development was a life-changing experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We supply award-winning online gaming software. I am as the lead software engineer for this company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SRGH?

We nedded to hire some team with experience in Unity and slots development.

What were your goals for this project?

Our game needs to be lounched an 1Q 2020 and we was looking for any additionall resources to make it faster.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We made requested quotes from 5 companies. Our partner, a content development company, recommended SRGH as an experienced Game development company, so we included them in our shortlist. met and debriefed all companies and them discussed their proposal. SRGH was the best.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Individual game development for online casinos which gives the opportunity to receive a unique product tailored to wishes.

What was the team composition?

For our project were dedicated over 4 team members to create the game and faced the deadlines. The team has been highly knowledgeable and communicative throughout the engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

SRGH created art and graphics for the games, large number of 2d assets for reel symbols, backgrounds, app icons and other graphics stuff.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow was very effective they quickly and reliably answered our questions and concerns, and were able to have biweekly update calls with us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found it impressive how knowledgeable they were about Unity, JavaScript, and APIs. Their communication skills also stood out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A