Exploring the first touch in digital worlds.
We examine how the first moments in a game shape a player's entire journey. Our focus is on the methods and psychology behind introductory sessions. This blog serves as a resource for thoughtful creators.
We examine how the first moments in a game shape a player's entire journey. Our focus is on the methods and psychology behind introductory sessions. This blog serves as a resource for thoughtful creators.
What We Offer
We analyze the critical first minutes of gameplay, moving beyond surface-level observations. Our articles explore the psychology behind initial engagement, why certain approaches work, and why others fail. This provides a foundational understanding for anyone interested in the player's entry point into a virtual world.
Focused Analysis
Practical Perspectives
Research-Informed Content
Community of Thinkers
We dedicate our content to understanding onboarding in games and its pivotal role. Our articles dissect various approaches, from integrated guidance to hands-off discovery, evaluating their effect on player perception. We look at the subtle ways games communicate their rules and world. A core question we explore is how not to scare off a newbie with poorly paced information. Ultimately, we aim to document the art and science of welcoming a player.
Our focus extends to training mistakes in games that can create unnecessary friction. By examining these missteps, we highlight principles for creating a more fluid initial experience. We believe the first session is a conversation between the game and the player. This blog translates the language of that conversation. Our goal is not to prescribe solutions but to provide a framework for critical thinking about first impressions of a game.
Blog
Exploring how environmental storytelling and intuitive design can replace explicit instruction, fostering deeper engagement and a sense of discovery from the very first minute.
An analysis of the cognitive and emotional levers pulled during the initial session, and how they set expectations for the entire player journey.
Examining the delicate design challenge of teaching game systems without overwhelming or under-informing the player, and strategies to achieve the perfect equilibrium.
A look at frequent errors in game tutorials—from unskippable dialogues to inconsistent cues—and how they inadvertently create friction that drives new players away.
About Us
Jes Lennert ApS is a blog founded by a small team of game analysts and UX enthusiasts based in Brazil. My name is Leo Costa, and I started this project to fill a gap in nuanced discussion about the very beginning of the player's journey. We operate independently, without affiliation to major studios or platforms, which allows us to maintain a clear, critical focus. Our content is born from a belief that the initial interaction sets the tone for everything that follows. We are here to investigate that crucial, often overlooked, phase.
Our team combines an interest in interactive design with a passion for player behavior. We scour various genres, from expansive adventures to minimalist indie projects, to gather examples of effective and ineffective introduction methods. Writing from São Paulo gives us a diverse cultural viewpoint on how games are received globally. We see this blog as a continuous learning project, evolving with the industry. You are invited to explore these ideas with us.
FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions about the focus and content of our blog.
We use onboarding in games as a term for the entire process of introducing a player to the game's rules, controls, world, and core loop. It's not just a manual; it's every designed experience from the main menu to the end of the introductory sequence.
Research consistently shows a strong link between the initial experience and long-term engagement, highlighting the impact of training on retention. A confusing or frustrating start can lead to players leaving before experiencing the game's full potential, making those first impressions of a game critically important.
A silent tutorial is an approach that teaches the player through level design, environmental cues, and intuitive mechanics rather than explicit text or prompts. It prioritizes learning by doing and discovery, often creating a more immersive initial experience.
A frequent training mistake in games is information overload in the first minutes. Presenting too many controls, systems, and lore details at once creates simplexity vs. overload conflict and can overwhelm the player, which is a key factor in how not to scare off a newbie.
No, we do not publish full game reviews. Our analysis is specifically targeted at the introductory hours, first-level design, and the overarching UX guide in game design principles that shape the new player's journey. We focus on this specific slice of the development craft.
Contact Us
GET IN TOUCH