Here's how you can boost your problem-solving abilities through continuing education in game design.

Learning continously comes naturally to some and difficult to the majority. I myself have an unquenchable curiosity for all things game design, but if you don't have that innately, you'll need to do this: Keep a journal and as you play games analyze your area of expertise. Determine what's bad from good, and then re-design so that it appeals to YOU. There is a general baseline of what's good or bad, but knowing WHY it's good or bad from your own experience and opinion will help you learn the general baseline (per genre) faster, and will also help you learn your own biases. As you continuously write in your journal, over time you'll begin to analyze automatically as you play. Don't try to consume knowledge just to consume. It's too much

What will sharpen your brain more in diverse ways: crossword puzzles, sudoku's, Tetris, reading philosophy, or practicing it? Or, perhaps even better and more fun, designing your own game. In designing games I run into many different puzzles and problems to solve. How will players react? Can I simplify this? Can I use less words on cards? How do I make a reality experiential in the game? What logical actions would players desire in the game? Etc. Etc. So many questions, different in scope, demand, issue that just the journey alone is worth it, whether you succeed of fail. Because in game design, there's always a next time, or a next game where your previous learnings totally fit.

Educational pursuits should go beyond formal training to include fields like psychology, sociology, and anthropology. By exploring these areas, you can gain insights into not only how games are created but also why they appeal to players. Incorporating business concepts into game design education to develop games that are both creatively stimulating and financially sustainable.

First & foremost, learn by doing. Find a problem, and then solve it. Then repeat. You won't always figure it out right away, and that's the point. Learning by doing builds a tool-kit of solutions you can apply later... BUT game development is way more than that. Learning by doing: 1. Hones your skill for identifying the problem root. 2. Builds a mental compass for finding the best path. 3. Trains your hands to quickly execute a solution. 4. Trains your eye to recognize when you're done. The BEST solution is usually the "good enough" solution that got done first. You'll find many answers in books, dev forums, and even Youtube. But game studios need designers who can solve problems that haven't been thought of yet. So build THOSE skills.

While playing the games I always try to find what things in the game are making an impact on me as a player. Where do I react? Some features, animation, game mechanics, plot twists, etc. It could be anything. Try to find good and bad things as a Player. After I try to analyze them right in the moment as a game developer. What is it? Why is it here? How has the developer done it? What was the expected result of this one particle?

As a designer, it's essential to have a passion for learning. From my experience, the best designers are lifelong learners who have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Exploring unfamiliar areas and subjects can significantly enhance your design abilities. It's fascinating how problem-solving techniques from diverse fields can translate to game design. Embrace the opportunity to expand your horizons and see how other industries can inspire your work. Keep an open mind and a hunger for learning to achieve your full potential.

Well, read my answer to question one. It fits here too. And the way question 2 is framed seems to focus on the industrial online games from a purely technical perspective. Tip: keep it (also) human. Humans have intuition, hunches that sometimes outperform data... and sometimes not. So stay calm, observe and play!

Breaking down games to comprehend their core—examining how gameplay and storylines intersect, why specific features appeal to players, and how these factors impact user involvement. Critical analysis should also delve into player psychology and behavioral economics.

Its all about engaging your team in your game design perspective. A simple way would be to do a few paper playtests (in case of level design). If its about gameplay, make minimal prototypes of your designs with the help of developers on your team. Then you can engage your team in a joint playtesting session and gather their feedback.

To ensure effective collaboration, it is essential to create an environment where all voices are valued and feedback is both constructive and honest. Fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration to gain a holistic perspective on game development. This approach mirrors successful business practices, where diverse teams often drive innovation. The key is to promote a culture of openness and shared goals, enabling rapid iteration and problem-solving. Collaborative learning in game design can lead to unexpected breakthroughs, often originating from the most unlikely sources. It is this flexibility and adaptability that distinguish successful teams and result in innovative game design solutions.

Diversify your collaboration. Work in groups in a physical space as well as virtual. Work in collaboration in real-time as well as sole contributors. Test out spatial collaboration tools, like Cavrnus and Photon, to collaborate remotely in real-time.

Engaging in design challenges enables you to apply theoretical concepts in real-world situations, pushing the boundaries of traditional game mechanics. Constraints foster resourcefulness and often lead to inventive solutions that may not arise from a completely unrestricted design process. Regard the design challenge as an opportunity to experiment with novel technologies, unconventional storytelling methods, or unique player interaction models

Reflective practice is most effective when combined with feedback from diverse sources, allowing you to gain different perspectives on your work. This approach aligns with my belief in holistic learning, where sociology and anthropology can provide insights into how cultural contexts and social dynamics impact game design. Reflection should encompass the financial and strategic aspects of game design, ensuring that your creative decisions align with market trends and player expectations. Ultimately, Reflective practice becomes a continuous cycle of learning, adaptation, and growth, fostering a mindset that embraces change and actively seeks new opportunities for innovation.

Iterate, iterate, iterate. Rather than lengthy meetings with men discussing what could go wrong with any idea brought up, seek to test as much as possible in experiential ways. Example: when the Dutch put in gates at railway stations, they made them so you needed to have a pass or ticket to go through. This seemed logic. Yet with a little role play with people passing in between chairs as gates they could have found several flaws way sooner. People without tickets couldn't walk through the station any more. A huge inconvenience. So for travellers arriving from abroad without a Dutch ticket, they couldn't leave stations, unless an official let them through. I think it took 1+ years to solve this.