Mobile game development process
A game is not just a game anymore when it becomes a part of our entertainment package. We see it on non-gaming-related objects. It is not only on our phone game applications, it is with us.
Whether it’s Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Bal Hanuman from Bal Hanuman game, Glenn from Chained Echoes, or the Charakter Amicia of A Plague Tale: Requiem or famous songs like the soundtrack, the game becomes a part of our life.
But have you ever wondered what makes the game much popular? It requires a lot of research and development, brainstorming, creative arguments, and a lot of other stuff that will take you on the right path to a successful game.
Why Should You Invest in Mobile Game Development?
In accordance with SensorTower, the mobile gaming industry is expected to increase by the year 2025 to $138 billion. According to Statista’s statement, the mobile game apps’ revenue is predicted to illustrate an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 2023-2027 of 7.36%. Under the forecast, the market’s expected volume will reach US$419.70bn by 2027.
Eventually, the potential future revenue of mobile gaming is growing very rapidly, which makes the proposal very profitable. Yet, if you want to promote your business and take it to the next level, you can consider investing in a mobile gaming app. You’ve got all the most popular info about current market metrics and future predictions.
What games to develop?
There are different kinds of games, unexpectedly, though. So, to begin with, you should decide on your type. Based on this, you can start developing a mobile game.
Here, we’ve developed 4 key game types to help you decide:
CASUAL GAMES
Casual users happen to be bound to spend unsteady time frames actively taking part in the game. These kinds of games can be developed in any genre, for, its market is fairly large. A lot of the most popular games for mobile phones are also casual games to be sure about that, it is enough to check lists of the most downloaded games of all time.
In general, casual games are created with simple rules, and a user only has to tap or swipe something. For instance, Subway Surfers and Candy Crush are typical examples of that.
The audience to casual games is always larger, and the number of downloaded casual games is much higher in comparison with other kinds of games.
MID-CORE GAMES
Mid-core games are a bit more difficult than their predecessors in terms of production, as well as general gameplay and of course character development. Players should put more effort and dedication into the game, that is, they should be passionate about the game.
This type of game will be trending for a long time, as companies make significant profits from mid-core games and this trend remains unchanged for many years.
HARD-CORE GAMES
Hardcore games are typically designed for people who are serious about the game and do not think of it just as a pastime. God of War Ragnarok, Loot River, Stray, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and other games of this sort are examples of hardcore games in which the player needs to be extremely careful.
The target audience for these games is usually the youth who do not mind spending excessively long hours playing. As the games necessarily take longer than the average visiting time to get accustomed to, the average duration of visiting on these pages is usually higher.
AAA GAMES
AAA games are big-budget games; thus, a full-time dedicated team is needed to produce such games. Similar hardcore games require significant time and dedication to master, too.
There have been existing AAA games today however, previously, PC and console released them primarily. Since smartphones and data streaming are still inappropriate for games of the AAA category, these will be among the biggest differentiations for mobile games very soon.
So, these were the top 4 categories of games. Games are generally divided into these 4 categories. Let’s move forward to learn about segments that will guide you to create a game from scratch.
These were four categories of games used in general. Games are primarily divided into four categories. The future reading will provide you with the segments that can be useful to create a game from scratch.
How to Create a Mobile Game?
In this section, you will learn in detail about the game application development process in order to develop a successful game that will meet the new trends in the game industry:
It all starts from an idea
It is really good to have a great idea when it comes to game apps since this will go some way in deciding not just the game’s basic concept, but also its overall direction and style. There are some things for which a good design can make up, When the idea is to make games that might prove equally popular in both Asia and the Western World then you’ve really hit the jackpot.
The success of game app development cannot be guaranteed by simply having a brilliant concept for a game app alone. You need to have not only creative and technical skills but also business acumen. This includes all kinds of other things such as designing interesting play designs and ensuring the best possible graphics and sound effects. In parts, we shall learn more about those points separately later on.
Here the user’s feedback and market research can determine whether a game app may be successful or not. Thus while you may really like the idea behind your “concept” game, it’s essential to get this in front of potential players and collect their comments and ideas to see if it resonates with your target audience. Only then will you be confident of achieving success in business?
Story Matters
As we are human, we are hardwired to make sense of our world by telling stories, and games designed for mankind should be no exception. Don’t make a game of the same design as Fruit Ninja. Fruit Ninja can be entertaining to play, but it takes at most 20 minutes before the user is bored and seeks another use for their time.
Bring members of your team in on this right from the earliest stage of brainstorming. Come up with imaginative plots and filter out the ones that seem feasible. Use your users to conduct a test, then build it into your game design process.
Build a game concept
Steps to creating a game concept:
1. Define the game mechanics
Game mechanics are the core of your game, never forget it. This includes controls, in-game physics, AI behavior, level and character design, and more.
2. Define the game’s genre
Start by deciding what kind of game you want to make. We gave a certain classification above. But also important – will it be an action game, an adventure game, a puzzle game or something else? This defines the overall mechanics and design of the game.
3. Identify the target audience
Who is your game for? You need to make a detailed description of the player. Is it for casual gamers, die-hard gamers, or housewives, for what age group, what should the player’s preferences be, and what will hook him in the game?
This will help you determine the tone of the game, the visual style and difficulty level, and all the other nuances.
4. Consider the platform
Determine which platforms you want to release the game on. This will affect the design and mechanics of the game, as well as its technical characteristics.
Choose an apt mobile game platform and game engine
You can only base your choice on two things your market and keeping with a budget. More than half of the audience out there use Android mobile phones and the iPhone user base is also quite far-flung.
Choosing only one platform is equivalent to launching your game for a limited market. If you want to increase the range of your game’s area, then multiplatform development is the natural choice.
Moreover, choosing only one platform in a straightforward way brings restrictions on the market. If you wish to broaden the field of your game’s influence, then the best way is multiplatform development.
The shelters of your game while developing a game app are backend technology and the game development engine. There are many platforms such as Unity 3D for 3D graphics and Unreal Engine.
Time to Develop a Game Design Document
A comprehensive game design document describes in detail the many facets of the game, like Game concept, mechanics; marketing strategy, personal interface, etc. It is a blueprint stage for the developers, designers, and artists of your project, providing detailed plans for every phase: concept design, artwork creation, programming of levels, even designing sound effects or music, etc.
The Mainstream Game Design Document (GDD) should contain information on the target audience (or age group); type of game genre(s) or worlds in which it operates; mechanical systems involved between systems developers and alpha sites. The production budget is decided here as well if applicable. GDDs can also provide details about anything else in this List except human resources that cannot be easily noted by an individual or group of people reading the GDD alone.
The GDD is designed to provide the development team and stakeholders with a clear vision and objectives for the project, ensuring that everyone shares common goals. It also serves as a point of reference throughout the development process, helping team members keep game design and development on track and allowing them to be guided by decision-making.
Game structure
The structure of the game is the framework on which the entire game world is built. It is like a skeleton for a living organism – it defines the form, movements, and interaction of all elements. Mechanics, Dynamics, Plot, World, Characters, and Goals of the game, this is not a complete list of what the structure of the game can include.
In addition, games are processed for 2D and 3D design to enhance the visual effects of your game.
Create a game frame
It is a draft picture of the user interface plan or layout of a game’s stage. It is usually drawn during the game design process for mobile as a way of conceptualizing the interface of that game or how this level’s structures should look.
A wireframe is an incomplete version of the final product, mostly consisting of very basic shapes, lines, and text. It is the “frame” for a game’s interface or level design, showing the placement and nature of such elements as buttons, menus, dialogue boxes, interactive features (number of balls that roll about when you touch them) and how these relate to one another.
Wireframes are beneficial for identifying layout issues in a game or level design early on before they become too difficult to rectify- but they’re not just good at pointing out errors! They also provide a clear picture of what shape your game is in for the plan: This is a, b, or c work, and that’s how we’ll get there.
Game wireframes can also help convey the design vision for the game to the developers, stakeholders, and other people involved in the project.
Develop a mobile game
In fact, the process of developing software for mobile games will begin only after the approval of the prototype.
Is the prototype finished? Congrats, you can start the process of developing game applications for all the platforms you want to target using all the tools you need, such as Unity, Blender, Unreal Engine, Robolox, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, Figma, etc.
Game testing
It’s time for testers to test the beta version of the game for bugs.
After running the beta version and playing it on different devices, you may see bugs, illogical elements, or inconsistencies in the game concept. More than likely, you will discover numerous bugs that can be fixed so that your game can be developed to perfection.
Opt for the most suitable Monetization Strategy
Here we are presenting 5 most used and workable game app monetization strategies, let’s take a look:
- In-app Purchases
When it comes to making cash, this is one of the game developers’ most popular strategies for monetization. In-app purchases allow players to purchase virtual goods, power-ups, and other features that enhance their gameplay and make it more engaging. This provides revenue for developers and greater engagement of players who are willing to pay for additional features and benefits.
- Subscriptions
Game developers may offer players a subscription model that unlocks additional content or features. Players pay a recurring fee, usually monthly or annually, to access these benefits.
- Pay-to-download
Pay once and use it for a long time. In this app monetization model, players pay a one-time download fee. This model works best for games that have high value or are part of an established franchise with a large fan base.
- Crowdfunding
It is a new monetization model that allows game developers to collect funds from their fans and supporters to develop and launch a game. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo are popular among game developers to get early funding.
- Advertising
Advertisement is yet another popular method of earning money from games developed by app makers. A developer can make money by intermixing advertisements within the game they have created. They may employ various ad formats, e.g., banner advertising, interstitials, or rewarded ads. When players see a rewarded ad, they can earn points and it doesn’t spoil the gaming experience to view this kind of rewarded ad.
Cross your fingers and release your game
After you have taken all the necessary steps, the last thing you need is to cross your fingers for the success of your game.
To be featured on the App Store and Google Play, your game must also meet their requirements. The app store review team will review your game and if they approve it, it will be released on the app store for all people to download.
Support and Maintenance
It may be unexpected, but the process never ends. You must continue to maintain your game application by conducting regular reviews and accepting feedback from users. Improvements based on player feedback and comments, updates, and seasonal styling – you have to maintain your app.
Common Mistakes in the Mobile Game App Development Process
Here are common mistakes you must make during the gaming development process:
- Incorrect planning
It is important to create a detailed project plan. It outlines every aspect of the game development process, including timelines, budgets, resources, and milestones. Lack of proper planning can lead to delays, cost overruns, and a poor-quality end product.
- Focusing too much on graphics
Graphics are important to a gaming application, but they’re not the only thing that matters.
- Ignoring user feedback
Ignoring user feedback can make even the best game fail to retain users. It is important to receive and hear user feedback regularly, the game is primarily for the players.
- Overcomplicating the game
Overcomplicating the game with too many features or complex gameplay mechanics can be overwhelming and turn off users. You have to be able to keep the balance between too simple and too complex.
- Neglecting game performance
It is important to optimize the performance of the game application, including graphics, sound, and code. No one will wait 10 minutes for a page or skill download.
- Rushing to release
It’s important to take the time to develop and thoroughly test your game before launching it. There should be a balance in everything. Rushing and releasing a raw product will definitely not give the expected result.
Conclusion
That’s all from our side of mobile game app development. We hope we have been able to cover every important detail related to mobile game app development.
