While games have always been a great source of entertainment, it has certainly been a saving grace from boredom during the many pandemic lockdowns. From multiplayer ones for competing with friends and family to single-player games, from arcade to racing – the choices are endless. Not to forget that there are games catering to virtually every age segment as well.
In fact, as per Newzoo, the global mobile gaming market is projected to generate $90.7 billion in revenue in 2021, with a growth of 4.4% over last year. In India alone, the online gaming industry is expected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2019 to $2.8 billion by 2022, according to Deloitte India TMT Report . This growth will be majorly attributed to mobile gaming as 85% of the online gaming in India happens on mobile.
So what does it mean for mobile game developers? The increasing demand for games has not only led to increased output in terms of apps but also new and innovative ways to develop them.
Get Specific
If you are not sure about how to begin developing your game, here are some things you should keep in mind –
Lock In The Basics:
What is the game going to be about? What does it plan to achieve? What type of game is it going to be? Answers to these questions will act as a foundation on which your game will be built. In the initial stages, it can be tweaked and readjusted based on discussions and market research.
Build A Story:
Once the central idea is locked in, it’s time to set up the premise for the game. Think of a plot from start to finish including characters, levels and more elements that enrich the story. Add incentives to make the game addictive and engaging.
Develop Wireframes:
Wireframing allows a transparent view into the flow and functioning of the game. Use it as a visual guide for determining how each screen is going to look, complete with elements in addition to navigation across the app.
Create A Flawless Design:
The importance of a great interface can’t be undermined as it can make or break the experience. Visual aspects of your game come alive at this stage. From the overall look and feel to the most minute details like buttons, controls etc will determine how the final product is going to look.
Formulate A Monetization Strategy:
How will your app generate revenue? Most games rely on ads as a source of revenue. In-app purchases can also be plugged in as an additional way to earn money. It is wise to research at this stage to build an effective business model.
Select The Right Game Engine:
With the help of sophisticated game engines, the mammoth task of designing and developing games can be simplified. A software that helps create games with an assortment of features, it helps bring the game to life with functionalities such as animation, sound, graphic rendering, artificial intelligence, among others.
Game engines help bring more efficiency and speed to the development process. Here is our round-up of the most popular game engines in the market –
1. Construct 2
Starting this list with a platform that can easily be used by individuals without any knowledge of coding or programming. It even offers an impressive array of tutorials to help you get started. This tool is based on HTML5 to create 2D games compatible with both Android and iOS. The interface is simple and intuitive. Sharing also comes easy with its multiplatform export feature that enables export to different platforms like the Chrome Web Store among others.
Refrain from using monolithic architecture in this case, as all components are tied together leading to a potential breakdown of the entire application in case of any errors.
2. Corona SDK:
This cross-platform 2D game engine is based on the easy to learn Lua scripting language. Again, this is apt for people who don’t have much hold over coding. With Corona Simulator, one can see real-time preview of the app on devices, complete with graphics and animations along with the ability to make changes without reinstalling. A plethora of plugins available on the marketplace can further add more features such as in-app advertising, media and more.
3. Unity:
Temple Run, Pokémon Go, Subway Surfers and Angry Birds 2 have one thing in common – they were all developed using Unity. There is a long list of popular games which can be attributed to this game which is why this is one of the most sought-after game engines in the market. Both 2D and 3D games can be created using C# scripting language. The intuitive UI and plugins save time during development without the need for much coding. Compatibility with all mobile gaming platforms which allows for maximized device reach adds to the list of advantages.
4. Game Maker Studio 2:
Based on the internal ‘GMS2’ coding language, this game engine is a powerhouse for creating 2D games. The language is easy to learn provided one knows how to code. Visual editing and animations can be done directly on the platform which makes for great integrated features. The drag and drop panel provides a superior workflow to the delight of the developer in addition to the variety of assets and extensions available on the marketplace.
5. Unreal:
Another developer-friendly addition to the list, Unreal comes loaded with a wide range of features – captivating 3D graphics, simple and intuitive UI and a visual editor. It uses C++ language and has the capabilities to develop the most large-scale and complex of mobile games for Android and iOS in addition to desktop and consoles. Adding to the convenience, the entire source code of the engine can be accessed and tweaked for free. By enabling the implementation of quick changes and ease in prototyping, it offers flexibility as well.
6. Buildbox:
Developing games comes easy with Buildbox as it offers many templates along with the drag and drop functionality. Because it is a no-code platform, Buildbox has opened doors to the world of game creation to non-coders, being a popular game engine in that community. A selection of over 20,000 game assets, animations and sound effects expedite the production journey along with the feature to view real-time iterations. Popular games like Color Switch, Blue Edge and Ball Jump are made with this platform along with many more.
Game Engines have certainly simplified the process of developing games for both coders and non-coders alike. To make the most of your Game Engine, choose the one in tandem with your technological know-how of programming along with consideration for the output you want in terms of functionality, gameplay and visuals.
