Mobile applications come in different types. There are several categories in which applications divide, and the game category is one with high download and return on investment. Today, every software development company prefers to come with their mobile game apps for business but does not know the starting point.
At this stage, mobile gaming culture is trending and high in demand. The world and dynamics of mobile games are very diverse from desktop gaming. They belong to the same genre but operate in different ways. Even game companies today producing two versions of their games – mobile version and pc version. They are tapping into both markets to not to lose any earning opportunity.
Diving into the smartphone gaming sea, we see two big fishes – Android and iOS. Here, mobile game app development comes with a big twist. It’s an excellent time to swim in this sea. Bigger and HD screens, high processing power, and long battery timing make the mobile gaming experience phenomenal.
iOS vs. Android – Design Differences
Every game consists of a distinct design, and the device processor’s capabilities become very crucial here. It is noticeable that Play Store consists of more game apps than Apple App Store. Meanwhile, some games only design for a specific type of processor.
The reason is both platforms have different design implementations. If you consider game designing for iOS devices, the approach will be slightly different in the Android territory.
What it Takes to Create an Engaging Smartphone Game
Thorough Research of Idea
Everything begins with a good idea. It is a foundation, and if the foundation is not strong, the empire will be shaky and weak. So, spend enough time and evaluate it from every aspect to identify its good and bad. Research the market and ask your potential audience about their opinion and expectation. Ask gamers what new feature can excite them. See competition around you and develop your strategy accordingly to achieve your aim with fewer difficulties.
Improvising some existing concepts is also an idea you can consider. See PUBG as an example. They inherited concepts from preceding games like Counterstrike and Call of Duty (COD). And results are in front of everyone. Also, it is safe because the idea is already testified and has a high probability that it will perform well. By adding and removing some elements, you can differentiate your concept. In this way, you will create high chances for your success.
Develop a Storyline
Your game should give people a purpose to play it. It should more than a time-killing activity. And to make it possible, come up with a plot.
Assume it is a weekend, no work you have to do, and you decide to play a game for the whole day. Now, which game will be your choice; Flappy bird or The legend of Zelda. A Flappy bird is an endless tap-tap game with no adventure in it. After some time, you become a bore or may get frustrated with it. It is not something that can engage gamers for hours. They need a story to relate and follow with the character.
Moreover, people download games and uninstall them after few days – Because they look interesting initially but do not contain any plot to keep a gamer engaged. For mobile game development, the story is the primary and never-to-miss ingredient.
It could be a simple story with no fancy idea, but it needs to be there necessarily. Ask yourself about a character or plot which can motivate you to play the game. Associate some goal or achievement with your game character.
Follow this simple process to build a storyline and fuel your game.
Design Appealing UI and UX
If your game app has an attractive, intuitive, and engaging user interface (UI) design, it will attract more and more mobile users. The key to good UI does not lie in a cluttered design. Be minimal with it and avoid adding too many controls. And if the game is massive, develop a manual or instructions to provide a user an idea or walkaround.
Also, make sure that the game graphics are not blurry or pixelated on the high-definition screens. Before designing them, study the screen sizes and resolutions. It is better to target devices that are more commonly being used.
Identify Key Platforms
Game app developers have to lock the platform before commencing with the development process. It is a dilemma to select between iOS, Android, Windows, or Blackberry. Windows and Blackberry are not in this race, so the choice hangs out between iOS and Android. Now, they both are market giants and have a large audience base. Android users are more than iOS, but Apple is generally more popular for high return on investment (ROI).
However, to get out of this dilemma, you can go for a hybrid model. It will cost you a little extra as you will develop a game for multiple platforms. Prioritize your decision based on the target audience and market. Check out the operating systems and their players with the most profit. If your targeted audience exists in multiple dimensions, simply go with more than one operating system.
Create a Monetization Plan
If you have put the amount in hosting and talent, it is evident that you seek to earn profit from the game. Freemium model and premium model are the ways you can consider to make a business from the game application. Some approaches to achieve this are:
In-app Purchases: Opting for a freemium model is an effective way to gain profit from users. When users get addicted to the game and want more in it, they perform in-purchase to increase the level, get skins, new characters, and many more.
Ads: A pay-per-click (PPC) is also a suitable model for game monetization. It displays ads as the user tap into the app, and thus, you get paid for it.
However, be careful with the ad content as some material is not suitable for children and can cause a problem for you. You can also offer users an Ad-free game app version against some price.
Premium versions: Here, offer your users a demo version before asking them to pay the price for the premium version. It is better because asking straight away for payment can sometimes put a user in doubt, which eventually decreases the purchase number. So, offer a free trial for some time.
Pay-per-Download: Typically, high-end games follow this model.
5 Important Things You Should Know Before Investing in Mobile App Development for Your Business
Select Engine for Game Development
It is like a garage where the game gets developed and powered. You have to be smart in selecting a game engine. The proper platform selection can benefit your game development in significant ways. Unity and Unreal Engine are popular nowadays for mobile game development. CryEngine is usually preferred for artistic work. And Corona software development kit is famous for its simple language. If you don’t want to code, BuildBox is an option that allows drag and drop functionality.
Moreover, Python, C#, C++, Node.js, and others are the programming languages you can use for game development.
Write Code
After everything ready in hand, it is time to code the game. Select your programming language and development environment to bring the concept to life.
Test Game App
Test it from every side and make sure it does not contain any errors.
Launch the App
Finally, when you are ready with your game, see the platform guideline where you want your game app. After that, when everything is in line, launch your game.
Conclusion
These are ingredients that make the game app development successful. However, above mentioned steps can be adjusted according to the requirements, but typically they remain the same for many.
Finally, create a game not only for profit but to make it remember for a long time.
Hopefully, you get the idea through this article about how the mobile game development process flows. If you have a game idea, you can contact a game development company to bring your imagination into a digital existence.
