Tag: Game Development Company

7 Odd Roadblocks Rookies Face In The Stages Of Game Development

Game development isn’t as smooth and glamorous as many newbies imagine. It comes with challenges like tight deadlines, production obstacles, publisher pressures, and long work hours, which are just a glimpse of every developer’s hurdles. Yet, those professionals in mobile game development services know how to tackle these challenges. But the chaos and the desire […]

Game development isn’t as smooth and glamorous as many newbies imagine. It comes with challenges like tight deadlines, production obstacles, publisher pressures, and long work hours, which are just a glimpse of every developer’s hurdles. Yet, those professionals in mobile game development services know how to tackle these challenges. But the chaos and the desire to create visually stunning and immersive games fuels their determination.

However, not everyone is familiar with this rollercoaster of the madness of developing games and its various stages, so today, we decided to shine some light on game development. In this guide, you will look at the stage, demystifying the process for those eager to understand the world of game development, and we will also tell you about the challenges that the newest developers face.

So let’s take a look:

Stages Of Game Development

Overview Of Game Development Stages

Before we begin with the roadblocks, let’s first understand the stages of game development. Many newbies ask the question, what are the stages of game development? As they don’t have a better understanding of these stages. But don’t worry, we are here to tell you about them. 

The game development process unfolds in seven key phases – Planning, Pre-production, Production, Testing, Pre-launch, Launch, and Post-production. Each stage plays a vital role in shaping a game; navigating through them requires diligence and strategic thinking. Let’s take a look at them in detail:

  • Planning

Planning is the game’s blueprint phase. Brainstorming is the key element before a developer dives into coding or designing. They decide the game’s type, visual style (2D or 3D), characters, setting, and the platform it will be on. Therefore, this phase establishes the project’s vision, creating a solid foundation.

  • Pre-production

In pre-production, the creative brainstorming comes to life. Different teams collaborate – writers shape the narrative, engineers discuss technical details, artists align visuals, and developers plan in-game mechanics. It’s like crafting a detailed game plan before the real action begins.

  • Production

Production is where the magic unfolds. Character models are designed, audio engines are fine-tuned for realistic sounds, and level designers create immersive environments. Voice actors breathe life into characters, and developers write thousands of lines of code. Project leads ensure everyone stays on track. This stage turns ideas into tangible game elements.

  • Testing

Testing is like quality control. Every aspect of the game undergoes examination. Play testers explore the game, checking for bugs, rendering issues, and exploitable features. It’s a critical phase to identify and fix flaws before the game reaches the public. Testing is the checkpoint where the game transitions from an idea to a polished, playable experience.

  • Pre-launch

Before the big reveal, pre-launch involves creating excitement. Developers may produce a hype video showcasing cinematics and gameplay. For independent studios, creative marketing strategies like crowdfunding and early-access Beta releases play a crucial role. It’s the phase where anticipation builds up for the game’s grand entrance.

  • Launch

Launch day is like crossing the finish line. After months of bug fixing and polishing, the game is ready for distribution. Developers make final touches to enhance immersion, like adding depth to landscapes or improving textures. The level of polish depends on factors like the game engine used and how close it is to the launch date.

  • Post-production

Post-launch isn’t the end; it’s a new beginning. Developers celebrate the success as sales pour in. However, there’s still work to be done. Post-launch involves identifying and fixing minor bugs reported by players. Regular software updates, including game-balancing patches and new downloadable content (DLC), keep the game fresh and engaging. It’s the phase where the game evolves and continues to capture players’ attention.

The 7 Odd Roadblocks!

We hope you understand all the game development stages now. Let’s see what roadblocks newbies often face.

Roadblock #1: Unrealistic Expectations

Many newcomers often face a big hurdle when they realize that making games is much tougher than it looks. The glamour of the industry can overshadow the hard work needed. It’s crucial to understand that there are tight deadlines, production challenges, and pressure from publishers. Acknowledging these realities helps set a realistic mindset for success.

Roadblock #2: Lack of Planning in Pre-Production

Many beginners underestimate the importance of planning. Before jumping into creating a game, it’s vital to answer critical questions about the game’s type, features, characters, target audience, and platform. The proof of concept is crucial, helping decide if the game is feasible, its cost, team size, and timeline. Without proper planning, the entire project may face challenges.

Roadblock #3: Technical Challenges

Dealing with technical aspects can be challenging for newcomers. Coding errors, software compatibility issues, and the need for new gaming engines can feel overwhelming. Recognizing these challenges and seeking resources and advice to overcome them is essential. A good understanding of the technical side is fundamental for a successful game development journey.

Roadblock #4: Scope Creep During Production

Production, where most resources are invested, poses a critical challenge. The temptation to expand the game’s scope can lead to scope creep, causing complications. Balancing creativity with project constraints is tricky. Beginners must learn effective scope management to ensure a smoother production process without unnecessary complications.

Roadblock #5: Inadequate Testing

Testing is more than just a checklist; it’s a critical phase for game quality. Neglecting thorough testing can leave a game unready, even for an Alpha release. Playtesters are vital in finding bugs, glitches, and potential issues. Understanding the importance of comprehensive testing is key to delivering a polished and enjoyable gaming experience.

Roadblock #6: Lack of Collaboration

Game development involves various teams – writers, artists, designers, developers, and more. Poor collaboration between these departments can result in disjointed narratives, incompatible visuals, or inefficient mechanics. Encouraging effective communication and collaboration is essential for a cohesive and successful game development process.

Roadblock #7: Marketing and Release Challenges

As a game nears completion, challenges in marketing and release come into play. Questions about how the public will receive the game, dealing with bug reports, and getting media coverage become crucial. Whether working with a publisher or independently, understanding effective game marketing, creating attention-grabbing videos, and using crowdfunding are vital skills for a successful launch.

Conclusion

Therefore, in the dynamic world of game development, challenges are inevitable. Yet, by acknowledging and preparing for these hurdles, you can become stepping stones for growth. But for this, you have to swap unrealistic expectations with a realistic industry understanding, use proper planning as your development compass, turn technical challenges into skill-building opportunities, let collaboration foster creativity, ensure thorough testing for a polished product, and view marketing challenges as exciting opportunities to showcase your hard work.

Also, you can get employed in the best mobile game development company to navigate these roadblocks successfully, stay determined, and learn more about game development.

At last, we want to state that “Game development isn’t just a career; it’s a thrilling adventure filled with endless possibilities for those ready to face challenges head-on.”

Coding Pitfalls to Avoid When Learning How to Make an Android Game

Now, you may see that Android has taken over the market and has emerged as one of the most notable platforms for the developers of applications. That is all possible as developers can now host applications and connect with a massive community of developers online. But, developing the application takes work for people, and if […]

Now, you may see that Android has taken over the market and has emerged as one of the most notable platforms for the developers of applications. That is all possible as developers can now host applications and connect with a massive community of developers online.

But, developing the application takes work for people, and if you are new, there are chances that you might make some common mistakes that affect the overall efficiency of the app. But before you learn about those mistakes, you must know how to make an Android game, what makes your Android game better, and what tips can help the developer.

So, let’s start!

Make an Android Game

Why Will Make Your Android Game Better?

 

  • Innovative Gameplay

Your game will stand out if you design it with exciting and original gameplay. You must think creatively to develop mechanics that surprise and excite the gamer. Innovation draws and keeps players, whether it is a novel take on a time-honored genre or an altogether original idea.

  • Polished Graphics and Art

Stunning images can increase the immersion of players. Thus, you should spend money on graphics and artwork that are in keeping with the concept and aesthetic of your game. You should carefully consider the character design, animation, and environment because doing so improves the gaming experience.

  • Intuitive User Interface

A user-friendly interface is necessary to guarantee that your user interface is simple, with clear menus and simple controls. Players of various skill levels can access it because of how easily it can be used.

  • Optimized Performance

Ensure the game performs smoothly and without lag when developing it. You should adjust your game for various hardware, screen sizes, and input methods. It guarantees that players have an engaging and consistent experience.

  • Regular Updates and Support

By regularly releasing updates, bug patches, and fresh content, you should demonstrate your dedication to your game. One should pay attention to player feedback to foster trust and encourage repeat business.

  • Monetization Strategy

You should develop a fair and discreet monetization strategy if your game offers in-app purchases or advertisements. A player values the openness and the opportunity to play the game without being constantly upsold.

Tips for Android Game Development for Beginners

Before you start your journey as an Android game for beginners, which can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some of the essential tips that you need to consider that will help you out:

  • Learn the Basics

You must start with a strong foundation in programming fundamentals such as data types, control structures, and variables. It is vital to understand Kotlin or Java as it is the primary language for Android development.

  • Choose the Right Tools

One must familiarize themselves with Android Studio, the official integrated development environment for Android. It also provides powerful tools for debugging, testing, and coding.

  • Start Small

It would help if you started with the small, simple game projects to grasp core concepts. When you gain confidence and experience, you can tackle more complex game ideas.

  • Study Existing Games

You should analyze and play existing Android games to learn what works and what doesn’t. This will give you insights into game design, mechanics, and user experience.

  • Design Your Game

Before planning the game’s concept, mechanics, and overall design, you can create sketches or storyboards to visualize your ideas before developing.

  • Embrace Debugging

Debugging is a significant part of development, and that is why you need to learn to use debugging tools for Android Studio effectively to identify and fix issues in your code.

What Coding Pitfalls You Need to Avoid?

Coding Pitfalls

Android game development does offer an exciting and rewarding journey as it offers an exciting and rewarding experience. You need to craft interactive and immersive gaming experiences, which can be an exhilarating challenge. However, a game development company may make some mistakes while developing, and those are-

  • Neglecting Programming Fundamentals

Many people new to game creation delve right into the creative side of creating their games without first learning the foundations of programming. It would be like building a house without knowing how to utilize the tools.

Understanding programming fundamentals, including variables, data types, loops, and conditionals, is vital before creating games. You will benefit significantly from this foundation as you progress in the game creation process.

  • Ignoring Documentation

Every Android developer considers Android Documentation the holy grail because it contains many instructive tutorials, training videos, educational guidelines, and other necessities for creating Android apps.

As a result, if you choose to ignore the Android documentation, you will miss out on professional advice and techniques for creating stable and dependable Android apps. With SDK tools, you may view the documentation online or download it.

  • Disorganized Code

A project that starts well might suddenly become an unmanageable nightmare due to disorganized coding. Your code should be organized into logical modules, classes, and functions if you want to develop games successfully.

Follow the recommended code indentation and commenting practices and adopt a consistent naming system. Not only is a well-structured codebase easy to understand, but it is also simpler to maintain and troubleshoot.

  • Leaving Apps Ideal Once It Is Launched

You cannot leave your apps dormant to remain relevant in the industry. Applications must be updated frequently to enhance user experience, eliminate bugs and problems, and increase efficiency. Your apps will fall behind the changing market trends without updating and maintaining them.

  • Not Joining the Android Community

You can’t expect creating apps to be simple and problem-free. There may be occasions when you need help getting past a particular step because you are stuck. Contact the supportive and proactive Android developer groups rather than spending endless hours contemplating the problem.

 Additionally, you might try additional sources like Google mailing lists and the lessons on the Android Development Center.

  • Not Ensuring That Android Tools Are Compatibility Enough

Many useful features in the Android SDK may be used to create excellent apps. While some Android game development tools let you make imaginative layouts and top-notch designs, command-line tools may also be used to access emulators and device hardware quickly.

In addition, the Android SDK includes tools that you may use to optimize and improve the performance of your apps. If you do not become familiar with these tools as an Android developer, you will not only have to put in more time and effort but also miss out on the huge potential to improve your app.

  • Fearing Failure and Not Asking for Help

Game development can be complex, and newcomers might encounter issues they need help fixing. Do not be reluctant to ask for assistance from forums, groups, or mentors. Asking questions and picking the brains of more seasoned programmers can speed up your learning and help you avoid common coding blunders. No matter their experience level, developers have all encountered difficulties and made blunders.

Conclusion

So, now, you are aware of the mistakes companies usually make while providing Android game development services. That is why one must look for ways to update and improve user experience to enhance efficiency. You must maintain your application properly because only you can keep up with the dynamic trends.

The Secret Behind Building a Great Mobile Game

There were days when the game developers had to build a flawless game and launch it in the Play/App Store, and the rest was taken care of by the users. And a good ranking in the App/Play store was considered the success of the app. But in today’s competitive world, the players are unaware of […]

game development

There were days when the game developers had to build a flawless game and launch it in the Play/App Store, and the rest was taken care of by the users. And a good ranking in the App/Play store was considered the success of the app.

But in today’s competitive world, the players are unaware of about 80% of the games, while 20% of the games are unprofitable and are removed from the online medium.

What Makes a Great Mobile Game?

We have first understood the success strategy of a mobile game. You have to understand that the success of the game does not depend on the position it has in the Play/App Store. Likewise, short-term popularity does not indicate the success of the game, rather it is a trap. So, a mobile game is considered great or successful when it is able to engage the players in the long run and when it makes a profit. Also, the game developers put their heart and soul in developing a game, so the combined effort of the developers and the marketing professionals also is a factor that defines the success of the mobile game.

Building a Riveting Mobile Game

For a mobile game to be engaging and interesting, it should be designed in a certain pattern so that it has all the aspects incorporated in it.

Make a User-friendly Game

One of the main reasons behind a successful mobile gaming app is that it should be simple and easy to understand. The players should intuitively understand the mechanism of the game and get engaged with the gameplay within a few minutes they start playing the game. And as the players proceed with the game, it can have complex and challenging levels. But the initial stages should be intelligible and comprehensible.

Understand the targeted audience. Know what the users want and expect from a game. When there are thousands of games available online, why and what is the reason for a player to choose your game. When you are able to find out the answer to all these questions, you will definitely be able to build a mobile game that is simple and easy to use.

Appealing UX/UI of A Game

Remember never to compromise on the user experience and user interface of the game. Players first see the game and then learn about the interface, so these are the most significant and considerable elements in building a game.

Most of the unsuccessful games in the market lack good game design. And the controls should be easy and player-friendly so that the players can play the game without any interrupts. It is necessary for a game to be visually appealing to the users, and visual designing not only means the usage of proper fonts, icons, colors, or images, but the overall appearance of the game impacts the interaction of the players. A good chance to make the game app appealing to the players is by using the minimalistic or necessary amount of design. And while designing for mobile devices, you have to take care of how the game will be viewed in different environments and create a logical path and make it easy for the players.

Like visual design, sound also plays a significant role in game design. The sound adds value to the gameplay and helps the players to proceed with the game. The sound effect adds emotion to the game, therefore a perfect graphic design and sound effects are the most significant elements in game design.

Frequently Update the Game

Launching the game on the Play/App Store is not the end of the process, but the beginning. To make the game lively and get the player’s attention, constantly keep the game app updated with new elements and extensions.

To make the game innovative and fresh, you have to make few updations in the game at regular intervals, like adding content, levels, features, or characters. Apart from being fresh, it will also help in retaining the players to play the game again.

According to a recent study, it was found that nearly 50% of the game apps are deleted by the downloaders within 45 seconds of being downloaded, so beware of it. An appealing game design helps you to get some time. You can take the examples of some of the popular mobile games as a reference and study the UX/UI implementation, from the basic arrangement of elements to the contact form and try to build a unique game of your own.

Make It Live Before It Is Too Late

Most of the game developers invest more time in perfecting the mobile game before launching it, the real-time scenario is different. As you ‘Time is Precious’, build your game prototype and show it to the outside world. When the game app is live, and when players play the game in a real case scenario, you can receive the actual feedback.

By launching the game soon in the market, the game gains a certain amount of user attention and you can also make plot alterations, add or remove features, increase levels of the game, and make regular updates based on the real-time demand.

Develop a unique game that is engaging and entertaining, while keeping all these points in mind. Be passionate about game development and the results will reflect your passion.