Creating your first mobile game may seem like an uphill task if you don’t know where to start. You have to think through the story, create outstanding gameplay, monetize, and develop it before it can go live.
In this article, we will take you through a simple seven-step guide so you can develop your first mobile game.
1. Come Up With an Idea
First, think about what sort of game you want to develop and what you want to accomplish with it. The idea behind a game can make it or break it. So take time to write down and think through your ideas. Study your target audience and find out what appeals to them.
You can also opt to improvise an existing idea instead of coming up with a new one. Candy Crush and Diamonds, for instance, are both great improvisations. The creator only changed some key features to create a new experience for players.
2. Tell a Story
Stories underpin every successful mobile game. A story motivates players to complete a game. It also gets them to care about the characters or the world you’ve created, giving them a good reason to launch the app every day.
To create a good story, start by identifying the hero and villain of your game and their unique strengths and weaknesses. You also need to tell the players why they are fighting and how the hero can defeat his enemy.
3. Gameplay
The secret ingredient of any addictive mobile game is the gameplay. This refers to the specific way players interact with a game. If gameplay is not interesting or if it is too hard, players will simply delete the game and move to the next one.
The most popular gameplay designs include level-up, twitch, and deathmatches. To create great gameplay, opt for one that is simple and fun, with gradually increasing difficulty levels. Also, make the levels short with lots of rewards and challenges to keep the player intrigued.
4. Identify the Key Platform
Since you are developing this game on mobile, you will have to decide whether it’s going to run on Android, iOS, or Windows. Your target market should inform your decision. Focus on the OS that your most profitable customers use and prioritize it.
5. Go All Out on the Design
Mobile gamers want to fully immerse themselves into a game. So, this is where design comes into play. The graphics and design play an important role in making the game and characters come to life, which enhances the gameplay experience. The possibilities for game design are endless. Whichever design you choose, make sure it looks great on a mobile device.
6. Decide the Monetization Strategy
Mobile games take a lot of time and money to create. So you have to figure out how you can monetize your game. You can create in-app purchases, or embed ads within the app, or partner with top online casinos like Gclub to push your app to their fans. You can also create premium versions where your players have to pay for further use.
7. Decide on the Technology
Decide which technology you’ll use to build your mobile game. You have three options: Native, HTML5, and Hybrid. For this final step, we recommend you work with a skilled game developer to advise on the best technology for your game. The developer will help transform your idea into a lucrative business.
Hopefully, this simple 7-step guide will help you turn your idea into an actual game for the world to enjoy.