Today's blog entry will feature the first step in creating a successful mobile game application (App):
The first step involves choosing a concept for your mobile game. Game concepts can range from very simple to complex. Successful mobile games do not require intense graphics to be popular. For example, take a look at the popular game Words With Friends. Newer mobile devices with increasingly powerful hardware create more opportunity for success with intense graphics. Keep in mind that games using intense graphics could potentially take longer to develop than games using simple graphics. A portion of your choice of the intensity of graphics may rest type/genre you choose for your game. As you probably already know, there are many types of popular genres in mobile games today. Some examples include:
- First person shooters
- Role playing
- Action
- Puzzle
- Racing
Each of the game genres may require different steps for the concept phase of development. For example, a role playing game generally uses more complex story lines and 3D models compared to simple puzzle game. The game may include items such as style, design, complexity, story, etc. Popular games such as Angry Birds has been successful in attracting all ages of players. Angry Birds allows for simple play catering to an audience seeking brief distractions throughout their day. A game that requires more time and skills which may result in the game being less popular by the public. You as a developer will need to find the happy balance. Content will play a role in the audience you seek as you develop your game. ESRB provides content ratings for video games on a voluntary basis. ESRB recommends all games to be rated due to some game sellers frowning upon unrated games. Visit ESRB's FAQ for more information.
Have you thought about creating your own mobile game application (app)
for portable devices? Do you know where to begin? Do you know what
makes them successful?
Ever-growing
technology has opened the flood gates for many subtle or not so subtle changes
in America’s culture as we know it. These changes often create a
dependency. For example, can you remember a time when many of your
friends or family did not own cell phones? Portable devices are so
ingrained into our culture that many people might have difficulty getting
through the day without them. There are currently 1 billion smart phones in use
today. Bloomberg estimates that number will double by the year 2015.
(Yang, 2012). With so many individuals using smart phones for
business and personal use, it is no wonder that the demand for mobile apps has
expanded exponentially. The list of mobile apps and their uses grow
each day. These uses might vary greatly from individual to
individual. Keeping track of these apps can get overwhelming
quickly. As a developer, wouldn’t it be nice knowing how to create a
mobile game and what it takes for it to be noticed in the mobile marketplace? Each
Generation of mobile devices has increased progressively in powerful
hardware and software functions. In turn, the latest generation devices always seem to raise the bar for potential in mobile games.
This blog will focus on the process of creating mobile games and the science behind making them successful. I will offer a new blog entry every Friday afternoon. My goal is to provide useful and reliable information to help individuals.
