Registering Yourself As a Developer

It is time to decide which platform you will make your game will be available now that you have decided on a genre and concept for your game.   It is possible for your game to be available on more than one platform as long as the requirements are met.  Each platform/operating system has its own unique set of requirements or terms of agreement to ensure quality control in the market place.  Click the names of each platform to visit each of the following desired pages and fill out all the information to fulfill the requirements.  Take note that some mobile platform/operating systems offer helpful information on their websites such as tutorials, blogs, tools, and other resources to assist app developers. 

• Android
• iOS/Apple
• Blackberry
• Symbian
• Windows Mobile

App developers have several options when featuring their app in the market place. For example,  some developers may choose to sell their app for a set price while others choose to release their app free of charge.  Paid apps are typically sold for a one-time fee.  Most of the free apps will either feature embedded ads or offer allow players to use real money to buy in-game items.  Perform research on each of these methods for offering your game so that you will know which best suits you as a developer.  

Mobile Game Concept

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.

Creation and Success of a Mobile Application

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. 

References:  Yang, J.  (2012, Oct. 17).  Smartphones in Use Surpass 1 Billion, Will Double by 2015.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-17/smartphones-in-use-surpass-1-billion-will-double-by-2015.html