Interest in online games is booming, therefore you might consider a career in game developing. According to the latest report, the number of game-playing adults has grown tremendously in the last few years. And that’s just desktop computer games — mobile gaming is even bigger, with 270 million users worldwide.
With new gamers entering the space every day and new technologies making development easier, the market shows no signs of stopping. However, with all this opportunity comes a lot of competition. New game developers can face some serious challenges breaking into such an established field.
We understand that developing games sounds like a challenging project to take on as your first indie venture. But we also know that you have what it takes to succeed. After all, you’re reading this blog post! That means you’ve already demonstrated your passion for innovation and willingness to explore new possibilities. Now it’s time to take those first steps toward creating your own online game development business.
We don’t need to tell you why online games are so popular with the masses. Whether it’s slaying dragons or building a castle, people love interactive experiences where they can be someone else for a few minutes and let their imaginations run wild.
If you too are curious about developing your own digital world and exploring the opportunities in creating online games, read on for our five best tips on how to get started.
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Have a Good Game Concept While Developing
A great game doesn’t come together because of the technology or design; it’s all about the idea. Before you do any research, write a brief outline of your idea — the setting, the characters, the core gameplay mechanic, and the monetization strategy, etc.
You’re not writing a full game or a design document at this point — just a short outline that sums up your idea. Having a good game concept will help you stay focused and interested when researching the specifics of game development.
It will also help you avoid getting distracted by the shiny objects that come with learning about game development, like new programming languages and game engines.
During your research, you will come across lots of different game types. Make sure that your initial concept is compatible with the type of game you want to create. After all, you don’t want to spend years developing and finding out that your game doesn’t fit the bill.
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Don’t Forget the Basics of Good Game Design
Creating a successful online game is more than just throwing a few characters in a digital world. It requires a solid design and concept that’s balanced and enjoyable to play.
Here are a few elements to consider when designing your game:
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Mechanics
What is the core gameplay mechanism that makes your game interesting and engaging? For example, in the game Candy Crush, the core mechanic is swapping two candies to make a matching pair.
- Theme
What is the theme of your game? Is it a fantasy world? A sci-fi setting? Understanding the theme of your game will help you create the right design.
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Characters
The characters in your game are important because they’re the faces of your game — they’re what players will interact with. Make sure that your characters are designed to fit your game’s theme and that they’re compelling and interesting.
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Storyline
Your game’s storyline doesn’t have to be long and complicated, but it does need to be interesting. Players want to be drawn into your game, so give them a reason to keep playing. –
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Technology
What technology are you using to develop your game? What kind of game engine? What programming languages are you coding in? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your technology choices?
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Build a Solid Developing Team
You might be able to design a great game on your own, but it’s much easier (and more efficient) to team up with other people. Having a team lets you share tasks, create a more diverse product, and have a fresh set of eyes review your work.
You don’t have to recruit a huge team at once — start with a couple of friends and colleagues who might be interested in designing video games with you. If you’re looking to team up with complete strangers, there are lots of online forums where you can find like-minded individuals.
If you have a bit of budget, hiring freelancers can give you access to a diverse range of skills. You can also browse online job boards and recruit from major social media platforms such as Discord, where a lot of game developers are active.
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Learn How to Use the Developing Tools
Once you’ve decided on which game engine to use, you don’t want to spend all your time learning its ins and outs — you need to get started designing your game. But how?
The best way to get started is to create a list of the tools you need to learn and then work through them one by one. You don’t have to learn everything in one day, but try to chip away at your list every day so you don’t get overwhelmed.
When you’re just starting out, don’t try to learn everything in one day. The best thing to do is to learn one or two things really well and then move on to the next thing on your list.
Keep things simple so you don’t get bogged down with details. For example, instead of trying to understand the entire game engine from the start, focus on just one piece of it.
Conclusion
We hope that you now feel confident and excited to start developing your own online games. There are lots of opportunities in this space, and it’s a fun challenge to create engaging gameplay experiences.
Before you start, make sure that you have a good game concept, understand the basics of game design. And learn how to use the tools. With these steps checked off your list, you can get started on designing your own online game.