HOW TO START DESIGNING A SUCCESSFUL GAME APP FOR IOS & ANDROID?

 The gaming industry is growing at a breakneck pace, and it's fantastic news for any game developer or company.

According to statistics, the worldwide gaming market was worth $152 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $270 billion by 2021.

What's more intriguing is that the $165.9 billion of gaming revenue as a whole will come from mobile games — that's incredible!

The mobile gaming business, in particular, is exploding.

It's easy to see why many business people are eager to get involved in the gaming industry.

Given the intense competition, you must produce an outstanding iOS and Android game app for a reasonable price to succeed in this market.

So, if you're wondering: how to get started developing games for mobile devices? Or how to make mobile games, you may take a deep breath.

In this post, we'll go through several topics regarding mobile game app development, including the basics of game design and more.

UX design insights from the mobile game will help you systematically build an app.

Let's get started.

How Big is Mobile Gaming?

Before you start designing apps with mobile device limitations and characteristics in mind, it's a good idea to have a look at some statistics.

• In 2017, there were 178.1 billion downloads of mobile apps worldwide.

• In 2019, Apple's app marketplace received a 64% share of global consumer spending on app stores, whereas Android Play users obtained 21.3 billion apps.

• Among Apple users, 25 percent of active applications are games.

• Time spent on mobile devices in the United States has also officially surpassed that of television, with users spending eight more minutes each day on their phones.

• The average age of a mobile gamer is 36.3 years old (in 2014, it was 27.7).

• The average player is 36 years old, with a male/female ratio of 51 percent/49 percent. One-third of all gamers are between the ages of 36 and 50, and the gender split is 51 female, 49 male.

Why is Designing so Important?

When it comes to mobile game applications, good design is essential.

It's not that your design must be flawless from every angle; instead, it should have a soul.

“I'd rather have something [design] that isn't technically perfect but has a soul,” says the renowned UX design guru Chris Do.

Let's start with the basics, like how to create an Android game app.

Consider how you would approach installing a software if you were to do so.

Yes, you're correct! You'd most likely browse through the game's screenshots to evaluate the game's design, the overall game plot, characters, and ultimately the game narrative.

It is especially essential because users who do not like the model may choose to uninstall the software.

So, to design a game, you must first write or plot the game as it develops. This is what we call "design."

The final product that users download will generally be a component of the design.

What are the pros of an excellent game UX design?

Pros:

• It may keep gamers occupied for hours.

• The design encourages gamers to hold out for more additions.

• The best designs are worth more money.

Design is therefore given a lot of credit for the revenue generated by the gaming app.

It should be clear to you, as you develop your application, that you'll need to spend a significant amount of time breathing life into your game user interface.

A well-designed product will help you increase your revenue, retention, user experience, and engagement.

Encouraging your users to use your app might be challenging and enjoyable, so keep your UX design checklist up to date to give them a meaningful experience.

“The simplest approach to make money in mobile gaming is to quit thinking about it,” asserts Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Supercell.

Consider how delightful it would be if you had a positive attitude.”

Let's start with app development.

How to Start the Design & Development of a Gaming App?

Let's start by creating a new application from the ground up.

1. Understand Yourself

The first step is to comprehend yourself (your company).

Why are you interested in getting into the gaming business? What do you enjoy about playing games? What are your key strengths, and what keeps you going?

You may conduct a SWOT analysis.

The inputs will assist you in not only looking inside your company to discover your USPs but also in examining the market and competing with others.

2. Market Research

Insights from the market for your company can help you understand your consumers better.

You may explore the most popular gaming applications or go to the app store and browse through various categories and genres to see what's new.

The takeaways are important while creating your app.

3. Develop An Idea

A game app aims to come up with a good concept.

The first stage in the mobile game development process is to generate an idea.

You might collaborate with your crew and develop a fantastic concept that will keep your consumers occupied for hours on end.

The rest is good news: a well-planned app may be a hit right away, and you can add some cutting-edge technologies like AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality).

The equation is straightforward: you start by developing a fantastic concept and then perfecting the finest gameplay for gamers.

4. Create a Story

A great tale is required for a successful game.

Gamers will praise the gameplay experience if you build a scenario for your game with a complete world of characters, victory conditions, surprises, exciting elements, and rewards.

It will only drive players to higher levels, keep them inspired, and attract new people once they are wrapped up in the tale.

5. Winning Design

It might be difficult to come up with a great game design.

The design team would need to pay close attention to detail and breathe life into the characters, art, and overall aesthetic of the game.

It's critical to balance visuals and game mechanics with a positive user experience.

It’s better to take time to work around the design, as a bad design of an app could spell disaster for your company.

On the other side, a truly fantastic design with a basic style may be a major differentiating feature for your game.

6. Identify Key Platforms

You must consider the platform while preparing anything on a mobile device.

Android and iOS are the most popular platforms.

You can also opt for a hybrid option.

However, you must consider the additional costs involved in creating a game for many platforms.

7. Build A Monetization Story

It's reasonable that you'd desire to profit from your game if you've invested in things like talent and hosting.

To generate money from the program, you may want to choose a premium or freemium approach.

This may be done in a variety of ways, but here are some of the most common:

Ads

You may also make money by selling sponsored items in your game.

As a result, whenever the player clicks on an Ad link or a video, you get compensated.

You'd need to be cautious about the ad's content since it may be distracting and, in some cases, harmful.

You may also give users the option of paying for an ad-free version.

In-app Purchases

A freemium business model is an excellent method to generate money from users.

In any case, since it is less time-consuming and better for mobile game monetization than Google Play Affiliate Links,

Premium versions

You may offer a free trial or demo before asking people to purchase premium versions.

It's fine to request payment immediately, but it might affect the number of purchases.

This is the most frequent approach for game developers.

Pay-per-download

With every significant investment, this technique is used.

8. Decide Technology

After that, you'll need to think about the game's design tools and establish the development process.

If you want speed, the leading choice is native development.

The most frequent approach to develop a mobile game is to code in languages native to the device platform.

So, which language would you pick for Android or iOS?

Web technologies such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5 are also used in in-game production.

Unity 3D is a popular game engine that allows you to create games. Other options include Xamarin, Marmalade, and Cocos 2D.

Choosing the incorrect technology may have a significant impact on the performance and usefulness of your game in the future.

9. Search for A Reliable Development Partner

Choosing a dependable and seasoned game app development business, such as Imaginovation, may help you turn your concept into a digital reality in the true sense.

You should use skilled developers for more complex gaming ideas.

Finding the appropriate developers for your app, designers, and other professionals may be critical to your success.

10. Testing is the Key

Testing is an important component of mobile gaming.

You may choose to outsource QA, beta testing, and bug hunting to fix bugs and resolve problems.

To guarantee seamless performance, the game must be tested at every stage, whether as a prototype or a finished product.

11. Support and Maintenance

You can expect support and maintenance for a more pleasurable gaming experience once you've launched the mobile game.

Keep adding new content to your game, as this will keep players interested in new features, benefits, and surprises.

Every step of the app's creation can help you ensure that your completed version is as close to reality as possible.

So, stick to a well-established development process to provide a high-quality application that gaming enthusiasts will appreciate.

What Kind of Games Can You Build?

With millions of Android and iOS gaming apps to choose from, you can begin by crafting a game app with the demographic that best appeals to your target market.

Here are some examples of gaming applications types:

Puzzles and Word Games

The game has a high level of engagement.

According to research, around 38 million monthly players enjoy puzzles, with such games having an expiry date.

That's fascinating! So, you could pick a basic jigsaw puzzle or a mathematical problem from the many gaming options.

Strategic games 

Clash of Clans is a popular game, which is another indication of the game's popularity. It has proved to be highly addictive and

It might be difficult and enjoyable to develop a strategy—the software may be interesting and lucrative.

Arcade games

The number of people who play online casino games is growing by the day. These video games are also highly popular among gamers.

You'll need a decent story and adjustable difficulty levels to give you a sense of competitiveness.

Start conceiving your ideal game, form a fantastic concept, and devise a plan for success.

Build A Successful Mobile Game App with Imaginovation

To be successful, your app idea must be supported by a well-thought-out development process.

Many startups and commercial companies have utilized our services to build successful mobile games.