How to start developing mobile games for Android?
Creating games for the #1 mobile platform is an exciting activity that can bring good profits. In a short review, we will list the popular game engines, as well as describe the main stages of development.
Engine choice
Once you have an idea for a game, it’s time to decide on development tools. You can write an application from scratch in Java or Kotlin in Android Studio, or use the web interface from a standard HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS stack. As an example of this approach, let’s take a step-by-step creation of the legendary Bejeweled game with jQuery. For larger projects, you should look at special engines.
Unity
Although Unity integrates with all major 3D applications, its internal editing capabilities have many limitations. With the exception of some primitive shapes, everything must be created with a third-party program. With the new 64-bit architecture and WebGL support, Unity 5 is considered a strong solution. It is one of the most used platforms, so you can easily find a lot of tutorials and tutorials online.
Unreal
The new Unreal Engine 4 has a lot of changes compared to previous versions. C++ is used as the scripting language, which has completely replaced the once-popular UnrealScript, and Kismet has been replaced by the more convenient Blueprint system. Due to these changes, even experienced game designers will have to undergo training to master the updated version.
Unreal comes with tools for using virtual and augmented reality technologies to develop mobile games. In the “Programmer’s Library” you will find a detailed tutorial on creating the first object and mastering Unreal Engine 4.
Solar2D
Solar2D was formerly known as the Corona SDK and is a cross-platform development tool using the Lua scripting language. Corona Market Place contains many plugins for 2D games. The engine is famous for its clear documentation and active community, and one of the drawbacks of Solar2D is the lack of 3D modeling tools.
This is not a complete list of game engines, but one of the popular platforms can be your lucky ticket to the world of game development.
Main stages of development
To create a mobile game for Android, you need to go through certain steps. We’d like to direct your attention to the following step-by-step approach for beginners:
Idea and plan
An idea is the most difficult and responsible step to create a successful mobile game. The key to finding an idea is to come up with something innovative and exciting. The idea must appeal to a mass audience.
Proper planning, or lack of it, can ensure the success or failure of a project. Take the time to write down ideas, come up with unique characters, play with different styles, and think about the type of gameplay that will make your game fun. History will help to reveal the potential of the project: in the gaming world, it is of great importance. To get to the end, the user needs a goal, and for that you need a story, no matter how simple.
Choice of language and tools
You can use any engine and method to development, but you’ll need to sit down and learn a programming language in any case. A great start would be C#, Kotlin, or Java.
Graphics
Creating a game design is much more difficult than creating a design for a regular application.The plot, the characters, and the ultimate aesthetic are all important considerations. First of all, it is the design that distinguishes your game from the competition, but calculating complex details requires processing power – you need to strike a balance between good graphics and performance, given the capabilities of Android mobile devices. Not all users will have cool flagships.
Teamwork
Small tasks may be completed alone, but larger initiatives need the formation of a team of like-minded individuals. Regardless of the budget and complexity, the choice of programmers, managers and designers to work with is an important success factor. Using game development services you can hire a well-coordinated team of developers who will work under your leadership.
Testing, launch and monetization
Before launching the game, it is worth testing it comprehensively, but you should not get hung up on this. Many novice developers try too hard to make the program perfect, delaying the release all the time. This is a serious mistake – it is better to release a release without critical bugs as soon as possible. The game may be enhanced if the audience like it.
It is important to consider the project’s monetization. There are a few popular techniques to deal with it:
- In-app purchases. The most frequent approach for monetizing mobile games is the freemium model.
- Advertising. Many games combine ads with in-app purchases. This strategy can generate significant income.
- Premium versions. You can offer players a free demo and ask them to pay for continued use.
Project improvement
If your game has gathered a significant audience, you should not stop there. It will improve with updates and upgrades, attracting more delighted players.