Introduction
Developing games is not as easy as falling off a log; behind the development, developers put a lot of hardwork that developers put into creating an astonishing game app. Therefore, adding a few features cannot hope for the best simplification.
Games developed by mobile game app developers without prior research may lead to a disaster. Therefore, it is recommended to consider all the elements that build effective gamification without errors and poor results
In this article, let’s look at nine development mistakes to avoid when developing an engaging game experience.
9 Common Game Development Mistakes That Are Must To Avoid
Prioritizing Rewards
Rewards are a way to motivate people, which is also a sign of accomplishment which is a good thing, but too much, too much of everything is terrible. If your users are being rewarded for little achievements, then the rewards system does not have the same effect, which results in losing users’ interest.
Points and badges must always provide the user with helpful information. For example, users can feel more motivated when they see their achievements graphically. However, avoid using game mechanics for purposes other than what they were intended for.
Exaggerating the strategy to concentrate only on badges, points, and leaderboards is a common mistake when using mobile gaming apps, as there is much more to it than this.
Achievements must be earned, not given, for gamification to be effective from a learning and motivational standpoint. Therefore, use accomplishments that don’t merely reward participation but also a particular level of performance from the learner.
Besides this, your game must encourage users to carry out specific actions and earn rewards at challenging levels they complete, motivating them to do precisely what you want. Thus, try to make your objective as well as rewards simple as possible.
Failing to prototype
Following an iterative process and testing the game frequently with real players is the most reliable way to create an engaging game. Therefore, before making the game available to the broader public, create a beta group and ask people to test it.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that you aren’t developing a game for yourself when creating one. This fundamental principle applies to all types of game development, not only a single game. Of course, you will create games for enjoyment and pride sometimes, but most of the time, games are developed so that others can play them. Therefore, you must make sure that others can enjoy the game in addition to yourselves.
Don’t just play it for yourself to “test” it, either. The worst tester is the game developer, who has created the game as it is the unbreakable laws of game development.
Usually, the person who has made the game will master it because of playing it again and again at the time of game development.
Let’s say you have created a game. It means you must be familiar with the game’s functionality and principles. This means you cannot play a game similar to a new player.
Ignoring Your customer segment
Developing a mobile game app without studying your target audience is actually a barrier in your development process.
You must research who exactly you are designing the game for? Which interests are the most crucial? What kinds of things do they like to do? Would customers could afford the game app? Does your audience utilize iOS or the Android operating system or not?
Thus, finding the right audience could help with your research. You might therefore create your own functionalities for it.
Overlooking social integration
Developing an engaging game is a core requirement as users look for creative and exciting elements in an app. In addition, if you offer competition among consumers’ friend lists, they will love your game.
Therefore, you are reducing your potential customers if you are not adding a social component to your game.
Effective game development does not confine to a single point of contact. Actually, your game thrives in the presence of social sharing, social media groups, chat rooms, and other opportunities. Without social media, we lack motivation because we cannot share our accomplishments, participate, or communicate in a group.
This is why adding social elements to your app will significantly enhance the overall outcomes.
Lack of clarity on your goals
You won’t be able to manage the game mechanics for life. Instead, you need to keep the game alive, which requires modifications or regular updates if you don’t have a clear plan in place.
Gamification has come a long way since its early days of hype when more than 80% of gamified initiatives tend to fail because of poor design due to unclear campaign goals, and still, it is the leading cause of high failure rates.
The campaign goals are the cornerstone on which the remainder of the campaign is constructed. All other campaign efforts are vain if you don’t have clear goals.
You must first define and have explicit knowledge of what motivates your users and your primary purpose in creating an effective video game design, such as boosting user engagement, user loyalty, and more.
Struggling to do the Competitor Analysis
It is best to examine the strength and weaknesses or SWOT analysis of your competitors before developing a mobile gaming app and choosing the right tech stack as well as a platform.
Studying about the competitors will enable you to understand about the capabilities of your game app development idea that can surpass your target audience requirement for the web-based or mobile game.
Without analyzing your competitors, you will miss out on the possibility of filling the gaps that your competitors fail to accomplish and fixing the mistakes by hiring a game app development company as per your preferred location.
Research your competitor’s target audience, monthly app downloads of their gaming app, game app tools they have used, etc.
Getting answers to these questions will help to make a strategy to develop a great app that is one step ahead of your competitors.
Thus, create a game that is distinct and adds value for customers rather than copying competitors’ strategies.
Design failure
While developing a web-based or mobile app, its critical to creating an engaging user interface that is simple yet attractive to your users; it must have an exceptional art style as people prefer games that are intuitive.
Therefore, take out time to create a design that meets your user expectations rather than wasting a lot of time trying to write intricate and refined lines of code.
As no one will download your game because of its attractive code. People download video games to play, and your game’s plot must influence their decision to download and play.
Lack of user Motivation
Gamification is not a passive kind of marketing; in order for people to participate and take the desired action, you need to motivate your customers. Compared to most conventional methods, this sort of marketing has a higher risk, but it also offers more significant potential for long-term success.
The first obstacle your campaign must clear just by starting client engagement by moving your visitors from passive viewing to an interactive state. You must then be able to maintain user motivation.
Looking at the campaign from the user’s point of view and asking yourself, “What do I gain out of this?” is an easy method to address this difficulty.
Adding Too Many Features In A Game
Do not try to add too many features to your game, as you can not make your game complete right away. This is the reality. Adhere to your schedule and add a few features, which will not distract you from your path, not a little bit, but let you think more carefully.
Therefore, it is best to add features step by step, and if required, you can add features at the time of app updation, as once you launch the app, you will understand your user’s likes and dislikes, which makes it easier to work with them.
Signing off for Now!
These game development errors could ruin the enjoyment of your game users. To avoid the traps and develop a successful game app development strategy that meets the demands of your users, you must:
Always have a plan in hand before starting to develop a new game.
Try to test your game by giving it to different people to know the faults and strengths of your game.
Do not add too many rewards, as it will ruin the feeling of accomplishment.
Try to restrict yourself, making your app filled with too many features.
Focus on your game user interface as it matters the most.
Make sure your objectives are clear before making a game.
Try to motivate your users after launching the game rather than forgetting it after releasing it.
Have you made the decision to develop a game? First, ensure you’ve chosen the right platform and tech stack per your target audience and then choose your game development company.