Feb 4, 2016

How To Make A Successful Video Game: Part I

What Kind Of Game Do You Want To Make?

Since, as we previously stated, 2016 is the year of the indie game, we thought it only appropriate that Signal Zero provide a how-to guide on making a (successful!) game. Here’s Part I: Finding The Toy.

Got a great idea for a game? We hope so, otherwise, why else would you be throwing your hat in the proverbial ring? A good first step is to review current games on the platform that you’re interested in. Do this not only by vertical (free to play, paid) but also by category (arcade, endless runner, casual, etc.) and subcategory. What are today’s popular games? They’ll likely not be next week, so follow trends versus one-off successes, which will be decoded in a future post.

Is your concept markedly different than what’s out there? If so, is it filling a hole in the marketplace, or is it potentially waaay out there? If it’s a familiar concept, does that mean it will be relatable and palatable for potential gamers, or could it get mistaken for a clone of another game and thus, get lost in the crowd?

Releasing a game is hard stuff. And so many developers are interested in making one that’s innovative and groundbreaking — often without remembering to make one that’s simply fun to play.

Conceptualizing the game

Don’t worry about second-guessing quite yet. Now’s the time to be inspired. Put your ideas in the hopper and start persona-building:

Who’s going to play your game?
Why will your game be fun or exciting to them?
What makes a game fun to begin with?

Below are a few suggestions of things to think about from the start. Remember you can always expand later and modify, but having the basics locked down will help.

Identify the type of game you want to make
Know the budget: Will your game be free or will you charge for it?
Know the length: Is brief, turn-based gameplay the right format, or will you be attempting something sprawling?
Before the development phase, what is your skill level?
Now, before all of that, are you still excited about this undertaking?

We love this advice from James Marsden, whose company released the hit game Velocity: “Find the toy.”

Finding The Toy is a phrase that refers to setting up an action and reaction that makes the player feel powerful, regardless of any rules or challenge being imposed. Cutting the rope in “CutTheRope” is a toy. It’s fun to swipe and cut, and watch something fall. Flinging a bird with a catapult has proven to be quite a good toy too. Games with toys at their core are fun to play around on regardless of any challenge the player is being tasked with. Once you have a cool toy, it’s worth building some levels that explore every possible limit of the toy to work out what is fun.