Ankit Dave, Author at 300Mind Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:54:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.1 https://300mind.studio/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-300mind-dark-logo-32x32.png Ankit Dave, Author at 300Mind 32 32 Unity 3D Vs. HTML5: Which is the Perfect Game Development Technology? https://300mind.studio/blog/unity-3d-vs-html5/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:54:02 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/?p=1549 Unity 3D vs. HTML5: which is best for game development? Explore the strengths and weaknesses of both technologies to make the right choice for your dream game.

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Suppose you are an artist all set to create a beautiful painting. What’s the first thing you need to start? Well, you need a canvas to start, but what type of canvas should you choose? There are many choices, and they might confuse you, but you have to pick the canvas that depicts the look and feel of your painting.

In game development, you have to think similarly and choose the best technology that works like a tool you need to create a game. This choice will decide the functionality, gameplay mechanics, user experience, etc. Usually, developers choose Unity 3D or HTML5 to develop the game. However, this pick isn’t easy and way more difficult than what meets the eye.

Despite being prominent game development technologies, they also have silver linings that you need to keep in mind while making the decision. In this blog, we have compared both technologies and outlined their crucial factors to help you make an informed decision. By the end of this comparison, you will have the knowledge to choose the technology that aligns seamlessly with your game development vision. So, read our blog on Unity 3D vs HTML5 to find the answer you have been looking for so long.

What is Unity 3D?

Unity 3D (Unity) is a versatile and feature-rich game development engine used to develop video games and interactive 2D, 3D, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) experiences. The platform caters to a wide range of development requirements and helps with many genres, from small indie game projects to combat games.

To give a better idea, below mentioned are some of the most highlighted capabilities, advantages, limitations and previous uses of the game engine.

Core Features and Capabilities

Unity 3D boasts a extensive of powerful features and capabilities:

Asset Store

Unity has an asset store full of ready assets, like 3D models, textures, audios, and scripts that accelerate the development process.

User Friendly UI System

Unity 3D has a user-friendly UI system for creating in-game menus, HUDs, and interfaces. It streamlines front-end design and development for programmers.

Graphics and Rendering

Unity 3D provides high-quality graphics and possesses superior rendering capabilities for developing visually stunning 2D and 3D games. It supports advanced rendering techniques, dynamic lighting, and post-processing effects.

Entity-Component-System

Unity 3D’s Entity Component System architecture is a fundamental part of the game engine’s design. In this model, its features are broken down into entities (game objects), components (data and behavior), and systems (logic that operates on components). The architecture supports modularity, efficient data management, and performance enhancement and offers great flexibility.

GameObject Hierarchy

In Unity, the 3D building block is the Game Object. These GameObjects work as entities in the ECS architecture, and they are kept in a hierarchy pattern, with the main GameObject on the top. Developers can detach or attach numerous components to GameObjects to define game’s behavior, functionality, and appearance.

Pros and Cons of Using Unity 3D

Pros

  • Unity 3D enables developers to build cross-platform games that run on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.
  • Unity game developers can avail of monetization and earn higher revenues by integrating compelling games with available features, including advertising, in-game payments, and analytics. 
  • Unity’s engine is capable enough to take the support of available smartphone technologies like GPS, gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.
  • Unity 3D has a built-in physics engine that helps build realistic interactions among objects and simplifies the physics-based game development process.
  • Unity is among the best platforms for AR and VR development. It offers built-in support for widely known platforms, such as AR Core, ARCore, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

Cons

  • Unity 3D has a steep learning curve, and novice developers have to work hard to understand the complex architecture and features.
  • The game engine often requires performance optimization, especially for mobile devices. If the codes are inefficient or overused, they may not perform well.
  • For large projects, asset and code management can be challenging. It demands extensive expertise, good project organization, and asset management practices.
  • It needs more memory to function properly. This consumption causes OOM errors and debugging issues in smartphones.
  • It doesn’t let developers load the work from the foundation or template. They have to begin from scratch without taking any added help. This practice is time-consuming and tiring at times.

Popular Games Developed Using Unity 3D

Popular Games Developed Using Unity 3D

Famous games like Cuphead, Monument Valley, Rust, Pokemon GO, Hollow Knight, Beat Saber, Fall Guys, Super Mario Run, Escape Plan, Firewatch, etc were built using Unity 3D.

What is HTML5?

HTML5 is the latest version of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) for creating web pages, applications, and games. It uses CSS and JavaScript for game development. The technology gained appreciation due to its cross-platform compatibility, ease of distribution, and ability to reach a wide audience. It does not require additional software or plugin installation.

Here is breakdown of HTML5 capabilities, pros and cons, previously developed games and other information backing up the claim.

Core Features and Capabilities

Here are some core features and capabilities of HTML5:

Vector Graphics

Vector graphics help draw graphics of different types, shapes, and colors with JS scripting. Developers can easily create, edit and scale these graphics while supporting animation and interactivity. 

WebGL

Web Graphics Library is a crucial component of HTML5 that provides hardware-accelerated 3D graphics rendering in web browsers. It allows programmers to develop interactive, immersive, and visually appealing 3D games and their characters, environment, effects, etc. These games support many devices without demanding any plugin installation. 

Specific Gaming Tag

HTML5 has a gaming tag <canvas> for drawing 2D context that enables developers to render graphics, games, and animations in the web browser. WebGL supports its functionality and enhances its performance. 

Geolocation API

Developers can use HTML5’s geolocation API to create location-based games and applications that track user’s geographic locations and coordinates accordingly. 

Doctype

The feature reduces the coding and tag requirements. Developers can use doctype tag <!DOCTYPE html> to remove the virtually unreadable codes without copying and pasting code sections.

Pros and Cons of Using HTML5

Pros

  • HTML5 supports all platforms and devices, including laptops, web, mobile, desktops, smart televisions, etc. It facilitates cross-platform development, simplifies distribution, and reaches a wider audience.
  • HTML5 games are distributed through web links, allowing players to access games conveniently without asking for app store downloads.
  • The technology can write any semantic and descriptive code cleanly. Developers can separate it in style format without putting much effort.
  • It requires fewer resources to function smoothly, which improves the running speed of the game and provides seamless gaming experiences without much loading.
  • HTML5 games can be monetized through various methods, including in-game advertisements, microtransactions, and selling premium versions or virtual goods.

Cons

  • HTML5 games have transformed over time, but they are not as powerful as native games. Developers face struggles while building complex 3D games with high graphical demands.
  • They run in web browsers, which are susceptible to potential security threats, cyber-attacks, hacking, and piracy. Developers have to take strict security measures to safeguard the game from these threats.
  • HTML5 is a relatively new technology and hardly supports old browsers. It may not perform well on older browsers like IE.
  • Achieving optimal performance may require extra effort and expertise, especially for resource-intensive games.
  • It can be hard to manage large and complex games with HTML5. Projects with multiple features require good project and asset management skills.

Popular Games Developed Using HTML5

Popular Games Developed Using HTML5

Till now, celebrated games like Construct 2, Phaser, PlayCanvas, CrossCode, 2048, Angry Birds, Bejeweled, Free Rider HD, etc., have been made using HTML5 as the game development technology.

Unity 3D Vs. HTML5: Which is the Best Choice?

The choice between Unity 3D and HTML5 for game development depends on your specific project requirements and goals. Here are some key considerations to help you decide:

System Setup

Unity game development often requires a more powerful system with a dedicated GPU for 3D graphics rendering. It is easy to set up for experienced developers, but novice ones might struggle more. You may have to download and install Unity Editor to leverage the available game development tools. 

Along with it, you will have to install additional software, including Visual Studio for C# coding or other supported programming languages. The setup is easy, but Unity 3D is not an open-source technology. Its operations are controlled by an organization. Hence, if you face technical challenges or bugs, you will have to wait until the organization resolves them. 

HTML5 game development is relatively lightweight in terms of system requirements as it does not demand local code setup or IDEs for functioning. You can create HTML-based games on many devices, including low-powered systems. 

It requires a text editor to write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. There is no need for specialized software installations. However, you need a local server to execute the setup and development process. It may be challenging to choose the perfect framework from the available ones. 

Graphics Quality 

Unity 3D is renowned for creating high-quality 2D and 3D graphics. It has a powerful rendering engine that supports advanced graphics features, such as dynamic lighting, real-time shadows, post-processing effects, and particle systems. Developers can also use shaders to create custom materials and visual effects and take advantage of modern GPUs to make graphics visually stunning. Hence, Unity’s graphics quality is superior. 

Dissimilarly, HTML5 is not a graphics engine, but it can create graphics and animations with the help of CSS and JavaScript. HTML5 Canvas and WebGL have capabilities to render 2D and basic 3D graphics in web browsers, but they may not offer the same level of graphical fidelity as Unity.

Performance 

Unity has efficacious rendering and scripting systems, and the engine has been optimized for high performance. It offers direct access to the hardware, facilitating optimal use of resources like GPU and CPU. Its compiled and optimized native code and scripting languages lead to faster execution. Unity games have the support of multi-core processors and offer smooth and consistent frame rates.

Contrary to this, HTML5 depends on web browser capabilities that may vary according to performance and support for hardware acceleration. HTML5-based games often use JavaScript for scripting, which is interpreted and may not be as performant as compiled languages. The engine faces limitations in creating real-time physics simulations, complex 3D graphics, and advanced visual effects.

Development Workflow

Unity has an integrated development environment and robust features like component construction, built-in physics, asset store, and preview debugging. It is the ultimate choice for developing high-end games with different narratives. Developers can use its specialized tools for game development, including visual scripting options (like Bolt), animation tools, and a dedicated scripting environment.

It supports multi-platform development, allowing developers to build games for various devices and platforms using a single codebase. It is the best technology for game development. However, the process becomes challenging when game logic becomes more complex and starts utilizing C#, and script-based coding that doesn’t offer too many reusable code libraries.

HTML5 is a fantastic choice for developing casual games and other less complicated games. It also offers cross-platform support and allows coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript using a text editor. Many developers are familiar with its technology as it doesn’t have an integrated development environment like Unity.

It also allows developers to access cross-JavaScript compilers for TypeScript and CoffeeScript, but it doesn’t have a sizable game development library and integrates with limited tools. Its development workflow is easy to learn and execute, but it is not a viable choice for developing complex games.

Ease of Publishing

Unity 3D offers built-in support for leading game platforms like iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, gaming consoles, desktop, AR/VR devices, etc. Developers can publish Unity games on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store after following an easy publishing process and take advantage of its distribution strategies, network, and export options.

HTML5 games are published on the web easily by a HTML game development company. Players can access these games through web browsers without downloading or installation. These are cross-platform games and can be played on any device with a modern web browser. HTML5 games have less visibility in app stores as they are distributed through websites, shared via URLs, or hosted on web platforms.

Development Cost 

Unity 3D gives free access to Personal Edition with basic features that can help develop small-scale games. You have to buy a Unity Pro licence if you need access to advanced features or want to remove the Unity splash screen. The licensing cost starts from $150/month and $1800/year. It is just a basic estimation, and the price may vary according to your chosen licence type. Also, Unity 3D game development services may cost higher due to its graphical and technical support.

Along with it, Unity 3D has an Asset Store from where you can buy game assets, scripts, and plugins. Also, it requires time and skills and demands more coding and asset creation. You will have to hire Unity 3D game development company for the work. This requirement will add to the cost.

Contrary to this, development tools like text editors and web browsers are available for free in HTML5, and there are many open-source libraries and free resources for game development. The technology also helps develop simple 2D games and interactive web content within a short duration. You may have to purchase some assets and features, but they are not as costly as Unity 3D.

On pricing upfront, HTML5 game development services are more cost-effective than Unity 3D. However, if you are developing 3D games with higher budget and more features than choose Unity 3D.

Post Production Support

Unity Technologies regularly releases updates and patches to the Unity engine, addressing bugs, improving performance, and adding new features. Unity’s LTS (Long-Term Support) versions are available for extended support and stability. Additionally, Unity has a robust and active community of developers, both within the Unity forums and on platforms like Stack Overflow. This community supports in finding solutions to common and technical issues.

It is easy to maintain HTML5 games across various browsers and platforms due to its long-term compatibility. The technology has a wide range of community resources, libraries, and frameworks to support post-production needs, bug fixes, and updates. Apart from that, HTML5 games are hosted on web servers. So, developers can make server-side updates and fix issues without asking players to download new versions.

Unity 3D is a strong choice for projects that require regular updates, advanced features, and a dedicated community. HTML5 is a suitable option for cross-browser compatible web-based games requiring rapid and server-side updates.

Which Technology Should You Choose for Game Development?  

The battle of Unity 3D vs. HTML5 has ended and it is time for the results.

When to Choose Unity Game Engine: 

  • If You want to develop complex, 3D games that may have evolving needs and a longer life cycle.
  • If you have a huge budget and your game requires advanced features and 3D graphics and animation.
  • You want to create sophisticated, performance-intensive games for multiple platforms.
  • You intend to target app stores and want access to specialized features like in-app purchases or advanced graphics.
  • You want to build complex 2D and 3D games with advanced graphics, physics, and interactivity.
  • You can hire experienced game developers to work on high budget projects.

When to Choose HTML5:

  • If you want to develop simple 2D and web browser games with limited features.
  • You have budget constraints.
  • You want to reach a broad online audience quickly without the friction of app store submissions and installations.
  • If you are planning to publish the game without much assistance.
  • You don’t have the budget to hire expert team with years of experience.
  • You plan to build the game quickly.

Also read: Unity vs Unreal Engine: Which One is Best For Your Game?

Develop Your Game on the Perfect Technology with 300Mind

300Mind is a wise choice if you are planning to create high-quality, feature-rich, and engaging games that can captivate players for hours. We are a reputed game development studio with years-long experience and a team of game artists with extensive expertise.

Our team understands the intricacies of game development and best practices and knows how to overcome common challenges efficiently. We choose the right technologies, development platforms, features, and tools after understanding your project requirements.

300Mind team creates stunning visuals, captivating characters, and engaging environments, enhancing the game’s appeal. Our professionals follow industry best practices for coding, performance optimization, security, and user experience. We are known for our dedication and commitment to excellence across the world. So, make us a part of your team and launch a successful game.

FAQs on Unity 3D vs HTML5

Can I use both Unity 3D and HTML5 in a single game project?

You can use both Unity 3D and HTML5 in a single game project. Unity can help develop core gameplay elements, 3D graphics, and performance-intensive features. HTML5 can help build web-based interfaces, menus, or additional interactive content for the game. This approach allows you to combine the strengths of both technologies in a single game.

Can I use HTML5 to develop AAA games?

HTML5 is a viable choice for developing simple 2D web browser games. It may not be able to comply with AAA game development requirements. You should choose Unity 3D for this project.

Is Unity the best technology for game development?

Unity 3D is known for its versatility, graphics and animation quality, custom features, technical support, etc. It can be used to develop 2D and 3D games for a wide range of platforms, including PC, consoles, mobile devices, AR/VR, web, etc. Unity 3D is a strong contender if you need to build high-end games and launch them on multiple platforms.

Is HTML5 good for making games?

HTML5 can help develop casual, 2D, and simple 3D games. You can choose it if you want to reach a broad audience using web technologies. It is an ideal choice for developing smaller indie game projects or web-based games. However, for highly complex 3D games, other engines would be more suitable.

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How to Effectively Use Storytelling in Video Games? https://300mind.studio/blog/video-game-storytelling/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:31:58 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/?p=1337 Explore the dynamic fusion of narrative and gameplay, where you get to know best practices to craft a story that lets players immerse into the virtual world of excitement.

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There’s always a STORY to remember and share! Whether it is a movie, show, or a video game – what makes them memorable is their story.

So, which was the game that you played a long time ago – and you still can’t get over it? And what was the element of that game that compelled you to remember it? It must be the storytelling of that video game and its gameplay.

Let’s put a spotlight on Video Game Storytelling, as it is today’s topic of conversation! So, if you’re creating a big-bang video game, it’s a must to have a storyline and narration that has the power to compel players to play and play until they finish it off.

But how to create such an engaging and compelling video game storyline, and what factors to consider?

Well, this blog is all about that and is at your disposal to work up your mind to create a mind-blowing story concept for your dream game.

What is Storytelling in Video Games?

Storytelling in video games is conveyed through two main components: its Story and Narrative (also referred to as Narration), followed by the gameplay.

The story of video games revolves around the game world and its central character – the Protagonist, who possesses the power to achieve remarkable feats in the game and the Antagonist – challenging the protagonist. It should be well-crafted to immerse players completely in the narrative. However, this is only the first part.

The other aspect should provide information about how the story is presented in the video game, allowing players to grasp the essence of the narrative and respond accordingly. This process is known as story narration. It can be accomplished by portraying scenarios where the protagonist interacts with other characters, encounters challenges, and prompts players to act in ways that either rescue them or aid in accomplishing their mission.

Video game storytelling differs significantly from storytelling in movies, books, and shows. It can be explicit or implicit, depending on the game’s concept. When employing cutscenes, dialogues, and textual representation, video game storytelling is considered explicit.

In implicit video game storytelling, the game scenarios, world design, levels, and non-player characters are utilized to convey the storyline. In essence, video game storytelling constitutes the part of gameplay that initiates and advances the action while capturing the player’s attention.

Okay, so this is the storytelling in video games. But what about its evolution? Well, the next section is all about that!

The Evolution of Storytelling/Narratives of Video Games

In the early era (1970s – 1980s), video games were first designed with a motive to have and share “fun.” Because initially developing video games was technically challenging, getting them to play meant a lot more than worrying about the story. So, games like “Pong” were more focused on gameplay mechanics than narratives.

After this, the next decade (1980s – 1990s) was all about text-based adventures. It introduced players to the games carrying an immersive storytelling, presenting it in the simple overlayed texts. “Zork” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” were great examples of such games with text-based storytelling.

Along with that, this decade also witnessed quite great progress with the technology, providing bandwidth of 8-bit and 16-bit memory processing. Utilizing this advancement, games like “Final Fantasy” and “The Legend of Zelda” were introduced with more evolved storytelling with simple dialogues and text-based exposition.

The next decade (1990s – 2000s) was about CD-ROM support, which gave video games a bit more coverage to focus more on creative game narratives. In this, games like “Final Fantasy VII” and “Metal Gear Solid” introduced the use of full-motion video (FMV), voice acting, and cutscenes to support more complex narratives.

The beginning of the 21st century came with a bang and introduced 3D graphics and open worlds. And with that, the branching video game narrative types came into existence, with games like “Half-Life” and “Mass Effect” enabling players to choose their liking of game actions and get impacted outcomes.

The 2010s-2020s era saw a rise of strong narrative-driven games like “The Uncharted Series, The Walking Dead, and many others,” offering players interactive storytelling. Also, the emergence of AR/VR gaming made this game narrative even more immersive and engaging, taking the gaming to a more personal level with games like “Moss” and “Half-life: Alyx.”

Finally, the ongoing era is taking the game narratives to the non-linear and dynamic levels with games like “Cyberpunk 2077,” enabling players to take the story progress based on their choices from the beginning.

What are the Different Types of Video Game Storytelling?

When you first start exploring the game narrative, you’ll come across two parts: The structure – pointing towards the story progress, the subparts of the story, the connection; and The Portrayal – How the game represents the story. Keeping the different presentations of both parts, here are the types of game storytelling:

Linear Storytelling

It is a traditional game storytelling technique, yet relevant today! It follows a predetermined sequence of the story the way it should be, with the perfect beginning followed by the mid-scenario and the climax. A story navigating from one part to another in a serial order. So no backtracking, divergence, or breaking of the series.

Linear Storytelling is really effective and good but takes away the player’s freedom sometimes to explore and try different things in the game.

Here, “⬜” represents the beginning, “⎯” represents the gameplay, “◯” – story event, and “▲” – Ending.

This type of storytelling is tightly scripted with a set sequence of events that players have to follow to advance through the story. Moreover, players’ actions don’t impact the storytelling of the game.

Popular games, like The Uncharted 4, Red Dead Redemption 2, Total Overdose, use linear story structure, where events are started with small impacts and then build up to the climax. It is straightforward and enjoyable at the same time as you see the story unfold in a way you understand.

PEARL Model of Storytelling

It’s also known as a String of Pearls. It’s mostly the linear type of storytelling until the player’s freedom to make choices diverts the story into a different possible ending. It is also known as FIVE ACT Storytelling, following Prologue, Escalation, Audience, Resolution, and Legacy.

PEARL Model of Storytelling

This type of storytelling is mostly used for Role-Playing Games (RPG) with linear storylines with partially loosely coupled sequences for missions and quests.

Though offering players to make choices to progress the game, like choosing different missions or quests, the command of the story still remains in the hands of game creators.

PEARL Model of Storytelling

Popular games, like Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Mass Effect Series follow this Pearl model of storytelling.

Branching Storytelling

It’s a bit of a complicated type of game narrative that revolves around the choices players make.

Branching Storytelling

Unlike the string of pearls narrative, the branching type has more chain reactions based on the choices players make while playing the game. So, in this type, a game can end in many possible ways.

Branching Storytelling

Popular games like Detroit: Become Human, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Life Is Strange, and others are created using the branching type of storytelling.

The Amusement Park

With more likeness to the branching model but the slightest and powerful difference, the amusement park game narrative technique is extensively used by open-world games. It lets players control the storyline with interactions with the non-player characters rather than making choices for the side quests.

Popular games like Assassin’s Creed and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim follow the amusement park narrative model.

Non-linear Storytelling

It’s more like loosely coupled storytelling, in which players have more agency and freedom to play and explore the game as per their pace. This type of dynamic storytelling can make the gameplay more interesting as players have total control over mechanics, physics, and other dynamic elements to ascend in the game.

In this game, players uncover hidden stories and quests that add interesting elements and complexities to the game’s narratives. These game stories immerse players more organically into the experience, particularly in open-ended scenarios, due to the self-discovery element they introduce.

Popular games, like The Witcher 1 and 2, Injustice 2, Fallout series, and Dragon Age series, also use a non-linear narrative technique.

WOW! So, the storytelling for a video game can differ in this manner! Quite insightful! 💡 But what about the benefits? The next section is all about that!

Why are Storylines Important in Video Games?

As per our extensive research, we find that the majority of players find games interesting due to their good storytelling and top-notch graphics and performance. However, to know more about the importance of having great storytelling for your dream video game, let’s have a look at the following benefits:

Enhanced Immersion and Engagement

Game storytelling takes a unique approach to entertainment while creating captivating storyline hooks that trigger players’ emotions (empathy, excitement, etc.) and curiosity.

This curiosity immerses them in the game narratives and makes them think of many possibilities to take the story forward.

Motivation to Come Back to Take A Step Forward

Adding great storytelling with a hook develops the curiosity and attention of players. Most of the time even acts as a motivation factor for them to stay connected with the game as an anchor.

Hence, games with captivating storytelling have more potential to motivate players to play and play until they find the perfect ending. Speaking of which, games with non-linear storylines contain more motivation for players to get the ending as they want to have.

Better Game Promotion Opportunities

As your game has more dynamic and captivating storytelling, you have more data to prepare for the marketing materials for its promotions. Not just that, games with catchy storylines also get more ratings and reviews and chances of word-of-mouth marketing.

Helps Players to Become Better Decision-maker

Video game storytelling/narrative is highly based on the concept of curiosity, which makes players think critically. During this, players may feel motivated to think, “What will happen if I take this step forward?”

So when playing the game, with curiosity, they also combine mechanisms and techniques to try out each and every possibility and utilize their critical thinking to make decisions for the actions to clear the level and eventually win the game.

Build and Expand the Community & Social Connections

If the games are amusing and have a captivating storyline with robust performance and gaming experience, like PUBG, Uncharted, and other games, such have a dedicated players’ community discussing gameplay and a lot more. They mostly create communities using Discord as their friendly tool to talk about games and stream while playing them.

This way, you can create and motivate players to create a community of gamers, as we have for our 300Mind Gamers’ Community In Discord, where we share gaming secrets with our dedicated audience.

It increases the chances of getting it more popular, promotion, and players’ investment in the gameplay. All of these lead to the potential and motivation for you to create the sequence for your game storyline.

What Elements Contribute to A Captivating Game Story?

A storyline and its narrative are what make your game compelling to the players and make them immersed in the game world throughout their gameplay experience. But along with the design and storytelling, there are involved elements that make your game more compelling and attention-worthy. So, let’s have a look at those elements contributing to the enhancement of the game narratives:

Theme and Message

Each and every story, whether it is of a movie or a game, it’s all groundless without its theme and message. Okay, having a theme in your video game storytelling is a must, but it’s okay if your story doesn’t have a social message. Because some are meant for entertainment purposes only. However, a game storyline with a clear theme and message can have a benefit over its impact.

Clear Conflict

It is the core element of the game storyline that ensures your game storyline and narratives go forward and create clear challenges, making the game interesting to play. Games with obvious conflicts captivate players to play them often until they overcome them and finish the game with a victory.

Pace and Consistency

These are the two critical elements of your storytelling that decide the effectiveness of your game story and its narrative. So, the balance between the game narrative shifts, exploration, actions, and their sequence helps to maintain the pace and continuity of your game storyline and make it sound captivating.

Game Characters

Characters are the ones we call protagonists, antagonists, and supportive roles, and the game story revolves around them. But most of the time, the player plays the game from the protagonists’ viewpoints. So, their avatar, strengths, limitations, life story, and actions are the ones that help them to be in the gameplay and take the story forward. However, their impact on the game story differs as per the game storytelling types and roles/characteristics given to the characters.

Dialogues

When we talk about storytelling, we think about the dialogues and screenplay it can cover as we hear its concept. Though games are for entertainment purposes only, giving a bit of time to their narration with animated screenplays can add an interesting experience to it.

Controls

The game storyline is great, and the characters you designed are also mind-blowing, but all the efforts can go to waste if the players can’t interact properly in the gameplay. Controls are the ones that help players show their moves and make the game interesting. So, in this part, the game’s storytelling and gameplay go hand-in-hand.

Oh, okay!! So, that’s the whole thing! But what about the processes to follow to structure the game storytelling, balance it, and portray it in an interesting way? Let’s move to the next part, to know all of these.

How do you Make a Game Storyline?

The most important, interesting, fun, and yet mind-bursting session, in which we have to try all possibilities to make our game storyline attention-worthy and compelling to play. So, let’s take a look at a step-by-step process to structure a game storyline:

Ideation, Research, and Analysis

There was an idea about the game, your dream, that compelled you to work on that and bring it to life. So, this stage is all about clarifying the main idea and your game concept, possibilities you can plan, finding other similar kinds of games, and learning how they have planned their storyline and narrations.

This research and analysis will help you gather insights and do initial planning for your game story. Using this, you can identify the core elements of your game, including genre, theme, central conflict, main character, motivation, and overarching games – all those making the game that anyone wants to play and win.

Act Breakdown

Based on the game storytelling type you choose, the act breakdown is decided. This planning involves how the stories make the turn and how the narration will be forwarded. Apart from that, games with lengthy and complex storylines have these acts breakdowns.

So, if your game has such a lengthy story with twists and turns and expansion, you should divide the story into acts or chapters. It also increases the chances of the game sequels.

But make sure that each act has a significant turning point in the narrative with challenges that feel obvious.

Outline the Game Storyline

Not just in games but also in literature, this is the most effective practice when getting started with story writing. It highly depends on the type of story narrative you want to focus on while considering the major plot points you want your character to experience. So, you can start with outlining:

  • Events for the game characters
  • Game-ending possibilities based on the players’ action choices

As a part of considerations, it’s advisable to be detailed and specific with your outline and ways the story takes place and make turns to avoid confusion later on.

For better details and a quick view of the story, you can create a flowchart of actions and how the major storyline flows as per the action.

Outline the Game Storyline

This will not only help you better understand the story but also the other viewers analyzing your plot. Doing so will help you quickly review it later on when planning to create the game storyboarding and the sequel of the story to make your linear storyline go on.

Writing an Introduction to the Story (Act-1)

Now, this is the part, in which you introduce the game story with its main characters and their world. Here, in the world creation, you should develop the backstory created around a fictional universe, the type of culture it follows, and settings (time, location, etc.).

You should write the story introduction in a way that helps players understand the type of story it is and get a little bit of a hint on how it will take place later in the game.

Defining Characters and Goals

When writing the story, there are always three actors we should keep in mind – The Main Character (The Protagonist), The Villain or the challenger in the story (The Antagonist), and the one who helps the protagonist (A Companion Character).

So, when designing characters, we should keep in mind clearly their values, relationships with other characters, their decision-making abilities, and behaviors based on the given narrative choice. It should also add the goal of the character and the story; just the way, in the Mass Effect game, Commander Shepard goes on a quest to prevent the reemergence of an ancient race known as the Reapers.

Inciting Incident and the Rising Action (Act-2)

The core element, the conflict in the game, is the reason why that story exists and creates a captivating effect. It’s the one that disrupts the buttery lifestyle of the protagonist and challenges them to test their skills and get back to their normal life. You can also call this part the event, marking the central journey.

Midpoint

We also know this point as the intermission in the story. From this point, the story takes the turning point and makes it even more interesting to play the game due to added complexities and alliances. Also, this event takes the story closer to the climax, the final action. So, you need to plan this mid-event strategically to ensure its hook and add enhancement to the story’s interest points.

Climax (Act-2-sub)

This is a thrilling, electrifying event – everyone’s waiting to harness their seat belt tightly as it could misbalance their excitement level. It’s the event in which the protagonist and antagonist come face to face for the final showdown to win their mission. During this event, the protagonist reflects on their journey, deals with the aftermath, and prepares for the final confrontation.

As the introduction creates a hook for the audience and the mid-story ensures their continuous attention to the game, the climax writing should contain a more powerful plot for the player to lose their calm and play vigorously.

Closure to the Main Conflict – The Resolution

It’s the climax plot, where the protagonists act and tie loose ends, creating a vulnerable situation that makes it almost impossible for them to win.  Here’s where the final twist is located, using which the protagonist uses their skills, smartness, and heroic moves to win the battle.

And what could be that is what the player has to figure out using their calculations and full attention to the details of the storyline.

It should be written in a way that satisfies the players about the victory. It also gives them an overview of what happens to the character after the main event, some cut scenes with a detailed view from the given storyline, or the emergence of another villain or alliance of antagonists post-defeat – if you want your game to become a series.

Pay Attention to Details

This is the most important step, where you have to proofread your game story and ensure that you’re not missing out on something. If you want to opt for the non-linear storyline, you may want to prepare all the possible alternatives a gameplay goes through based on the choices made by the players.

In the game story, you should add characters with dialogues as per their role and non-player characters, giving hints to the players about what to do next. With these, it should also have a backstory about every important character and element represented in the story to justify their role and what makes them what they are in the story.

Okay, so this is how the video game storylining is done! But what about some best practices or special considerations? So, read further to know that.

Game Storytelling Best Practices

As you know the steps to create a game story in sequential order, it’s also important to keep best practices in mind to craft a mindblowing story. So, here’s what you need to consider:

Player-Centric Approach

When creating a game storyline, it’s really important to keep the effectiveness of the story in mind throughout. But with that, you should also keep the player’s gaming experience in mind. The story you design for the game should also ask for the player’s selection, including their interaction with the storyline, and much more to make your game storytelling an interactive and engaging experience.

Clear Goals and Motivations

With the storyline creation and adding its hook, you have to ensure the intactness of its motive and goals. No matter how many twists and turns you add to the story for the protagonist, their end goal and motivations should remain the same. So players don’t feel distracted and end up confusing themselves, like which action to perform next and where to take the game.

Catchy and Captivating Introduction

The introduction and conclusion both are important parts of the story or any literature, whether it is being written for the book, movie/show, or game. The start and end points should be catchy, intriguing, obvious, and satisfying for the players. It should create curiosity in the player’s mind to explore the game world further.

Show, Don’t Tell

After the story is written, at the time of portrayal, it should show the storyline going with overlaid dialogues, actions, and visuals rather than its expositions with just someone telling the story.

Maintain Consistency

Consistency is the key to many concepts, and the same applies to game storytelling as well. It’s the key that helps you keep the players captivated throughout the gameplay.

Balancing the Pace

In the realm of game story narration, achieving a balance between pacing and narrative progression becomes an essential aspect of crafting an engaging player experience. The interplay between pacing and story turns is a dynamic force that can significantly influence players’ immersion and curiosity, emotional investment, and overall enjoyment of the gameplay.

Foreshadowing

In the games, foreshadowing means indicating to players the hint while narrating the game story and giving hints to the players to know what that representation is about, how to check a particular setup, what to do next, and how to do it.

It is the building block in the game storytelling that helps to smoothly onboard players and help them play like PROs.

Be Careful when Adding Story Twists

A game story with many plot twists makes a challenging impression on players, giving them more motivation to play it to win it. But when adding such difficulties and story twists, ensure that the storyteller doesn’t fall into that trap and end up confusing the story. To avoid that, outlining the story with clear differences may help you to be on track.

External Feedback Over Personal Instincts

As a storyteller, having confidence in the crafted game story is an appreciation point, but to be more sure, it’s important to have it proofread by others who know the game’s storytelling. It helps you get external feedback on the effectiveness of the story and what could be done to improve it.

By following these best practices, you can craft an amazing, exciting game story that is interesting to watch and to be a part of.

What Kind of Talents to Hire for the Preparation of Video Game Storytelling?

As the word storytelling says about having more work to be done, it can’t be done alone. Creating captive and immersive game storytelling experiences involves a collaborative effort from a diverse team of talented individuals. So, when doing so, you should form a team of:

  • Game Writers or Narrative Designers who are well-versed in crafting storylines, concept art, characters, dialogues, and overall narrative structure with storyboarding.
  • Game Designers who can work closely with game narrative artists to design missions, quests, and interactions, enhancing the narrative experience.
  • Game World and Level Designers who are responsible for creating game environments, landscapes, and settings as per the storyline.
  • 2D/3D Character Artists who creatively craft characters meeting the game storyline.
  • Game Concept Artists are the minds behind the visuals that can be portrayed in the game world as written by the writer.
  • Game UI/UX Designers who adjust the game screen designs, such as game menus, HUDs, and user interaction supports, enhance the game narrative experiences.
  • Game Animators are the ones adding special visual effects to the game, making the story narrative experience an amusing one.
  • Creative Game Directors are the leading minds who interact and guide the entire team to create the game story and narratives visually that are perfectly aligned with the gameplay and mechanics.

Apart from that, you can also hire game cinematic directors and project managers to make your game the type of experience you have once conceptualized.

How Can 300Mind Gaming Studio Help You with Game Storytelling?

Game storytelling is at the core of deciding whether it will be an interesting one that motivates us to complete it or just another game that we play to kill boredom. Hence, it should be crafted carefully by considering all the points that we have mentioned in this blog. For this, you do require help from professionals who have created interesting games like ROFL and Forbidden Islands with amazing storytelling.

At 300Mind, we have a dedicated team of game artists with extensive industry experience, all working in harmony, who can help you with your game development from ideation to storyboarding to design and development with quality assurance. Got an amazing game idea? Share with us, and let’s craft it together!

FAQs on Game Storytelling

What’s the difference between storytelling and storyboarding?

Storytelling and storyboarding are related concepts and also sound quite similar, but they refer to different aspects. Storytelling is the art of conveying a narrative with spoken or written words that also includes the structure of characters, events, conflicts, and resolutions. On the other hand, storyboarding is a visual tool that focuses on the visual representation and layout of scenes to guide the production process.

How are video games different from movie storytelling?

It’s quite a clear difference. In movies, the viewers don’t have the control of changing the storyline, whereas, in video game narratives, players have the freedom to make choices and change the storyline based on their actions. Therefore, storytelling in video games is more dynamic in nature and provides an engaging medium to the players.

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How Racing Games are Gaining the Traction and Why You Must Invest in It? https://300mind.studio/blog/why-invest-in-racing-game-development/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:24:00 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/?p=1178 Are you ready to establish yourself in the fast-paced world of racing games? Read this useful guide to understand the growth opportunities and benefits of investing in racing game development.

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Do you remember going to the game parlors to play racing games? Or staying hooked to video games playing Need for Speed or Asphalt on weekends. Platforms have shifted from video games to mobile phones and game parlors to VR rooms, but the popularity of racing games has only increased with time.

Even in the present era, racing games have been dominating the industry and ruling over the hearts of hardcore gamers. Why wouldn’t they be? These racing games offer an exhilarating experience of speed and competition. Players feel the adrenaline rush as they run through the tracks with their vehicles on high-speed.

Moreover, the appeal of racing games spans different age groups and demographics. All players love racing games, whether they’re hardcore racing enthusiasts or casual gamers. These games cater to a broad audience interested in thrilling and adventurous games.

Probably that’s the reason why more and more individuals and companies are investing in racing game development and gaining higher revenues. However, these reasons are a small part of the entire scenario, and there is a lot to know about online racing games.

This blog speaks about racing games and tells how they have gained popularity over time. You must know these facts before investing your money in racing game development. So here is what you need to learn about them.

What are Racing Games?

Racing games are a genre of video games that offer the experience of driving and racing. Gamers play the role of a driver and participate in various types of races like circuit races, rally races, street races, etc. Their main goal is to reach the finish line before their competitors within the given time.

These games are available on various platforms and devices, including iOS, Android, PCs, gaming consoles, and smartphones. They replicate real-world driving physics and mechanics to arcade-style games prioritizing fast-paced and accessible gameplay.

How Racing Games Become Popular Over the Time?

Racing games have evolved with time and accepted change to fit into the modern era. In 1973, Atari launched Space Race, the first racing gaming in history. In the game, two players controlled spaceships and played the game to cross the screen.

Again in 1973, developer Taito launched an almost similar game named Astro Race. After this release, other companies and developers followed the trail, and the popularity of racing games picked up the pace. A racing game called Speed Race, released in 1974, brought the race on track using scrolling graphics. The fun-filled and feature-rich game pulled the player’s attention and walked on the path to success. In the same year, many racing games were released featuring cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles.

In the 1980s, Namco launched Rally-X with background music and other sound elements. They later became a part of racing games. After a while, Pole Position appeared with a single-player game feature and Formula 1 racing cars. In this game, players competed against seven other computer-generated opponents. The advanced version of Pole Position: Final Lap made it to 8 players and added four and two-player sit-down cabinets in the game.

1990 was the era when racing games became popular and reached all hardcore gamers. With the release of interesting Nintendo games like F-Zero and Super Mario Cart, racing games won the hearts of players and garnered unbeatable popularity. Slowly, the evolution reached modern PCs, Play Stations, Xbox, gaming consoles, and smartphones.

Game development companies improved graphics and mitigated complex texturing to enhance quality and user base. Now, the games like Forza Horizon 5, F1 2022, Dirt 5, NFS Heat, GRID, Dirt Rally 2.0, etc., are trending in the industry.

What are the Benefits of Investing in Racing Game Development?

The online gaming industry is rapidly growing due to its significant popularity. Among which racing games have a dedicated fanbase. The wide fan following has made the industry an attractive niche for developers and investors.

Therefore investing money in online racing game development is a lucrative and promising venture for several reasons. Here are some compelling reasons to consider:

The Appeal of Racing Games

Advancements in racing games’ graphics, gaming engines, online environments, and infrastructure create realistic and immersive experiences. The appearance and features are hard to resist for any game lover, and this appeal makes racing games investment worthy.

Diverse Audience

Racing games acquire a broad audience, varying from casual players to hardcore gamers. It fits into the preference of people of all ages. Therefore, it attracts a substantial player base, leading to potential revenues from multiple platforms and downloads.

Potential Growth Opportunities

The gaming industry, including online racing games, has witnessed significant growth in recent years. By 2026, it is forecasted to hit the mark of $4.4 billion at a CAGR of 12.2%. These games also boost user engagement and keep them entertained for an extended period. Therefore, investors may benefit from potential growth and higher return on investment than their expectations.

Various Revenue Streams

Online racing games earn from various revenue streams like a freemium model, premium model, in-app purchase, in-game currency purchase, advertisement, sponsorship, marketing, etc. These streams generate substantial revenue if the game offers appealing and desirable items. However, before investing, you should understand the revenue models of these games in depth and decide accordingly.

Technical Advancements

Recently added technical advancements, like high-definition graphics, visual realism, realistic lighting effects, detailed environment, stimulation algorithms, improved physics engines, authentic driving sensations, etc., make the game more challenging. These advancements have improved the gameplay experience, resulting in better engagement and an increased user base.

Growth of Racing Games in the eSports Industry

The emergence of racing games in eSports is another growth factor and benefit of investing in their development. They have found an important place in online streaming games.

Moreover, the eSports industry has developed a robust infrastructure, including dedicated leagues, tournaments, and eSports events. All factors will benefit racing games and contribute to their growth and success.

Most Favorite Racing Games in The Market

More than hundreds of racing games have been released over the years, but not all of them acquired players’ attention. Only a few of them sustained the changing landscape and succeeded in satisfying players’ changing preferences.

To help you identify those games, we have listed the most favorite online racing games. Here is the list.

Asphalt 9: Legends

Asphalt 9 is the upgraded version of Asphalt 8 and is among the best online racing games for Android and other platforms. The game allows players to choose different models of cars, varying from W.Motors to Ferrari.

The game has attractive graphics and engaging features that encourage players to stay in the game for hours. Its different playing modes, like multiplayer and career mode, also contribute to its engagement and popularity.

Mario Kart Tour

Nintendo’s this game is interesting and popular enough to be on the list. Players can enjoy short-duration races, touch controllers, and launch turtle shells. The game is a joyous ride and offers ultimate fun.

Players can easily tap and change the lane, shield themselves, and pass through colliders. The game has brilliant designs, graphics, and exciting stages that motivate players to play more and win the game.

The Traffic Racer Game

The game is known for its endless play, astonishing graphics, intriguing concept, animations, and sound effects. Players’ main goal is to drive as far as possible without crashing or running out of time. The game has easy-to-use controls and unique characteristics like speed, acceleration, and handling.

The game allows players to navigate through heavy traffic, challenging players to drive at high speed and avoid collisions with other vehicles. Players can also switch between career mode, endless mode, time trial mode, and free ride.

Need for Speed

The game is famous for its detailed and intriguing graphics, providing realistic and visually impressive environments, car models, and special effects. ‘Need for Speed’ has an open-world environment for players to roam around, participate in races, engage in thrilling activities, and explore freely.

Police pursuits are another signature element of the game. In which players have to evade law enforcement officers during the race or free roam. The feature makes the game more challenging and exciting.

Apart from these games, F1 mobile racing, CSR Racing 2, Hill Climb Racing, Real Racing 3, Top Speed, Traffic Racer, etc., are some notable racing games that have acquired a broad audience.

Predictions of the Future of Racing Games in The Gaming Industry

The market analysis of online racing games showcases a robust and competitive landscape with advancing trends and characteristics. Here are notable predictions about racing games backing up growth claims.

  • As per the report of Statista, in 2021, there were 209 million mobile gamers in the USA. The number has reached up to 213 million and is expected to rise more in the future. Now, you can estimate the potential for growth in the gaming industry.
  • The online gaming industry is forecasted to reach a CAGR of 5.86% between 2021-2026. In addition, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to achieve maximum growth and flourish at a high CAGR rate during 2023-2028.
  • In the Asia-Pacific region, the requirement for free-to-play games will soar high, and users will prefer to play the game for free. They may purchase the paid version if it has attractive features.
  • Realistic simulation racing games are in trend and attract game lovers and eSports competitors. Along with it, Arcade-style racing games have casual and accessible gameplay attracting a dedicated audience.
  • The launching of new games with advanced technicalities may widen the user base. Many Indian companies are opting for game localization and adding customized and Indianized game features. Their user-friendly interface will play a crucial role in maximizing revenues and profits.

Various racing eSports tournaments, events, and leagues will garner substantial audiences and game participants, helping to achieve increased sponsorships and investments in the sector.

Upcoming Trends & Innovations in Racing Games

The gaming industry is adapting to change at an incredible speed. How come racing games stay behind? They are also ready to welcome several trends and innovations to stay relevant in the competitive market. Here are the most promising trends and innovations to look forward to in racing games.

  • Integration of VR and AR technologies will have a role to play in racing games. VR headsets will provide a sense of reality by putting players in the driver’s seat. On the other hand, AR elements will introduce interactivity and real-world environments to the gameplay.
  • You may see more open-world racing games offering vast virtual environments to explore. Players can engage in free-roaming and discover hidden challenges, events, and secrets within the open-world setting. Also, they can collaborate with real-world motorsport series and teams and be a part of virtual competitions and championships.
  • These games will have the latest hardware and benefit from the next-gen graphics capabilities, providing visually stunning and realistic visuals for a better gaming experience.
  • Racing games will integrate AI systems and machine learning algorithms. AI opponents will learn and react according to the player’s behavior, challenging the player in an open environment and making the race more engaging and intriguing.
  • Online racing games might adapt and incorporate sustainability themes, promoting eco-friendly driving, hybrid or electric vehicles, and environmentally conscious racing events.
  • These games may feature interactive environments projecting real-time weather changes, day-night cycles, and dynamic track conditions to add more challenges and promote strategic implementation.

The game environment will encourage participants to create and share their custom tracks, challenges, cars, and achievements with others on various social media platforms. User-generated content will help foster engagement and extend the game’s longevity.

Why Employ 300Mind For Racing Game Development?

Till now, you might have understood that investing in racing games presents compelling opportunities for savvy investors willing to gain good profits. However, game development has a significant role in the success of the game. For that, you must hire a reliable racing game development company like 300Mind that can open the door to opportunities for you.

300Mind is a professional game development company having an experienced team with specialized skills and knowledge in various aspects of game development. We take responsibility for all aspects, including game design, development, concept art, animations, sound effects, graphic design, quality testing, and game publishing. Our creative input, attention to detail, and dedicated support will help you achieve your growth.

FAQ on Racing Game Development

What are the potential revenue streams in racing game development?

Racing game development has various streams to acquire targeted revenues. Its main models include game sales, in-game purchases, subscription models, game downloads, virtual currency selling, merchandise and collectibles, events, advertisement, sponsorship, and many more.

How much does it cost to develop a racing game?

The cost of racing game development relies on many factors, including pre-production, game concept, technology, platform, development, technical aspects, level design, texture, animations, audio, sound design, etc.

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Game Environment Modeling – Unveiling Secrets to Keep Players Engaged https://300mind.studio/blog/game-environment-modeling-guide/ Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:16:42 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/2023/07/07/game-environment-modeling-guide/ Game environment modeling stands for crafting 2D or 3D game arenas, playable locations where your digital video game story takes place. Read our guide on on game environment modeling.

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Do you know why popular games like Fortnite, PUBG, and even our childhood-time famous games like GTA Vice City are so popular? Okay, let me give you a hint! Even if there’s nothing to do for a few seconds in the game, you still have enjoyed exploring that game arena, haven’t you? So, that’s the game environment that kept you interested in exploring the game more and more.

But do you know what kind of processes those game developers have gone through to craft such an immersive game environment? Well, you might as well have a rough idea, but definitely interested in exploring those answers.

And, if you’re someone looking for a guide to game environment modeling, then this guide is specifically designed for you.

So, let’s land in the arena of game environment creation and begin exploring its mysteries.

What Is Game Environment Modeling?

What is Game Environment Modeling

Game environment modeling stands for crafting 2D or 3D game arenas, playable locations where your digital video game story takes place.

This practice focuses on the detailing of designing and building various game environment-based elements, including game characters and non-playing characters, terrain and landscapes, architectural objects and structures, interaction and mechanics, and a lot more that help you illustrate a compelling game storyline as you’ve thought of.

In short, game environment modeling aims to create immersive and fascinating environments that can offer a stylized backdrop for the gameplay and game narrative.

With all these details, please don’t confuse yourself about the game environment being the game map design.

As the name suggests, the game map only focuses on the territory indicating the occurrence of the gameplay. On the other hand, a game environment design is a game world that players see and interact with while playing the game.

Not just that, there are also types of game environment modeling, which we’ll learn in the next section.

What Are The Types of Game Environment Modeling?

You’d be surprised to know that, but yes, you can design the game world of your imagination in more than one type. So, to know the details, let’s explore the game environment modeling types:

1. 2D Modeled Game Environment

2D Modeled Game Environment

The game environment, modeled with two-dimensional (2D) objects, terrains, and many other things, takes the gameplay with quite an amazing journey to nostalgia with its retro-stylized aesthetics.

Unlike 3D-modeled game environments, 2D environments may lack visual depth and realism, but they have their own charms and advantages for the game creators. Well, 2D game environment design is not that easy, but when compared to 3D modeling, it is a lot easier and requires less computational power to render.

Though with some limitations in the 2D game environment design, 2D artists play quite a creative role to create game environments that are captivating for the players to explore.

2. 3D Modeling-based Game Environment

3D Modeling-based Game Environment

It’s defined, as the name suggests, as a game environment model designed with 3D modeling techniques, where every object of the game environment, including characters, terrain, etc., is designed in three dimensional.

Due to such techniques, the 3D-modeled game environment provides players with a more immersive and interactive experience with realistic movements, dynamic lighting, shadows, and environment exploration from different angles. In short, it enables players to a completely new world with more sense of depth and scale.

When it comes to 3D modeling, you must know two main types based on the polygons used in the game environment design, which are as follows:

Low Poly Game Environment

Low Poly Game Environment

The low poly game environment contains 3D polygon-based visuals and objects that contain a fewer number of polygons – around 300+ polygons.

Of course, game visuals designed in a low poly design style might not be as appealing to see as high poly models but can provide a way better experience than 2D visuals.

The best thing about low poly game environment design is that it requires artists to spend less time and effort to design and render them.

So, where can this low poly design be used?

You can use low poly art models for secondary assets or to design simple backgrounds for your game.

Moreover, these game art models are also preferred by experts to use when you require 3D game environment models but have less time for modeling and texturing.

High Poly Game Environment

High Poly Game Environment

When there is a requirement for designing game environments with more details while ensuring high fidelity and realism, then high poly design models are used. High poly models often help you create game environments in a much better polished and natural way.

So, to design gaming assets for a foreground environment. And when designed in a high poly game environment, it provides players with an aesthetically pleasing and amusing experience.

How Is Game Environment Modeling Different For Different Platforms?

Well, the game environment is consistent across every touchpoint, so what’s the point of discussing this? Even though the environment remains the same, the screen size and design planning can vary. Therefore, it is crucial to discuss game environment modeling for different platforms.

1. For PCs and Consoles

When designing the game environment to make it supportable to PC and consoles, it is essential to focus on the design, details, and clarity of the visuals as they stretch to fit on the bigger screens.

Because of this and to avoid the quality of the game visuals degrading, you need to go for the high poly game design model. So, you can provide your PC and console-using game players more immersive gaming experience.

Apart from making the game environment look visually stunning, you do want to adjust its lighting and transitions along with visuals.

Moreover, you can add and adjust other appropriate assets that fit into that game environment really comfortably, creating a positive effect on the plot.

2. Mobile phones

When designing a mobile game environment, it’s okay if you don’t focus much on details. The reason is, how much will you cover on that small screen? Yes, it’s alright! You do want to provide your users with amazing gaming experiences!

But when we say you don’t need to focus much on details, it doesn’t mean you’ll degrade the quality of the game environment – instead, you can go for minimalism. And for smaller screens, you can even go for the low-poly design models.

So, when designing a game environment for a smaller screen, always look for ways to make each element fit in the design perfectly rather than taking up too much space.

In the other case of the big screens like PC games, you should ensure to add details into the game environment design to give it a realistic look and a more immersive experience for your players.

Essential Building Blocks in Game Environment Modeling

When working on game environment modeling, you may require distinct expertise in game design to meet various modeling requirements, enabling you to create a cohesive and immersive game environment: 

Static Modeling

Static Modeling

These are the bonus models in the game environment that are non-interactive and serve as backdrops for the game. As the name suggests, such elements are pre-rendered and remain the same throughout the game – meaning does not change dynamically during gameplay.

Though not interactive in the game, they play an essential role in elevating the game visuals.

Terrain Modeling

This type of modeling involves the creation of realistic, stylized landscapes, such as mountains, valleys, and other natural features. Our Game Artists utilize various technicals, like texture mapping, sculpting, and vegetation placement, to give the terrain a realistic look.

Architectural Modeling

Architectural Modeling

In the requirement of designing detailed interior spaces, such as buildings, houses, or dungeons, architectural modeling comes of great help. Our 3D artists can help you craft stunning architectural elements within the game world.

Level Design

level design for game environment

Game levels are what keep players captivated by the game. So, when designing it, level designers should usher players through their game objectives while creating challenges for players that motivate them to play it more.

Our level designers work closely with game designers to ensure to create interesting challenges with each new level.

Read Also: Stylized vs Hyper-Realistic: Which is Better for Game Art Design

Game Environment Modeling Considerations

After knowing the building blocks of game environment modeling, you do want to know some essential considerations to avoid further obstacles. So, let’s know game environment modeling considerations:

1. Choose The Appropriate Game Environment Aesthetics

Game aesthetics are considered the best when your players also vibe on the same level as you want them to experience. And this gaming mood setting is done by choosing the appropriate visual style of your game.

So, when starting to design your game environment, you should ask yourself a question – “how do you want your players to experience when playing your game?”

If you want your gamers to feel at ease with your relaxing mind game concept, you might want to go for the low poly design with a soothing color palette to give them a relaxed gaming experience.

On the other hand, when designing a game environment where your gamers’ excitement level is required, you can go for the highlighting, vibrant yet natural-looking color theme with shadows, lighting, and realism, to keep them focused and excited.

So, the right decision for your game environment theme selection is a must to set the mood and tone of your dream game.

2. Source Your Game Design Inspiration

There is always an inspiration behind every game design idea you’ve got, and when planning to bring that to life, you must source your inspiration. Apart from that, you should also gather references to similar games with the details you like and have impressed their target audience. So taking reference from it, you can design your game environment in a much better way than that which will help you illustrate a better gaming experience.

3. Find The Right Game Engine

After gathering all the references you need to craft your dream game world, you need a robust design tool and a game engine to bring your inspiration to life. But as in the market, amongst countless game design tools available, which one will you choose?

You must have heard of popular game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, offering top-notch features to design visually stunning and highly detailed game worlds and their elements, characters, and more.

If you’re developing a game that requires a high level of realism and detailing, you can go for both Unity and Unreal Engine due to their competitive features and performance.

But for developing visually stunning 2D games, many experts advise going for Unity Game Engine as it provides more compelling features and supports for the same.

4. Set The Game Mood With Appropriate Light And Color Settings

Lights and colors play a vital role in setting up the mood of the game and its players, which makes it important for you to select and apply those appropriately.

Hence, in our game, Forbidden Islands, we used the dark night sky with other environment elements visualized in the sparkled, vibrant neon colors, creating a perfect alluring arena to explore.

The same goes with our star product ROFL – Roll Fall Land, where our game creators have used neon colors and lighting-based characters (Dice) and lands full of obstacles where the dice fall into the land and give thrills to our game players with each fall.

This is about the only two games we created, but we have a lot more to share with you regarding setting the mood and tone of the game world. Check out our gaming portfolio to know more about our expertise.

5. Look Into Details

The game environment is not just a design but an exploring experience that you want to provide to your players. So, you need to add enough details in your game design that can immerse players into it entirely.

With details, you should also highlight touchpoints in a game that guides players to move ahead in the game and give them another reality kind of gaming experience.

Now that you got through the game environment modeling considerations, let’s move ahead with the next and the most important part of this blog, which will guide you through the process of creating game environments.

A Step-by-step Guide to Game Environment Modeling

Here are the expert-suggested steps to create an immersive and engaging game environment that your players will enjoy exploring:

Planning

planning for game environment

Having a game idea is really great, but to bring that concept to reality, you need to conduct your market study and gather references you’d want to consider further.

After the reference gathering, when you conduct deep reference analysis, you can get a clear idea about the models you want to create next and with what kind of details.

After this clear vision for the design, you can start with the rough grayboxing. But what is this grayboxing?

Greyboxing is a process of creating rough models or arrangements on a surface using blocks that give developers a hint of what kind of basic structure will come and start the development alongside the design process, resulting in smart working and time-saving.

This process gives you time to think about and add details to that arrangement and undo it if you feel like you can do better in the design.

3D Modeling

3D modeling

After creating the gray boxes, it’s time to go for 3D modeling to give your rough boxes a detailed touch.

You’ll find many 3D modeling tools to create game objects, but many 3D modeling artists suggest using design tools like Unity or Blender to create them finely. When doing so, 3D environment artists prepare meshes of game assets to fill their details in the later part.

Some 3D modeling tools may provide automation features to automatically generate objects, but when needed, high-quality and innovative models should be done manually.

UV Mapping & Texturing

UV Mapping & Texturing

Now, it’s time to do the UV mapping, where U stands for the horizontal axis, and V stands for the vertical axis. It is a process of generating a 2D representation of a 3D object. The objective of doing UV mapping is to generate a link between a surface mesh and image texture, controlling pixels on the texture adjacent to the 3D mesh vertex.

When applied texturing on UV mapping, it helps to bring your game environment concept to life. The main point of using texturing is to create environment materials matching up with the game concept. It also makes it possible to edit the expanded models.

Moreover, the applied 2D graphics on the 3D models make the game environment and assets look more realistic. To do so, both Unity UV editor and Unreal Engine Texturing come of great help.

Lighting & Game Animation

Lighting & Game Animation

Well, you’ve created your 3D game elements realistic, but to give this feeling to players, you need to apply lighting and some animation. Lighting helps to add another layer to the 3D game environment and makes it look more alive.

Well, in the game world, you can add lighting in the form of shadows, highlighting any particular asset, or any other way to give your subject a more realistic look.

In game design, visual effects (VFX) and animation also play a crucial role. And you can add it in the form of wind, air, smoke, or any other atmospheric element.

Once you have done this edit in your freshly created game environment, then your amazingly compelling game environment is ready to be incorporated into your code and final game.

Game Environment Modeling Challenges

Well, after knowing the process of creating a game environment, you do want to know the challenges which you can face throughout the process. So you can be prepared to deal with those challenges early on. Let’s take a look at potential game environment modeling challenges:

Realism

Well, many game designers perfectly create the 3D modeling of the game environment, but giving it a realistic and believable touch is very crucial, which is a tough nut to crack.

Level of Detail (LOD) Management

Every game player wants to have a game visual of their perspective with real-time performance. So, to achieve that LOD technique is often used to maintain the level of detail (like seen as more detailed and reduction in the level of detail when going) as they come near and go far away.

Procedural Generation

In this technique, the game environment designer is asked to diverse environments dealing with varied landscapes. And in this type, designers may face a challenge in ensuring uniformity in distinctiveness, or we can say balancing randomness.

Dynamic Player Interactions

Well, designing and achieving an environment that interacts with the player’s every action in a realistic and consistent manner can be a bit complex, especially in highly dynamic, simulation-heavy games.

How Can 300Mind Benefit You In Game Environment Modeling?

After getting through the challenges, you might have gotten an idea that you’ll need assistance from professional game environment designers. And when you hire a game development partner like 300Mind, you get extensive support to develop custom game environments like no one has ever designed before.

We have extensive expertise in 2D and 3D game development with motion graphics and animation. In short, we provide full-service game design and development solutions to deliver you the cutting-edge gaming solution you need. Reach out to us with your requirements for us to provide you with a world-class gaming solution.

FAQs on Game Environment Modeling

How much does it cost to create a game environment?

Well, we cannot directly say the cost for the same as it depends on factors, like the genre of the game, research requirement, the level of the design complexity and uniqueness, the type of visual elements you want to add to the design, and a lot more.

What’s the difference between game art & game design?

While game design covers game concepts, mechanisms, levels, and user experience, game art focuses on the creation of the characters, environment, visual effects, and a lot more.

The post Game Environment Modeling – Unveiling Secrets to Keep Players Engaged appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

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Blockchain in Gaming – All You Need to Know https://300mind.studio/blog/blockchain-in-gaming/ Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:33:25 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/2023/06/08/blockchain-in-gaming/ With a growing number of enterprises turning towards blockchain technology for their gamification initiatives, the future looks bright for crypto. Here's everything about how blockchain is redefining the gaming industry.

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Mobile gaming is currently the most popular form of gaming with over 14.4 billion games downloaded across the App Store and Google Play. The concepts of game monetization, freemium, and advergaming have made mobile games a highly profitable segment of the tech sector.

Users today can purchase in-game assets with fiat currency, however, they do not truly own the asset. They merely have access to it.

With the advent of the blockchain, users can now access secure platforms to sell/barter in-game currency, have secure decentralized server caches to store in-game assets, and truly own the assets they have purchased. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

What Is The Blockchain and What Roles It Plays in Gaming?

Let’s begin by demystifying the latest tech buzzword: Blockchain. In layman’s words, the blockchain is a decentralized distributed ledger that records and enables secure transactions without users having to pay a third-party transaction facilitator (generic banks) their middle-man fees.

Also, the blockchain in gaming witnessed a valuation of $4.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $818.5 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 66.5% for the timeline 2023-2032.

But how’s blockchain utilized in games? You must be very curious to know about the roles blockchain plays in transforming gaming.

Well, blockchain gets the attention of all NFT and cryptocurrency users and web3 and metaverse lovers out there with an undying interest in gaming and making in-game purchases. So, you can utilize blockchain in gaming in the following ways:

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a virtual cryptic currency that facilitates secure transactions with end-point verifications. But how is cryptocurrency utilized in gaming? As per an old report, gamers are around one-third of the population globally, from which around 41.9 million gamers were using cryptocurrency.

Apart from being a virtual and cryptic currency, cryptocurrencies are utilized normally as we make online transactions. So, in gaming, cryptocurrency is mainly utilized to make in-game purchases, like power-ups, characters, costumes, avatars, lifelines, etc. These types of games supporting purchases using cryptocurrency are known as crypto games. 

NFT

NFT stands for non-fungible tokens, also known as cryptographic assets with proof of immutable ownership stored on the blockchain. With the utilization of web3 technologies and blockchain in gaming, NFTs can be utilized in any form, such as images, music, skins, cards, or any other digital asset. Such games are known as NFT-based games.

The hype about NFT in Gaming is real, as it facilitates players an opportunity to own and manage their digital gaming assets and even trade/sell their gaming NFTs.

Play-to-Earn

Blockchain has introduced a new genre in the games we all know as Crypto Games or Play-to-Earn Games that allow users to earn or spend cryptocurrencies in a game. These games also allow players to add & convert their money into cryptocurrencies and vice versa.

So, the process is to install that game, play it, and collect its rewards in the form of cryptocurrency, which can be redeemed to purchase real-world goods and services.

Pay-to-Earn

The concept of Pay-to-Earn generally applies to NFT-based games, where players have to make in-game purchases, such as buying NFT tokens.

Although such a type is named pay-to-earn, these games only cover the “Pay” part. Here, the concept of “earn” is considered the valuation of the in-game assets you have purchased, which vary based on the performance. Additionally, to earn the most value from purchased assets, players have to make strategic decisions. The good part of this is that the value of such assets often grows with time.

Moreover, players also have the freedom to sell these assets without any meddling from the regulator or game developer.

Virtual Events and Tournaments

In the gaming industry, we have seen many virtual events and tournaments which play an important role. But the problem with such events is the flawless tracking of event registration and rewards earned by participants.

Thanks to blockchain, the management of virtual gaming events and tournaments has become easy. The Blockchain-powered gaming solutions are filled with the ability to track every action happening across the tournament and verify rewards by respective participants.

Moreover, you can implement and integrate blockchain-powered payment gateways to offer your players a secure channel for effortless online payment transactions.

GameFi

Blockchain technology has introduced use with the term decentralized finance, giving users the freedom to manage their finances with top-notch security without worrying about the interference of any regulatory parties.

By merging gaming with decentralized finance (DeFi), you can create a new system called GameFi that allows players to earn while playing your games and use their earnings to purchase goods and services of their choice, just as we have seen in the above section – Play-to-Earn.

How is Blockchain Redefining The Gaming Industry?

Let’s read on for everything you need to know about how blockchain tech is redefining the gaming industry in 2023:

Make In-Game Transaction Faster, Easier, and More Reliable with Cryptocurrencies

As a game developer, integrating in-game payments is essential to overall profitability. However, transactions through 3rd party payment providers to process fiat currency transactions are often unreliable, expensive, and quite cumbersome to integrate.

With cryptocurrency transactions users can easily make in-platform payments without having to worry about issues like platform stability, transaction security, and asset storage.

Access to a Safe and Secure the Game Environment 

Thanks to the highly effective data encryption technologies (private key-public key) crypto token transactions on decentralized blockchain networks are highly secure and invulnerable to traditional server-targeted hacking. Even the much feared ’Distributed Denial of Service’ (DDoS) attacks are ineffective against the blockchain.

Therefore, as a game owner or a game developer, with blockchain tech, you are immediately presented with a secure environment where you can both develop your game and monetize it.

Buy And Sell In-Game Assets Securely

Despite the fluctuation in cryptocurrency evaluations, there is still a massive amount of popular interest in crypto tokens.

Making crypto tokens in-game currency can add ‘pop’ value to your game as well as offer a highly secure method of transactions and monetization. With web wallets, users can keep their digital currencies secure from malicious hackers while also acquiring a safe and dependable transactional platform.

With private keys offered by the blockchain, security is assured, and coupled with positive security practices like regular back-ups and secure surfing, users can rest assured that their assets and money are safe.

Acquire Interoperable Profiles Of Players

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could transfer all the in-game currency you have earned in Halo Infinite to your NFS Unbound profile?

While Microsoft and EA still haven’t worked out the intricacies of interoperability at this scale,( we really hope they do so) several blockchain games (albeit ones under the same parent organization) offer interoperability where user stats and resources can be transferred to completely separate games.

Players can access their assets and their unique public addresses across games thus facilitating boosted game time and brand loyalty.

Players can Securely Store In-Game Assets on the Blockchain

Centralized servers are every hacker’s favorite prey. A centralized server is a stationary and in all fairness, a rather easy-to-pick-off target. All a hacker needs to do is break the encryption and take all the assets stored on the server. But the scenario is quite different with the blockchain in the picture.

If a player buys digital collectibles on a blockchain-based game, crypto wallets offer the perfect option for secure storage.

Players can Truly Own Their In-Game Assets with Blockchain Gaming

We’ve mentioned this aspect of the blockchain in the beginning of this post. Now, let’s dig in a little deeper. In the current scenario, players don’t really own their in-game assets. Thanks to the smart contracts offered by a blockchain-based game, all transactions within it are executed once the coded-in conditions are met.

When a blockchain-based game is launched, all the in-game assets and stats of the player are transferred to his unique public address, accessible only by him. Since the public address of the user cannot be changed by a centralized agent, ownership transfers of in-game assets are only possible when authorized by the original player.

Players and Developers can Collaborate over the Blockchain to Build Better Games

Blockchain tech is transforming the gaming industry thanks to the lucid communication between players and developers. Given that decision-making on blockchain, apps is governed by its community consensus and not top-down controls. Hence, players now have the option to protect their stake in the game.

Most blockchain game developers proactively invite player feedback to enhance game UX, appeal and playability of their games. If the community is in agreement, the change/upgrade will be implemented.

Create Ultra-Rare In-Game Assets with Real-World Value

Rare digital assets are becoming a massive source of income. As the blockchain has the ability to project real-world value to a digital asset, in-game collectibles are reaching astronomical prices. As the sector’s revenue is driven up resulting in the creation of even rarer assets.

With the “ If-Then-False” conditions offered by blockchain smart contracts, specific patterns of interaction produce hyper-rare and immensely coveted game collectibles.

Acquire Tangible, Real-World Value from In-Game NFTs

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) created from in-game graphics can be used to purchase assets or be traded for NFTs from a different user. These digital assets carry a real-world value that can be exchanged for fiat currency.

NFTs also serve as digital ‘pink slips’ to bragging rights and could be anything from a screenshot of the score the user has reached within the game or a specific form of customization/skin he has created or purchased. With the advent of NFTs in blockchain gaming, users can now truly own their in-game assets.

Play-to-Earn Systems for Professional Gamers

While live-streaming is still the most popular method deployed by gamers to earn money, crypto games are a close second. Crypto games allow players (after they pay a fee) to compete and earn by beating benchmarks or other players. The game could be a round of poker or an NFSesque street racer.

The cryptocurrency that gamers earn after winning in these games can then be exchanged for fiat currency.

The ethos behind a crypto game is to encourage a player to keep returning to the game by incentivizing him with crypto assets that carry actual monetary value.

Effective and Revenue building  Rollouts of Virtual Gaming Tournaments

The gaming industry continues to host many gaming tournaments from time to time. But the foundational costs of such events can be very high. Organizers have to shell out for venues, prize pools, and management and administration teams.

With the blockchain tying into gaming, the task before the organizers becomes an easy one. The most pressing issue in virtual tournaments is tracking whether or not an entrant has received his winnings post a match.

Thanks to the hyper-accurate traceability of a blockchain transaction, organizers can track payouts as well as encourage trading for added revenue.

Augmented User Experience for Serious Gamers

Given that the blockchain integrates a pay-to-play and system for crypto-games, professional gamers naturally look for a reason to invest their resources into a game. Even though a gaming company may offer prizes, transactions made as payouts for gamers are neither secure nor transparent.

This can prove to be a massive issue as it would hurt the reliability of the organizers/the gaming studio.

The blockchain steps in to save the day by offering enhanced levels of control over not just the transactions but the entire gaming experience.

Gamers can now build bespoke characters, choose their own story and create unique play styles given the massive amount of customization that can be supported by a blockchain shard.

Challenges Faced by Blockchain Technology in the Gaming Industry

Even as blockchain tech is consistently opening up new inroads to secure game monetization for businesses, given that these are unchartered waters, there are a few challenges that the technology faces when deployed to the gaming industry. Some of these challenges are enumerated below:

Complexity

Building crypto games isn’t all that difficult. But getting a first-time user on board a crypto game is relatively complex. For a user to start playing, user account creation is the first step. Now, this is by no means difficult but it may dissuade users who want an instant fix and are instead faced with a sign up form.

The second issue is that for the user to begin playing he must set up a crypto wallet and then purchase a certain amount of crypto. This is a significant barrier to entry as it makes the game a pure pay-to-play system which isn’t very popular in traditional gaming spheres.

Regulatory Hassles

While Bitcoin and Ethereum have gained credibility over the long run, newer cryptocurrencies like MANA or Theta pose a challenge as regulatory bodies are still in the dark about how these currencies function and whether they can be securely deployed to blockchain gaming.

Stiff Competition

It goes without saying how competitive the gaming industry is. With new development platforms and games being released every day, it becomes difficult for blockchain games to compete in an arena dominated by traditional games. That being said, blockchain games have their own audience and their popularity is on a steady rise.

The Best Blockchain Games in 2023

The gaming sector sports numerous blockchain-based games. Now that we have covered how the blockchain is critical to the evolution of the gaming industry, let’s touch upon some of the most popular blockchain games of 2023.

CryptoKitties

CryptoKitties

CryptoKitties was launched in November 2017 and it is one of the first blockchain-based games to become available to players. As of 2023, it is by far the most popular game built on the world’s second-largest crypto token, Ethereum.

The idea behind the game is to create new generations of digital kittens and breed in unique traits that make these digital pets valuable.

Users can trade their kittens in the open marketplace of the game or put them in storage until their value appreciates. With features like each kitten having a distinct personality and physical attributes like fur patterns, eye shape, mouth shape, color and accessories, Krypto Kitties is the perfect place to build your very own litter of collectible kitties and make money while doing so.

Decentraland

Decentraland

Decentraland is a 3D virtual reality game that deploys blockchain tech to create a decentralized open world. In Decentraland, players can create content, monetize it, purchase experiences and assets and even build applications.

In Decentraland’s virtual world, players can walk about and explore just as they would do in a new city in real life. In Decentraland, users can pay in crypto to play games, join in on group adventures, enter elite clubs, and purchase properties and assets owned by other users.

Gods Unchained

Gods Unchained

Now that we have spoken about Virtual worlds and virtual pets, it’s only fair that we speak about the ever popular collectible card game, Gods Unchained. Gods Unchained relies on the Ethereum blockchain to track card ownership.

The cards in the game are monetized digital assets that are kept secure by a public as well as a private key. These assets cannot be modified or copied without the owner’s consent making each card unique, and in the process, highly valuable.

The God Unchained cards can also be traded directly among players without having to access the game’s marketplace. Given that the Ethereum blockchain secures them, the threat of your assets being hacked are close to nil.

The Future of Blockchain in the Gaming Industry

We have already discussed a few examples of how blockchain tech can be deployed in the gaming industry. The crux of a successful blockchain game is its user experience, transaction security, and transparency. Storage is also a potent factor contributing to the popularity of a blockchain-based game.

With many enterprises turning towards blockchain technology for their gamification initiatives, the future looks bright for crypto. Many industry head honchos believe that crypto and blockchain are the future of gaming.

Today, the games we play have become increasingly realistic while in-game items have real-world value. It is therefore critical to implement blockchain capabilities into your game if you wish to keep ahead of the competition.

The social aspect of gaming is becoming increasingly crucial to the overall experience of a game. A recent survey stated that 84% of respondents felt that playing video games was a mode of socializing and connecting with people with similar likes and dislikes.

The same study reported that over 3/4th of respondents stated that they have more social interaction in the virtual world as compared to in-person encounters.

Additionally, as blockchain technology continues to evolve both in terms of properties and adoption, enterprises can expect to see a growing number of features and use cases for blockchain tech in gaming.

From fast and ultra-secure transactions to decentralized virtual worlds and digital assets, blockchain tech in gaming is here to stay.

Planning To Build Your Own Blockchain-Based Game?

It goes without saying how massive the global gaming sector is. With revenue in excess of $198.40 billion, the gaming industry has sufficient wiggle room for new blockchain-based entrants. In our opinion, gaming, and blockchain tech complement each other perfectly, and all you need to build the perfect blockchain-based game is the right partner.

At its core, 300Mind is a gaming company of 2D/3D artists, Motion Graphic Designers, Game Artists, and Game Developers who are creative thinkers and the right-fit game development team to hire for your next game development project.

Interested in building the next blockchain-based blockbuster? We are just a click away. So, share your game requirements today to get a quick cost and time estimation!

FAQs for Blockchain in Gaming

Which blockchain is best for gaming?

Well, there are several blockchains you can use, but the Ethereum blockchain is the most trusted one that is extensively utilized for blockchain-powered game development.

Is blockchain gaming profitable?

Indeed, blockchain gaming is profitable for players as well as game developers, but the profitability depends on the type of blockchain in gaming use cases.

How much does it cost to develop a blockchain game?

Well, it’s hard to guess the cost of developing a blockchain game as it can depend on various factors, such as the type of game concept, the complexity of the game, game design and graphics requirements, blockchain integrations, the experience and country of the game design and development team, and much more.

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How to Develop a Fully-fledged Mobile Game From Scratch? https://300mind.studio/blog/mobile-game-development-process/ Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:43:25 +0000 https://300mind.studio/blog/2023/04/06/mobile-game-development-process/ Are you looking to develop a mobile game and not sure how to start? You can learn everything about the mobile game development process and mistakes to avoid through this guide.

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A game is no longer just a game when it becomes a part of our entertainment factor. We get to spot it on non-gaming-related products. It’s just not confined to our mobile game applications, it lives with us.

Whether popular game characters like Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi (Mario’s slimmer and much weirder brother has a notable fan base of its own ), Bal Hanuman from Bal Hanuman game, Glenn from Chained Echoes, or Amicia from A Plague Tale: Requiem or renowned themes and soundtracks, a game becomes a part of our life.

But, have you ever wondered what makes the game reach this level of fame? It takes a lot of research and development, brainstorming sessions, creative arguments, and a lot more stuff that takes you to the path of a successful game.

Why Should You Invest in Mobile Game Development? (Market Overview)

According to SensorTower, the mobile gaming industry is projected to reach $138 billion by 2025.

As per Statista’s report, mobile game apps’ revenue is projected to show an annual compound growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 7.36%, which has resulted in an expected market volume of US$419.70bn by 2027.

mobile game development market overview

Potential revenue from mobile gaming is growing rapidly and becoming quite lucrative. Hence, you can think about investing in a mobile gaming app if you want to take your company to the next level.

So, these are the most common insights about current market metrics and future predictions for the mobile game development industry.

What Kind of Game Applications are you Planning to Develop?

There are different types of games. You need to decide on what your type is and based on that you can proceed with mobile game development. Here we have executed 4 key types of games to help you decide:

1. Casual Games

Casual users are prone to spend irregular time periods actively engaged in the game. These kinds of games can be created in any genre, its market is comparatively larger.

Generally, these games are created with less complex rules and a simple tap-and-swipe interface, Subway Surfers and Cadycrush are prime examples of the same.

The audience of casual games is generally bigger, and the number of casual game downloads is pretty much higher than that of other kinds of games. 

2. Mid-core games

Mid-core games are a tad bit more complex than casual games, from the perspective of production as well as character development and overall gameplay. In such kinds of games, users have to put in more effort and dedication into the game.

As game development companies are generating a good amount of revenue from mid-core gaming applications, we can expect it to continue being one of the trends of game apps

3. Hard-core games

Hardcore games are for gamers who don’t consider games just as their hobby, they are serious gamers. Think of games like God of War Ragnarok, Loot River, Stray, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and many others, they are typical hardcore games.

The audience of this kind of game category is generally youth and they spend incessantly longer periods of time playing games. 

Since such games take more than the usual period of time spent to become a master of it, thus these games tend to have generally higher user engagement.

4. AAA games

AAA are big-budget games and it requires a dedicated full-time team to work on it and produce such games. Similar hard-core games, they too call for ample time and commitment to get the hang of it.

Up until now, AAA games have primarily been launched for PC or console gaming. As smartphones and data streaming are still not well-suited for games categories like AAA, we will see bigger game titles released for mobile gaming super soon.

So, these were the top 4 categories of games. Games are generally divided into these 4 categories. Let’s move forward to learn about segments that will guide you to create a game from scratch.

How to Create Mobile Game from Scratch?

Mobile game development from scratch

In this section, you will learn in detail about the game app development process to develop a robust game that will be all set to welcome new trends in the gaming industry:

1. It all starts with an idea

mobile game idea

Having a great game idea is definitely helpful when it comes to game app development, as it can provide a strong foundation for the game’s concept and overall design. However, having a great idea alone is not enough to guarantee the success of the game app.

Game app development requires a combination of creative, technical, and business skills to bring an idea to life and make it successful. This includes designing engaging gameplay mechanics and creating high-quality graphics and sound effects and a lot more stuff that we will learn in detail further.   

Moreover, user feedback and market research play a crucial role in determining the success of a game app. This means that even if you have a great idea for a game, it’s important to test it with potential users and gather feedback to ensure that it resonates with your target audience and has the potential to be successful in the market.

2. Story Matters

We, humans, are prone to look for stories everywhere we go. As we are creating games for humans, then stories should be the prime element of your game. Think of games like Fruit Ninja; users enjoy playing it but it cannot keep them engaged for hours. They will surely think of switching to a different gaming activity as swiping left and right is not something that will make them stick to playing it for hours. 

So, while you are at the early stage of brainstorming, keep your team in the loop on this. Come up with creative storylines and shortlist the best. After testing it with your users, implement it in your game development process.  

3. Build a game concept 

build a game concept

Here are the following points to create a game concept: 

Determine the gameplay mechanics

Decide on the mechanics that will make up the core of your game. This includes controls, physics, AI behavior, level design, and more.

Define the game’s genre

Start by deciding what kind of game you want to create. Is it an action game, adventure game, puzzle game, or something else? This will help you determine the overall gameplay mechanics and design.

Identify the target audience

Determine who your game is intended for. Is it for casual gamers, hardcore gamers, or a specific age group? This will help you determine the game’s tone, visual style, and difficulty level.

Consider the platform

Determine which platforms you want to release your game on. This can influence the game’s design and mechanics, as well as its technical specifications.

4. Choose an apt mobile game platform and game engine

mobile game development engines

Your decision is solely based on two factors: your target audience and budget. More than 50% of the audience uses Android cell phones and the userbase of iOS is also pretty extensive. 

Choosing a single platform is nothing but launching your game for a limited market. If you want to improve the area of the reach of your game, you should opt for multi-platform development.

Moreover, choosing a single platform directly brings limitations in terms of the target market. If you want to expand your area of reach for your game, the best option for you is multi-platform development. 

Backend technology and the game development engine are the shelters of your game while the game app development process. There are many platforms like Unity 3D for 3D graphics and Unreal Engine. 

Read Also: Unity vs Unreal Engine: Which One is Best For Your Game?

5. Time to Develop a Game Design Document

game design document

A game design document is a comprehensive document that outlines the various aspects of the video game, including concept, mechanics, story, characters, levels, gameplay, art style, audio, and user interface. It serves as a blueprint for the game development team and provides a detailed plan for the project’s execution. 

A mainstream GDD includes information about the target audience, game genre, game world, gameplay mechanics, level design, character design, user interface, and marketing strategy. It may also include technical details, such as programming language, software requirements, and hardware specifications. 

The purpose of a GDD is to communicate the vision and goals of the game to the development team and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal. It can also serve as a reference point for the team throughout the development process, helping them stay on track and make informed decisions about the game’s design and development.

6. Create a game structure

create a game structure

Your game must have a factor of attraction, its key to gaining users’ attention and ultimately is good for sales. A game structure is a blend of various elements, like the characters, the texture, the environment, and all the objects, etc. 

Apart from that, the games are processed for 2D and 3D design to polish your game’s visuals. 

7. Create a game wireframe

create a game wireframe

A wireframe is a visual representation of the basic layout and functionality of a game’s user interface or a level’s layout. It is typically created during the mobile game design process as a means of conceptualizing the game’s interface or level design it is implemented. 

A wireframe is a simplified version of the final design and typically consists of basic shapes, lines, and text, without any actual visual assets or graphic design elements. It serves as a framework for the game’s interface or level layout, showing the placement of various elements, such as buttons, menus, text boxes, and interactive elements, and the relationship between them. 

Game wireframes are useful for identifying potential problems with the game’s design and allowing for changes to be made early in the development process. They are also helpful for communicating the design vision to the development team, stakeholders, and other members of the development process.

8. Develop a mobile game

develop a mobile game

Once you are done with the prototype and it’s approved, you are all set to begin with actual mobile game app development process. 

You can begin the game app development process for all the platforms that you want to target with the usage of all the necessary tools like Unity, Blender, Unreal Engine, Robolox, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, Figma, and so on. 

9. Time to test your game

mobile game testing

Now that you are done with the development phase, it’s high time to get it tested for bug-fixing. 

By launching the beta version and playing it on different devices, you can test the mobile game. As a result, you will discover numerous bugs, which can be fixed, so your game can be developed to perfection.

10. Opt for the most suitable Monetization Strategy

mobile game monetization strategy

Here we are presenting 5  most used and workable game app monetization strategies, let’s take a look: 

In-app Purchases

This is one of the most popular monetization strategies for game developers. In-app purchases allow players to buy virtual goods, power-ups, and other features that enhance their gameplay experience. By offering these virtual goods, game developers can generate revenue from players who are willing to pay for additional features and benefits.

Subscriptions

Game developers can offer players a subscription model that unlocks additional content or features. Players pay a recurring fee, typically on a monthly or yearly basis, to access these benefits.

Pay-to-download

In this app monetization model, players pay a one-time fee to download the game app. This model works best for games that have a high perceived value or are part of an established franchise with an extensive fanbase. 

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a newer monetization model that allows game developers to raise funds from their fans and supporter to develop and launch a game. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo are popular for game developers to gain early funding. 

Advertising

Advertising is another popular game app monetization strategy. Developers can generate revenue by displaying ads within their games. They can use various ad formats such as banner ads, interstitial ads, or rewarded ads. With rewarded ads, players are rewarded for watching an ad, which can be an effective way to monetize a game app without disrupting the gameplay experience.

11. Cross your fingers and release your game

release your mobile game

Now that you have performed every required step, it’s time to cross your fingers and release your game. 

But launching the game comes up with different challenges. In order to be accepted by the respective app stores, your game must meet their standards. Your game will be reviewed by the app store’s review team, and once they approve, your game will go live on the store so users can download it.

12. Support and Maintenance

mobile game support and maintenance

Well, as we all know, launching the game is not the final destination; the process never cease to finish. You have to keep on maintaining your game application by conducting regular audits and taking feedback from your users. Based on reviews, you have got to maintain your application and release regular updates. 

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Mobile Game App Development Process

mobile game development mistakes

Here are common mistakes you must while the gaming development process:

1. Inadequate planning

Lack of proper planning can lead to delays, cost overruns, and a subpar final product. It’s important to create a detailed project plan that outlines every aspect of the game app development process, including timelines, budget, resources, and milestones.

2. Focusing too much on graphics

While high-quality graphics are important for a game app, they are not the only thing that matters. It’s essential to focus on creating engaging gameplay, designing a user-friendly interface, and developing interesting game mechanics.

3. Ignoring user feedback

User feedback is crucial for creating a successful game app. Ignoring user feedback can result in a game that fails to attract and retain users. It’s important to regularly solicit user feedback and use it to improve the game app.

4. Overcomplicating the game

It’s important to keep the game simple and easy to understand, especially for casual gamers. Overcomplicating the game with too many features or complex gameplay mechanics can be overwhelming and turn off users.

5. Neglecting game performance

A poorly optimized game app can result in slow loading times, crashes, and other performance issues that can frustrate users. It’s important to optimize the game app for performance, including graphics, sound, and code.

6. Rushing to release

While it’s important to launch the game app quickly to capitalize on market opportunities, rushing to release can result in a subpar product that fails to attract users. It’s important to take the time to develop and test the game app thoroughly before launching it.

Wrapping Statement

So, this was all from our side about mobile game app development. We have tried to cover every important detail related to mobile game app development for you to carry out a seamless app development process. Cheers!

Why Should You Hire 300Mind for Your Next Game Development?

We strive hard and bring out the best results or should we rather say desired results? As you can see our hard work behind on-point graphics and animation of the games along with outstanding sound effects.

From creative game design strategies to extensive development, it all comes under our umbrella of services. We have got many clients recommending our game development services as we have a proficient team of developers working dedicatedly for our clientele.

So, if you are looking for a game development partner then 300Mind can be a great fit for you.

FAQs on Mobile Game Development

How much does it cost to create a game development application?

A game development cost mainly depends on the following factors: game design, technology stack, hired team, market trends, 2D and 3D design, the complexity of the game, game category, and all other relevant factors that determine the final cost of game development.

What is the best game engine for mobile game development?

Engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, Roblox, Godot, GameMaker, and many other prominent engines are often used in mobile game app development.

How to earn high profits from mobile game apps?

You can opt for the game app monetization strategies that we have mentioned above for your help. Following those strategies will definitely help you gain desired revenue from your gaming app.

The post How to Develop a Fully-fledged Mobile Game From Scratch? appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

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