Not just for players but entrepreneurs/startup owners alike, NFT games are offering a discrete gaming experience along with opportunities to earn and make money from these games. However, considering this new and innovative concept, it is obvious to wonder how you can bring your NFT ideas to life. This is where this beginner’s guide has you covered. But before learning about how to create your NFT game and earn money from it, let us first have a glance at the NFT gaming market analysis.

According to the report released by Mordor Intelligence, the Global NFT Gaming Market size is expected to grow from USD 410.92 billion in 2023 to USD 820.78 billion by 2028.

What is an NFT Game?

Powered by blockchain, NFT-based games incorporate NFTs into their gameplay, mechanics, or economy. In NFT games, these tokens are typically used to represent in-game items, characters, or assets, and they can be bought, sold, and traded among players.

Unlike traditional video games, where in-game items or characters are owned and controlled by the game developer/game owner, NFT games also allow players to have true ownership of these digital assets. This ownership is facilitated by blockchain technology, which provides transparency and security in tracking and verifying the ownership and transaction history of NFTs.

NFT Game Models

Before we start with the development stages of creating an NFT game, it is indispensable for a gaming startup/business owner to seek opportunities to generate revenue and create engaging gaming experiences.

Here are two prominent NFT Game Models to consider which you can consider:

P2E(Play To Earn)

It is one of the most popular NFT game models owing to its capability of generating substantial revenue with a global Play-to-Earn NFT game market size to reach 12456.93 million USD by 2027. From access to games to creating and selling rare NFTs, transaction fees, and more, entrepreneurs have diverse revenue opportunities, with the potential for substantial growth as the NFT gaming industry continues to evolve.

F2P(free-to-play)

Though this model offers access to the game for free, entrepreneurs can capitalize on this model by integrating NFTs strategically. From the sale of premium NFT-based assets, cosmetics, or collectibles, this model can be a lucrative option for entrepreneurs seeking a greater reach of target gamers along with revenue generation.

How to create NFT-based games?

Creating NFT-based games is an exciting venture that combines the world of gaming with blockchain technology, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets.

From concept and design to the technical underpinnings of blockchain integration, there is a well-structured plan that you can follow to bring your NFT-based game to life. Read further to gain insights into the step-by-step process of creating NFT-based games.

Game Concept

One of the most critical stages would determine whether the further steps would go smoothly or not. Also, it’s the appealing and engaging game concept that would tempt the gamers to come back. Defining the game concept is not only important to get a blueprint of all the aspects associated with it but also to put team members who would be involved in the development process on the same page.

Each aspect of the game concept is like a piece of a puzzle, and it’s inevitable to skillfully arrange each of these pieces in their rightful places to create the complete picture. From core idea/theme to game art, financials, type of NFT game, genre, mechanics, monetization strategy, overall gameplay, and more. When working on these aspects of the game concept ensure to begin with market research.

The market analysis would not only give you insights into the current statistics but would enable you to gain competitive intelligence.

Design

Working on game design is like laying down the foundation and the next step is to provide a shape to the structure to be built on the foundation. Whether it’s the props, features, environment, game levels, and other key components, its design by game designers for hire would play a crucial role as they would be tokenized.

The most important aspect involved in the design phase of NFT game development is making a Game Design Document(GDD). This living document comprises detailed insight into every important detail including game concept, art design, storyline, mechanics, levels, and more. Once you have everything required penned down, it is time to get to the tech requirement for development.

Tech Stack

Creating an NFT game involves various technologies and tools, and the tech stack can vary depending on the specific requirements of your game. Here’s an ideal tech stack that game developers can consider for NFT game development:

Note: The tech stack may evolve as technology advances and is based on your game’s unique requirements.

Smart Contract

This small piece of code or digital agreement is the backbone of the NFT gaming ecosystem. These contracts provide a secure and unchangeable way to govern the ownership and trade of NFTs within the game.

It’s the presence of these contracts in the game that prevents unauthorized duplication of assets and guarantees that your players truly own what they collect. In a nutshell, these contracts are essential because they handle tasks like minting NFTs, verifying ownership, and executing in-game transactions.

Crypto Wallet

Whether it is playing a game, buying NFT, or even registering for the game, one of the mandatory features that the Unity game developers have to offer the players is crypto wallets. This would allow the players to put the NFTs from the market into their crypto wallet to start their NFT gaming journey and utilize the NFT collectible they have in their cryptocurrency wallet.

Further, players use these wallets to buy in-game assets/accessories and even trade NFTs. These crypto wallets just like our bank account number and login credentials comprise private and public keys along with an added layer of security.

Some of the best crypto wallets that developers can consider to integrate with their NFT games are MetaMask, AlphaWallet, Trust Wallet, Coinbase, etc.

Development

Now that you have clear various facets and a roadmap ready, it’s time to dive into the exciting world of NFT game development. The process involves two critical aspects: front-end development and back-end development.

The front end of your NFT game is what players interact with directly. It includes the user interface, game design, and overall look and feel. Your game’s visuals, controls, and overall experience depend on the quality of front-end development. To start the front-end development process, you’ll need to work on creating stunning visuals, smooth gameplay mechanics, and a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for players to interact with NFT assets.

On the back end, you’ll be dealing with the core mechanics that make your NFT game functional. This involves creating smart contracts for your NFTs, setting up blockchain integration, and developing server infrastructure for multiplayer aspects or in-game transactions. Your back-end development is responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of the NFT assets, ensuring they are tamper-proof and transparent.

Additionally, you’ll need a robust server infrastructure to handle the game’s traffic and maintain data consistency across all players. Hire game developers or blockchain experts to implement the required smart contracts and build a robust back-end system that supports the NFT ecosystem, token management, and secure transactions.

Starting the NFT game development process can be complex, but with careful planning and the right development team, you can create a captivating NFT-based game that players will love and enjoy.

Testing

To ensure that your game is fun, secure, and ready for players to enjoy, it’s crucial to test it thoroughly. From checking for bugs to effective storage of NFT collectibles, potential security breaches, user experience, and more, the remote developers for hire can ensure that your game works smoothly and all NFT integration functions correctly. Among others, here are some of the essential tests that the quality assurance engineer must consider conducting:

• Alpha Testing 
• Beta Testing 
• Unit Testing
• Smart Contract Testing
• Functional Testing

By paying attention to these critical aspects and taking testing seriously, you can confidently deliver an exceptional gaming experience to your players, ultimately ensuring the success of your NFT game in a competitive market.

Launch and Promote

After all the hard work in designing, developing, and testing your NFT-based game, it’s time to take the crucial step of launching and promoting it. This is where you introduce your creation to the world.

It’s also important to create a strong online presence through social media, gaming forums, and promotional events. Engage with your audience, share sneak peeks, and generate anticipation for your NFT-based game. Don’t forget to utilize the power of search engine optimization (SEO) to increase your game’s discoverability.

The more you promote your game and create a buzz, the more likely it is to gain traction and find its audience in the competitive world of NFT gaming.

Once you have the game ready, it is time when the entrepreneurs find various revenue generation opportunities apart from just offering an amazing game to their target audience. Read further to discover how businesses can make money from NFT games.

How to Make Money with NFT Games?

The major reason entrepreneurs are interested in investing in NFT game development is the availability of various revenue generation opportunities that offer risk diversification for streamlining revenue management. Here are some such revenue generation opportunities that business owners can consider for making money for the developers of NFT games:

In-game purchases

With in-game purchases, entrepreneurs offer digital assets, such as weapons, skins, or characters, for players to acquire using NFTs. They can even offer these in-game items as NFT which can be traded or sold in the NFT marketplace due to its intrinsic value. These in-game purchases can provide a steady revenue stream that benefits both gamers and businesses.

Paid membership programs

Being the most fruitful revenue generation opportunity, it helps the NFT game businesses to sustain and grow. Paid membership programs involve players paying a regular fee, often on a monthly or yearly basis, in exchange for exclusive benefits and content like unique in-game items, early access to new features, or special events to paying members.

This exclusive gaming experience encourages player loyalty and also provides a predictable source of income.

In-game advertising

In-game advertising is one of the direct windows where startup owners can directly showcase promotional content to rope in players an increase in ROI. Implementing thoughtfully placed targeted advertising would encourage gaming enthusiasts to engage with the advertisement and direct them to take actions that are financially lucrative for the business.

Sponsorships

When a gaming business gains recognition, companies eager to reach its audience may offer sponsorships. These sponsors often provide funding or resources in exchange for advertising opportunities within the NFT game like in-game branding, special in-game assets(characters, skins, weapons, and more), or even hosting sponsored events.

The business owners can use the income generated from these sponsorships to fuel marketing efforts by enhancing the game or offering better rewards to players.

Trading or selling virtual assets

The reason for entrepreneurs’ interest in NFT game development is its vibrant in-game economy. These games enable business owners to create and sell these virtual/digital assets within their games. These virtual assets hold integrity and allow the players to trade them later with other virtual assets and even fiat money.

Pay-to-play model

The pay-to-play model is one of the ways that entrepreneurs and gaming businesses can generate revenue from NFT games. In this gaming model, players are mandated to pay a fee or one-time purchase of NFT assets to gain full access or a tiered system where players buy NFT items, characters, or virtual land that enhances their in-game experience.

Merchandise sales

Over time, loyal players become fans of the game, and this is when the business can translate these attachments into a strong desire to own physical or digital merchandise(NFTs, character skins, t-shirts, posters, keychains, and more) that reflects their passion for the game. This makes it a win-win situation for both entrepreneurs and gaming businesses.

The Future of NFT Games

The future of NFT games is incredibly promising, with these digital assets poised to revolutionize the gaming industry. NFT games are not only redefining ownership and authenticity but also enhancing the overall gaming experience, promising a bright and transformative future. Gamers can look forward to immersive experiences, interoperability between different games and platforms, and new economic models.

As blockchain technology evolves, NFT games are likely to offer more immersive experiences, increased interoperability, and enhanced security. Moreover, the potential for P2E models and decentralized autonomous organizations within NFT games is set to revolutionize the gaming industry further.

With artists, developers, and entrepreneurs embracing NFTs, we can anticipate an expanding ecosystem of creativity, where the future of NFT games is limited only by our imaginations.

Elevate Your NFT Game Development with 300Mind!

As a top game design and development studio, we specialize in crafting innovative, engaging, and highly profitable NFT games. We are your partners in crafting immersive, revenue-generating NFT games that stand out in the blockchain gaming industry.

With a team of experienced professionals, we offer a comprehensive range of game development services, covering the entire development cycle. From concept creation to design and development, we ensure every aspect of your NFT game is meticulously crafted.

What sets us apart? We go the extra mile with robustness testing and comprehensive user feedback, ensuring that your game is not just good but exceptional.

Whether you’re an established gaming company or an aspiring entrepreneur, our dedicated team is equipped to turn your NFT game idea into a thriving reality. Outsource your NFT game development to 300Mind, and together, let’s create a world-class gaming solution that captivates players and explores new horizons in the world of blockchain gaming.

FAQs on NFT Game Development

The post NFT Game Development: An Ultimate Guide appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

It’s like having a virtual friend who can adapt to your every move and react according to it, making the game feel more exciting and lifelike. However, AI and ML in gaming don’t stop here! These technologies are coming up with more innovations, transforming the gaming industry with each passing year.

In this blog, we will explore the role of AI and ML in gaming and how their algorithms will shape the future of games.

The Role of AI and ML in Shaping the Gaming Landscape

Over the last three years, the gaming industry has witnessed a massive surge in its player base. It has acquired a total of 2.7 billion players across the world, taking the overall market value of the gaming industry to $300 billion. Projections indicate that an additional 400 million new gamers will be added to the existing number of game lovers by the end of 2023. Experts are saying that new games with AI and ML integrations will capture a large market compared to the traditional ones.

In recent years, AI and ML integrations have changed the gaming landscape and how players interact with games. One of their primary contributions lies in enhancing character intelligence and behavior analysis. Both technologies are making the NPC and game environment more smarter and personalized for players. AI also supports lifelike animations and decision-making of NPCs, enriching the storytelling aspect of games and bringing virtual worlds closer to reality.

Also read: How Did the Gaming Industry Evolve with Time and Become Popular?

Examples of Games Currently Using AI and ML in Gaming

Gameplay mechanics are evolving rapidly using AI and ML integrations in innovative ways. Here are the examples of the most popular games that have adopted AI and ML and become hits among players.

1. F.E.A.R

The F.E.A.R (First Encounter Assault Recon) video game series has used innovative AI algorithms to encourage realistic and intense enemy behavior. In this game, enemies behave more intelligently, flank the player, and work together as a team to attack the player with the support of artificial algorithms.

AI leveraged decision trees and dynamic pathfinding algorithms to adapt to change and respond to these new changes. Moreover, AI-controlled characters had realistic animations and movement patterns. They were able to climb obstacles, throw a grenade, evaluate the threat and react, leap over barriers, and perform acrobatic maneuvers, enhancing the sense of realism.

2. XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The success of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” is attributed to the effective use of AI and ML algorithms. The game uses complex AI for alien enemies, and AI controls their tactics, decision-making power, and movements during combat. ML algorithms are used for procedural maps and mission generation.

These algorithms ensure each playthrough is unique and offers different challenges and opportunities. The game leverages ML to balance the difficulties of given missions according to the player’s performance and provide a tailored and unforgettable experience.

3. The Last of Us

The Last of Us is a highly successful and appreciated action-adventure game known for featuring advanced AI for human and infected enemies. In the game, the enemy AI has been designed to act and respond realistically to the player’s actions and environment.

Another highlight of the game is the companion AI that made Ellie, which is a player’s companion and helps demonstrate realistic behaviors and reactions. She assists players in combat, provides clues, and responds to the actions, making the game more interesting.

4. Minecraft

Minecraft is full of unnatural creatures and mobs inhabiting the game world. These mobs exhibit simple AI behaviors, such as zombies chasing players, villagers communicating with the environment, animals wandering around the areas, and other activities done in normal things. These AI behaviors made the game highly sophisticated and enhanced its immersion.

The game has also used AI and ML for texture generation, resource pack recommendations, content creation, fraud prevention, player behavior analysis, etc.

5. Dots and Boxes

“Dots and Boxes” is the traditional pencil-and-paper game that all of us use to play in schools behind the pages of our copies. However, 300Mind has brought the game to our screens, taking us back to our childhood. The game promotes strategic thinking and human decision-making capabilities.

The game logic has been written using AI logic, and the player plays against the AI enemies or obstacles. In the game, AI-driven opponents offer different difficulty levels, ranging from easy to challenging. It gives options to adjust the competition level and combat against the enemy. The game tests your skill set, learning power, basic understanding, etc.

Along with these, games like FIFA, Red Dead Redemption, Rocket League, Halo: Combat Evolved, Stockfish, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Half-Life, Dark Forest, Grand Theft Auto 5, etc., have also used artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. The list will be long in the future with more games adapting to these technologies.

The Current Status of AI and ML in Gaming

Due to the faster advancements in technology, AI and ML have been already integrated into many games. Here are a few glimpses of the changes AI and ML integrations have brought.

AI-driven NPCs and Enemies

AI-driven NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and enemies are programmed with behavior patterns that dictate their responses and actions in the game world. These patterns involve combat tactics, decision-making, movements, actions, responses, and other related things. Advanced AI systems empower these NPCs and enemies to adapt to changing game conditions and player actions. They respond to player strategies, making gameplay challenging, interactive, and entertaining.

NPCs also navigate complex game environments. AI algorithms help them discover optimal paths, cross or avoid obstacles, and reach their destinations without getting stuck in the middle way. Moreover, AI will help them make decisions and draft strategies based on various factors, including players’ actions, objectives, gameplay goals, and rules.

Enhanced Game Environments

AI algorithms help generate game content, including landscapes, terrain, levels, buildings, etc. The approach supports the creation of vast and diverse game worlds without requiring manual design. For example, games like “Minecraft” use procedural generation to create endless, unique landscapes.

ML models are used to evaluate geological data to create realistic and geographically accurate terrain. These terrains are mostly built for open-world and simulation games where the environment plays a central role.

Optimized Graphic Rendering

AI supports resolution scaling techniques and uses machine learning to upscale lower-resolution images to a higher native resolution in real-time. It allows games to maintain high frame rates and provides visually sharp images for better engagement.

ML algorithms upscale and improvise textures and convert them into high-quality textures from lower-resolution originals. The conversion minimizes memory usage and enhances visual fidelity. They analyze the player’s viewing patterns and dynamically adjust the level of detail for objects and textures to ensure proper allocation of resources.

AI also guides developers with adaptive shading techniques that allow games to allocate more shading to selected areas. The practice boosts performance without compromising visual quality. Along with it, ML algorithms can evaluate gameplay patterns, predict future frames, and adjust rendering settings during demanding scenes or performance spikes. The adjustment supports developers in maintaining a consistent frame rate.

Dynamic Weather Systems

AI and ML in gaming keep the data of weather to predict future weather patterns and how the game environment should change according to it. This forecasting helps determine the probability of various weather conditions, such as rain, sunny days, heat, winds, fog, or clear sky.

ML models can stimulate weather phenomena, like snowflakes, raindrops, cloud formation, etc., with high fidelity. The stimulation works after considering important factors like humidity, temperature, wind speed, and other conditions to create realistic weather effects.

Along with it, AI-driven systems smoothly transit between different weather states based on predefined rules or player interactions. For example, the weather may fluctuate from clear to overcast to rainy with the game progression, especially when players enter specific areas.

Game Streaming and Cloud Gaming

AI and ML in gaming address challenges related to live streaming and cloud gaming, like latency, resource allocation, memory consumption, bandwidth, etc. AI helps the system anticipate movements and inputs, and then the system starts rendering the next framework or sending control commands to the cloud server before the player makes them. The practice reduces latency issues and makes gameplay more engaging for players.

ML models analyze network conditions and adjust the game stream quality. The system reduces video quality automatically when network bandwidth is limited. Contrary to this, when the connection is stable, it maximizes visual quality. AI-driven edge servers can offload processing tasks from the cloud server. It reduces the distance data and latency and improves real-time interactions.

Personalized Storylines and Quests

AI and ML in gaming promote personalized storytelling and quests, offering unique and tailored experiences. AI systems collect insights into player’s behaviors like choices, gameplay strategies, actions, and preferences. After collecting the required data, AI helps the game adapt and personalize the storyline and quests based on individual player decisions.

ML algorithms generate quests and missions that have relevant challenges for different types of players. AI adjusts the difficulty of quests and challenges in real time. For example, if the player is struggling to cross the obstacles or dying repetitively, then the game may offer assistance or modify objectives to make it achievable for players. If a player wants to increase difficulty, then AI can help do it as well.

To gather more knowledge about upcoming technologies read: Metaverse in Gaming – How It Is Powering The Game Industry

What are the Upcoming AI & ML Future Innovations in Gaming?

In the future, artificial intelligence and machine learning are forecasted to play a crucial role in the gaming industry, propelling its growth forward. Below are some trends of these technologies that will take over the gaming industry, changing the way we play digital games.

Character Behavior and Intelligence

Machine learning models will analyze players’ emotions through voice and facial movement and shape recognition, biometric sensors, etc. The practice will offer a more empathetic and responsive interaction, making enemies and NPCs emotionally intelligent. In-game characters will also learn from player interaction and experiment with various playstyles, adopting new strategies and exhibiting human-like behaviors.

AI-driven characters will be used in training simulations to mirror real-world scenarios. These simulations will lead to the adaptions of trainees’ actions and provide valuable feedback for learning and skill development.

Procedural Content Generation

PCG refers to the automated creation of game content, including characters, quests, levels, maps, etc. AI algorithms will generate diverse and balanced game levels and maps. In continuous, ML models will learn from the pre-existing maps, player’s behavior, and feedback and create new levels accordingly.

Artificial intelligence will develop coherent quests and missions correlating with the game narratives, and machine learning algorithms will personalize these objectives and rewards based on the player’s behavior. AI-powered tools will assist developers in building game assets like 3D models, animations, textures, etc. The use of AI and ML in gaming content generation will reduce the workload and speed up game development.

Personalized Gaming Experiences

Personalization in gaming is all about tailoring the gaming experience to the individual preferences, skill levels, and behaviors of players. In other words, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will customize and represent the same game differently to the audience according to their likes and dislikes.

AI will also suggest visual elements, accessories, clothing, and other things to help players create personalized in-game avatars or characters. In upcoming years, you may see AI and ML striking the right balance between personalization and privacy and addressing potential ethical concerns while providing an engaging, immersive, and enjoyable experience for players.

AI-driven Game Development Tools

AI-powered tools will automate many aspects of game development, such as asset creation, level design, and character animation. These tools will promote mass content generation that supports creating diverse and replayable games, minimizing the need for human-generated content.

AI-driven voice-acting tools will create character’s dialogues, voices, and lip-syncing, reducing the cost and time associated with traditional voice-acting production. AI will also help make and adapt music and sound effects in real time to represent gameplay events and provide immersive audio experiences.

Natural Language Processing & Dialogue System

AI-driven NLP models promote natural and context-aware conversations between NPCs and players. ML models will process and comprehend the context of the initiated conversation, like the player’s objective, in-game events, previous discussions and responses, etc. They use the collected data to form coherent and relevant responses from NPCs.

In addition, AI will reduce the need for extensive manual scriptwriting and voice recording by generating dialogues for NPCs, quest givers, and other in-game characters. It will also analyze the pace of dialogues and optimize the overall storytelling experience after ensuring the length of dialogues.

Realistic Physics and Stimulation

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms will improve the accuracy, responsiveness, and interactiveness of games using realistic physics and stimulations. ML algorithms will adjust parameters in real time based on the player’s actions and the game’s requirements, ensuring a responsive gameplay experience without sacrificing realism.

ML models will analyze motion capture data to create realistic and fluid character animations. They will also work on ragdoll physics, improving it for characters and object models, ensuring their smooth and realistic reactions to forces and collisions.

Game Testing and Quality Assurance

AI and ML in gaming will simplify automated testing, test case generation, bug detection, load testing, performance issues identification, etc. AI-driven test automation tools will execute repetitive test cases, like regression testing, with high speed and accuracy, reducing the time and effort required for manual testing.

AI will develop and manage dynamic test environments that mimic multiple player configurations and hardware setups, ensuring stability and compatibility across different devices. It will also monitor gameplay data to recognize inconsistencies, anomalies, and unexpected player behavior patterns, encouraging the discovery and early resolution of hidden bugs and technical issues.

Also read: How AR & VR in Gaming is Transforming Gameplay Experience?

What are the Benefits of Investing in Games Integrated with AI and ML?

Investing in AI and ML for game development can bring a myriad of benefits to your business. The smart investment will attract more players and maximize revenues. Revenue isn’t the only advantage of it as there are more of it. Below are some of the most highlighted ones.

• AI and ML integrations innovate advanced game mechanics and create more challenging and dynamic gameplay.
• They adapt to the player’s strategies, responses, and actions and tailor gameplay accordingly, making the game more engaging and less predictable.
• ML algorithms improve the quality and realism of in-game graphics and physics simulations, providing immersive and visually appealing gaming environments.
• AI can adjust the game difficulty level in real time after analyzing players’ skill levels and expertise. The adjustment ensures a challenging experience for players without making them feel frustrated.
• AI optimizes resource allocation, such as CPU and GPU usage, to make sure the game runs flawlessly on all hardware configurations.
• AI-powered chatbots and assistants offer players in-game tips, guidance, and 24/7 customer support.
• ML algorithms can help collect and analyze player data and market trends to enable developers to recognize opportunities for new game features or genres and optimize in-game monetization.
• AI and ML automate various game development tasks, potentially reducing development costs and speeding up the production cycle.

Why Choose 300Mind for Developing Games with AI & ML Integrations?

AI and ML in gaming are helping developers create more realistic, unique, and entertaining games. These technologies can make the game harder or easier, create amazing graphics, and make the game interactive. In the upcoming years, we can expect games to surprise us in ways we can’t even imagine. That’s why, looking at the growth and demand, it is the best time to invest in AI and ML game development, and who better than 300Mind can help you with game development?

300Mind is a renowned game development studio and has a dedicated team of experts with specialized knowledge in AI and ML. While working on your project, our team uses years of experience and a deep understanding of these technologies, ensuring they are executed skillfully.

We tailor AI and ML integrations according to your specific game concept and objectives and implement technologies while following the best practices. We put your game through established quality assurance processes and rigorously test and refine AI and ML implementations. Our experts identify and resolve issues at an early stage, amplifying the gameplay experience and minimizing the chances of foreseen setbacks.

FAQs for AI and ML in Gaming

The post How AI and ML are Reshaping the Gaming Industry? appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

You’re excited to share this game idea with your team, but it turns out they are all occupied with high-priority projects and have no room to begin another one. Then, a great solution strikes your mind, which is to outsource your game art project to any Game Design and Development studio.

However, you have no idea how to begin your hunt for a reliable game art outsourcing partner who can be your great ally in delivering the outcomes you need. Luckily, you don’t need to worry, as this guide is here at your rescue.

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about outsourcing your game art project.

So, let the hunt begin…

What Is Game Art Outsourcing?

Outsourcing game art projects refers to the practice of delegating the creation of digital game assets and artwork to any professional game artist rather than handing it in-house.

The aim of opting for game art outsourcing is to collaborate with and leverage skilled game artists and gaming studios to create high-quality visuals that meet your expected criteria.

Why Should Gaming Businesses Outsource Their Game Art Project and What Benefits They Can Get?

By outsourcing game art projects, indie game developers and even gaming businesses can benefit from several advantages, which are as follows:

Cost Effective

When we say outsourcing is cost-effective, it doesn’t mean getting top-notch game art solutions at a cheap rate. It means cost-effectiveness in comparison to hiring in-house staff and managing those talents.

With outsourcing, you get access to a global talent pool, leveraging which you can hire the best game artist from any region, which can cost you less than your region, resulting in cost savings.

Access to Specialized Skills and Vetted Talents

Game art is a super field covering many game design sub-fields, including concept art, environment design, 2D/3D modeling, character design, texturing, animation, and many more. And the field has specialized experts.

So, when you need to hire specialized game artists, outsourcing game art projects gives you the freedom to hire different remote artists from different regions who are experts in their field and up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices.

No Training is Necessary

With outsourcing your project, you can hire dedicated remote talents who are already well-versed in their field and have worked on diverse projects.

So, when you outsource your game art project to any creative gaming studio, like 300Mind, you don’t need to train them to understand your company culture and give them time to adjust. They are already ready to get onboarded and start working on your project and delivering outcomes.

Scalability and Flexibility

Outsourcing game art projects also gives you flexibility in scaling resources as per your project requirements. Also, they have the flexibility to outsource different project parts to different talents and gaming studios.

Time Efficiency

The best benefit you get by outsourcing your game art project is time-saving. When you outsource your project to professional artists, they utilize their project management skills, quick decision-making skills, and expertise to deal with the design tools, to deliver the gaming artwork within the agreed-upon timelines.

Expert Tips On Successful Game Art Outsourcing

Game art is crucial in game design, and to execute it smoothly and get an innovative solution, your game art outsourcing partner plays a vital role. So, here are a few tips to consider to outsource your game art project to your right-fit gaming outsourcing studio:

Create Your Detailed Requirement Document

When starting the search for your ideal game art outsourcing partner, you need to first be clear from your end. So, this requires gathering game art requirements that can help you decorate your game and bring your imagination to reality.

Apart from game art creation requirements, you should also conduct your research on what kind of skills and expertise the game artists you’re looking to hire should possess.

In the game art requirement specification document, you should narrate your requirements in an easy-to-understand manner, so the gaming studios you’re approaching for your project can comprehend and provide you with the best-fit quote meeting your budget and objectives.

Start Your Search for the Game Art Outsourcing Partner

In the world, you’ll find countless game art outsourcing firms, where each has its unique way of working. So, your hunt for your ideal game art outsourcing partner can be a long journey, but to cut through that distance, you need to set some qualification criteria and filters.

So, when it comes to evaluating your game art outsourcing partner, you should consider some factors, such as their staff, effectiveness, and diversity of their portfolio, overall industry experience, clientele (in written and video testimonials), expertise of their game artists, their communication skills, collaboration effectiveness, and whatnot.

By evaluating all these, you can come near to your hunt for an outsourcing partner.

Evaluate Candidate Qualifications and Expertise

Although you have shortlisted your game art outsourcing partner and have some familiarity with the expertise of their game artists, you cannot solely rely on the overall specifications. Sometimes, the portfolio may not provide enough clarity on the candidate’s competence for your world-class game art project.

It is important to seek personalized assistance to interview the talent and assess their technical skills, familiarity with game art techniques, and proficiency in using game design tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, and others.

Conducting a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s skills will assure you that the talent working on your project is indeed the one you are looking for.

Clear All Your Doubts with Effective Communication

It’s right! You’ve created and shared a detailed game art job description (JD) with the game art outsourcing firms you’re interested in. However, you and them will always have own queries to solve.

This is even important for you to solve your queries about the services they are providing, the approaches they are using, and more. And for them to deeply understand your exact requirements to portray them in a way meeting your expectations.

So, set up your virtual meeting (project manager and game artists) and achieve fruitful communication with them to ensure effective collaboration.

Cost Factors and Time Management

After the initial meeting and understanding of the game art requirements, the next step is to know the project management approach they have to offer with milestone planning and cost estimation.

It will help you comprehend how their costing and project management approach justifies what they are promising. So you can decide whether their offerings fit your criteria or not.

Intellectual Property and Legal Considerations

Your ownership of the game art and the privacy of intellectual property should be your topmost priority, and you should never compromise on them, even if other benefits are offered.

When negotiating your game art project outsourcing with the gaming studio, ensure clear ownership and rights to the game art. Additionally, discuss and formalize legal agreements, contracts, and a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with them to protect your intellectual property throughout the duration of the project outsourcing.

Risk Management and Contingency Planning

When thinking of outsourcing not just your game art project but any other one, you must do risk management and contingency planning. And in this planning, you should identify potential risks and challenges associated with outsourcing and the respective firm.

After that, it’s required to develop contingency plans that will help you mitigate those potential risks and handle unforeseen circumstances.

The aim of creating this risk management and contingency planning is to closely monitor the progress of your outsourced project and address issues promptly.

What Types Of Game Art Projects Can You Outsource?

As you’ve landed here and are reading this blog, consider that you’ve added one more name to your list of reliable game art outsourcing partners. Because in the category of game art creation service, 300Mind can help you with the following services:

2D and 3D Game Art

Whether you require design and assets for your 2D or 3D game, at 300Mind, we have expertise in both areas with a dedicated team of 2D artists and 3D artists.

When it comes to choosing the right art for your specific requirements, we recommend 2D game art for concept art, game UI design, backgrounds, and more.

If you need designs with realistic dimensions, eye-catchy game character modeling, or anything created in a hyper-realistic manner, we suggest opting for 3D art.

Considering the current bias towards realism, you may wonder if 2D game art is still in demand today. The answer is a resounding yes! 2D games and 2D game art continue to dominate in many simpler RPGs (Role-playing games).

At 300Mind, we create top-notch game assets in both 2D and 3D art. To see examples of our work, we invite you to visit our game design portfolio.

Concept Art

Concept art is a kind of visual art that helps you bring your imagination to life in the form of assets that further can be used by animation and VFX teams to add it into films, video games, animation videos, etc.

When it comes to concept art, 300Mind leads the way with its creative artists creating imaginative, alluring game concept art of different categories, such as character concept art, environment concept art, prop concept art, equipment concept art, and more, in abstract, stylized, and realistic styles.

Game Environment and Maps Designing

Game environment design sets the entire tone and mood of your game. At 300Mind, we design immersive game environments that keep players engaged and create maps that are easy to navigate and understandable.

Read also: How to Design Engaging Game Art That Elevates Mobile Gaming Experience?

Props Designing

In a game, props can be anything. Those can be barrels, weapons, furniture parts, or anything that is used by game characters in many ways. And when it comes to props designing, 300Mind has a repertoire of props, where our medieval stylized weapons grabbed the attention of many game props lovers.

Character & Outfit Designing

Be it character art modeling for the game or any video animation – 300Mind holds expertise in designing diversified characters for different genres of video games and animation videos.

Game UI Designing

You may feel confused between game UI and game environment, but they both are really different.

Game UI covers every visual element that players interact with and refers to, which includes menus, buttons, icons, heads-up display (HUD), health bars, navigation gestures, and much more.

On the other hand, game environment design refers to the virtual world where the whole game takes place, which includes atmosphere, landscape, lighting, textures, architecture, and a lot more.

Along with the game environment, 300Mind can also help to design a game UI that is as immersive and interesting as the game environment.

Why Should You Choose 300Mind To Outsource Your Game Art Needs?

Now, you know a lot more about game art outsourcing and finding the best game design partner for your gaming needs, along with ways 300Mind can be your gaming champion.

And there are many reasons to choose 300Mind as your game art outsourcing partner, which includes a client-centric approach, a result oriented & highly skilled team of game artists, up-to-date industry trends and best practices, utilize cutting-edge designing tools, assurance of getting quick responses to your queries, flexibility in engagement models, and most importantly, respectful to delivering projects on-time.

So, interested in partnering with us? Contact us today with your gaming project requirements!

FAQs on Game Art Outsourcing

The post Key Factors to Consider When Outsourcing Your Game Art Project appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

But the question is, what’s the difference between 2D and 3D games? Isn’t it clear that 2D games are built upon flat, pixelated surfaces that evoke nostalgic vibes, while 3D games are built upon immersive, high-poly surfaces that take players on breathtaking adventures?

We have to say, both 2D and 3D games have their own dedicated audience, whether they prefer the classic charm of 2D games or the sprawling worlds of 3D games.

However, distinguishing between 2D and 3D game designs is not as simple as it may seem, as both have undergone significant evolution over time.

Moreover, you might have questions like, “Is 2D gaming still alive in this technological marvel of 3D experiences?” If so, “What factors contribute to enduring the charms of 2D games amidst the allure of the 3D counterparts?”.

If you find yourself in this exciting dilemma of choosing between 2D and 3D games for your next smash-hit video game, fret not.

Through this blog, we are going to delve into the depths of 2D vs. 3D games so that you can make an informed decision for your next game development project.

But before we jump into the battle of 2D vs. 3D game design, let’s understand the concept of 2D and 3D  game designs:

The Concept of 2D Games

2D games are designed based on two-dimensional flat art such as tiles or vector art that can only be seen from one perspective.

Moreover, you only have access to the movement of a 2D game that is linear and is done through side-scrolling – where the game world moves in four directions – left, right, up, and down.

And when talking about 2D games, classic arcade games are the best examples.

We all want to know about, “how the 2D games have evolved?” The next part is all about that!

The Revolutionary Journey of 2D Games

It all started in 1958 with the merger of dots and lines that created a 2D game interface. Though that was fairly dull, it was worth getting attention for innovation in game development. And yes, it’s the talk of the first-ever video game – Tennis For Two.

But for that tennis ball to roll, they needed external support, which was made possible with the debut of the first-ever game consoles, like Magnavox Odyssey and  Atari 2600. But the initial UI of Tennis for Two needed more brainstorming to make it fully understandable to the player. And you can even say it by seeing the image below:

After that era, in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, there was a trend of classic arcade games, such as Pac-Man, Asteroids, Galaxian, Donkey Kong, and many others, that allured kids of that time with their amazing 2D Game Art and UI/UX design.

After that era, the ruler of 1985’s – the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), entered the 2D game world with its 2D masterpieces, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and more. From all these, the unforgettable experience of SUPER MARIO still takes us to nostalgia.

Moreover, we can still witness the undying popularity of the SUPER MARIO games and their design evolution from the classic 2D Block-based version to the advanced rendered version of the modern-age 2D character and game world version. See the image below for better understanding.

After the popularity of Super Mario, which was played through game consoles, mobile games came into existence.

Among others, Mini Militia – A multiplayer combat game, released in 2011 and downloaded 100M+ on the Google Play Store, became the new favorite of the youth with its multiplayer experience, simple controls, customization options, and much more. Also, we can never oversee the simple yet the interesting UI of this game; see the image below:

Indeed, the 2D games have set the generations in the game world that caught the attention of the audience spanning from the late Baby Boomers to Millennials to GenZs.

And Gen Alpha is also becoming a fan of 2D games, but it’s for sure that the legacy of the 2D game will continue to its next generation and adventures.

Characteristics: Reasons 2D Games Has Its Separate Fanbase

Let’s have a look at some prime characteristics that made and will make 2D games a preference of every generation to come:

Pixel Art: A small, square-shaped pixel to create and style visuals that gives your 2D game a classic, nostalgic look and feel.

Flat Graphics: By using pixel art, sprite animation, and vector graphics, game artists create flat, two-dimensional graphics, characters, objects, and game environments.

Limited Depth: Unlike 3D games, 2D games rely on layered structures and visual cues to create the game environment with flat graphics.

Sprite Animation: Just like the quick screen refresh rate, 2D games are created with sprite animation, where a series of progressive images/frames are moved into motion to create a perfect animation and bring the 2D game world to life.

Simple Control and Limited Focus Area: 2D games have straightforward controls, such as movement, jumping, attacking, and interactions, and focus area with side-scrolling and top-down perspective that gives players a bird’s-eye view of the game area as they move forward in the game. Such games include Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, etc.

2D Game Mechanics: The fundamentals of 2D gameplay mechanics are very simple to provide players with an enjoyable, engaging gameplay experience and governance based on how characters interact with the arena and objects.

Why Should You Go For 2D Game Development?

Here are the advantages you get when developing your dream 2D games you can reap the following benefits:

• The simplicity in 2D games plays a pivotal role that makes the 2D game design and development easier and faster;
• With limitations to controls, such as jump, move forward and backward, attack, and more, such becomes easy to implement such controls;
• As the graphics used in the game are flat, such game design files are smaller in size and easy to optimize;
• Gives game artists wings, the freedom to explore unique art directions, expressive hand-drawn graphics;
• Easy to develop cross-platform compatible games, resulting in better time and cost savings.

Types of 2D Games You Can Build

Though with two-dimensional scope, you can’t underestimate the reach and impact of 2D games on the players. So, here are the top genres with examples you can target and take inspiration from to build your next revolutionary 2D game:

1. Platformers

Platformers have been in motion since the era of arcade classic games. Amongst many Donkey Kong was the first-ever platformer game. These are fun games that take players into thrilling adventures, where they have to jump and climb to move ahead in the game.

There are three types of platformers:

• Collect-a-thon platformers, where the players have to collect points, gems, and puzzle pieces, to level up the game;
• Mascot platformers that have consistent main characters and gameplay mechanics, offering players a consistent gaming experience;
• Puzzle platformers, where players have to solve puzzles to move ahead in the game.

Some great examples of platformer games are Super Mario Bros. Series, Donkey Kong Country series, Sonic the Hedgehog, Celeste, Hollow Knight, Bal Hanuman, and many others.

2. Metroidvania Games

Metroidvanias is created by combining the series from Metroid and Castlevania, which merges game exploration and platforming. Simply put, here, players explore interconnected worlds to find keys to unlock new abilities to complete their mission. These games have a non-linear structure and emphasize backtracking.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, Axiom Verge, etc., fall into this category of the game.

3. Puzzle Games

These are brain games that make people think and do brain exercises to enhance their pattern recognition, problem-solving, and other brain abilities. These can be real-world puzzles like Sudoku, Escaping Maze, Matching pieces, challenging board games, or anything.

Some popular puzzle games include Candy Crush Saga, Two Dots, Unblock Me, 2048, etc.

4. Card Games

Card games have been with us for a long time in the form of poker, catch the Joker card, Rummy, and more. Some popular examples of card games include Solitaire, Spider, UNO, etc.

5. Beat ’em Ups

The Beat’em up game genre is all about a player brawling with a group of enemies until they beat ‘em up all to clear a way out to the checkpoint or get themselves beaten up. This type of game contains side-scrolling gameplay and fast-paced action.

Some very Beat ‘Em Ups games are Streets Of Rage series, The TakeOver, River City Girls, X-MEN, Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles Of Mystara, Dragon Ball  Advance Adventure, etc.

6. Shoot ’em Ups

A subgenre of action games that are also known as Bullet Hell and Shmups, where players control a game character or a spacecraft and shoot at enemies becoming obstacles in their adventure. 

Games like Geometry Wars series, Touhou Project series, Ikaruga, Cuphead, and Pubg, are popular shoot ’em-up games.

7. Fighting Games

This type of game can be one-against-one fighting games like WWE or any other fighting sequence where the characters have to fight to win that level.

Mortal Kombat series, Street Fighter series, and Super Smash Bros. series are popular fighting games.

8. Strategy Games

Strategic games make players do brain exercises to do tactical thinking and planning to make strategic decisions and achieve game objectives.

Popular strategic games include Clash of Clans, Chess.com, Civilization series, StarCraft series, etc.

9. Adventure Games

This is a mixed genre, where games focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, strong storytelling, and more. The Legend of Zelda series, Cave Story, Limbo, Inside, and many others fall into this genre.

The Concept of 3D Games

A video game built using three-dimensional, volumetric art pieces created by measuring height, width, and depth that immerses players into its transcending reality. Unlike 2D games, 3D games immerse players by simulating depth, perspective, and realistic graphics. 

Additionally, 3D games incorporate physics simulations into the graphics to enhance the realism of objects, motions, and interactions. This ensures that the 3D objects have realistic weight, collisions, and gravity. Here, players have control over game characters participating in various activities as per the game genre.

In most cases, 3D games are extensively created for big screens, such as PCs and Consoles; however, they are also rendered for the mobile experience without missing out on the game performance.

The Evolution of 3D Games

After the evolution of 2D games, there comes the next era of three-dimensional graphics. It all started with the introduction to the fourth generation of visuals brought up by Nintendo and Sega. 

Not just them, in the timeline of 1973-1980, many games, like Maze War, Spasim, Battlezone, and 3D Monster Maze, were rendering graphics in 3D. However, it was just a preface until the debut of Sony PlayStation in Japan in 1994.

With the introduction of the PlayStation, the 1990s’ officially marked the emergence of the 3D games era with the debut of games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom.

Among the emergence of other games in 1996, Quake was considered a  major breakthrough in 3D games, especially in the area of polygonal characters and multiplayer supportability.

The beginning of the 21st century played a pivotal part in the advancement of graphics technology with the introduction of graphics-support hardware (known as a graphics card) like 3dfx Voodoo and NVIDIA GeForce series and Console Advancements that brought the imagination of 3D realistic environments to life. The famous games of that time were the Uncharted series, Gears of War, and The Last of Us.

In the 2010s, a new decade of 3D video games started that introduced Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) gaming and opened a new door to total immersive gaming experience. HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Jurassic World Alive, and Pokémon Go brought AR/VR gaming to existence.

Thanks to the game development engines like Unity 3D and Unreal 3D, we were able to witness the next-gen of video gaming at our fingertips. Now, the concept of Web3 Games, such as NFT Games and Metaverse Games, is taking the video gaming experience to the next level!

Characteristics: Reasons 3D Games Are Loved By Generations

You might have guessed the characteristics of 3D games, but it’s worth noting its characteristics from the Game Expert’s perspective:

• A Three Dimensional Environment creates a sense of depth and represents objects and spaces more realistically.
• Realistic and Detailed Graphics are achieved through advanced graphics rendering techniques by incorporating polygons, textures, shading, lighting effects, etc., that offer immersive environments.
• Players get Dynamic Camera Control to manipulate the camera angle, view perspectives with Zoom In/Out, move forward, backward, left, right, up, and down, and more, to explore the game world the way they want to.
• Depth Perception and Perspective in 3D games provide players with a sense of distance and scale in the game world to see the nearer objects larger and closer and farther objects smaller.
• The incorporated physics simulation in 3D games simulates gravity, friction, momentum, and other forces.
• Collision detection in 3D games determines the complex interactions of objects and characters, such as combat, object manipulation, etc.
• The BGM (Background Music) of the 3D games makes them special for the players that totally immerse them in the gameplay.

Why Should You Go For 3D Game Development?

Here are the advantages you get when developing your dream 3D games you can reap the following benefits:

• 3D games offer more immersive and realistic environments and visually stunning experiences;
• 3D games also offer game artists the creative freedom to do experiments with creative possibilities;
• With the visually stunning and alluring gaming experience, 3D games have extensive market demands;
• With the technologies being more advanced and accessibility to powerful tools, 3D game development has become more accessible and efficient.

Also Read: How to Design Engaging Game Art That Elevates Mobile Gaming Experience?

Popular 3D Game Genres and Examples

The world of 3D games is very unpredictable where the standards always rise up and go beyond imagination with every genre listed below with popular examples of games:

1. First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games

It’s a sub-genre in shooter games, where players play games from the protagonist’s perspective with mainly a focus on combat and shooting and navigate the game world from a first-person viewpoint. Here, players can play games in solo, duo, or multiplayer modes as per their like. 

Call of Duty series, Battlefield series, and Fallout series are the popular games of this genre.

2. Sports Games

They simulate real-life sports and allow players to compete in various categories of athletic activities. Such games often allow players to play games in multiplayer options with virtual team management and a lot more realistic features.

FIFA, NBA 2K series, 3D Bowling, Asphalt series, and the Need for Speed series are the popular games of this genre.

3. Role-Playing Games

This game’s genre is mixed with many genres where players have to role-play and play the game from that protagonist’s perspective, and such games also contain rich storylines where players evolve, fight obstacles, and explore the game world. Action, Adventure, Multiplayer, First-person shooting, or any other game types may contain role-playing gaming concepts.

World of Warcraft series, Final Fantasy series,  Fallout series, and The Witcher series are the popular games of this genre.

4. Action & Adventure Games

It is the most loved game genre – Action & Adventure games where there are both action and exploration elements, offering players a mix of puzzle-solving, combat/fighting/shooting, survival, and narrative experience.

Uncharted series, Jumanji: The Video Game, Assassin’s Creed series, Resident Evil series, God of War series, and Valley of War fall into this game genre.

2D Vs. 3D Games: Key Differences

Here are the key differences between 2D games Vs. 3D games that set them apart and make their different impact on players of their league:

1. Graphics and Visualization

It’s the pretty obvious difference between 2D games and 3D games. While 2D games are designed on two-dimensional planes that give pixelated and classic vibes to the players, 3D games are built upon three-dimensional objects and planes that offer more immersive, detailed, and realistic visualization and gaming experience with depth and perspective.

2. Gameplay Mechanics

In 2D games, players have limited controls, such as jumping, climbing, moving forward and backward, and top and down. On the other hand, 3D games offer players complete freedom to explore the game world, such as scrolling up and down, zooming in and out, attacking, jumping, climbing, and many actions to survive in the game and play it gracefully.

3. Design and Development Complexity

As we know, 2D games are designed on two-dimensional planes, and the graphics for such games are easy to design and develop. Also, the level complexity for the game scaling is lower. In the case of 3D games, design, and development complexity with scaling complexity is higher due to the detailed structure and rendering requirements.

4. Immersion

Both 2D games and 3D games offer immersive gaming experiences to their players, but we all have to agree that 3D games offer a more immersive experience with a realistic touch.

5. Audience

Both 2D and 3D games have their own set of audiences. Players who like to play games with a classic vibe and focused gaming experience often prefer to go for 2D games. On the other hand, players preferring more immersive, graphically rich, best-in-class BGM, and transcending reality, choose 3D games.

Wow! Now, you know so much more about the 2D vs. 3D game design, enough to win a debate competition! But what tools and technologies should you use for such game development? The next section is all about that.

Also Read: Mobile Game Design – All You Need to Know

2D Games Vs. 3D Games: Tools and Technologies

Well, seeing the technological advancements, you will find many common game design and development tools and technologies to create your 2D games as well as 3D games, but some are specific to the game development type. So, let’s have a look:

Game Design and Development Engines

Here are the most extensively used 2D and 3D game design and development engines that game experts at 300Mind proficiently use and advise to use:

Unity Engine

Unity is a popular cross-platform game engine that enables game artists and developers to create 2D, 3D, VR & AR games as well as simulations and other gaming and animation experiences.

Back in 2005, Unity engine was announced as Maz OS X game engine, but then it extended its support for desktop, mobile (iOS and Android), console, and VR headset-based game development.

The primary focus for this Unity engine development was to only create games and animation, but now, it is also adopted by industries like Film, Automotive, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate, and more to create their digital 3D-model-based animation and marketing purposes.

Because of this, it is widely used by 2D and 3D artists to create their digital art masterpieces.

Unreal Engine

This is yet another popular and powerful game development framework to create real-time, high-quality, and visually stunning 3D games for PC, Mobile, Console, and VR headsets. 

Using Unreal Engine, digital 3D game artists and developers can create a completely new game world and experience with rich graphics, visuals, and animation that can make you and your players get immersed in an entirely new reality.

Regardless of the game development scale and team size, Unreal Engine is suitable for all game types. It also offers a unified content pipeline and enables you to extend your game world using XR (AR, VR, and MR), too!

A wide community of 3D creators gives you more confidence to choose this engine for your next 3D game development project.

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

Cocos2D Engine

When it comes to 2D game development, Cocos2D, an open-source game development framework is the leading choice of many 2D game creators. Using cocos2D, you can create 2D games for multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and the web.

Due to Cocos2D’s simplistic UI, developers can easily work on the game mechanics, animations, and interactions. Apart from this, the Cocos family offers many tools, such as Cocos Creator – to create a real-time rendering of 3D games, XR content, Industrial Simulation, Virtual Characters, and Interactive marketing animated content.

Blender Game Engine

Blender is an open-source 3D game engine that helps you create and render 3D models and animation. If we are more specific, then Blender is not exactly a game development engine, which is used in conjunction with other game development tools to design and render 3D assets and animation for games.

Using Blender, you can do more, such as modeling, rigging, texturing, animation, simulation, and rendering. So, one tool does so much for game development; hence, it is a popular choice for game developers to experiment with their 3D game assets.

Apart from these game engines for the coding part, you can use HTML5 for the game development and other programming languages, such as Swift, Kotlin, Java, etc., to make your game easily run across Android and iOS compatible devices.

For the game audio part, you can use audio composition tools like Unity Audio, Unreal Audio, Audacity, Wwise, or Elias Studio, like famous platforms, to create and merge background music for your game.

2D Games Vs. 3D Games: How much does it cost to develop?

Isn’t it obvious to guess the cost in the battle of 2D vs. 3D games? It is, indeed, 2D game development will cost more than 3D game development due to various reasons, amongst which graphics type affects a lot. However, you never know which factor plays a more pivotal role. Hence, let’s take a look at the major factors affecting the 2D and 3D game development cost:

Platform Support

When planning to develop your video game, you must target the platform for which you’re developing your game. It’s pretty obvious that mobile game development will cost less than developing games for PC or Consoles, whether it is a 2D or 3D game.

Functionalities and Scale

Every game has some set of functionalities. Simply put, the more functionalities and the larger the game plan is, the more effort will be required, and so the big team and the bill in the end.

When it comes to the comparison between 2D vs. 3D games, 3D games often contain more functions, as well as the scale of the development. In the case of 2D games, initially, you can plan to develop a 2D game with a smaller scope and then scale it as required.

Graphics Complexity

This depends on the concept of your game. Obviously, 3D games will require more graphics efforts due to more details, combinations, and rendering requirements. But some 2D game concepts do have graphics complexities.

Development Complexity

If the complexities of the graphic are there with many development details, the development complexity will rise undoubtedly. In 2D games, giving the game an immersive experience would require more development efforts, and there’s nothing to say about the 3D games as the concept itself makes it obvious.

However, developing MMORPGs – Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games is harder amongst all game genres.

Also Read: Tips to Help You Reduce Your Mobile Game Development Cost

Game Development Team

Whether it is a 2D game or 3D game development project, you would definitely need these roles in your game development team, including:

• Game Concept Artists
• 2D or 3D Game and Character Artists
• Motion Graphic & Animation Artists
• Game Developers
• Game Testers (QA Engineers)
• Project Manager

Of course, their experience and creativity level matters the most when calculating the cost of your game development.

So, if you’re curious to know the cost estimation for your game development concept, share your requirements with us today!

2D Games Vs. 3D Games: Which Game Development Should You Go For?

In conclusion, all we can say is that it totally depends on your game development concept and definitely your decision for the game development. You can also refer back to the popular game genres respective to 2D games and 3D games to make clear decisions. And if you still have some confusion, you can always reach out to our game development team for expert game consultation.

FAQs on 2D Vs. 3D Game Development

The post 2D Vs. 3D Game Development – Which One to Choose? appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

All you need is an apt guide that helps you with understanding the concept of 2D game art, different types of 2D game art styles, a process to create amazing 2D game art along with many insightful things.

This could make the process of designing your 2D game art much more fun. Let’s begin learning:

What is 2D Game Art?

2D game art refers to the digital graphics used in 2D video games. It encompasses all the visual elements of the game, including the game characters, backgrounds, environments, items, and user interface (UI) elements.

2D game art is typically created using digital art software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, and can be made by professional game artists or amateur game developers.

The art style can range from pixel art to vector art and can include hand-drawn illustrations, digital paintings, or 3D models rendered in a 2D format.

The quality of the 2D game art can greatly impact the player’s experience and the overall success of the game. A desirable 2D game art is visually appealing, consistent with the game’s themes and style, and effectively communicates information to the player. It can also help to create a memorable and immersive game world that draws players in and keeps them engaged.

What are the Different Types of 2D Game Art Styles?

Here are different types of 2D game art styles in detail, let’s take a look at them in detail:

Pixel Art 2D

Pixel art is one of the most popular 2D game art styles in the field of gaming. A pixel is nothing but a basic tiny object that is combined with a bundle of other pixels to create a shape or character.

But the crux is that people generally consider pixel art animation as a conventional art approach; it was used with early video games and arcades but it’s still in use. Pixel art brings out nostalgia and the Pokemon game is the big-time example of the same. You will get to see this art in many latest games.

Monochromatic Art

Monochromatic games are the lover of black, white, and grey themes. Popular games like World of Horror – 80, Aviary Attorney: Definitive Edition – 81, West of Loathing – 87, Hidden Folks – 83, Return of the Obra Dinn – 89, Contre Jour – 93, and so on, these games are the ideal examples of monochromatic games.

However, if we talk about the concept of monochromatic games, it has nothing to do with black and white color specifically, the concept of monochromatic games revolves around the usage of a very limited combination of colors or color palettes.

Flat Art

There are no boundaries to creativity when it comes to creating a game with flat art. Not that other 2D game art styles do not allow artists to turn on their creative cells. But when it comes to the flat art style, there is no such thing as depth or volume in it.

The concept of flat art does not revolve around the rules of physics or realism thus artists have their free hand to try anything out. Whatever fits well to the concept of the game is finalized.

Cutout Art

The concept of cutout art is mainly based on animation. In this art, this style mimics pictures on paper that are cut out and imported on a new plane/medium. Let’s make it clearer for you, you can create a digital asset of a character on a computer or import a paper cutout into it. At that stage, it becomes part of the game’s world.

Moreover, the cutout image remains unchanging, but the designer can move the image to simulate action and motion, and it can be immediately replaced by a different cutout to simulate a change in state.

Doodle Art

Doodle 2D game art refers to a specific style of 2D game art that features whimsical, hand-drawn, and often simplified illustrations. It is characterized by its playful, sketch-like appearance, typically resembling doodles or drawings made with pen or pencil.

Doodle 2D game art often incorporates loose and organic lines, minimal shading, and vibrant colors. It may include characters, objects, and environments that are visually simplified, featuring exaggerated proportions or stylized forms. The art style is generally lighthearted, and charming, and has a casual, DIY aesthetic.

This art style has gained popularity in indie games, mobile games, and casual games due to its accessibility, unique look, and ability to evoke a sense of creativity and nostalgia. Doodle 2D game art can be created using traditional mediums and scanned into digital formats or directly created digitally using digital art software.

Cel Shading Game Art

Cel shading 2D game art, also known as toon shading, is a specific art style used in 2D games that aims to mimic the appearance of traditional hand-drawn cel animation. It involves applying a flat, solid color to objects and characters in the game, giving them a cartoony, comic book-like appearance.

Cel shading 2D game art typically uses bold, well-defined outlines around characters and objects, similar to the black ink lines seen in traditional animation. The colors are typically bright and vibrant, often with minimal shading or gradients. This style creates a visually striking, high-contrast look that emphasizes the graphic nature of the game.

The purpose of cel-shading in 2D games is to evoke a specific aesthetic and create a stylized, animated feel. It can give games a unique and eye-catching look, reminiscent of classic cartoons or comic books. Cel shading can be used in a variety of game genres, ranging from platformers and action games to role-playing games (RPGs) and visual novels.

Cel shading can be achieved using various digital art software, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or dedicated game development tools. Artists may create art assets by hand-drawing them and scanning them into digital format or by digitally creating them.

Now that we have come to know about different 2D game art styles, let’s move forward with learning about the process of creating 2D game art.

How to Create 2D Game Art Style From Scratch

Here is the process that will properly guide you throughout creating the 2D game art from scratch to the end. Let’s learn about the same in detail:

1. Choosing a Game Style

This is the first step of creating the 2D game art: choosing a game style. As we learned above, there is a different kind of 2D game art styles, it depends on the requirement of clients’ gaming projects.

Either they come up to you with their ideas of creating a game along with selecting a gaming style or they hand it over to you to take a call.

Moreover, if the client hands over the responsibility of creating the game from scratch including finalizing the 2D game art style, then your chain of thought will be totally different. You got to consider thinking about what game genres are best suited to 2D art. Generally, 2D art goes well with almost every genre.

If we talk about some of them, such as pixel art, puzzle games, visual novels, or platformers, are the most common and ideal genres for 2D game art.

2. Concept Art

Concept art plays a crucial role in the 2D game design process. It refers to the visual representation of ideas, concepts, and designs for characters, environments, objects, and other elements in a game. Concept art serves as the foundation for the overall visual direction and artistic style of the game.

In the context of 2D game design, concept art is typically created in the early stages of development. Game artists or concept artists work closely with game designers to bring their vision to life. The concept art helps to establish the look and feel of the game, setting the artistic tone and guiding the creation of assets throughout the development process.

Concept art often includes sketches, digital paintings, mood boards, color schemes, and reference images. It showcases the characters’ appearances, poses, and costumes, the environments’ atmosphere and style, and the overall visual composition of the game.

3. Draft

In order to create art, the first step is to find a composition, a form, and an initial silhouette. A mood board with references is of great help here. It is common for artists to hastily make thumbnail drawings (brief, compact, simplified drawings generally done quickly and without any adjustments). To help understand where to move further, it is important to quickly show all possible directions. A sketch is created by selecting a thumbnail, refining it, and then turning it into a final image.

4. Sketch

When you have reached the stage of sketching, you will be emphasizing design and detailings here. There are two key attributes in a sketch, line, and tone. The first one allows you to visualize design ideas and materials aptly, While the second allows you to see depth and lighting. Assets are sent to the client for final approval post-sketch creation. As soon as it gets approved, the concept is carried out for further details.

5. Color Concept

Once the concept art is approved, the creative crew moves forward to work on the color palette. Color concept is mainly about the color scheme. Concepts can be any: black & white, and colored, it all depends on the purpose of the game. For example, if the game is casual, the concept is generally hand-drawn. If the game is more complex, in that case, the artist can use a photo collage, 3D images, and other advanced tools and instruments.

6. Character Design

Character design in 2D game art typically begins with conceptualization and sketching. Artists explore different ideas, shapes, and features to develop a unique and visually appealing character. The design process involves considering various aspects, such as the character’s backstory, traits, and role in the game’s narrative.

Here’s what a detailed character design looks like, check out the key elements:

Visual Appearance

This includes the character’s overall silhouette, proportions, facial features, hairstyles, clothing, accessories, and color scheme. It aims to create a distinctive and memorable look that aligns with the game’s art style and target audience.

Personality and traits

Characters should be designed to reflect their personality traits, backstory, and role in the game. This includes considering their emotions, mannerisms, expressions, and gestures. Design choices such as body language, facial expressions, and clothing details can help convey their unique attributes.

Abilities and Skills

Depending on the game genre, characters may have specific abilities, skills, or powers. The design should visually communicate these traits, either through visual effects or distinctive elements that represent their abilities.

Animations and considerations

Character design should take into account how they will be animated in the game. Considering movement, gestures, and expressions to ensure they are visually appealing and suitable for gameplay mechanics is very important.

What Mistakes to Avoid While Creating 2D Game Art?

When creating 2D game art, there are several mistakes that you should try to avoid to ensure the quality of your artwork. Here are some common ones:

1. Poor planning

Planning is the core aspect of any game design and development process; it determines how your 2D game art is going to look after following all the steps.

Failing to plan your artwork can lead to inconsistencies and a lack of cohesion in your game art. It’s essential to have a clear concept and design before starting your artwork.

2. Not considering your target audience

Beginning directly with the game art process could be troublesome as you will be designing a game that is not well researched, and your target audience’s expectations and your creations will contradict.

A well-researched process ensures that you stand up to the users’ expectations; it prevents your process from going in vain.

3. Inconsistent Style

Maintaining a consistent art style throughout your game is important for visual coherence. Mixing incompatible styles can make your game look amateurish or disjointed. Establish a style guide or visual reference to ensure consistency.

4. Overcomplicating Designs

Complex or overly detailed artwork can be visually overwhelming, especially in the context of a game where simplicity and readability are important. Simplify your designs and focus on conveying the essential elements effectively.

5. Ignoring User Interface (UI)

Game art needs to integrate seamlessly with the user interface elements. Ignoring game UI considerations can lead to visual clashes, readability issues, or poor user experience. You need to ensure that your art complements the UI elements and does not hinder usability.

6. Lack of Iteration and Feedback

Avoid getting attached to your initial artwork without seeking feedback or iterating on your designs. Getting input from others, playtesting, and iterating can help you identify and rectify any weaknesses in your art.

Wrapping Words

So, this is it! We hope next time you get your 2D game art styled, you will surely consider these points. And of course, for excellent game design and development services, we would love to partner up with you and help you create a game that opens the doors of success for you all!

FAQs for 2D Game Art Style

The post How to Create Desirable 2D Game Art – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on 300Mind Blog.

Well, creating a game that is capable of making users spare time for it is a big deal, as there are millions of games that users have already come across! The truth is that making a game work does not rely solely on a novel concept. It takes a lot of things to be incorporated to make it big, as different teams do their part to run the process.

The line that keeps connected all the dots in the process of gaming development is game design documentation.

A game design document ensures that all the people involved in the project are on the same page. The document consists of everything related to the game that the development team and the other concerned teams are required to learn while working on the technicalities.

This article has emphasized the importance of a game design document and provided a detailed guide to creating a certain game design document, along with other necessary insights that will brush up on your knowledge about this topic and help you create a robust GDD. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get started.

Let’s clear the concept from scratch:

What is the Game Design Document?

A game design document (GDD) is a comprehensive blueprint that outlines all aspects of a video game’s design. It is a detailed document that describes the goals, mechanics, story, art, audio, user interface, controls, levels, and other elements that make up a game.

The GDD serves as a reference for everyone involved in the game development process, including designers, programmers, artists, writers, and producers. It ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding the game’s vision, goals, and features, and helps keep the development team focused on creating a cohesive and enjoyable player experience.

What Does a Game Design Document Include?

A GDD typically includes a variety of information, including:

Concept and overview

This section describes the game’s basic concept, its genre, setting, story, and main gameplay features.

Gameplay mechanics

This section outlines the game’s core mechanics, such as controls, gameplay systems, rules, and player progression.

Level design

This section details the various levels, maps, and environments in the game, including their layout, difficulty, and objectives.

Characters and creatures

This section describes the various characters and creatures in the game, including their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.

Art and visual design

This section details the game’s visual style, art direction, and graphical assets.

Sound and music

This section outlines the game’s audio design, including sound effects, music, and voiceover.

User interface and user experience

This section describes how the game’s interface will work and how the player will interact with the game.

Marketing and monetization

This section detail how the game will be marketed and monetized, including pricing, microtransactions, and in-game ads.

A game design document is an important tool for the game development team, as it provides a clear and detailed plan for creating the game. It also serves as a reference for stakeholders, such as investors and publishers, who may use it to evaluate the viability of the project.

Why is the Game Design Document Required?

A game design document (GDD) is a crucial document in the game development process. It serves as a blueprint for the game and outlines the game’s design, mechanics, story, characters, levels, gameplay, and more. Let’s talk about certain reasons that make it pretty important for a game development team to follow a seamless game development process.

Format and curate your ideas

Having your ideas and future plan curated in the written format helps you implement your ideas in a better way as you have everything well organized and written to be implemented. 

When your whole strategy is written on the piece of paper, you can evaluate better and reach a viable conclusion by fixing a fly in the ointment if there’s any.

GDD guides you through the whole game development process 

The process of game app development goes through many iterations right before it’s released and that’s pretty normal. In order to track every action that is taken while the process of game development, the GDD serves as an ideal assistant.

Since GDD covers all the vital components of the game design, the concerned teams can use it as a reference to make sure that the process is carried out as planned, and if any modifications have taken place, are they done in accordance with the object of the game?

So, GDD is the prime reference point throughout the entire process of game development.

GDD helps newcomers get acquainted with the game process rapidly

Team members who are working on the game are well-versed in the process and have properly gotten along with the guidelines of the game development process. But if there’s a requirement for more people to join the project, then it becomes really difficult for the new employees to get a hang of project guidelines in a short period of time.

In such cases, the game design document alleviates their difficulties, as it has everything mentioned all ready to be put into action.

GDD acts as a proof for all participants

Plan details and plans of adherents of the GDD are preferentially documented. It is also possible for the GDD to have the contract deliverables listed so that all parties will be able to see the results to be expected and know who is responsible. By doing so, the document serves as proof for all parties involved. You’ll be required to provide documentation with a detailed outline of your game when you collaborate with giant game distributors like Sony.

5 Rules to Keep in Mind while Creating a Game Design Document

Let’s move forward with learning about these 5 surprising rules that will help you create a robust game design document:

Rule no.1: Avoid creating GDD in MS office

MS Word is a suitable platform for many reasons but when it comes to creating a game design document, it is possibly not an apt tool for you. Due to its slender accessibility, the content could end up locked away on someone’s hard drive without ever getting updated or likely to be accessed.

A GDD is the prime source of reference for every member who is involved in the project, so the document has to be upgraded regularly. So, you better opt for a tool that is competent enough to be accessible and matches your requirements.

Here we are suggesting you some tools that will help you create a better game design document:

Trello

Trello is a project management tool that can be used to create game design documents. It allows you to organize ideas, assign tasks, and collaborate with team members in real-time.

Confluence

Confluence is a collaboration tool that can be used to create game design documents. It offers a wide range of features, including document version control and team collaboration.

Google Slides

Google Slides is a presentation software that can be used to create game design documents. It is a good option for creating visually appealing documents that include images and diagrams.

Lucidchart

Lucidchart is a diagramming software that can be used to create game design documents. It offers a wide range of templates and shapes that can be used to create flowcharts, wireframes, and other visual representations.

Rule no. 2: Collaboration is the key

Working as a team helps reach better and more desirable conclusions. Thus, when you are working as a team on a game development project, make sure you all are on the same page to ensure a smooth process.

Try to lay bare the details that can help the rest of the team members gain insights and work in a better to way to bear favorable results.

A game design process that involves your entire team will ensure that they feel involved in the process and the final product will be turned out to be as expected.

Rule no. 3 Pay attention to visuals, too

You won’t be able to put everything into words while creating a game design document. In such cases, mind mapping and concept art will be a source of help to put your ideas and concepts into visuals for a better understanding of the team.

Visual aids also enable team members to keep their ideas organized as the game design document keeps on modifying and evolving, and it accumulates details as the process takes measures.

Rule no. 4: Try to keep it as incisive in the beginning as possible

A game design document is filled with so much detail in different formats that it sometimes becomes quite confusing for the team to apprehend every detail. Well, its nature is bound to be comprehensive.

So, to avoid further confusion and doubt, it’s better to keep it concise in the beginning for everyone to get the hang of it. As the GDD keeps on evolving, adding details after a period of time into the document is completely okay.

Rule no. 5: Always welcome productive changes

As mentioned before, a game design document is modified and updated regularly. There is no point in treating it as a mere template as it could kill creativity by breaking down the bridge between ideas and their implementation. 

It is important to keep things agile and be prepared for the final document to differ from what you started out with. To easily undo any changes you made to your document without losing anything, make sure to keep your previous versions of the document.

A Perfect Guide to Creating a Game Design Document

Let’s refer to this guide for detailed information about the steps to create a game design document aptly:

Step 1: Name your game

For all the efforts you have put into the development of your game and a game design document; it’s equally worthy and necessary to name your game with equal efforts, too.

Giving your game app an appealing and connective name helps you with marketing strategies while launching it to seek the limelight of players; your target audience. Well, we deliberately considered naming your game a part of GDD as it sounds simple but naming your game is not really a piece of cake in hindsight.

So, when you are naming it, avail all your creative and marketing cells and come up with a splendid one.

Step 2: Description of your game

A game description is a brief knowledge of your game; a summary that briefly describes your game’s main functionalities. The key goal of creating a game description is to make the audience aware of your game’s core characteristics and what makes it unique from the other existing games.

Your motive is to add all the relevant information about the audience related to your game and make it as appealing and read-worthy as possible that executes your vision about the game.

Step 3: Prime characters of the game

Here is the mechanism that leads you to the perfect character design for your game:

Consider the game genre

The genre of the game will often determine the type of characters that will work well in the game. For example, a first-person shooter may require a tough, skilled protagonist, while a role-playing game may require a diverse group of characters with unique skills and abilities.

Determine the game’s story

The game’s story will often dictate the characters that are needed. Consider the setting, the plot, and the conflicts that will occur in the game. From there, you can determine what types of characters will be needed to tell the story.

Identify the game’s mechanics

The game mechanics will also impact the characters that are needed. Consider what types of actions the player will be taking, what types of obstacles they will face, and what types of skills will be needed to overcome them.

Sketch out the characters

Once you have a general idea of the types of characters that are needed, you can begin sketching out the characters’ basic traits, backstories, personalities, and appearance. Try to create characters that are unique, interesting, and memorable.

Step 4: Create a gameplay

Creating a gameplay section for a game design document involves outlining the core mechanics and features that will be used to engage the player throughout the game. Let’s refer to the below-mentioned points for creating perfect gameplay:

Identify the game’s genre and target audience

Understanding the game’s genre and target audience will help you create gameplay that will appeal to the intended audience. For instance, a puzzle game may require a different type of gameplay from an action-adventure game.

Define the game’s objective

The game’s objective should be clearly stated in the gameplay section. This is what the player will be trying to achieve throughout the game. For instance, the objective of a racing game may be to finish first in each race.

Identify the core mechanics

The core mechanics are the basic actions that players can take in the game. These mechanics should be designed to be engaging and intuitive, making it easy for the player to understand how to play the game. For instance, the core mechanics of a platformer game may involve jumping and dodging obstacles.

Outline the progression system

The progression system should be designed to keep the player engaged throughout the game. This includes the difficulty level of the game, the rewards for completing levels, and how the player can advance through the game.

Consider multiplayer options

If the game is designed for multiplayer, the gameplay section should outline how players can compete against each other or work together to achieve a common goal.

Step 5: Graphics and styling for making GDD visually appealing and clearer

Generally, the quality of graphics and the impact of the game environment determine the overall gaming experience. The purpose of this step is to describe the look of your game, paint a picture for designers, or include some concept art as a guide.

Step 6: Technical description

It is in this step that you discuss the different platforms where your game will be launched and the specific tools you will use to develop it. It would be helpful if you included a detailed technical description to avoid confusion later on. A cross-platform game for mobile devices or a standalone game for PC would come under this section.

Why should you Choose 300Mind for Game Design and Development Services?

Being one of the top game design and development companies, we own expertise in every facet of game development. Our proficient 3D artists and mobile game developers help you design your game that matches your expectations as well as players’ preferences.

We are into full-cycle game development right from scratch to end-to-end solutions be it; specialized game design or interactive game development. Through an artistic approach, we structure plots and characters by storyboarding and endless creative inputs. When it comes to building games, our game is never over!

So, if you are planning to hire game developers, we are the source of light for you!

And It’s a Wrap

We hope you have gotten substantial insights that will surely help you create a robust game design document that will be a source of great help in the process of game app development. I hope you will entertain your audience with a splendid game.

FAQs on Game Design Document

The post A Perfect Guide to Creating a Game Design Document appeared first on 300Mind Blog.