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A project presentation, also known as a pitch, is the most important step in bringing your idea to life. How persuasive you are will determine the reaction of investors and publishers. And given that the future fate of your studio may depend on the financing of the project, the pitch acquires the most fateful significance. Of course, pitching a video game should cover all aspects of the game, from the audience to support and post-release maintenance. But at the same time, it shouldn’t be overloaded with details – you don’t want investors to fall asleep, do you? To make it easier for you to understand how best to approach creating a pitch, we have collected key recommendations and tips for different pitching formats. So let’s dive in. What Is The Pitch? A video game pitch is a proposal for a new video game that is presented to potential investors, publishers, or other stakeholders.  The pitch is typically designed to persuade these stakeholders to provide funding, development resources, or other support for the game’s creation. The video game pitch typically includes a description of the game genre, story, setting, and gameplay mechanics, as well as any unique features or innovations that the game will offer. The pitch may also include concept art, gameplay footage, or other visual materials to help illustrate the game’s potential. The goal of a video game pitch is to capture the attention and imagination of the audience and to convince them that the game has the potential to be successful both creatively and commercially. A successful video game pitch can lead to funding and support that allows the game to be developed and brought to market. Did you know? Knowing how to make a pitch will help not only when presenting an idea to an abstract investor, but also when launching a project on fundraising platforms. There you present your idea to your immediate audience who will play your game. Points to Consider When You Pitch a Video Game Idea No one is in a hurry to invest their money in a mediocre product. If it doesn’t grab attention with an idea, plot, graphics, or mechanics, then investors will simply pass by. The main thing, in this case, is to figure out how to stand out. You can often find the opinion that it is enough to be passionate and confident in your idea, whatever it may be. But that’s not quite right. No one will share your passion just because you are excited about your idea. You need to prove to investors that your idea is viable and back up each argument with convincing theses. The concept of mediocrity plays a very important role. If your idea takes an already-known game as a basis and simply repeats it in a slightly different setting and graphics, no one will buy such an idea. The gaming industry is already constantly suffering from the problem of repetitiveness, even from world-famous franchises, so it definitely doesn’t need new entities of this type. Of course, you must be confident in your idea and passionate about it to be able to emotionally influence investors. But first of all, you have to do a lot of analytical work and ensure that your idea is well protected from counterarguments like “But this has already happened in games.” Tips to Keep in Mind for a Successful Pitch When submitting a video game idea, there are a few things to keep in mind that can help increase your chances of success. Here are a few key points to keep in mind. Target audience Who is the game intended for? Is it aimed at hardcore gamers, casual gamers, or a specific demographic? You should be able to clearly define your target audience and explain why your game will appeal to them. Unique selling point This is exactly what we were talking about. What sets your game apart from other games in the same genre? Does it have a unique art style, an innovative gameplay mechanic, or an interesting story? If you have nothing to answer these questions, it is better to immediately take on the reworking of the idea. Competitors What games have inspired you? What elements did you borrow from other games? What have you improved? Why will your game be different, why will it be better? Don’t shy away from this question, because if done right, it will help you stand out with real examples. Genre What genre does the game belong to? Is it an action game, an adventure game, a simulation, or something else? It is important here to explain what new things you are going to bring to this genre and why you think that your innovations will contribute to the development of the genre. Gameplay What is the core gameplay loop of your game? How do players progress through the game and what challenges will they face? It shouldn’t just be a “player explores the world” style description, but an explanation of how key mechanics contribute to the overall experience. Story What is the game’s narrative? Is it a linear story or an open-world experience? If the story is linear, why does it have to be that way, and what is the main idea it conveys to the player? With an open world, it is more difficult, because it must be alive and filled, and each of its elements must add meaning to the overall picture. Game economy How will the game economy work? How will it develop? What is its dependence on the chosen difficulty level? Here you can also talk about the methods of monetization if any are planned. Art and sound What is the game’s visual and audio style? Are there any unique visual or audio elements that contribute to the overall experience? The chosen art style can be traditional or completely innovative, which is quite often practiced by small indie developers. Marketing How will you market the game? Do you have a plan for building hype and creating buzz around the game? Perhaps you do not plan any large-scale advertising activities, but this may be relevant only for small games. Large projects necessarily require planning all advertising activities in advance, otherwise, the probability of recoupment of the project drops significantly and the investor may pay attention to it. Of course, you must say a few words about your company. This shouldn’t take long, as you’re not here to discuss the undoubtedly interesting story of your origins. But with a short snapshot about your company, team, and processes, you show investors that you have the necessary resources to implement the idea and clearly understand how the work should be delivered. Top Mistakes to Avoid in Video Game Pitching Talking about mistakes is usually meaningless, because anyway, no one will take them into account until they themselves commit them and realize the consequences. However, we will still try to outline the most common failures for you so that you try to stay away from them as far as possible. Focusing on technical details While it’s important to have a solid technical foundation for your game idea, focusing too much on technical details can make your pitch feel dry and uninteresting. It’s important to balance technical details with engaging storytelling and a clear vision for the game’s experience. Lack of clarity Your pitch should be clear and easy to understand. Avoid using technical jargon or buzzwords that may confuse or alienate your audience. Make sure that your pitch clearly communicates the unique selling points of your game idea and how they contribute to the overall experience. Lack of focus One of the most common mistakes is not having a clear focus on what your game is about. It’s important to have a clear idea of your game’s genre, target audience, and unique selling points. Lack of a hook You need to have a compelling hook that makes your game stand out from the competition. This could be a unique gameplay mechanic, a fascinating story, or an innovative art style. Not knowing your audience When pitching your game idea, it’s important to understand the interests and priorities of your audience. Tailor your pitch to your audience’s specific needs and interests. For example, investors may be more interested in the game’s potential for profit, while gamers may be more interested in the game’s story and mechanics. Overpromising Don’t make promises that you can’t keep. Don’t give numbers you’re not sure about. In other words, do not pull the wool over the eyes of investors, they will determine it right away. Be realistic about what your game can achieve, and don’t promise features that you can’t deliver. Poor presentation skills A good pitch is not just about the content. It’s also about the delivery. Your pitch should be engaging and dynamic. Practice your presentation skills to ensure that you can deliver your pitch with confidence and energy. Use visual aids and demos to help illustrate your ideas and keep your audience engaged. Lack of marketing plan Your pitch should include a clear marketing plan that outlines how you will promote your game and reach your target audience. Failing to have a clear marketing plan can make it difficult to convince investors. Lack of confidence Confidence is key when it comes to pitching your game. If you don’t believe in your game, it’s hard to convince others to believe in it. But don’t overdo it. Try to keep your balance within moderate confidence and don’t go overly exalted or even aggressive. Poor preparation Make sure you’re well-prepared for your pitch. Have all the necessary materials ready, and be ready to answer any questions that come your way. Try to anticipate all the possible questions in advance, be sure to include the most inconvenient ones, and prepare answers to them. Of course, all these tips will be forgotten instantly as soon as you find yourself in the face of investors, opening the presentation with trembling hands. However, some of them can help you prepare better, and following them will greatly increase your chances of success. Key Pitching Formats Speaking of tips and recommendations, we traditionally focused on the classic type of pitching – a personal offline meeting with investors. But in today’s digitalized world, this option is not the only one. Moreover, it is most likely even shifted from the first place. The leaders are remote pitching, as well as pitching at thematic events. So here they are, the three main pitching formats. Remote idea presentation. A remote idea presentation is a pitch that takes place over video conferencing software or other remote communication tools. The advantage of this format is that it allows you to pitch your game to people who are located in different parts of the world. However, it can be challenging to keep people engaged when they’re not physically present.Offline personal meeting. An offline personal meeting is a pitch that takes place in person. The advantage of this format is that it allows you to have a more personal interaction with the people you’re pitching to. This can help you build a stronger relationship with them and increase your chances of success. However, it can be challenging to arrange these meetings, especially if the people you’re pitching to are located in different parts of the world.Pitching at conferences. Pitching at conferences is a popular format for video game pitches. It allows you to pitch your game to a large audience of industry professionals and potential investors. The advantage of this format is that it can help you get your game in front of a lot of people at once. However, it can be challenging to stand out in a crowded field of pitches, and the pressure of presenting in front of a large audience may seem intimidating. Objectively, the easiest way to achieve success is in a personal meeting with investors. However, in light of globalization, this option is becoming increasingly rare. Stakeholders may be located in different parts of the world, and the only way out for them is remote communication. Pitching at a conference is an advanced method since it requires maximum self-confidence to speak in front of a large audience among a huge number of competitors with their pitches. Comparison Table of Key Pitching Formats ProsConsRemote idea presentation✔️ Convenience. You can pitch your idea from anywhere in the world, without the need to travel.✔️ Flexibility. You can schedule the presentation at a time that suits both you and the potential investors.✔️ Cost-effectiveness. You can save money on travel and accommodation expenses.❌ Technical issues. Poor internet connection or technical glitches can disrupt the flow of the presentation.❌ Lack of personal connection. Remote communication is not conducive to establishing closer contact.❌ Loss of attention. Distractions on both sides can significantly damage the perception of information.Offline personal meeting✔️ Personal connection. Meeting face-to-face allows you to build a personal connection with potential investors.✔️ Clarity. You can answer questions and address concerns immediately, providing clarity to potential investors.✔️ Body language. You can use body language to convey your enthusiasm and confidence in your idea.❌ Limited reach. Meeting in person can be time-consuming and limit the number of investors you can pitch to.❌ High cost. You may have to pay for travel and accommodation expenses, which can be a significant cost.❌ Scheduling. Scheduling a meeting can be challenging, especially if potential investors have busy schedules.Pitching at conferences✔️ Exposure. The event is a crowded platform to showcase games to a wide audience of industry professionals, journalists, and gamers.✔️ Feedback. The Q&A session after the pitch allows developers to receive feedback and insights from experienced pros in the industry, which can help refine game concepts.✔️ Networking. Conferences are an excellent opportunity for developers to meet potential partners, collaborators, and investors.❌ Time constraints. Developers have a limited amount of time to pitch their games, which can get in the way of getting the main messages across.❌ Competition. Events are a competitive environment, with many developers vying for attention from the same audience. It can be difficult to stand out among the crowd.❌ Pressure. The pressure to deliver a successful pitch can be intense, especially for independent developers. This pressure can lead to nerves and a lack of confidence during the pitch. Are You Ready to Pitch Your Idea? So how are you doing, have you become more confident about pitching? We hope so. Pitching was and still is quite a creative procedure that requires good communication skills. Therefore, when choosing a person who will be engaged in pitching, also take into account psychological aspects, including such intangible ones as, for example, charisma. It may seem strange, but sometimes it can play, if not the most important, but quite a serious role in the success of the entire presentation. Good luck with your pitching endeavors! Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate

One of the most unambiguous threads in the gaming industry for the coming years is the request from the gaming community for more improvements to graphics and visuals. Hardware is becoming more powerful, mobile devices can easily play heavyweight games, and the AR/VR direction continues to develop. So there are more and more challenges for developers. VFX is an indispensable tool for meeting the expectations of the players. Whether it’s fantastic effects and breathtaking fireballs in a fantasy RPG or super-realistic smoke, water, and fire in a post-apocalyptic action game, the visuals hold the attention, provide better immersion, and allow the game to unfold in the best possible way. So, let’s talk about the meaning of visual effects in games. With lively and exciting examples, of course. Creating realistic water in a game is a very challenging task for VFX artists VFX in the Gaming Industry So, VFX for games is just as important as high-quality filming for a movie. But if a movie can do without visual effects, limiting itself to beautiful location shooting, then games don’t have that luxury. Each element of the game environment is computer-generated assets, the perception of which directly depends on their realism and quality. For example, water in games. Have you noticed how few titles can offer more or less realistic water? Especially if the gameplay does not involve active interaction with it. In this case, the developers prefer to minimize the effort of working on the water and subsequently receive bad feedback from the players who got to the water and were horrified by its quality. Example: Water in Metro Exodus Water, like other visual effects in the post-apocalyptic first-person shooter video game Metro Exodus from the Ukrainian company 4A Games, looks beyond all praise. PhysX technology, along with tessellation, helped to provide amazing 3D ripples that form small waves like in reality. What’s more, even shells form splashes and ripples in the water. Another impressive aspect of the water effect is its visual quality. The game uses high-resolution textures and advanced lighting techniques to create a realistic and detailed water surface. The water also reflects the surrounding environment, including light and objects, creating an immersive and believable scene. In addition, Metro Exodus also features underwater sequences where the player can swim and interact with objects and enemies. The water effect in these sequences is also highly realistic, with accurate physics and lighting effects. Posted by Throneful. “Metro Exodus – Boat Gameplay (PC HD) [1080p60FPS]”. YouTube. February 20, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkHubCTwfoA What are Visual Effects in Games? Visual effects in games are the process of creating special animations that are not an object or characters, but that represent the player’s interaction with the game world and bring the game world to life. This explanation may seem complicated, but in fact, we are all very familiar with visual effects. These are not only the so-called special effects, lightning, magic, and various fantasy transformations. Not at all. Visual effects are also water, fire, smoke, dust, and more. Sometimes we don’t even pay attention to them, but they are an integral part of the gaming experience. For example, fire. Despite the classic coziness of bonfires, embodying rest, peace, and a certain stronghold of protection in a dangerous world, much more often fire in games is something that has gone out of control and represents danger and a threat to life. Example: Fire in The Last of Us Part II The Last of Us Part II, an action-adventure game developed by the American video game developer Naughty Dog, boasts one of the most impressive fire effects in the gaming industry in recent years. One of the key elements in designing the fire effect was the use of volumetric rendering. This technique allows for the creation of realistic smoke and flames that can be manipulated in real time, displaying a dynamic and ever-changing effect. The fire was also given a high level of detail, with realistic flames and smoke that react to the game’s environment and physics. In addition, the developers used a system of particle effects to create sparks and embers that are generated by the fire. These particles add to the realism of the effect, as they float and drift in the air, creating a sense of chaos and destruction. From slowly smoldering cars to an entire settlement engulfed in violent flames, the game flawlessly captures the terrifying atmosphere of a mighty element greedily devouring the pitiful remnants of civilization. Posted by TrueGamingVault. “The Last of Us 2 Scar Island + Brutal Boss Fight & Combat Gameplay // The Seraphites (Scars)”. YouTube. June 23, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTBzr2I5v3A What Kinds of Visual Effects Are Used in Games? Creating visual effects for games is a complex and painstaking process. The success of this activity will determine whether players feel like they are part of the game world or roll their eyes when they see clumsy fire or plastic water. The most common types of visual effects in games are: CGI (computer-generated imagery). It is a technique used to create visual effects using computer graphics. In video games, CGI is used to create characters, objects, and environments. This technique can be used to create realistic-looking graphics or more stylized graphics, depending on the desired look of the game. Motion capture. It involves recording the movements of real people or animals and using that data to animate digital characters or objects in a video game. This technique is often used in sports games, where realistic movements of athletes are required, or in action games, where realistic combat moves are needed. Motion capture can create highly realistic movements and interactions in video games. Morphing. It is a technique that involves transforming one image or object into another through a series of small changes. In video games, morphing can be used to create unique and interesting visual effects, such as changing a character’s appearance or transforming an object into a different shape. This technique is often used in puzzle or adventure games to create interesting visual puzzles or challenges. This is a technological categorization. Inside the game itself, there are gameplay and environmental effects: Gameplay effects. This includes all effects directly related to the interaction between the player and the game world. These are the effects of a shot, marks on surfaces, splashes from under the wheels, and so on.Environmental effects. These are the effects that occur in the game world without the direct participation of the player and that make up the general game atmosphere: water, fire, clouds, smoke, rain, and so on. Example: Thunderstorm in Forza Horizon 4 Continuing the tradition of examples, let’s look at the thunderstorm effect. Many games use it to manipulate the player’s emotional state, but few have risen to such heights of dynamic weather change as Forza Horizon 4, a racing video game developed by the British video game developer Playground Games. The location called Fortune Island brings the storm to the absolute. The thunderstorm effect consists of multiple layers of visuals and sounds that work together to create a realistic and believable storm. Constant rains, lightning, and hurricane winds make driving much more difficult and create an indescribable atmosphere of extreme weather conditions that test the endurance and skills of the player. One of the key visual elements of the thunderstorm effect is the lightning. Lightning strikes are realistically rendered with bright flashes of light and detailed bolt shapes that are procedurally generated. The lightning bolts also cast shadows and illuminate the surrounding environment, adding to the realism of the effect. Another important visual element of the thunderstorm effect is the rain. The raindrops are individually rendered with dynamic lighting and reflections that accurately simulate the behavior of water in different lighting conditions. The rain also creates realistic water splashes and spray on the road surface, adding to the immersion of the effect. Posted by PakHunter. “Forza Horizon 4 Fortune Island Storm Race”. YouTube. June 2, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJqRnmJm9F4 What Programs Are Used to Create VFX in Games? Special VFX software offers artists a variety of tools for working with effects. Many of them have preset animations and textures that you can modify depending on your needs. Using ready-made assets and software features, artists have different ways to create amazing visual effects of the highest quality. Example: The Dust Storm in Forza Horizon 5 The dust storm visual effect implemented in the racing video game Forza Horizon 5 by Playground Games is an impressive example of VFX in video games. This effect is created using a particle system, which generates millions of tiny particles that move and interact with each other in a realistic manner. The particles are programmed to respond to environmental factors such as wind, light, and gravity, which makes the dust storm look more natural. In addition to the particle system, the game also uses a sophisticated lighting system to enhance the effect of the dust storm. The developers added dynamic lighting to the particles to produce a sense of depth and realism. The light interacts with the particles in the air, creating a unique and atmospheric effect. Posted by TOXIC LAMB. “Forza Horizon 5 – Free Roam Through Sandstorm”. YouTube. November 11, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA2t9xsrdss It is important to understand that each effect requires a different approach and sometimes a separate instrument. For example, fire, smoke, and explosion effects are conveniently created in Phoenix FD, FumeFX, and Maya fluids. Destruction effects are well modeled in MassFX and Rayfire. Here are some examples of the most popular VFX software. 3ds Max 3ds Max is considered one of the basic VFX tools. Its convenience is that it includes a toolkit for the implementation of a complete animation pipeline, from modeling to rendering. Look at some of the tools and features of 3ds Max that are useful for creating VFX in video games: Particle flow. It is a tool that allows users to create particle systems that are often used for visual effects design: explosions, fire, and smoke.MassFX. This is a physics simulation tool that allows artists to simulate rigid body dynamics (collisions and gravity) and can be used to create realistic VFX.FumeFX. This is a plug-in for 3ds Max that helps artists to create realistic fluid and smoke simulations that are often used to design clouds, smoke, and fire.Hair and fur. This tool allows artists to design and simulate hair and fur for characters and creatures, which can be used to create realistic and dynamic VFX.MAXScript. This is a scripting language that helps users to automate tasks and design custom tools within 3ds Max, which can be used to create VFX more efficiently.UV mapping. This tool allows users to unwrap 3D models to create UV coordinates, which are necessary for applying textures and materials to models, including those used for VFX. So, 3ds Max is a versatile software that offers a wide range of tools and features for creating VFX in video games. But keep in mind that this is quite a difficult software to master, so starting your VFX journey with it can be a daunting task. Unity The most popular game engines offer affordable built-in visual effects tools. Unity provides a range of instruments for creating VFX in video games. For example, it has such key tools and features: Particle system. It allows artists to create various types of particle effects: explosions, smoke, fire, and more. You can customize particle behavior and appearance to suit your needs. The system supports dynamic and static particle effects.Shuriken. An updated particle system provides more flexibility and control over particle effects. It includes a wide range of modules and parameters for creating complex particle effects with ease.Timeline. This tool allows you to create and control complex animations and VFX sequences. You can combine different types of animation, including particle effects, to create dynamic and engaging VFX in your game.Shader Graph. It is used to create custom shaders for your VFX. With this tool, you can create stunning visual effects by manipulating the properties of materials and textures and combining them with particle systems.Visual Effect Graph. The Visual Effect Graph is a node-based tool to create advanced VFX in real-time. It provides a wide range of nodes and modules for creating complex and dynamic particle systems, such as explosions, smoke, and fire.Cinemachine. It is a powerful camera system in Unity to create dynamic and cinematic camera shots. It can be used to create stunning VFX sequences that follow the action in the game. With Unity particle system, Timeline, Shader Graph, Visual Effect Graph, and Cinemachine, you can create marvelous and dynamic VFX sequences that enhance the gameplay experience. Dive Deeper: ✔ Unity vs Unreal Engine: Pros and Cons Houdini For many VFX artists, Houdini is the go-to software for advanced dynamic simulation tools. Our specialists also actively use it together with Unreal. It is a 3D animation software that is widely used in the game development industry. It offers a range of procedural tools that enable developers to create complex VFX. The tool allows you to work in an iterative way and offers a convenient node-based system to minimize the number of steps. Here are some of the main features and tools that Houdini offers: Procedural modeling. These tools allow artists to create and modify 3D models quickly and easily. They use algorithms to generate geometry, so artists can make changes to the model by adjusting the parameters of the algorithm.Particle and fluid simulation. It can be used to create realistic effects like fire, smoke, and explosions. These simulations can be complex and time-consuming, but Houdini’s tools make it easy to set up and control the simulation.Dynamic rigging. These tools allow artists to create complex character animations and use physics simulations to design realistic movements and reactions.Compositing. Artists can combine different elements of a scene into a final image. This includes compositing VFX elements like explosions or smoke into live-action footage.Digital assets. Digital asset tools allow artists to create reusable components that can be used in different projects. These assets may include 3D models, simulations, or entire scenes. Overall, Houdini’s procedural tools and dynamic rigging make it a popular choice for creating complex effects and animations. However, it can be difficult to learn and use, so it may not be the best choice for beginners. Maya Maya is another 3D animation software that is popular in the game development industry. It has a wide range of tools and features that allow artists to create complex and realistic animations and special effects. Here are some of the Maya tools that are commonly used for creating VFX: Dynamics. Helps artists create realistic simulations of physical phenomena like explosions, fire, smoke, water, and cloth. It is used extensively in games to design realistic environments and effects.Fluids. Enables artists to create and control fluid simulations, such as water and other liquids. It can be used to showcase realistic ocean waves, splashes, and other fluid effects.Particles. Used to create particle systems to simulate small objects, like dust, debris, sparks, and rain. It is also capable of designing special effects like explosions and magical spells.Nucleus. Used to create complex simulations: soft bodies, rigid bodies, and cloth. It can simulate the behavior of objects that are impacted by gravity, collisions, and other physical forces.Bifrost. This tool is a powerful simulation engine that is used to create complex simulations like fire, smoke, and explosions. It can also help create water effects like waves, splashes, and foam. In addition to these tools, Maya also has a powerful scripting language called MEL (Maya Embedded Language) that allows artists to automate repetitive tasks and create custom tools to streamline their workflow. This feature is particularly useful for VFX artists who need to design large numbers of complex effects. We talked about MEL in detail in our Maya vs Blender comparison material. Dive Deeper: ✔

The game engine is the foundation of creating video games. It includes a large number of tools, libraries, plugins, and customization features that allow you to design unique entertainment products. And in this realm of game architecture, there are two main giants – Unity and Unreal. It is pointless to answer the question of which one is better. The fact is that each of them serves a specific purpose. And once you understand what your goal is and become aware of the capabilities of these engines, the answer will appear by itself. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to know Unity vs Unreal engine in more detail. Before We Begin We will allow ourselves a small digression. If you’re interested in other engines besides the two key ones, you can check out our material on the top 5 engines, which also includes our current contenders. We also have large-scale material covering all aspects of Unity in greater detail: statistics, pricing, pros and cons, game examples, Unity developer rates around the world, and so on. We invite you to find out if Unity is exactly what you need. And yes, ignore the clickbait title. Of course, it was meant that Unity is the best for its purposes. Dive Deeper: ✔ Unity − What Makes It the Best Game Engine? Unity Features Unity is the most famous cross-platform engine, especially popular for mobile game development and indie development. The main feature of Unity is its cross-platform nature. It supports development for over 25 platforms including mobile, desktop, web, console, and AP/XP platforms. Thus, this engine will be your undoubted choice if you are planning cross-platform development. Especially if you want to cover mobile development, as over 70% of all mobile games are made with Unity. The engine offers Lightweight Render Pipeline – a prebuilt Scriptable Render Pipeline that allows graphics to be scaled to low-level mobile platforms. Development on Unity is considered optimal for beginners and those who are just planning to enter the gaming niche. The interface of the engine is simple and intuitive, and the native language is C#, which is quite easy to learn. The engine also offers access to the Unity Asset Store, a marketplace where developers can create and sell 2D and 3D assets and environments that can greatly speed up and simplify development. Games Made Using Unity The list of games created with Unity is truly endless. Notable examples include: Ori And The Blind Forest (Metroidvania)Cuphead (Run and gun)Pillars Of Eternity (RPG) Did you know? Unlike other engines, Unity is used not only in the gaming industry. He also performs well in such areas as cinematography, architecture, engineering, construction, automotive, and even military. Unity Game Engine Pros & Cons Note that the shortcomings we propose are rather not disadvantages, but features of the engine that may prevent certain tasks from being performed. This applies to any engine from the pair Unity vs Unreal. You can find out more detailed information about the specifics of Unity and its pros and cons in our Unity study. ProsConsFree for projects generating less than $100,000 per yearAccess to read-only source code is only possible with a Unity Enterprise subscriptionCoverage of more than 25 platforms with an intuitive interfaceLower performance compared to other more highly specialized enginesExcellent toolkit for mobile and indie developmentAdvanced multiplayer features are only available by downloading frameworks Unreal Engine Features Unreal is a game engine originally created for PC first-person shooters that has become a technological canon for creating AAA games with state-of-the-art graphics. The main feature of Unreal is its support for high-definition graphics, including next-gen physics, lighting, visual effects, and more. Written in C++, Unreal offers high portability and covers key gaming platforms: mobile, desktop, console, and AR/VR. While a Blueprint Visual Scripting system with a node-based interface can help you get started, the full power of Unreal can only be unleashed by knowing and using C++. The focus of the engine is on AAA-quality PC and console products – considered the industry standard for top games, Unreal is actively used to showcase the latest and most amazing advances in graphical realism. And while some of the major developers of the most famous games prefer to use their proprietary engines, Unreal remains the top commercial AAA development software. Games Made Using Unreal  Games made with Unreal are usually the top representatives of their genres. For example, you may have heard the most famous of them: Fortnite (Battle royale)Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Action-adventure)Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Action-adventure) Did you know? Many highly anticipated games from world-famous developers will be released on Unreal Engine 5 in the future. Among them are S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2, The Witcher 4, The Witcher Remake, The Matrix Awakens, and Silent Hill 2 Remake. Unreal Engine Pros & Cons As we have already said, the shortcomings of the engine are not so objective disadvantages as certain inconveniences in a specific context. For example, no one will deny that using the heavy and powerful Unreal is absolutely inappropriate for elementary mobile games. But this is not at all its disadvantage. In any case, you can learn a little more about Unreal in our comparison material on game engines. ProsConsOpportunity to implement state-of-the-art visualsQuite a complex interface and a steep learning curve for beginnersExcellent performance when working with heavy assets and environmentsThe need to pay 5% royalties if the developed product earns more than $1 millionAdvanced toolkit for multiplayer, AI, and the latest VR projectsSufficiently high system requirements when using the full potential of the engine Similarities Between Unity and Unreal Despite the fairly obvious differences between the Unity engine vs Unreal engine, they certainly have some things in common. Both engines support a fairly large number of platforms – mobile, desktop, consoles, AP/VR, and so on. Although Unity is unrivaled in terms of cross-platform features, Unreal also has something to offer. Both engines have a huge community and a large number of lessons and tutorials. They support multiplayer and VR, have asset libraries, and are basically free with certain conditions. Both can produce AAA graphics, but Unreal still has a clear advantage here in a side-by-side comparison. Differences Between Unity and Unreal The main Unreal Engine vs Unity difference is the language they are written in. For Unity it’s C#, for Unreal it’s C++. C# is easier to learn, its hierarchy is simple and clear. C++, in turn, often includes features that are quite difficult to understand. From this follows the purpose of the engines. C# (Unity) is more suitable for mobile and web applications, as well as not very heavy desktop products. C++ (Unreal) is great for heavy-weight large-scale projects that require high performance from the hardware. So, when evaluating Unity vs Unreal performance, the latter clearly has an advantage. Unity vs Unreal: Head-to-Head Comparison Let’s summarize everything we’ve learned about Unity vs Unreal. UnityUnrealDeveloperUnity TechnologiesEpic GamesWritten inC# (Unity Scripting API)C++ (runtime)C++Supported platformsMobile, desktop, web, console, VR/XRMobile, desktop, console, VR/XR (less than Unity offers)Primary audienceMobile, indie, and beginner developersAAA devs and indie teams striving for realismEase of useBeginner-friendly interfaceSteep learning curveOpen sourceNoYesPriceFree to use (until the product has earned more than $100k in the last 12 months)Free to use (a 5% royalty if the product earns more than $1 million)2D/3D supportYesYes (limited for 2D)AI supportML-Agents toolkitBehavior treesVR/AR/XR supportYes (faster, and easier to use, supports more platforms)Yes (more advanced graphics)Multiplayer supportYesYesGraphics levelGood graphicsCutting-edge graphicsAsset marketplaceUnity Asset StoreUnreal Engine Marketplace Unreal or Unity: What Engine to Choose So what to choose, Unreal or Unity? As with many other aspects, it all depends on your goals. I choose Unity…I choose Unreal…to start my journey in game developmentto create an AAA gameto make a cool mobile gameto work with cutting-edge visualsto develop a cross-platform gameto focus on PC and console platforms FAQ Is Unreal better than Unity? It is incorrect to talk about which engine is better without context. Unreal is better suited for more advanced games with modern realistic graphics, which is why it is known specifically as an engine for AAA games. Unity, on the other hand, is a more versatile and easy-to-master engine that covers a large number of platforms and is suitable for creating a huge range of games: 2D and 3D for mobile devices, indie and AA for PC, AR and VR games, etc. Is Unreal harder than Unity? Considering Unity vs Unreal in terms of complexity, Unreal is undoubtedly more difficult to work with than Unity. Why is Unity more popular than Unreal? Unity is more beginner-friendly and intuitive, plus it has a huge community, lots of lessons, tutorials, and guides. To delve into it, it is enough to understand the basics of C#. Unreal is more demanding on developers, its interface is more advanced, and to fully use it, you need to know C++, which is considered a rather difficult language to learn. Is Unity or Unreal better for 2D games? For 2D games, Unity is a clear choice. It has excellent tools for creating 2D games and a much simpler and more intuitive interface. Is Unity open source? No, Unity is not open source. The source code is read-only for Unity Enterprise users by default and as an add-on for Unity Pro users.

Along with augmented reality, virtual reality is one of the most innovative technologies that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the chosen environment. Of course, the gaming industry takes center stage – Statista says there are 171 million VR players worldwide, and the VR market size was $12.13 billion as of 2022. The only thing that slows down the total distribution of VR is the price – this is the main barrier to adaptation named by 55% of the players surveyed by YouGov. However, the growth of VR continues. The market is expected to reach $2.4 billion by 2024, developers continue to release VR games, and don’t forget other industries looking to embrace VR. Global spending on AR and VR technology is expected to rise from $12 billion in 2020 to $73 billion in 2024, therefore, this technology must be reckoned with and harnessed while the niche is still relatively free. But how much does it cost to develop a VR app? Is the investment worth it? Will it bring profit, will the development work off? Let’s find out for sure. Virtual Reality – Why So Popular? What is so exciting about virtual reality? Well, first of all, here’s the definition. Virtual reality is a digital reality that uses special technical means to influence the human senses, mainly sight and hearing. Unlike augmented reality, virtual reality doesn’t overlay a separate digital object on top of the real world. It is a separate digital world. Therefore, to immerse yourself in VR, one smartphone is not enough; you need special equipment – virtual reality glasses or helmets. The advantages of VR in terms of entertainment are undeniable. Full immersion in the game as if you are the main character instead of the standard contemplation of your characters on the screens gives a completely different feeling. Virtual games capture completely, they actually and unambiguously transfer the player to the virtual world. This is the next level of gaming experience that the leading players in the industry are striving for. The prospects for VR gaming are also clear from a financial point of view, which can be deduced from the following graph. Source: Statista.com In addition to games, VR is actively used in other areas. For example, virtual meetings, excursions, or events have long ceased to be something extraordinary. Another thing is that they are still far from becoming a routine for most people. But it’s only a matter of time. Factors That Affect Virtual Reality Mobile App Development Cost As with any other application or game, the cost is primarily dictated by its complexity. In turn, complexity can be divided into 3 key components: Game content: graphics, mechanics, interface.Development: tools, software, SDKs, frameworks.Platform: mobile devices, PC, console, or cross-platform option. Determining How Much Your VR App Will Actually Cost Complexity is directly related to development time. On average, a VR application can be developed in a year, but who needs such average estimates, right? The simplest VR app or game can take anywhere from a month to two months and cost from $20,000.A VR project of medium complexity, such as an online store with VR capabilities, will take up to 6 months and cost from $30,000.Complex games or large-scale VR projects, for example, for tourism or medicine, will take a year or more and cost from $100,000. The first two options can be covered by a team of 2 to 5 VR experts. The latter, however, will require at least 10 specialists. An important aspect of the cost will be the choice of a VR platform. The most popular are: HTC Vive (works with PC)Oculus Rift (works with PC)PlayStation VR (works with PS)Google Cardboard (works with Android and iOS)Google Daydream (works with the latest models of Android) However, in fact, it all comes down to timing – the more complex the application and the longer the development takes, the higher the price. Top Factors Determining VR App Development Time The duration of development is of great importance because technologies are developing very quickly and what was relevant a year ago now already looks outdated. Considering VR development, the key factors influencing and its duration are classic: Request accuracy. The more information you provide to developers, the faster they can get down to business. If there are gaps in your request, the team will have to do additional research, test different options, create prototypes, and this will significantly delay development.Team size. The developer company usually forms a team itself, and the speed of development will depend on the number of people. If they can’t allocate enough developers, the work will be slower.Application complexity. Directly related to the previous one, this point significantly affects the speed of development, since with a fixed team, an increase in the complexity of the product will mean an increase in the timing of its creation. Other Factors That Impact the Cost of the VR App Development Be aware of the difference in developer rates in various parts of the world. For example, in the United States, Canada, and Australia, you will see the highest rates – from $50 per hour and more. Lower prices can be found in Eastern Europe – from $20 per hour, while this does not affect the quality in any way. So how much does it cost to create a VR app? In fact, their cost is only slightly different from the standard rates for creating applications due to the use of special tools. You can see that the price range is huge, from $20,000 to $100,000 and more, so it makes no sense to try to calculate the budget without first having an idea of what kind of VR application you need. The easiest and most legitimate way to find out the approximate cost of your future VR application is to request an estimate from the company with which you plan to cooperate. At Kevuru Games, we provide project quote answers within a day and offer optimal collaboration options depending on the type and complexity of your project. Feel free to contact us to find out how much your VR application will cost you. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate What is the Process of Creating a VR App? Having an approximate answer to the question “how much does it cost to make a VR app?” (or after receiving a more detailed estimate from us) you may be interested in how the development of a VR application is going in general. Are there any special features or differences from the classic app development pipeline? In fact, no, the steps are no different from developing any other application: Requirements analysis. Based on the requirements you provided for the future VR application or game, the developers analyze the market and form the optimal solution. You may have heard of this stage as pre-production.Working on the application. Also known as production, this stage includes designing your application in accordance with its specifics and programming itself, that is, the creation of code.Verification and release. Once an application is created, it undergoes various types of testing to make sure it works correctly. The developers also do some final polishing to get the app ready for release. However, there are also obvious differences. VR games or applications cannot be perceived without an additional device – glasses or a helmet. Therefore, when developing a VR project, first of all, you need to start with the hardware and understand what device you are aiming at. The most common environments for developing VR games are Unity and Unreal. Unity is considered more versatile, faster, and easier due to the presence of a large number of intuitive tools and the ability to cover almost all known helmets with multi-platform support. If you are targeting VR development for Cardboard and Daydream, then the Google VR SDK is your choice. Dive Deeper: ✔

Augmented reality is the most widespread and accessible immersive technology with tangible market growth prospects of hitting $460 billion by 2030. In addition to the entertainment industry (AR is not at all limited to masks in Snapchat), AR is being actively implemented to expand training opportunities, improve user experience, and enhance modeling and design processes. A significant acceleration in the development of augmented reality technologies is associated with rapid progress in the creation of more advanced devices, screens, cameras, and software solutions. And most importantly, the potential of AR can benefit almost any business. Let’s take a closer look at what AR has in store for different industries and highlight the key steps in creating an AR application. What is Augmented Reality? A conversation about augmented reality app development always starts with a definition – if you know everything about AR, you can skip to the next section. Augmented reality is a technology for adding digital objects to the real world. At this stage, this is possible only with the use of devices (tablets, smartphones, smart glasses, etc.) with specialized software. The virtual object is superimposed on the real world in real time and changes depending on the movements of the camera. We are most familiar with this from the masks that are applied to the face using the front camera of a smartphone, and the legendary game Pokémon GO, which superimposes Pokémon animals on real locations. It is important not to confuse augmented reality with virtual reality. If the augmented one imposes individual elements on the real world, then the virtual one creates a completely virtual world, which you can immerse yourself in only with the help of special glasses and helmets – a smartphone will no longer work. Augmented Reality on the Rise: Top Stats Snapchat’s 2022 survey highlighted the triumphant movement of AR across different business domains. According to it, companies see AR as a great tool for deeper interactions with their customers, and Statista. Source: Statista.com Given the steady growth and more than a billion active devices at the beginning of 2023, their number will be 1.4 billion by the end of it, and by 2024 – more than 1.7 billion. Grandview Research estimates that smart glasses will have a market value of $137.14 billion in comparison with $8.58 billion in 2020. Such a dizzying growth at a CAGR of 57.21% will be possible thanks to the widespread implementation of AR technology to perform different business tasks. In the aspect of further adopting AR, some data from the McKinsey report are notable. For example, it says that with the help of the AR, it will be possible to improve and simulate 100% of the work necessary for the design of spaces and physical products. And more than 2.7 billion of the so-called deskless workers, which make up about 80% of the global labor, can become the main users of the AR technology. Did you know? The revolutionary AR game Pokémon GO offering to catch virtual animals imposed on the real world with the help of a smartphone has become a real breakthrough and a whole cultural fenomen. At the peak moments of 2016, it totaled more than 250 million players a month, and in 2020, its revenue for the first time exceeded $1 billion. Since everything is so rosy and promising, you probably have a question of how to build this AR app that will bring so much benefit to your business. But first, a few words about types. Types of Augmented Reality Applications The type of AR application is responsible for the features of user interaction and the implementation of certain goals. There are 3 key types of AR applications: Marker-based. Used when the subject of the camera is important for proper overlay, such as tourist info about objects, etc.Markerless. Used when the direction of the camera does not matter and the 3D object can be placed without a marker.Location-based. Used to provide the user with local information such as road signs or walking directions. ProsConsMarker-based AR✔️ Seamless and stable AR content✔️ Intuitive and easy to use real-time interaction✔️ Low development cost and production speed✔️ Supported by low-end devices❌ AR content disappears when moving camera away from marker❌ Problems with scanning in reflected light❌ The need for clear color transitions for the marker to workMarkerless AR✔️ More flexible object placement✔️ Unlimited camera movement without sacrificing content❌ The inappropriateness of AR content in a particular setting❌ Desirable plane texture for computer vision detectionLocation-based AR✔️ Convenient geolocation targeting for tourist purposes✔️ Possibility to create options including directions✔️ Does not require tracking of physical objects❌ Problems with geolocation accuracy due to inaccurate phone sensors❌ Sufficiently high complexity of application implementation Mobile AR Development: Setting a Goal & Choosing the Right Platform Creating an application is the territory of professionals – you will have to put up with it. Moreover, not every software development company has experience with AR. Take that into account and go for the ones that can prove that they know a little more about AR than “We played Pokémon GO” (even though no one actually played). And even if you completely delegate the creation of your product to some software development company, it will not hurt you to find out the approximate stages of creating an AR application. Knowing how to start development for augmented reality apps will help you better understand the process, ask the right questions, and generally be more clear about where your money is going. Decide on purpose and functionality. You must clearly understand what you want from the application and what functions it should perform. Without this information, it is impossible to proceed to the next steps.Choose a platform. It can be Android, iOS, or a cross-platform solution. Each of them has their own convenient SDKs, but they are limited to their range of users, and the cross-platform option will help to reach the maximum audience.Choose the right tool. Tools and SDK are selected depending on the intended platform, the required functionality, and the chosen recognition system – marker-based, markerless, or location-based. Make sure the selected SDK supports the required features.Start development. The development pipeline itself may differ depending on the developer team, but usually includes the classic stages of working on the frontend and backend. Application design should be as clear and intuitive as possible. Promotion and marketing. Augmented reality app development will go down the drain if you don’t take care to spread the word about your app and advertise it. There are many ways: social networks, paid advertising, partnerships, events, etc. Selecting the Right AR Stack for Your App Now that you roughly understand how to create augmented reality apps, it becomes obvious to you that this procedure is not much different from creating any other application in its basic steps. The most important thing is to think about the essence of the implementation of AR and how it will benefit your business. If you are interested in augmented reality development of apps in terms of specific technologies, then take a look at the following SDKs. There are many types that suit different mobile operating systems or support cross-platform development. Cross-Platform AR Development When it comes to creating AR applications, many people doubt the feasibility of cross-platform development. Native sounds more reliable. However, the main thing to remember is that cross-platform development not only allows you to reach a significantly larger audience, it is also the best option for a limited budget. Your application will be written in one language but delivered to multiple platforms at the same time. This is done through optimization. At the same time, cross-platform development has some drawbacks, the main of which is the limited access to hardware functionality – GPS, camera, accelerometer, and others – which is key for AR applications. Be sure to take this into account when developing. If you are planning complex applications with advanced features, the native option will be the best choice. Bonus Tip: AR App with Unity With a rough idea of how to build an app using ARCore and ARkit, you might be wondering – what about Unity? The answer is simple – Unity is great too. We’ve talked about how Unity is the Unity − What Makes It the Best Game Engine? ✔

With a huge variety of video game companies offering their services, it becomes incredibly difficult to choose one. More often than not, the agonizing search results in you wearily browsing endless websites and finally finding some feature, whether it’s a piece of art in a portfolio or a compelling testimonial from a previous client. You are satisfied with this insight and decide to cooperate so as not to waste any more time. But in the end, everything is not so rosy. The new partner cannot guarantee the completion of the work on time, does not really understand your requirements, and their overall qualifications turn out to be much worse than you expected. Time and money are wasted and you need to start the search from the very beginning. The curtain falls. We invite you to break this vicious circle of searching convulsions and wrong choices. Grab and record a list of the most important video game questions to ask your future contractor to see if they are worthy of your project. Why Ask Questions to a Video Game Developer? The right questions provide an opportunity to get a complete picture of the company and its expertise. Video game questions to ask in general are the best way to get to know your future business partner. Just imagine that this is an acquaintance by analogy with your meeting a new person. But instead of asking about hobbies, work, leisure, and interests, you ask about work processes, development stages, rates, and team composition. Is It Possible to Create a Video Game Yourself? This is definitely not the right question to ask a game developer. But you can ask yourself this first. And you will see how one question branches into many others: Are you aware of the scale of work required to create a video game?Do you have the necessary knowledge to cover all aspects of working on a game?Can you draw 2D or 3D art?Are you proficient in animation tools?Are you familiar with the basics of game design?Are you familiar with game engines?Are you good at testing? And this is just the tip of the iceberg, the most obvious video game questions to ask yourself. Don’t get us wrong. Everything can be learned. You can learn to draw, code, test, and in 5+ years become the second Eric Baron with a Stardew Valley level masterpiece. But are you ready to invest so much effort and time into something that does not guarantee success? This is a huge adventure that will become an unbearable burden for you and will be the main test of your willpower and motivation. But motivation is a variable thing. Sometimes it only lasts for a few days. And sometimes hours. Plus, keep in mind that the pixel art that captivated the players in Stardew Valley no longer has the same magic as it used to. Now the arena is being taken over by ultra-realistic 3D games. Making such a game on your own will be much more difficult and longer. And who needs these sacrifices? After all, you can always turn to an outsourcer or even several ones, give them tasks, and control the process like a boss. As the famous masterpiece from the Finnish gaming company Remedy says – take control. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate The Popularity of Video Games: Statistics With $184.4 billion generated in 2022, the gaming market could reach $211.2 billion by 2025. Source: Statista.com 50% of the income of the entire gaming industry comes from mobile games. In 2022, this segment generated $92.2 billion and covered 2.675 billion players.The console games market came in second place, bringing in $51.8 billion from 603 million players.The PC games market generated $40.4 billion, backed by a loyal and reliable army of 1.045 billion players. Source: Statista.com The number of players is also gradually increasing from year to year. Game Design Trends That Will Rock 2023: Main Factors Shaping the Further Development of the Gaming Industry ✔ Character Design Cost: What Shapes the Price and How to Choose a Worthy Company [Extended Checklist] Note that qualified and experienced companies will easily offer you an estimate based on your needs and conditions. Formation of the estimate usually takes from one to several days. It is approximate, but gives you an idea of the required budget. 3. What Are the Reviews of the Company’s Previous Clients? If you don’t know what questions to ask about a video game, ask about the experience of previous clients. In everyday life, we often rely on reviews before buying different things. This also works with the choice of the service provider. Refer to the experience of those who have already entrusted their projects to this company. Find out if all expectations matched reality. Testimonials often provide a wealth of valuable insights that a company would never have posted on their website. The best place to look for reviews is not on a game studio site where you can write anything, but on third-party independent resources like GoodFirms, Clutch, and Designrush. The falsification of reviews on such platforms is practically reduced to zero. In addition, the reviews there are well structured and easy to read. Customer review of Kevuru Games at Clutch.co 4. What Is the Responsibility of the Parties in the Work on Each Project? You didn’t think that it would be enough to give the company a task and forget about it until the results were delivered, did you? Each party is responsible for certain aspects of the work at each stage. On your part, this is usually the study of intermediate results of work, coordination, editing, additions, and so on. Among the mandatory elements of the gaming company’s responsibility are an NDA agreement, preparation of technical specifications, status reporting, etc. For example, a detailed description of the areas of responsibility of the client and the service provider is available on our website in the Our Process section. Details are given for both outsourcing and outstaffing models. Kevuru Games work process description 5. What Is the Team Structure for Different Types of Projects? Ask a game developer about the composition of the team, and you will understand what you are paying money for. Each team member is not only the executor of your tasks, but also a separate expense item that you need to know about. A detailed description of the contribution of each specialist makes the picture of cooperation transparent and understandable. Examine the pages of the services you are interested in regarding the composition of the team for each service. If this information is not available, ask the company for it. The answer will be an indicator of the professionalism and qualifications of the company. If it hesitates and does not give a clear answer regarding the specialists who will work on the project, refuse it immediately. Kevuru Games team structure for game development 6. What Is the Preparation Process for Different Types of Projects? Whether you’re going to outsource art, animation, development, testing, or any other task to a game company, you need to know how long the prep process will take. This process, in fact, is the activation of the company’s resources and the gathering of all the necessary specialists to start working on the project. Why is it important? Because the official date of work on your project depends on the duration of the preparatory process. The duration of this stage is primarily affected by the availability of the necessary specialists. This is especially true if the company is running several projects at the same time and the necessary specialists are not available at the moment. In this case, you may need to wait. Decide for yourself if this option is right for you. Dive Deeper: ✔ 6 Key Stages of Game Development: From Concept to Standing Ovation Understanding how the company plans to organize the development process will give you valuable insights into the duration of the work and help form major milestones before the release of the game. Knowing how development is progressing, you will be able to create a detailed roadmap, plan marketing activities in advance, organize beta testing for players, and more. Линия слева от текста .line { border-left: 2px solid #08BEB2; /* Параметры линии */ margin-left: 0px; /* Отступ слева */ padding-left: 20px; /* Расстояние от линии до текста */ } By the way. Most questions to ask during video game beta testing will be addressed to players, not developers. Communicating with players and listening to their feedback is the most important component of the future success of the game. 9. What Security Processes Does the Company Have to Protect Intellectual Property? This is a very important issue, all the details of which should be clearly spelled out in a non-disclosure agreement. In simple terms, you must make sure that the company guarantees that the created materials, art, animation, code, etc. will not leak to the Internet without your permission. This also applies to materials, designs, or drafts that you can hand over to the team for refinement or revision. All these assets must be protected. In the future, after the work is completed, the team may ask you for permission to place images of various game assets or game screens in your portfolio. You can either allow or deny this at your discretion. Линия слева от текста .line { border-left: 2px solid #08BEB2; /* Параметры линии */ margin-left: 0px; /* Отступ слева */ padding-left: 20px; /* Расстояние от линии до текста */ } Additional hint. It is best to have your lawyer review the NDA agreement. Then you will definitely not miss a single detail. 10. How Long Does Video Game Development Take? This question to ask a game studio is partly included in the question on stages of development. You may have already received a detailed answer to it when you learned how the team will work on your project. However, it is better to clarify this again. This is especially important if you plan to release the game by a certain date and need to understand if the team will be on time. Another nuance that you may encounter is the change in development time due to different circumstances. Certain tasks may take longer to complete than originally planned. There’s nothing to worry about, since making a game is creative work, and a lot of things can change and transform during the development process. Therefore, if a certain deadline is important to you, check with the team how it will be affected by the delay in working on certain tasks. How to Choose a Video Game Developer? Now that you’re armed with questions to ask a game developer, you can start choosing a service provider. Here we also have a surprise for you – a reliable and practice-tested checklist with up-to-date tips on choosing the best game design studio for your project. In many ways, these tips intersect with the above questions and deepen them significantly. So be sure to take a look at our checklist for choosing a reliable game contractor and forget about the nagging search problems once and for all. Dive Deeper: ✔

You’ve definitely heard those words with the prefix re- in some context, be it movies or games. Be honest, are you good at distinguishing between remasters, remakes, and reboots? Putting the port aside for now. The truth is that in today’s fast-paced technology environment, generational changes in consoles and PC components are happening much more frequently than ever before. Now the game is considered old if it is more than 3 years old. Yes, yes, the legendary Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are already old games, no matter how blasphemous it may sound. Modern games are mostly incompatible with older consoles, and older games are incompatible with newer consoles. So what can we say about the cult samples of the zero years and the tenths, which in many cases remain the best examples of individual genres? Is the solution really just to forget about them and put up with it? Certainly not. The developers found a way out and successfully harnessed it, giving players nostalgic joy in a modern wrapping and making a lot of money from it. This way out is remasters, remakes, and reboots. Ports too, but it’s a bit about something else. You already feel like they stand a little apart, don’t you? While sounding similar, remasters, remakes, and reboots represent varying degrees of modification of the original game. And we’re here to sort things out. The port won’t be forgotten either, no worries. What Is a Remaster in Video Games? A video game remaster is a cosmetic update to an existing game that gives it a more modern look. Of all the types of game modification, the remaster is the most delicate. Nobody changes the game. We are talking about only minimal updates, for example, new textures for models. The models themselves, the engine, the plot, and the code remain unchanged. Therefore, a remaster is usually applied to relatively recent games that are not quite outdated yet and work fine with modern consoles. The main purpose of the remaster is to bring the graphics of the game to the modern level and, if necessary, improve its performance and sound. The duration of this process depends on the amount of graphic content in the game and the features of the game engine. The level of model modification is also important – it can be a slight change with color correction or an almost complete replacement of textures or even a partial reworking of the model to increase the level of detail. Thus, for the remaster, we have such a picture of changes.  Graphics Changes(updating textures, adding model details)Gameplay Changes(interaction between the game and the player)Storyline Changes(main plot lines, characters, quests, cutscenes, etc.)Game Design Changes(UX/UI, design and construction of locations)Remaster✔✘✘✘ Good examples of remastered games among famous tiles are: Alan Wake (2010) – Alan Wake Remastered (2021)The Last of U (2013) – The Last of Us Remastered (2014)Crysis (2007) – Crysis Remastered (2021)Dark Souls (2011) – Dark Souls Remastered (2018)Life is Strange (2015) – Life is Strange Remastered (2022) What Is a Remake in Video Games? A video game remake is a reimagining of an existing game while retaining the main story and core gameplay elements. A remake is a more radical intervention on the original. Basically, this is a new game that takes the core elements of the original and recreates them in modern graphics with modern mechanics for modern hardware. A remake is a great way to take advantage of the players’ nostalgia for older games and offer them their favorite title in a modern wrapper. This attracts both old players and new ones who are not familiar with the original game. The main purpose of a remake is to create a new modern version of a game that is too outdated to simply be remastered. Unlike the remaster, the remake is not a complete and frame-by-frame copy of the original, but its modern interpretation. New graphics, a new engine, and new game design elements are combined with the old title, lore, and core story elements. Important note. In the remake, the story and gameplay in certain cases can also be changed and adapted according to modern trends and standards. But more often than not, the main plot is still preserved.  Graphics Changes(creating new graphics based on the original)Gameplay Changes(interaction between the game and the player)Storyline Changes(main plot lines, characters, quests, cutscenes, etc.)Game Design Changes(UX/UI, design and construction of locations)Remake✔✔/✘✔/✘✔ You may have heard about such well-known remakes that received great reception: Demon’s Souls (2009) – Demon’s Souls (2020)Shadow of the Colossus (2005) – Shadow of the Colossus (2018)Resident Evil 2 (1998) – Resident Evil 2 (2019)The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) – The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)Final Fantasy VII (1997) – Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) What Is a Reboot in Video Games? A video game reboot is the creation of a brand new game based on the original game universe. A reboot takes big liberties with the original game. From the remaster and remake, players are still waiting for the predominant similarity with the original in most respects. Reboot gives developers the freedom to change old ideas and concepts, introduce new characters and remove old ones, add completely new locations and stories, etc. The main purpose of a reboot is to revive the game series to attract new fans and increase revenue. This may be the only way out if the once popular series of games is morally obsolete and frankly lagged behind modern realities. But since the original with all the famous characters has a fan base, the reboot is a fairly safe project in terms of profit – it has a priori buyers who want to meet their favorite characters again. Curious fact. The term reboot is used in analogy to the corresponding computer term – the process of completely clearing the contents of RAM by the computer and resuming its work – referring to the fact that the game that reboots the series does not take into account previous games on this topic and starts a new canon. In case the reboot still doesn’t undo the plot of the older games in the series, it’s called a soft reboot, which, however, in many ways starts the story from scratch.  Graphics Changes(creating completely new graphics and visual effects)Gameplay Changes(interaction between the game and the player)Storyline Changes(main plot lines, characters, quests, cutscenes, etc.)Game Design Changes(UX/UI, design and construction of locations)Reboot✔✔ ✔✔ Here are examples of well-known titles that received a decent reboot: Doom (1993) – Doom 3 (2004) & Doom (2016)Devil May Cry (2001) – DmC: Devil May Cry (2013)Shadow Warrior (1997) – Shadow Warrior (2013)Tomb Raider (1996) – Tomb Raider (2013)X-COM: UFO Defense (1994) – XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012) What Are Ports in Video Games? A video game port is the process of transferring a game from its original target platform to another platform. Porting is interesting in that it stands apart from the remaster, remake, and reboot, but includes elements of each of them. It may require redoing models and textures, reworking the code and mechanics, etc. Not at all to improve the visuals or update the gaming experience, but to ensure the performance of the game on the new platform. This usually requires a complete or partial code change. The main purpose of porting is to ensure the functioning of the game on a new platform. What needs to be done for this is determined by the characteristics of the target platforms. To port a game from PC to mobile, you need to redo almost everything. Porting from a PC to a console requires careful attention to the control features and requirements of the console.  Graphics Changes(creating new graphics based on the original)Gameplay Changes(interaction between the game and the player)Storyline Changes(main plot lines, characters, quests, cutscenes, etc.)Game Design Changes(UX/UI, design and construction of locations)Port ✔/✘ ✔/✘✘ ✔/✘ There is a high probability that you have heard about such well-known ported games. Porting is a delicate work, subject only to true professionals. To provide players with the same exciting world experience on multiple platforms, it is necessary not only to optimize the game, but also to capture and correctly convey its atmosphere, preserve the main features of the gameplay, and ensure that the game is recognizable both on PC and on mobile or console. It is on these details that Kevuru Games focuses on when implementing 5 Most Exciting Gaming Technology Trends in 2023 [+ Special Bonus Trend That-Must-Not-Be-Ignored] In 2023, we are waiting for a whole series of hotly anticipated remakes. Among them: Dead Space (January 27)Resident Evil 4 (March 24)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Winter 2023)Gothic (TBA)Silent Hill 2 (TBA)Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (TBA)Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (TBA)Max Payne 1 and 2 (TBA) And while the acronym TBA sounds rather suspicious in a certain kind of fashion for constantly postponing game releases, we’re hoping for the best. In the meantime, our team is ready to work even better for the benefit of our beloved gaming industry. Do not hesitate to contact us if you share our vision and passion.

It would seem, what are we talking about? The difference between 2D games vs 3D games is obvious – 2D games take place in a two-dimensional flat space, and 3D games – in a three-dimensional lifelike space. But it’s not all that simple. In recent years, the trend of increased requirements for game realism on the part of players has intensified. Sometimes this realism reaches the level of complete indistinguishability of the game from live shooting. However, paradoxically, this does not prevent 2D games from actively developing to this day. Let’s agree right away – talking about “2D is better than 3D” and vice versa with the most incredible justifications is a pure exercise in futility. Both 2D and 3D games have their fans and reasons to exist and thrive. And we want to offer you a comprehensive guide on the key milestones of creating 2D vs 3D games, their cost, as well as the most likely trends that will influence their development in 2023. There is a lot of information to cover, so keep up. 2D Games: Definition, Applications, and Pros & Cons 2D games are digital entertainment products based on two-dimensional flat art that only has width and height measurements. A flat image means that it cannot be seen in perspective, it is only accessible from one side. Accordingly, movement in the game is limited to 4 directions – left, right, down, and up. 2D games are most commonly associated with smartphones, as most games for mobile devices are 2D due to being less demanding, more lightweight, and easier to optimize. But this does not mean that they are forbidden from entering the PC realm – it is enough to recall the most famous platformers to see the opposite. The most popular 2D game genres are platformers (including Metroidvania), puzzles, and fighting games. Pros of 2D GamesCons of 2D GamesFaster development compared to 3DUnrealistic flat worldElementary controlsLimited game mechanicsSmaller size and simpler optimizationLess demand compared to 3D Did you know? The world’s first 2D game is Tennis For Two, a sports video game that simulates the game of tennis. It was developed by American physicist William Higinbotham and technician Robert W. Dvorak, displayed on an oscilloscope, and played using two aluminum controllers. Quite often one can come across the opinion that 2D games are much easier to play than 3D, that they have a lower entry barrier for inept players, and that they are generally more forgiving of beginner mistakes. This may be true in some cases, but it would be unwise to make such generalizations for all 2D games. The most beautiful Metroidvania in the history of gaming, Ori and the Blind Forest, mesmerizing with its ethereal hand-drawn graphics, celestial music, and heartbreaking story, knocks out the unsuspecting player with its punishingly difficult gameplay. Forced to die over and over again, players realize the trap they’ve fallen into. The gameplay is merciless to the inept player and makes you frustrated at every turn, but the world is so beautiful and addictive that you can’t help being stuck to the screen. The game won the Best Art Direction award at The Game Awards 2015, Xbox Game of the Year and Best Audio awards at Golden Joystick Awards 2015, as well as the Artistic Achievement award at British Academy Games Awards. Ori and the Blind Forest game screen, developed by Moon Studios, published by Microsoft Studios 3D Games: Definition, Applications, and Pros & Cons 3D games are digital entertainment products based on three-dimensional volumetric art that has measurements of height, width, and depth. A volumetric image means that it can be viewed from all sides. Accordingly, the movement in the game is not limited and is possible in any direction. 3D games can be stylized with a cartoonish twist, but more often than not, developers go for a realistic style. Realism allows them to provide players with first-class immersion in the game world. 3D games are considered the territory of PCs and consoles, but with the increase in the power of smartphones, this performance discrimination is no longer so relevant. The most popular 3D game genres are action/adventure, shooters, and RPGs. Pros of 3D GamesCons of 3D GamesAbility to achieve ultra-realismNeed for a big budgetVariety of graphic stylesLong and complex developmentLimitless game mechanicsHigh GPU requirements Did you know? The world’s first 3D game is Battlezone, a first-person tank combat shooter released for arcades in November 1980 by American game developer Atari. The game featured 3D vector graphics. Players controlled a tank that was attacked by other tanks and missiles, using a radar scanner to find the enemies around them in the barren landscape. 3D games are most often associated with something massive, some kind of open world that takes hundreds of hours to explore, such as the Horizon, The Witcher, or The Elder Scrolls game series. However, an open world and AAA publisher is not a prerequisite for 3D games. Many indie developers are also turning to 3D and achieving stunning results. Stray is a third-person adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting where the player has to help a cat escape from a long-forgotten city filled with robots. The game offers relatively free vertical exploration of one of the locations, but in general it is a classic example of linear corridor adventures. Indie studio Annapurna Interactive has been making the game for 7 years. The result is a decent A-level product with high-quality, eye-catching 3D graphics, released for PC and PS4/PS5 consoles and awarded in two categories at The Game Awards 2022 – Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game. Stray game screen, developed by BlueTwelve Studio, published by Annapurna Interactive How to Make a 2D Game vs 3D Game: Stages, Team, and Timelines Speaking of 2D games vs 3D games in terms of development speed, there is no doubt that 2D games will be made faster and at a lower cost in most cases. The reason for this is the more limited game world compared to 3D and the faster work on 2D graphics. However, as far as development stages are concerned, they are the same for any game. We’ve talked about them in detail in our material covering 3 key steps: Pre-production, where the idea is formed.Production, where the idea is embodied.Post-production, where the idea is polished and presented to the players. Pre-production covers a huge amount of preparatory work, answering key questions about the game genre, style, engine, budget, key mechanics, characters, story, and so on. Production includes the direct creation of graphics, interface, and musical accompaniment, as well as the work of programmers to implement all the elements in the game engine. Post-production often consists of polishing work to fix minor bugs noticed by players during the release, creating updates or additions for the game, and its technical support. In addition to these stages, we have identified 3 more equally important ones, such as testing, pre-launch, and launch, which largely affect the success of your game. As for the 3D vs 2D game development team, we can say with confidence about such specialists: Game producer.Game designer.Artists (2D for 2D games 3D for 3D games).Developers.Testers.Project manager. While the composition of the team may vary depending on the working methods and pipelines of different game companies, often these specialists are present when creating 2D vs 3D games. Professional 2D and 3D game creation companies provide a comprehensive description of the function of each team member before starting work. For example, at Kevuru Games, you will find such a team for creating a 3D game. The same team line-up will be for the 2D game, with the exception of the 2D artists who will replace the modelers. It is also possible to reduce the number of specialists compared to a 3D game since 2D games are not as large-scale, and 2D art requires less time to create than a 3D model. Of course you want to know about the timing. It is difficult to talk about specific dates without knowing the scale of the future game. Mobile 2D games can take months to complete, while large 3D PC games take years. For example: It took almost 9 years to create the famous role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077 from the Polish studio CD Projekt RED. Metro Exodus, a first-person shooter video game from the Ukrainian studio 4A Games, was developed in 5 years (same as Elden Ring). The legendary adventure game Grand Theft Auto V from the American company Rockstar Games was created in 3 years. To understand how long it will take to create your game, as well as what budget you need to target, you need to provide the game studio with basic information and wishes regarding your game. Then the studio will be able to give you a rough estimate indicating the necessary team to create the game, the timing, and cost. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate How Much Does It Cost to Develop a 3D vs 2D Game? Regardless of whether you choose 2D vs 3D art, the price of the work will directly depend on several key factors: Intended platform. Making a mobile game will cost less than a PC game. We’ve discussed the Mobile Game Development Cost: Factors Influencing Price and Clear Estimates ✔ 10 Most Trusted & Highly Professional Game Art Outsourcing Companies in 2023 If you want to try to calculate the approximate cost of working on your game yourself, you need to estimate the size of the required team and the number of specialists. This will be enough to get a rough price. Because in fact, all the factors affecting the cost come down to one thing – the time spent on development. We have already talked about this when discussing the issue of creating 2D and 3D art. Armed with the knowledge of the hourly wages of specialists, their number, and the time required to complete certain tasks, we calculate the approximate amount of necessary costs. Rate x Hours x Number of Specialists And here is our calculator for finding out the cost of the work of a team of specific specialists. It is most convenient to separately calculate the cost of the work of artists, developers, testers, game and sound designers, as well as project managers and other specialists. The hardest part is estimating the time they need to complete tasks. Submit Clear .container #priceDevFormClear { font-size: 20px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #08BEB2; opacity: 1; } .container #priceDevFormSubmit { font-size: 20px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #08BEB2; opacity: 1; } .container #rate { font-size: 20px; color: #303031; background-color: #edfafb; opacity: 1; } .container #hours { font-size: 20px; color: #303031; background-color: #edfafb; opacity: 1; } .container #specialists { font-size: 20px; color: #303031; background-color: #edfafb; opacity: 1; } var onSubmit = function() { const isNumber = (val) => !isNaN(parseInt(val)); const form = document.forms["priceDevelopment"]; const result = document.getElementById("result"); if (!form.checkValidity()) { result.innerHTML = "All fields required"; } else { const rateVal = document.getElementById("rate").value; const specialistsVal = document.getElementById("specialists").value; const hoursVal = document.getElementById("hours").value; const values = [rateVal, specialistsVal, hoursVal]; if (values.every(isNumber)) { const calculateSum = rateVal * specialistsVal * hoursVal; result.innerHTML = `Price: $${calculateSum}`; } else { result.innerHTML = "Field supports only number"; } } } function onClear() { const rate = document.getElementById("rate"); const specialists = document.getElementById("specialists"); const hours = document.getElementById("hours"); const result = document.getElementById("result"); rate.value = ""; specialists.value = ""; hours.value = ""; result.innerHTML = ""; } submitBtn.addEventListener('click', onSubmit); clearBtn.addEventListener('click', onClear); Be sure to check out our article on the cost of creating video games if you want to learn more about developer rates around the world, examples of the highest and lowest budget games in the world, as well as the top-grossing genres in 2022 that transitioned smoothly into 2023. Bonus Shot – Between 2D and 3D Although the difference between 2D and 3D would seem obvious, the skill of the artists reaches such a level that it becomes difficult to answer the question for sure. But apart from the masterful play of light and shadow in 2D graphics, which is starting to look like 3D, there is such a thing as 2.5D. 2.5D or pseudo-3D is 2D graphics that simulate three-dimensional space. An example of a pseudo-3D computer game is the first-person shooter Doom, as well as the first-person RPG of the Might and Magic series. Despite the fact that the environment in these games is three-dimensional, and the player can move freely in all three planes, in fact, the game levels consist of separate sector rooms with different floor and ceiling heights. A situation in which one room would be above another is impossible. Also, the player’s opponents and the vast majority of Doom’s elements are sprites – animated two-dimensional images. Despite the dominance of 3D games, pseudo-3D games continued to exist, becoming a distinct graphic style. There are quite a few games (Trine, Shadow Complex, Never Alone, Inside) where the level is rendered with a 3D engine, but motion and collision checking are limited to the X and Y axes. Remakes of retro games are often made according to this principle: DuckTales Remastered, Prince of Persia retro levels, etc. Posted by GameSpot. “Never Alone – Launch Trailer”. YouTube. November 15, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsriRZkdIJ4 And yes, the answer to the question “is anime 2D or 3D?” is unequivocal – anime has always been and remains 2D. 3D vs 2D Game Trends – What’s in Store For 2023? Let’s recall the heroes of 2022. The best 3D game of 2022 is Elden Ring, an open-world action/RPG game developed by Japanese company FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms. The huge rich world, fascinating story, furious bosses, and limitless character development possibilities completely captivated the players, who unanimously admitted that many years of waiting were not in vain. Posted by BANDAI NAMCO Europe. “ELDEN RING – Official Gameplay Reveal”. YouTube. June 10, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3Huy2cdih0 The best 2D game of 2022 is Marvel Snap, a collectible card game developed by Second Dinner and published by Nuverse for Windows, Android, and iOS. The game features a collection of various characters from the Marvel universe. Short tense matches of 5 minutes, eye-catching cards, and the ability to apply different strategies brought the game to the top charts of Steam and mobile app stores. Posted by Marvel Entertainment. “MARVEL SNAP | Gameplay Trailer”. YouTube. October 14, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNuq6E3enZQ What will 2023 offer us? Well, we’ve already analyzed potential technological trends for this year and agreed that there will be no unexpected breakthroughs. All the same usual trends in the metaverse, play-to-earn and cloud gaming, as well as the constant exploitation of the theme of remakes and reboots will continue their grand march. If we talk about 3D vs 2D games, then let’s highlight several key areas of development for each of them. Dive Deeper: ✔ rating of 97.56%.Let the players cut loose. In other words, beat ’em up, hack-and-slash, and bullet hell. Do you understand what we are talking about? In a world full of stress and tension, players need to let off steam, and game genres that allow them to massively annihilate enemies in various ways are what they need. The icing on the cake will be to spice it up with the roguelike fatality. Perfecto. Bring in the next batch of enemies.Non-standard thinking. In most cases, the specifics of 2D games will prevent you from surprising players with stunning graphics (excluding Ori). So you need to win them over with an idea. The local, even chamber scale of 2D games allows you to work out a certain idea to the absolute and to capture the player in a way that no 3D open world can. But for this, you need to try very hard with the idea and in no case try to copy something. No matter how 2D games develop, these points will be relevant. Think about it and make your choice. And while the most anticipated games of 2023 are all 3D variants, we’ll just paraphrase Victor Hugo “Nothing will stop the 2D idea whose time has come”. In the meantime, let’s sit back and calmly wait for the remakes of Dead Space (Jan. 27) and Resident Evil 4 (March 24), as well as brand new Hogwarts Legacy (Feb. 10), The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (May 12), Diablo IV (June 6), Final Fantasy XVI (June 22), and, of course, mind-bending Alan Wake II (TBA). And you, everyone who is thinking/planning/hesitating about creating your game, be sure to check out our portfolio and contact us for

Speaking about the creative component of creating a game, one cannot help but come across a game art vs game design discussion. Despite massive attempts to simplify everything, these are two completely different areas of work. We want to help you understand the difference between game design and game art and clearly define the responsibilities of each specialist. Who is a Game Artist? A game artist is a specialist who creates all the visual components of a game, from the sketch to the final render. To understand the style that will become the foundation of their work, game artists draw information from the game design document, which is compiled by the game designer before starting work on the game. This is how art experts understand the right atmosphere and see the references, following which they will have to create art. The task of the artist is to revive the game world, described in words, and tell the game story in visual language. Usually, their 2D art pipeline includes such steps as: Concepting.Black and white sketching.Color sketching.Rendering. If this is the creation of 3D art, then the pipeline looks like this: Approving brief.Creating a high poly model.Creating a low poly model.UV and baking.Texturing. Artist-created game assets compose and package the game world. Regardless of their number, all of them should correspond to the general style of the game and be consistent with the current game level. Thus, game design vs game art are inextricably linked, and the game artist and game designer work together to correctly convey the visual style of the game. The Role and Responsibilities of Game Artists Creating game assets covers a large number of game areas. Therefore, artists are divided into several categories: Concept artist. Creating sketches and concept art in accordance with GDD.Character artist. Creating all game characters: people, animals, robots, etc.Environment artist. Creating game environment elements: nature, buildings, etc.UI/UX artist. Creating game interface elements: heads-up display (HUD) and menus. This categorization allows each specialist to focus on their area and provide the best results. HUD and menus are largely responsible for the game feel — the feeling of interacting with the interface. This includes the visual and audio effects of picking items and general art direction. But the requirements for different interface elements are different — HUD should be, first of all, easy to read, and menus should be easy to navigate. Game Artist Skills Required To do their job well, game artists must have the following skills: Drawing and composition basics. It is vital for an artist to have basic artistic knowledge and understanding of how to form a composition suitable for different genres.Software knowledge. To create 2D and 3D art, artists need to understand special software: Adobe Photoshop, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, etc.High level of creativity. The artist must be able to easily and quickly generate different ideas based on the available information about the game style.Industry understanding. Knowing the nuances of the gameplay and having a baggage of knowledge about different games, the artist will have more opportunities for creativity.Openness to communication. The artist works in a team with a large number of other specialists, exchanging information, so it is important to be open to dialogue. Who is a Game Designer? A game designer is a specialist who comes up with the structure and rules of the game. Thinking through the mechanics of the game, its goals, dynamics, development, and so on completely rests on the shoulders of the game designer. This specialist creates a so-called game design document, which includes all information about the game, from genre and audience to monetization and promotion methods. The Role and Responsibilities of Game Designers Speaking about the difference between game art and game design, we can safely say that art is about visuals, and design is about logic. It is the designer who explains to the artist how the game world should look and what objects should fill it. Unlike the artist, whose role is primarily creative, the role of a designer requires both creative and technical skills: Creative. The game designer comes up with ways to present the game plot, works out the script, and schematizes the game levels. Designers need to make sure that the artists understand the style and atmosphere of the game correctly and create appropriate visual content.Technical. On this side, the game designer must understand the technical limitations of the assigned platforms and the capabilities of the game engine. All other aspects of the game are thought out with this data in mind. The designer also thinks ahead about the involvement of the players and how they will interact with the game. As the complexity of games increases, the work of a game designer becomes more and more extensive, which leads to a certain division of responsibilities. For example, you can meet a separate specialist called a level designer responsible for creating and implementing levels, stories and quests. Another kind of specialist, system designers, focus on gameplay, controls, combat, and more. In summary, the job of a game designer includes but is not limited to such tasks. Developing game mechanics.Thinking through gameplay ideas.Defining genre and style.Writing stories and storylines.Developing and designing characters.Creating maps, scenarios, and difficulty levels.Thinking up ways to win and lose the game.Developing the user interface concept.Preparing game prototypes. So that the result of working on all these tasks is not lost, the game designer puts them into a game design document. We talked in detail about its basic structure and provided a template in our material on game designers backstage — be sure to check it out to learn all the ins and outs of being a game designer. Game Designer Skills Required Given the incredible amount of work that a game designer does, the requirements for this role also come down to a huge amount of skills: Storytelling. The game designer is often directly involved in creating the game’s storylines, character arcs, quests, and other narrative elements. Therefore, they need to understand the fundamentals of storytelling.Programming knowledge. A game designer must know the basics of programming and game engines to understand the technical limitations of different platforms and create correct and appropriate concepts.Project management. Game designers need to be able to allocate their time and the time of other specialists responsible for working on other aspects of the game to meet production deadlines.Communication. Game designers need to communicate more than anyone else. They must convey information to both artists and developers, and talk to testers and project managers so that all team members have a comprehensive understanding of the game.Creativity. A game designer without creativity will not be able to come up with an interesting and original game concept. These specialists should be able to create unique worlds, character development schemes, compelling storylines, and so on.Interface design. Despite the presence of a separate UI/UX specialist, it is important for a game designer to create a base for the entire interface design, think over the controls, menu content, and the presence of the necessary elements on the screen.Game economy. The game designer is responsible for designing the game’s economy, as well as character improvement schemes, which often involve a lot of numerical calculations. Therefore, it is important to have basic economic and financial knowledge.Marketing. Game designers also need to be well-versed in how the final product is promoted. This includes an understanding of the most appropriate strategies, platforms, approaches, and other things that will be optimal for a given game genre. Game Art Vs Game Design So what is the difference between game design and game art? Let’s highlight again: The game artist deals with the visual components of the game.The game designer thinks through the game mechanics, logic, and rules. It is important for a game artist to be able to create art.It is important for a game designer to be able to see the whole picture of the game. Interesting fact. Game design is also often confused with game development. The developers are responsible for scripting and coding all the game ideas created by the game designer — thanks to them, we get a playable interactive product. Dive Deeper: ✔

No matter how boring and dry the word metrics may sound, all self-respecting game developers need to reckon with them to understand what latent seething processes occur with the game after it has successfully hit the market and how to act so that it starts to make a profit. And here the question arises. What do you think is the most important gaming metric? Probably the number of downloads? Or the number of hours spent in the game? Or the number of concurrent users? Or … Stop guessing! The truth is that all metrics are important. Each of them provides valuable information that, like a piece of the puzzle, adds up to a whole picture of understanding the interaction of players with the game. Working with metrics distinguishes successful game companies from incompetent newbies who work at random. Game metrics help you immediately know what the problem is and what needs to be done to improve performance, retention, and so on. And today we are here to discuss the types of game metrics and how to measure them. Not without interesting additional sidenotes associated with each of them, which will allow you to better understand the essence of all these figures. Let’s go. What Are Game Metrics? Game metrics are numerical measures used to evaluate the performance of a game. There are many different game metrics, each of which is responsible for different aspects of the player’s interaction with the game. They can be roughly divided into 3 categories: Financial metrics: Average revenue per user (ARPU).User acquisition cost.Average transaction value (ATV). Quantitative metrics: Daily active users (DAU).Monthly active users (MAU).Stickiness rate. Behavioral metrics: Session length.Retention rate.Churn rate. By analyzing game metrics, developers can find out what players like and dislike about the game and adjust the game content and monetization strategies in time. Why Are Game Metrics So Important? As we’ve said before, game analytics metrics are the best way for developers to get feedback from players. Gaming metrics data provides important information about: where users experience difficulties;what content they like and dislike;what brings in the most profit;why players leave the game;what needs to be done to improve retention, and so on. Without video game metrics, developers would have to work blindly. They would not be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the game, nor to adapt it to the needs of the user. As a result, they would lose money. If you don’t want to lose money, learn what game metrics matter. 10 Key Game Metrics Developers Should Track Financial Metrics Average Revenue per User (ARPU) The average revenue per user is a metric that tracks the revenue generated by the average user over a specific period. This metric includes tracking both the money players have spent in-game and how many ads the average user clicks on. It is tracked in so-called free-to-play games, which are actually free to play, but contain paid content and ads. The average revenue per user can be calculated by dividing revenue for a certain period by the number of users for this period. A similar principle is used to calculate the average revenue per daily active user (ARPDAU), the average revenue per weekly active user (ARPWAU), and the average revenue per monthly active user (ARPMAU). This metric won’t tell you how to improve your game design either, but it is a good measure of the success of your monetization strategy. User Acquisition Cost User acquisition cost is a metric that shows how much a company spends to acquire each player. Also known as Cost Per Install, it allows you to measure the effectiveness of advertising efforts and marketing strategies such as ads in other games. The user acquisition cost can be calculated by dividing sales and marketing costs by the number of new players. According to Liftoff’s Mobile Gaming Apps Report, the average user acquisition cost is $1.47. Average Transaction Value (ATV) Average transaction value is a metric that shows the average amount of money spent by a consumer on a single transaction. This metric is for games that offer in-game purchases. It tracks how much players spend on average per transaction. Even if players can only transact with your in-game currency without using real money, it’s important to keep track of ATV so you can check if your in-game economy is okay. The average transaction value can be calculated by dividing the total value of all transactions by the number of transactions. Quantitative Metrics Daily Active Users (DAU) Daily active users is a metric that shows the number of unique users who have launched the game in the last 24 hours. This is one of the most revealing metrics for game development, showing how interesting your game is to users. A sudden drop or increase in the number of daily users after the next update or fix makes it possible to quickly conclude how successful the work on the game was. To find out DAU, just look at the number of unique users in 24 hours. The uniqueness of users is determined by ID or login. Monthly Active Users (MAU) Monthly active users is a metric that shows the number of unique users who have launched the game in the last 30 days. As with DAU, MAU shows how many players log into the game at least once during the month. Together with the daily active users metric, it can help calculate the retention rate. For example, if a player logged into the game for many days and then stopped, this may indicate technical or content problems. MAU is calculated in the same way as DAU, taking into account only unique users. It is important to understand that the MAU for a given month is not the sum of the DAU for 30 days, as we are talking about unique users. For example, a player can log into the app on Monday and Wednesday, so they will get into the DAU for these days. But within the framework of the monthly metric, they will be taken into account only once. Stickiness Rate The stickiness rate is a metric that shows how often users return to the game. Also known as loyalty rate, stickiness rate can be calculated by dividing DAU by MAU. If you want to know the weekly stickiness, DAU is divided by WAU ‒ weekly active users. If the stickiness rate is: high ‒ users often visit the game and recommend it to their friends;low ‒ user interest has faded, and the game has ceased to be in demand. At high DAUs, engagement can be low. And then there comes a point when the further growth of the game depends on its actual use. When a lot of people download but don’t log in or abandon because they’re not interested, ads and rave reviews from bloggers can’t save the day. Marketer Andrew Chen believes that a very good stickiness rate is above 20%. The Facebook DAU/MAU indicator is 50%, which is already the world level. Behavioral Metrics Session Length Session length is a metric that measures the amount of time a user spends playing a game. The session starts when the game is opened and lasts until the game is closed or the user becomes inactive. To calculate the session length, it is necessary to fix the time interval between when users opened the game and when they became inactive. This is one of the metrics for game development that allows you to understand how users interact with different areas of content. For example, if the player interacts with a difficult level for a short time, it can be concluded that the content is too complex and frustrating. Conversely, if the user stays in the game for a long time on a difficult level, this may mean that the content is difficult, but not frustrating. The longer the session, the more satisfied the player is with the gameplay. However, specific session lengths vary greatly by game genre and should only be compared within their own category. Interesting facts about session length According to Soomla, the average length of a gaming session is 4-5 minutes. However, for card and casino games, the average duration of a session can even reach 30 minutes. In multiplayer and strategy games, the average session length is often more than 50 minutes, and the puzzle genre is of interest to players for an average of 40-45 minutes. Genres that are considered masters of long-term retention, such as Card, Trivia, and Word games, have an average session length of around 10-12 minutes. Retention Rate Retention rate is a metric that shows how long players keep playing after the first install. Retention rate directly affects your earnings, so keeping track of it is vital. It helps to understand what aspects of the game encourage players to keep playing. To calculate the retention rate, you need to divide the number of players who interacted with the game in a given period by the number of players who interacted with the game in the previous period, and multiply the resulting number by 100. Basically, mobile game retention rates are tracked on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 30 to see if games are built to last. However, you can also measure retention at Day 60 and Day 90 to get even more insight into how many players stay engaged. Day 1 retention. These are first impressions. The user gets acquainted with the game and decides whether it is interesting and whether it is worth returning. 30% retention or more on the first day is considered a good result. Source: Gameanalytics.com Day 7 retention. At this stage, the player is already familiar enough with the game and can give a detailed explanation of its pros and cons, the convenience of the interface, and the overall experience. If all is well, the players continue to play. Source: Gameanalytics.com Day 28 retention. At this point, all dissatisfied or disinterested players are weeded out and what remains is your main base of loyal players who play the game weekly or daily. They are willing to make a purchase or watch ads to gain in-game benefits. Source: Gameanalytics.com Did you know? The retention count starts on Day 0, not Day 1. Day 0 is the game download day, and Day 1 is the first retention test. This is often overlooked. If a player does not open the app on Day 1, then they are not retained. Interesting facts about retention On average, a 40-20-10 profile is considered good retention ‒ 40% retention on Day 1, 20% retention on Day 7, and 10% retention on Day 30. But depending on the genre of the game, good retention rates may vary.According to Gameanalytics, the average Day 1 retention rate is 25%. The top 5% of games can boast 46% are Trivia and Word games. Arcade games follow with 35%. Midcore games have the lowest engagement rates. A curious observation is that people play a lot more during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, but when the holidays are over, they don’t necessarily go back to the games they played. Churn Rate The churn rate is a metric that shows how many players deleted the game after the first game session. The exact opposite of retention rate, churn rate captures the number of people who installed a game, played it, and immediately uninstalled it. It includes the time that has elapsed from the moment the game was installed to the moment the game was uninstalled. If it’s a few hours, then the game may be having issues with onboarding and players need a clearer guide. If it’s a few weeks, then perhaps the content has become repetitive and the player has become bored. To calculate the churn rate, subtract the retention rate from 100%. According to Clevertap, most games lose over 90% of new players in the first month after installation. The most common reasons for deleting games are crashes and errors, but gameplay problems can also occur: Too long onboarding.Confusing interface.Too bright visuals.Unintuitive gameplay.Too many ads.Aggressive monetization strategy. Additional hint. If you still can’t figure out why people are deleting your game, look for valuable insights in the comments section of Google Play and App Store. The Most Important Game Metric All these metrics are very important. But there is one more that stands above them all ‒ Lifetime Value (LTV). Lifetime value is a metric that shows the average income generated by the client during the entire period of interaction with the game. With this game metric, you can determine how effective your game is over time and what is the total income that you received per user for the entire time they interacted with the game. LTV affects the amount of revenue ‒ the more regular customers a company has, the higher the income. But the indicator needs to be compared with other metrics. If the LTV is high, but the company’s costs of producing a product, attracting and retaining a customer are higher, then the business is not making a profit and the overall strategy needs to be reconsidered. To calculate LTV, you need to multiply the revenue per user (ARPU) by the so-called Lifetime ‒ the total duration of interaction with the user. Is your project profitable? If LTV is less than User Acquisition Cost, then the answer is no. Ways to Measure Game Metrics There are two main ways to measure gaming metrics: Request feedback from players directly.Use individual data analysis systems. The first option is easily implemented by researching game forums where players discuss the game, or by reading player comments directly on the game’s download page. Many game companies have a separate technical support service where players can write about questions or problems that arise. Direct feedback from players often provides high-quality data that cannot be obtained from raw data analysis. The second option involves the use of internal quantitative data viewing systems. Each company has its own such systems and data warehouses. They categorize data into groups and calculate specific metrics for retention, engagement, spending, revenue, and more. In the case of larger multiplayer games, companies can use tools for more in-depth analytics of mobile game metrics, for example, assessment of interaction and conflicts between players, compliance with community rules, etc. The Bottom Line To paraphrase a famous quote, one does not simply ignore gaming metrics. High-quality analytics is your steering wheel to help you move in the right direction and achieve financial success. And success will be achievable only when you can give your users what they want. Our game designers keep all the necessary metrics in mind while compiling a game design document. By describing its gameplay and technical characteristics, they not only shape its overall concept, but also suggest the best ways to promote it, depending on the specifics and genre. At each stage of work, game designers give recommendations in order to get a flawlessly optimized deeply engaging product as a result. Trust our experience and we will make all video game engagement metrics work for your success. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate

Meet Unity − the life of the cross-platform party, the best friend of aspiring developers, and the top tool for mobile games (71% of them are Unity-based according to Unity Technologies). There are 5 billion Unity app downloads per month alone. Even those who do not care about game development have heard about Unity. And those who do care about game development adore Unity. And not without reason. The Unity Gaming Report 2022 says that the number of games made with Unity has grown by 93% over the past year – 230,000+ developers create and manage 750,000+ games powered by Unity. Moreover, Unity has significantly expanded its toolkit through the acquisition of special effects company Weta Digital (known for its work on the films Lord of the Rings and Avatar) and Ziva Dynamics, a leader in high-tech modeling and deformation, machine learning, and real-time character creation. But is everything really so perfect and cloudless? Is Unity really the best game engine or are there certain caveats? Let’s take a closer look. What is the Unity Engine? First editionProgramming languagePlatformsLicenseLatest versionJune 8, 2005C#, C++ (runtime)Windows, macOS, Linux, PS, Xbox, Android, iOS …Proprietary2022.1.15 (September 1, 2022) Unity is the world’s leading cross-platform development environment that provides a comprehensive set of software solutions to create real-time interactive 2D and 3D content. Created in 2005 by the American company Unity Technologies, the Unity game engine allows you to create applications that run on more than 25 different platforms: PCs, consoles, smartphones, and others. When discussing the best game engine, it’s important to consider accessibility for all levels of developers and users. Unity is one of the few game engines that provides a great foundation for user experience. If we were to compile a list of the best game engines for beginners, Unity would indeed be at the top of the list. Unity consists of 3 main parts: A game engine that allows you to create, test, and play 3D and 3D games and experiences in various environments. An application that combines design and user interface with graphics preview and playback controls. A code editor IDE aka Integrated development environment that provides a separate text editor for writing code. Unity Engine Pricing The Unity video game engine is used by both large developers and independent studios. It is the latter, along with mobile developers, that have a special warm spot for it ‒ they can use its free version, provided that the annual income from the game does not exceed $100,000. Moreover: All plans are royalty-free, which allows developers to keep all their income.All plans include access to the Unity Asset Store, a marketplace for assets and tools.All plans include access to Unity Learn to support expert knowledge at all levels. There is also a free option for students called Unity Student, offering free use of the latest version of the core Unity development platform with a free student asset pack. Unity Features Unity is great for creating both 2D and 3D games. Calling it the life of the cross-platform party in our article on the Indie Game Development: Guide to Revenues, Most Profitable Genres & Monetization Unity Developer Rates Worldwide The widespread use of the engine means high demand for Unity specialists. And although Unity has a low barrier of entry, it takes a lot of work and study to master all of its features and become a truly advanced specialist. That is why those who have invested a lot of time and effort into learning this engine are highly valued in the gaming market. Unity developer rates vary by region. Let’s take a look at the comparison table. CountryAverage rate per hourCanada$54US$43Australia$35Germany$34UK$27Norway$27Spain$22Ukraine$20India$5 Rate information is based on Unity developer salaries taken from the workplace platforms Glassdoor, PayScale, and ZipRecruiter One of the most popular regions for Unity developers is Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, and others. Traditionally, their rates are lower than in Western Europe and America, but the quality of services often significantly exceeds the more expensive options. Which Game Engine is Better to Use? Whether to use the Unity gaming engine for any of your gaming ideas or try other options depends on what kind of game you are planning to create. We have taken a detailed look at the advantages and disadvantages of the 5 most popular game engines for creating different types of games in our comprehensive material. Be sure to check it out for when to use Unreal, Lumberyard, CryEngine, and Godot. Final Thoughts on Unity So, here it is, Unity. Now you know and understand it better. Is Unity the best game engine? Answer this question yourself, because it all depends on how its functionality is suitable for the implementation of your ideas. The Unity gaming engine demonstrates excellent performance in creating absolutely diverse products. If you are convinced that Unity is what you need, then we get the perfect match. Our specialists have been working with Unity for 10 years and have managed to implement many projects, from mobile match-3 and puzzle mobile games to play-to-earn advanced AAA-class blockchain products. We harness all the possibilities of Unity and use it to the maximum to get the most spectacular results customized for specific requests and goals. Contact us to find a reliable and experienced partner in Unity development. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate

Despite age-old requests not to judge a book by its cover, judging by the cover is the first thing we all do. This also applies to game graphics. Remember how you form the first opinion about the upcoming game. Of course, based on screenshots or a trailer. And no matter how you convince yourself that you will form the final opinion after testing the gameplay, the emotional foundation has already been formed. Such is human nature. Art does not exist apart from game mechanics. Good graphics won’t save a game with bad gameplay, but good gameplay won’t do it alone without high-quality visuals. Graphics should be the main visual tool for conveying the essence of the gameplay to the players. Therefore, the very game art style that will give players the right perception is vital. Let’s try to understand the motley variety of art styles for games and how to choose what you need. And a way to basically understand what you need. What Is a Video Game Art Style? Game art style is a harmonious combination of all the visual components of the game perfectly matched to convey the desired atmosphere to the players. Ideally, everything should be exactly like this. But quite often you see confusion and vacillation in the form of a visual style mismatch with the essence of the game. This is not necessarily due to the poor performance of the game development team. Perhaps the idea was too big for the available resources. Always keep in mind what resources you have before thinking about game art style. Artistic resources require a lot of time and a skilled hand. Whether you’re planning on making a game on your own or as part of an indie team, it’s important to consider the style you can shoulder. Have a promising game idea? We are always ready to implement it Get a free estimate Key Issues in Defining a Video Game Art Style Too much variety always causes selection problems. Such a creative and rather vague notion as a game art style can be quite a puzzle if you come across it for the first time. Let’s go through the most common hurdles that get in the way of defining art styles for games. Running into Extremes Here we have two options: “I want to do it like [some popular successful game] but in my own way.” “I want to create a brand new killer game art style.” While the first option looks less crazy than the second, both are doomed to failure. In the first case, you use the “crutches” of other people’s brainstorming products in order to “dress” your mechanics. In the second case, you do not think about the mechanics at all, relying on the stunning effect of the visual innovation. The main problem is the complete inconsistency and fragmentation of these approaches. No good game is a potpourri of some interesting mechanics and breakthrough visual ideas. The best games are perfectly cohesive, offering players a harmonious gaming experience, seamlessly integrated so that it is impossible to tear off the components for rough preparation. Solution. Both the mechanics and the game art style should come from the main idea. You have to view the game as a whole and deliver the right experience to the players consistently. Understanding the connection and interaction of all elements of the game will lead you to the desired game art style without the need for copying or striving for unsubstantiated visual show off. Falling into the Trap of Subjectivism What seems like a great way to share your experience to you may seem like gibberish to another person. These are the costs of the wholesale reign of subjectivism, which is already here to cast a shadow on your idea. If you find yourself pondering these questions: “Will the player accept my idea the way I perceive it?” “Is my chosen game art style eloquent enough?” Then it can be quite difficult for you to get out of this addictive swamp. Remember that it’s not always black and white, and it is impossible to take into account absolutely all objective and subjective factors. But you can try combining proven design and testing methodologies with more advanced research into your audience and their understanding of aesthetics and entertainment. Solution. Always know what you are doing and who you are doing it for. Your game may not cover absolutely all the players on the planet, but those for whom it is intended should feel this at a glance. Building empathy is vital for your game to communicate with the player. Don’t close yourself in your shell with a bunch of complex innovative ideas that no one will understand. Explore your audience, communicate with them, show them what you are doing, and then you will know exactly what works and what does not. Getting Stuck Among Selected Art Styles There are always many specialists in the team who can see the key game art style in their own way and offer their ideas. And while the final verdict will be up to the decision maker, you won’t envy them if they have an alternative of several equal options on the table. “These styles look equally cool, which one should I choose?” “What if I choose the wrong one from these options?” This is another package of toxic questions that deviate from the point. And the point is that you choose a visual tool to show form. You remember that it must work harmoniously with the mechanics and convey the necessary messages to the player at any given moment of the game. If you hesitate to choose between several similar styles, then you do not quite understand what your game is about and what it is for, and you start giving visuals more importance than other aspects. Your approach is not correct if you lay out a solitaire of different styles in front of you and try to pull them on the mechanics. Solution. Remember the need to match form with content. Look again at your game and say out loud what it is about and what it should convey to the players. When you have a clear vision of the game, there will be no separate visuals and mechanics for you. The synergy of these things is a gaming experience. Therefore, with a full understanding of its purpose, you will understand what style you need, as if it were a perfect piece of the puzzle, folding into a complete picture. Basic Art Styles For Games Despite the fact that game art styles do not have a clear and officially recognized taxonomy, game developers still distinguish some key categories based on the combination of their most characteristic features. For example, for 3D games, these are styles such as: RealismFantasy realismLow polyHand-paintedCartoon RealismDisplaying characters and environments in the most realistic way as close as possible to real life. Fantasy realismDisplaying characters and environments in a realistic setting that is impossible in our real life: fantasy, steampunk, sci‑fi, etc. Low polyDisplaying characters and environments through densely spaced geometric shapes with a combination of light and shadow. Hand-paintedDisplaying characters and environments with hand-drawn textures: shadows and highlights are drawn on the texture without geometry. CartoonDisplaying characters and environments using low poly and hand-painted techniques with high color and custom proportions. We talked about each of the 3D game art styles in more detail in our material. As for 2D game art styles, we can distinguish the following: FlatPixelVectorRealismCel shadingMonochromatic FlatDisplaying characters and environments without shadows and the illusion of volume as if they were cut out of paper. PixelDisplaying characters and environments in the form of pixels − indivisible elements of a rectangular or round shape, characterized by a certain color. VectorDisplaying characters and environments based on vector graphics − these are images drawn using mathematical formulas. RealismDisplaying characters and environments in the most realistic way possible with shadows, the illusion of volume, tints, and lighting. Cel shadingDisplaying characters and environments using non-photorealistic rendering to obtain an image that mimics hand-drawing with hard contours and sharp chiaroscuro transitions. MonochromaticDisplaying characters and environments in a limited color palette of 1 or 2 colors and a wide range of shades of these primary colors. Realistic 2D graphics are often raster graphics, while vector graphics are suitable for more cartoonish display. You can learn more about raster and vector 2D graphics in the corresponding post. How to Choose a Perfect Art Style for Your Game After a tour of the main art styles for games, we can summarize the key questions you need to know the answers to choose the right graphic for your game. What resources do you have? What is the essence of the game? What is the game’s audience? Start from your financial and resource capabilities. You can’t create an ultra-realistic style game with complex open world mechanics on your own. Outline all the limitations at the very beginning of the development and determine what you cannot aim at yet. This will greatly simplify the choice of style. The void of a post-apocalyptic world, the unbridled force of nature, the boundlessness of sinister space, philosophical reflections on the meaning of life, or a fast-paced shooter with a classic antagonist seeking to destroy the world? The style will be chosen based on what you want to convey to the player. The game may not be intended for all players in the world. It will be played by a certain audience. You need to understand your specific players, their needs, preferences, and expectations. Try to put yourself in their place and think about how you would like to see the game from the consumer’s point of view. Final Word Ultimately, there is no such thing as the best game art styles. Any art style can be the best for your specific idea. The main thing is to remember the essence of your game and correctly correlate your desires with financial and resource limitations. We at Kevuru Games are familiar with all the latest art styles for games and have developed visual designs for a wide variety of games, from casual to AAA projects. If you are having difficulty choosing a style, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can help you find the right stylistic direction for your game, and if necessary, also create the art you need, whether it be individual elements of it or the entire game visual. Look for samples of our work in different styles in our portfolio and let’s create wonderful game worlds together.