How to Make an Android Game

Is it possible to create a game on android by yourself? What projects are easier to do? What are the popular online services and game-making programs? And How to make an android game easily.

I hope to guide you step by step.

The difficulty of creating a game depends on three key factors:

• Developer budget
• Team skill
• Time to spend on the project

The developer must have two key skills - game design and programming. It is good if financial support is added to them, which will help both to improve the hardware and to hire craftsmen for musical designs and product promotion.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to build a successful game of enthusiasm without investing in it. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, take at least the famous Minecraft created by one person.

Which games are easier to create

The main rule of game-making for beginners is that the first game should always be easy to develop. You should not immediately take on high-budget projects and try to compete with large firms. The most important thing for novice developers is to understand the basic principles of the industry, and they are easiest to grasp by creating small casual projects.

Before starting work on a mobile game, developers choose the main platform on which their project will be based - the game engine. This is a specialized program with functionality for creating entertainment applications.

There are two main types of game engines:

• Online service for creating a game.
• Standalone game-making software.

Naturally, online services lack the performance and functionality of standalone game engines. However, if the game conceived by the developer is not a large-scale project, then you can use the services of such applications.

Platforms are very different from each other, so it will not be superfluous to talk in more detail about individual programs and services of each type.

Online Services

Online services for creating games have one thing in common, most often they are platforms for future didactic applications. That is, all gaming sites are adapted for the formation of educational programs that will help in learning.

• These are such online services,
• LearningApps
• ProProfs
• Kahoot - for creating quizzes
• Factile
• Umaigra
• UI Class

Each of the presented resources specializes in a specific segment of educational games (quizzes, crosswords, mini-games), however, the LearningApps site is quite a special one for me.

LearningApps

It is multifunctional and capable of creating interactive exercises, puzzles, quizzes, crosswords, and many other educational tasks.

Despite the fact that LearningApps is considered one of the best resources for creating didactic exercises in a playful way, the program still has its drawbacks. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to list all the pros and cons of LearningApps.

Pros

• Service is free
• Ready-made templates available from other developers
• Easy to learn

Cons

• The design looks outdated
• Missing statistics section

Programs for creating games

There are many more standalone game engines for creating games than specialized online services. In addition, game-making programs give the developer complete freedom of action, do not restrict the project within the framework of one genre or idea.

Basically, a game engine is a resource that collects all aspects of a game (design, animation, physics, audio design) and makes them work together.

There are a huge number of programs for creating games, the most popular of them are:

• Game Maker
• Unity3D
• Unreal Engine 4
• Construct 2
• Cocos2d-X

Each of the provided software has its own special interface and functionality, so we will consider separately all the listed game engines.

Yoyo Games

YoyoGames is a great platform for aspiring developer. The game engine is designed for the development of 2D projects. The library of the program already contains the basic game objects that will help beginners create their first application.

It's also worth noting that you don't need to know any programming language to use Game Maker.

Unity

Unity is a more difficult option for beginner entertainment developers, but this game engine offers a lot of variability and freedom of action for the developer. It is not surprising, because this resource is also designed for the creation of computer games.

In Unity, the user is able to create projects in both 2D and 3D format. It is worth adding to this the ability to work with physics, design and animation.

Unreal Engine 4

Unreal Engine 4 is a professional game maker. On this game engine, projects are created, both for a personal computer and for consoles. However, the resource also provides for the development of entertainment mobile applications. Despite this, it is not recommended for beginners to use Unreal Engine 4, since to fully work in this program, you must have a sufficient level of knowledge of any of the programming languages. To download the program, you must register on the site.

Construct 2

Construct 2 is a game engine for creating casual mobile games or simple platformers. Has a standard number of tools with which even a newly minted application developer can create their first project.

Cocos2d-X

Cocos2d-X is probably the most popular resource for creating entertainment projects for smartphones with the Android operating system. Despite this, the program also supports projects running on Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS.

Cocos2d-X works on sprite systems, that is, multiple scenes that run in a specific order. In addition, this resource supports several programming languages, which gives the developer complete freedom of self-realization and does not associate the game with a specific genre.

The choice of a suitable engine for creation should be based on the following criteria:

• Correspondence of the program functionality to the task at hand
• The user's level of proficiency in programming and design tools
• Preferences in the interface

While choosing a game engine is a major part of preparing for development, there are still many nuances to consider. Therefore, you should not limit yourself solely to a game-making program. To create a first-class original game, you need to be able to work in the program for creating design and audio, as well as be proficient in at least one programming language.

First of all, you need to carefully approach the preparatory stage of development:

• To improve knowledge of programming languages
• Download all necessary additional programs
• Choose a game engine

It is also very important to think over all aspects of the game:

• Main idea
• External appearance
• Plot (if present)
• Concept - rules and conditions of the game

The more elaborate the above points are, the easier it will be for developers to start creating a project. For example, the whole essence of the gameplay can be stated in writing, draw basic art and characters, and try to find similar projects. Additional materials are extremely helpful during the creation process.

The developer must "create" the game before starting development. At the programming stage, you only need to implement a well-thought-out project.

In fact, all the components of the game can be combined into two large groups:

Graphic design. Game process. These two associations, in turn, are divided into several small ones.

Graphic design

For example, graphic design can be divided into:

Character models - the appearance of the characters in the game. Models of the surrounding world - the design of objects in the world in which the characters are located. Animation of characters and the surrounding world. Interface - the design of the buttons to control the gameplay.

It is best to do graphics in specialized programs, and not in a game engine. Most often, developers use software from Adobe.

Game process

The gameplay is associated with the following indicators:

• Gameplay - the process of the game itself
• Physics of the surrounding world
• Filling the world - plot, context

Gameplay should be the foundation of the entire game. The developer must firmly understand how the player will play his project and what should bring the gamer new impressions and gaming experience.

A little secret from experienced developers - if your gameplay can be described in one sentence and it does not lose interest, then the game is worth the time spent creating it.

The gameplay is the skeleton of the game. It is important that the project is fun to play, and the player wants to do it over and over again. If a beginner is not sure that the idea of his game will appeal to users, then it is better to take the gameplay from some popular application.

If you are interested feel free to leave a comment and I would love to guide you with my expereience.

It is also worth immediately deciding on the genre of the product. This will help narrow the scope of the developers' imagination to a certain framework, which will force them to concentrate on the details and quality of the project.

Note: I'm suggesting you select a type of game you like and check for popular similar games to get a clear idea about the game you wish to develop.

ex: If you like Clash of Clans, you can check for games that are similar

At the moment, the official market of the Android operating system distinguishes between the following categories of entertainment applications:

Arcade - dynamic games with simple and straightforward gameplay.

(For arcade games, you can check these examples)

Quizzes are a brain-ring for erudition for players who like to learn by playing.

Puzzles are applications designed to test the savvy of users.

Racing - games about cars, motorcycles and other vehicles.

Casinos are electronic machines, solitaire poker and other gambling games that have been embodied in mobile applications.

Casual - simple entertainment for a few minutes of free time. Board - Applications that adapt popular board games.

Musical - musical instrument emulators.

Card - an application related to cards, it is not only gambling but also collectable card games.

Educational - entertaining programs that will help in learning. Adventure - Apps related to exploring incredible worlds

Role-playing - the main point of RPGs is to play a specific role. The setting is mostly a fantasy or fantasy future.

Simulators are entertainment applications aimed at accurately repeating any profession or life process.

Word - crosswords, sudoku, scanwords and word puzzles. (For word games check these similar games)

Sports - entertainment applications about football, hockey, boxing and other sports.

Strategies are games in which gamers will have to rule society, state or an entire empire.

Action - entertaining applications in which the player will have to confront hordes of dangerous enemies. You can choose absolutely any genre, but it is worth remembering that at first, the easiest way is to create platformers and simple puzzles.