CASUAL GAMES DEVELOPMENT

Casual games are projects with easy but addicting gameplay, designed for a wide target audience. Most often, they are distributed completely free of charge, thanks to which they easily find their fans and quickly pay off from showing ads and in-app purchases.

Developing casual games is relatively inexpensive due to the simplicity of their graphics and storyline.

Casual games come in many genres: logic, adventure, hidden object, arcade, and even action. But, regardless of the direction, there are characteristics that unite such projects, which is important to consider when developing them. Let’s consider them in more detail.

Focus on the mass market

The main feature of casual projects is targeting the general public. Often, a topic that is familiar in different cultures is chosen as an idea. It can be sports, animals, or a common social situation. Working with ideas that are understandable in different countries and for different ages will attract more players, and, accordingly, will bring more profit.

For example, the popular game Candy Crush Saga is based on candy, The Sims is based on everyday life, and Stardew Valley is based on farming.

Instant immersion in the gameplay

Long-term training and preparation are not typical for casual games. When a user installs such a game, it is important to immediately enter it into the first game cycle – without tedious registrations, settings, etc. The longer the launch moment is delayed, the more people may abandon the application.

Simplicity

Casual games focus on simplicity. They are obvious from the first launch and, as you immerse yourself in the gameplay, there is practically no development of functions or controls. At the same time, the gameplay should remain interesting and exciting, so that a person wants to return again and get positive emotions.

Short game cycles

The longer the game cycle, the less a person has the opportunity to get a smartphone and immerse themselves in the game. Therefore, in casual projects, one cycle often lasts no more than a few minutes. This can be done in short levels, such as in the mobile version of Plants vs Zombies.

Attractive appearance

Casual games, although they are simple in design and gameplay, should be well-designed. This will allow them to attract many more users, which means it will make the project more profitable.

The process of developing casual games is not as easy as it might seem. It can be divided into seven main steps.

• Concept

This is the very first step at which the very idea of ​​a future project is thought out. In addition, the main game mechanics are agreed upon and the most suitable platform is selected:

• PC;
• Android and IOS;
• Game consoles;
• Browser;
• Social networks.

Most often, casual games are developed for mobile platforms, which give a person the opportunity to play at any time and anywhere. This greatly facilitates the advancement of the project in the future.

• Prototyping

At this stage, the very ideas of game mechanics are worked out and the initial rendering of the characters takes place. Prototypes provide an overview of the gameplay.

• Vertical slice

A basic version of the game with a ready-made gameplay is being created, which allows you to assess the prospects of the project in the early stages and include new functions in it, if necessary.

• Production

At this stage, the direct development of the game takes place – designers draw textures, characters, and programmers write thousands of lines of code to make the game “come to life” on the screens of end users.

• Testing

The game is checked by testers for bugs and bottlenecks.

• Beta testing

This is a demonstration of the game to a narrow circle of gamers to check the performance of the project and the demand for it. At this stage, it is important to collect the opinions of real players and implement them before the official release.

• Release and support

The game is officially launching. At the same time, feedback continues to be collected, on the basis of which updates to the game will be created, aimed at improving the user experience of gamers. It is an ongoing process to maintain interest in the project.

Casual games, in most cases, are distributed completely free of charge, so it will not always be appropriate to talk about earning from the sale of their copies. Instead, the owners of such projects make money in a different way:

• using commercials and banners;
• through in-app purchases.

The most popular format for making money is rewarded video advertising. That is, a person watches a video and receives bonuses for this: coins, access to new levels, reduced waiting time, and so on.

Banner monetization involves placing advertisements in different places in the game, which will provide more views and can significantly increase the CTR.

There is a balance to be struck when integrating ads into your app because too many ads can annoy users and lead to the game being deleted.

The second type of profit is the sale of in-game content. This can be a seasonal passport, coins, speed up the gameplay, and anything else. We recommend making offers in different price categories to enable users to appreciate the benefits of these bonuses for a small investment.

AVADA MEDIA creates software products of any complexity. We have been working in the game development market for over 10 years, and we are ready to apply all our knowledge to implement your project.

Our pluses:

• work experience in various projects: Ukrainian and foreign;

• we develop applications that will work even on devices with low performance.
• we create high-load projects that are ready to withstand a large number of people online;
• we implement the project within the agreed time frame.