Choosing this can make or break your game and you will have to be cognizant of all the pros and cons of each available software platform. If you wish for a cross-platform game engine that can realize all your imagination and create immersive gaming experiences, here is a pick of the top 5 game engines:

• Unity

Every mobile games developer will vouch for the Unity engine. It is one of the best game development platforms that supports 2D and 3D games. The platform is known for its flexibility and ease of use. Most of the Android games are built with Unity. Here are some of the features that you should know about:

• It is affordable since it requires a one-time payment for the license.
• Unity is a cross-platform game engine.
• Even developers with very little experience can use the platform without any hassles.
• There is a comprehensive tutorial for each process which makes it a better choice for beginners.

• Unreal Engine

If you are a game creator, you would not have missed the Unreal Engine platform for developing your app. It is a flexible tool that supports both 2D and 3D games. It is flexible across platforms and is absolutely free. Here are some other features which make it a popular choice:

• It is ideal for MMORPGs (Massively multiplayer online games).
• The Unreal Engine is known for its multiple features.
• It has a visual-scripting interface that makes coding much easier.
• Unreal offers a myriad of assets and ready scripts that can be used by game developers.
• Another benefit is that it allows testing of the game within the platform.

• SpriteKit

A flagship of Apple, SpriteKit is ideal for games on the iOS platform. It supports iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, which means that this is a cross-platform game engine. Some of its best features include the following:

• It has an action system that enables developers to create animations that are complex in nature.
• The best 2D games can be created using SpriteKit.
• The platform helps you in publishing games as well.
• Most developers find it compatible with most device features.

• Corona SDK

If you are a beginner and wish to develop your first game, Corona SDK is the perfect choice for your endeavor. It has an easy learning curve and comes with a number of features. Here are some of the benefits of using this game developing tool:

• The availability of multiple plugins makes it a good choice.
• It offers developers to check their work on a real-time basis. This allows them to make any changes instantaneously, saving time in the process.
• Developers of mobile games can publish them on multiple platforms from a single code base.
• This engine facilitates live testing.

• Buildbox

If your game is big on animations, this is the best choice. Casual games and the Buildbox engine are a good combination. This is a no-code engine that does not require you to have any programming, coding or scripting skills. The pricing is also competitive. Some of the other factors that may help you in your decision are as follows:

• It has a visual programming interface that reduces the need for coding.
• There are unlimited assets and animations available that developers can make the most of.
• BuildBox is known to save time as it has several in-built systems for use.

In addition to these aforementioned game development platforms, there are several other noteworthy mobile game engines such as Marmalade SDK, CryEngine, Rage Engine, etc, which have helped many developers in creating engaging games. Whether it is a casual game, MMORPG, or puzzle games, there are different options available for each genre. Based on your specific requirements, you can choose the one that fits all your needs. 

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Reasons for a boom in the mobile gaming market owing to COVID-19

• People have more time on their hands – As mentioned above, the whole world is more or less in a state of lockdown. People are confined to their homes for most of their time and therefore, have more free time. Since going out is not advisable, they resort to trying different games on the mobiles for relaxation.
• It is a cost-effective means for relaxation – Freemium games are quite popular as they can be downloaded from popular play stores for free. So, this incentivizes people to try them out in their free time.
• Multiple genres of games for all age groups – Some of the genres that are pursued by mobile gamers are puzzle, casual, match 3, combat, arcade, simulation, and battle royale. So, people of all ages can enjoy games of their choice.

Let us now discuss the 3 different components of the mobile gaming industry:

• Gaming industry growth

The number of hours that people now spend on mobile games has grown by 35% when compared to the figures of 2018. This is about 300 billion hours spent on playing games on portable devices. There were close to 80 billion mobile game downloads in 2020 as per the global statistics. 

We can speculate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on this because of the prevalent work-from-home culture. There are other reasons such as the availability of hundreds of casual games such as Spots Connect, Candy Crush, etc. These games are progressively challenging and engage players from the start to the end.

Another reason is that mobile game development companies are focused on creating inclusive games. This means creating games that are specific to their target demographic. The current trend shows that people in the age group of 33 to 46 years are the ones that are playing these games the most. And, these players do not shy away from spending money on in-app purchases.

• Gaming industry trends

Most game development companies are investing in marketing their games and creating a larger user base. Social media platforms, localization strategies, and engaging content are some of the factors that help them in their endeavors. Another gaming industry trend is the growth of in-game apps. This leads to enhanced monetization and creates revenue for the company that offers games to be downloaded for free.

Innovations in the mobile devices and software used in games are yet other trends to look out for. Using Artificial Intelligence, immersive games are being introduced and these offer the best experience to the players worldwide. Some other technological trends include Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Face Recognition, Cloud gaming, etc.

• Gaming industry outlook and forecast 2021-2026

The penetrating market of smartphones is creating the ground for an increased number of mobile gamers. Even children are being exposed to these portable devices and their usage has been enhanced over the years. With the current COVID-19 crisis, our dependability on these has grown even more. Free games are being pursued by players of all ages and this gives rise to huge competition in the mobile gaming industry. Investors are showing interest in putting their money in this sector owing to the revenue statistics.

According to the Gaming Market Research Report, the mobile gaming industry takes up 50% of the entire video gaming market share. With more people gaining access to smartphones and reasonably priced data plans, the revenue from these games is expected to cross over $100 billion in the next 2 years. 

Looking at the global analysis of the gaming market, the revenue is expected to touch a value of US$ 287.1 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 9.24% during 2021-2026. 

As the world is getting ready for the impending normalcy post the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile games continue to hold the interest of people worldwide. The above are some of the growth trends, perceptions, and statistics of the global mobile gaming industry for the upcoming years which speculate the same.

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So, what makes this industry such a great success and which trends should you be looking for in 2021 and beyond? 

Reasons for the popularity of mobile games

• Freemium games

Most of the mobile games are free to download with in-app purchases. This allows people to download them without paying anything from the App Store and Play Store. Based on their choice, they can pick from hundreds of options available.

• Portability

3G internet services have made smartphones accessible to almost everyone. The reasonably priced data plans offered by multiple providers has only helped boost the popularity of mobile games. These devices are portable and we always carry them with us. So, whenever we want a small break or something to take our mind off of stress, it becomes convenient.

• Entertainment

Mobile games are entertaining, to say the least. They take players to a whole new world of adventure and hence, engross them on any given day.

• Sense of accomplishment/achievement

Most of these games are level based. So, when players move up, they get a sense of achievement.

• Multiple genres of mobile games

Some of the popular genres that game development companies find profitable across the globe are casual, puzzle, action, simulation, arcade, and massively multiplayer online games, also known as MMORPG.

Producing such games is not an easy task. Mobile gamers look for innovativeness and this can be accomplished only by improving on the current options. Here are a few tips to help create such popular games in 2021

2021 mobile gaming trends you should know about

• The effect of social media platforms on mobile games is creating communities and helping players from different parts of the world to connect with each other and enjoy the whole experience even more.
• Though the average age of mobile gaming players is estimated to be between 33 and 45, game development companies are creating apps that appeal to people of all ages.
• Players are more open to in-game ads and also understand the importance of rewarded ads. Since they get to play the games for free, they have come to terms with the fact that gaming companies need to make money and ads are one of the major contributors for the same. So, the screen time for these is increasing slowly, albeit surely. 
• Using gaming analytics, designers and developers are able to understand their target audience and create better games. Based on the data available, players are given whatever they are interested in, which results in an increase of revenue.

In addition to the above, there are several game tech marketing strategies that are being employed by gaming companies. Using these technically-rich tools, they are able to identify the specific needs of their target audience and create games based on that.

Let’s come back to mobile game statistics again!

If we consider India as the market, the number of users increased from 200 million in 2016 to 325 million in 2021. The market share is expected to reach $174.4 billion in the year next year with a CAGR( Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 25.5% between the period 2018 and 2022.

Going by these figures, it can be rightly said that the Indian mobile gaming industry is booming! In fact, many players are not shying away from spending money in in-app purchases as well. The market is growing steadily and the gear is shifting from the young players to people in their 30s and 40s. Many companies are creating inclusive games that meet the needs of all generations. 

The rise of casual mobile games is yet another reason for this success. It takes up about 14.2% of the market share. There is a lot of scope to explore in this arena and using the latest mobile gaming trends, game development companies can create immersive experiences for every gamer!

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About 3 billion people worldwide play games and by the end of next year, the revenue is expected to touch $250 billion. It is because of these figures that the gaming market is all set to take over the entertainment industry (music and movie). The mobile gaming growth per se is a huge part of the gaming market share as stated above. There are many reasons for their popularity and the major ones are as follows:

Reasons for mobile gaming growth in the gaming market

• Advancement in technology

From the time that mobile phones were introduced until now, there has been much advancement in their technology as a whole. They have become a big part of our lives as we use them to browse, shop, search for information, play games and communicate, among others. So, after a busy day, you can pick your mobile phone which is always with you, and de-stress yourself without much ado. Another factor is the use of AR and VR in games for offering an immersive experience.

• Accessibility to smartphones

Smartphones are available at reasonable prices and using these, mobile games can be downloaded for free. These are readily available on app stores and based on your preferred genre of games, you can download them at any point in time.

• Reasonably priced data plans

In addition to the devices, data plans have also become quite reasonable. This is another reason why mobile games have become popular worldwide, and particularly in India.

• Online mobile gaming

A type of mobile gaming, this trend is best suited for all those who love wearable devices. Internet connectivity is needed to play such games and players often create communities for specific online games to create a sense of belonging.

A boom in the gaming industry can also be attributed to the year-long lockdown mode the world is currently experiencing owing to the pandemic. People are restricted from going out in their free time and therefore, the time spent on mobile games has increased. They are not backing from spending money on in-app purchases and this is yet another reason for the rise in revenue. Let us now discuss the gaming industry in India.

Current status of the gaming industry in India

According to recent studies, the market value of India’s gaming industry is estimated to go up to over 143 billion rupees by 2022. More than 65% of this is from mobile games. This demographic is between the age groups of 35 and 50 globally and India is known for its young population. Therefore, more people download and play mobile games in their free time, leading to a stupendous growth in the revenue as a whole. 

Mobile gaming and entertainment industry comparison as a whole

Globally, mobile gaming growth has resulted in surpassing the revenues earned from the entertainment industry. One of the main reasons for it is that movie theatres across the globe are mostly closed for the past year owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The best accessible form of entertainment for people is playing games on portable devices. Some of these can be played without the availability of the internet as well and just by downloading them, people can get hours of entertainment from the comforts of their homes.

Though the entertainment industry includes music, books, radio, and TV shows, a boom in gaming is due to the fact that it offers a sense of accomplishment. When players get past the levels and score high points, they are incentivized to continue playing. They can play mobile games with friends and family and enjoy having to share something special with them on a daily basis. So, the day is not far when the gaming market will take over any other forms of entertainment owing to the experience the former offers to the people.

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Making games that are ideal for the target audience is a huge task. However, it is not impossible. With the best tools and technologies, anyone can create games that are successful. Since the competition is huge in the mobile gaming industry and people of all ages are on the lookout for good games, here are a few efficient development tips for building the best apps.

Ways to master the mobile game development process and make money

• Choosing the ideal gaming platform

As soon as there is a viable mobile game idea, the first thing that comes to mind is the platform that it is going to be released on. Based on the game type and the target audience, the mobile game development company needs to decide if it is going to be a cross-platform app. This means that gamers can play it on Android, iOS and Windows Operating Systems. If it is meant to be for people of all ages, making it accessible on multiple systems makes sense.

• Creative and Stunning UX/UI

Though you have created a game that is interesting and innovative, it has to be stable as far as the user is concerned. If the mobile game takes time to open or has a bigger response time, there is no way it is going to work, even if it has the best props and levels. A creative and stunning user experience and user interface are prerequisites for a successful game. Implement simple controls that work for everyone and make sure to introduce instructions whenever a new element is being added to the game. Keeping in mind the screen resolution factor is also quite important. These are a few examples of how to make better UX/UI.

• Don’t forget to include sensational music

There is a story attached to every mobile game. The gameplay and the basic backdrop should follow it at all times. Another feature that brings it all together is the music. Engaging the mobile game players every time they open the app is key for its success and sound effects are a major contributing factor. Make sure that it is relevant, not too jarring and does not disturb the gameplay in any way. Rather, it should enhance the whole experience.

• Understanding the importance of mobile game designing

Game designing and game development should always work hand-in-hand. When these two are linked together, a successful game is created without any hassles. The first thing that attracts someone to a mobile game is the graphics and therefore, they have to be visibly pleasing. Also, the design should be in line with the whole story when put together. As with the sound effects, mobile game designing is a factor that glues everything well.

• Testing, testing and more testing

Not enough can be said about the time that you will need to test the game. When you plan the release date of your mobile games, make sure that you have allocated enough time for testing. This is the process that makes sure your product is stable, viable and works at all levels. There can never be a limit for testing as every aspect of the game needs to be error-free and offer the best user experience.

• Significance of building a prototype

As far as game development trends go, this one never gets old. Creating a prototype of the game first and then building on it is the best way to create successful games. It helps in designing the levels, the difficulty progression, add new features and even remove those that are redundant. This development trend saves time and effort in the long run.

Successful mobile game development and beyond

Creating a successful game by using these tips is achievable by any developer. In addition to the above-mentioned trends, ensure that you update your game at regular intervals to avoid any crashes and other technical issues. You can even update the game with new levels after a stipulated time period. Make sure that you offer the mobile game players an incentive in the form of rewards, boosters, coins, etc. so that their interest is held for longer. All these will help you in your endeavor to create a name for yourself in the mobile gaming industry.

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There are many ways of creating entertaining games. Here are a few tips that are sure to offer a fun-filled experience to players on any given day.

Game designing tips to create games with the maximum fun quotient

• Mind-blowing sound works

Sound effects play a significant role in mobile games. It sets the mood of the game and keeps up the interest of the gamers. Based on the gameplay and the story, the music has to be relevant and catchy. An excellent audio design has to be given its due importance. There are many ways in which music can be incorporated into games – the actual gameplay, the winning and losing sound effects, the rewarding of boosters, and announcing special challenges, to name a few. The background music has to be unique to the game and focused on the fun aspect all along.

• Crafting an enthralling environment for players

When someone plays a game, they wish to be transported to a world that is distinctly different from the one they are surrounded by. Offering a captivating one that takes them away from the normal and gives them recreation is key. 

• Enhanced visuals and themes

In continuation to the above tip, the visuals and themes included in the game have to capture the interest of the target audience/players. However, it has to be relevant to your game and in sync with the gameplay on the whole. Amp it up with animations to make your app appear attractive. The visual aspect must be given consideration at the time of game development as well as game designing, so as to make the flow natural. 

• Using the latest game designing trends

Integrating games with the upcoming game designing trends is yet another tip to enhance the fun element. These include tools such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), localization, cloud gaming, live streaming, etc. There are many games that have already made the most of these trends and have successfully created a better user experience when compared to before. 

• Offering an immersive gameplay

Though it is basic, it is what keeps the players going. But, make sure that your gameplay is anything but basic, as far as fun is concerned. Keeping the game progressively challenging is one such factor. Another one is offering variety. Doing the same thing over and over again can be boring. So, enhance the experience with stimulating levels, surprise challenges, boosters and special rewards. Game development is largely focused on this aspect. 

• Engaging characters/properties

Based on the story, create characters and properties that help in taking it forward in the mobile game. They have to be apt, innovative and delightful. The collectibles/properties have to be neutral since these games are played by people from different countries and backgrounds. Care should be taken not to hurt any of their sentiments. At the same time, they should be a big part of the whole story and represent the game in its totality.

• Enjoyable interactions

Whether it is the in-game content or the storyline, the interactive parts in the game have to be spellbinding. As mentioned earlier, along with the game progress, the story has to unfold and bond with the players. This can be accomplished with the best interactions, whether small or large. With challenging levels and new targets, the messages have to resonate with players on a personal level so that they keep playing.

The ultimate goal of any mobile game is for players to not give up midway through the gameplay but to see it through the end. This is only possible when it is fun and entertaining. Using the aforementioned game designing tips, the same can be achieved.

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The making of Spots Connect

With only a handful of resources, Launchship Studios started designing Spots Connect with an intention to offer a mobile game that is for people of all ages. Our aim was to use props that are neutral and do not harm the sentiments of players based on their color, region, gender, class, religion and other beliefs. 

So, it was decided by our designers and concept artists group of 4 that this was the best option. In addition to being attractive, colorful spots are also inoffensive. They also wanted them to be pleasing to the players’ eyes so that they could play for a longer period of time without any discomfort. Hence, the use of basic colors in different hues was adopted. There is a story that the ‘spots’ design took the maximum time during the pre-production phase – 5 weeks! We offer a number of different styles/themes of spots so as to keep the interest of our players. 

When this was ready, the next step was gameplay. Our developers and level designers work started thereafter. They were given the task of making a game that starts simple and gets challenging as the players’ progress. Using the right engine and other relevant tools, a prototype was prepared and presented to the testers and the higher management. Once the stability of Spots Connect as a game was established, the date of releasing it was tentatively set.

This stage of post-production involved getting reviews from players who used the alpha and beta versions of the game. We were able to fix a few bugs and finally, Spots Connect was released on the Google Play Store on 28th February 2017.

Post-release success

We had a steady increase in the number of downloads for Spots Connect. Players worldwide have found the game to be entertaining and able to decrease their stress levels. The average rating as of today stands at 4.3 against a high of 5 and this is something we are quite proud of. 

We had the glorious opportunity to feature Spots Connect in the Google App Summit, 2018, in the Best Rewarded Ads Category. We are hoping that there will be several other accolades in the future as well.

What started with a few hundred levels reached 4500 currently, over several updates in the past 4 years. It is quite delightful to see that there are several players who keep asking about further levels being added. Since we have to meet the expectations of them all, we are taking some time in creating levels that are highly competitive and engrossing. Let’s just hope that we are able to give them what they want and more! 

Thank you, players!

We have a lot to thank our players for! The success of Spots Connect in the past and present could not have been possible without your support. 

Here are a few of your words from which make us go on with our endeavor:

“Congratulations to the developer for a great hobby, I can’t do without it, I highly recommend it.”

“I like everything that helps memory or to develop or better the cognitive part. It’s good, and a game that has colors helps the mind from stress. Very good.”

“I have just finished 4500 levels…and am eagerly waiting for more levels…I love this game…when will there be more levels ?”

We invite suggestions and feedback from you to ensure that we take every opportunity to make the game better and give you the best experience. When we see the reviews which say that Spots Connect helped you stay happy and hopeful in the difficult times of COVID 19 and the lockdown period, it inspires us to serve you better and make it our priority to enhance the game in every possible way.

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Mobile games are known for their ability to engross players of multiple age groups and keep them coming back for more. The sheer number of such games available for free is yet another reason for their popularity. It will not be incorrect to say that everyone owns a smartphone nowadays and freemium games have become more accessible over the past few years.

There are many genres of mobile games that players can choose from. When it comes to puzzles, word games take the center stage every time. These apps are known to hold the interest of children, youngsters and adults alike. There are several variations in word games for free as far as the gameplay is considered and all of these are equally favored. Let us now see the reasons for the same in the following lines:

Reasons why word puzzles are preferred by most mobile gamers

Keep the brain active

Word search games are known for their positive effects on the brain. They improve problem-solving and analytical skills over a period of time. Since it involves the players to think and use their cognitive abilities at the same time, they activate the brain cells. This helps players enhance their attention span and be cognizant.

Help learn new words and their spellings

This is a fun way of learning new words and their spellings. Since it involves word-find puzzles, players are engrossed in the gameplay and are able to improve their vocabulary while enjoying their time-off.

Best way to make children learn

It has been proved that children learn better in an audio-visual environment than other methods. There are many word games for free that offer such opportunities to them. This way, they will be able to learn the English language while playing on mobile devices and become proficient in the language from an early age.

Act as a stress reliever

The USP of any mobile game is relieving stress. Most of us spend our free time playing games on our portable devices. It has been observed that they relax us and keep us from thinking about our professional and personal responsibilities. Among the lot, word puzzles are one of the most popular genres of games that entertain and rejuvenate players.

Varied options available

There are several variations in word games that players can pursue. These include word connect, word hunt, word search games, word find, word puzzle and word collect. The gameplays vary from connecting the letters to finding them in a crossword puzzle and searching for them on boards. All of these adaptations are equally liked by people who play word games.

Now that we have looked at the benefits of playing these games, here are a few options that you can consider:

Recommended word games for the best playing experience

Word Puzzles

In this game, there are jumbled letters on the board relating to specific categories of words. Below the board, there are blank boxes to help you know the number of letters in each solution. Based on the category and the number, you will have to swipe/connect the letters and make legible words.

Word Search

Search the right words from a jumbled board of letters and improve your vocabulary as you play this interesting game. There is a time limit in which you have to complete the levels and this makes it all the more interesting. It is a fun-filled word puzzle that is meant for players of all ages.

Word Cross

A modern take on the classic crossword puzzle, this has 4 modes of play. There is something for the beginners, experts and those who have mastered this popular newspaper game. Based on the hints for across/below, you will have to fill the crossword puzzle board with the right answer and proceed to the next level.

Word Championship

This is a word connect game in which you have to connect the letters and make correct words. The game is apt for people who wish to improve their English spelling skills. There are hundreds of hidden word puzzles that players can have fun with. 

So, the next time you are in the lookout for word games for free, know that they come with many benefits and you will have varied options to choose from.

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So, there are several mobile gaming trends that have taken over the development of such apps in the year 2020 and which look promising even in the coming years. Here are a few of them that have proved their mettle:

The best mobile game development trends of 2020 and beyond

• Cloud-Based games

     Streaming games from any devices with the help of internet connectivity has gained immense popularity.                      Cloud-based games make this possible and there are several mobile app developers that are creating them for a            better playing experience. In addition to the improved quality and enhanced functionality as far as the gamers              are concerned, the whole development process is cost-effective and works out for the gaming companies too.

• AR games

       An immersive mobile gaming experience is the need of the hour. Players from around the world are in the                     lookout for something new and AR games offer the same to them. Take the example of Pokemon Go. People                awaited the game before it was released and it had close to a billion downloads in early 2019. A lot of game app           development companies have incorporated Augmented Reality into them and the phenomenon is here to stay for       a long time to come

• VR games

         Mobile phones are getting more compatible. The introduction of Virtual Reality into games is now being                         supported by portable devices and this trend is catching up fast. Though the VR potential has not been tapped             completely yet, it looks promising and has been explored in 2020 and will continue to be a major trend in the               future.

• Unity mobile development

        More than half of the 2D/3D mobile games are built using Unity. This gaming engine supports AR games and it          creates seamless and responsive gameplay. There are a number of updates in the said engine and mobile game            development can be made better and more inclusive by using this dynamic tool.

• Cross-platform gameplay

      Cross-platform games give a chance to switch from one platform to the other without losing the progress in the            gameplay and in a seamless manner. So, if a player wants to switch from a console to a mobile device, the same            can be accomplished without any glitches. Developing mobile games that are compatible with varied platforms is        another trend that is up and coming.

• IoT

      Connectivity is a major aspect of mobile games, especially when it is multiplayer apps. IoT or Internet of Things          is a trend that has caught up with many industries and mobile games are not far off. Wearable devices, for one,            bring out the IoT phenomenon in the best possible way.

• 5G

        A strengthened mobile network is ideally suited for games. Speed, functionality, stability and improved                          performance are what makes 5G quite an anticipated trend. This is believed to be ready by the end of this year              and there is a lot to look forward to in the coming years, at least until 6G comes up!

• AMP or Accelerated Mobile Pages Development

         How web pages perform on mobile devices is quite a big deal when it comes to the overall customer experience.           With Google’s AMP, this feature is bound to be enhanced. The loading time of mobile apps will become better               and there will be hardly any lag while playing games.

Mobile game development is a growing industry as there are hundreds of games being produced on a daily basis. People of all ages play them for entertainment, relaxation and a sense of achievement. They give players something to look forward to and being available on portable devices just make them even more popular. 

The share of mobile games is over 50% of the current gaming market and it is on a continual rise. With new trends and innovations being introduced into these games, people will always have something to look forward to in the choice of mobile games. Recognising them and implementing them into the development process will produce the best results going forward.

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Machine Learning has taken over the tech world in a major way, and the gaming industry has also made the most of it in the past few years. The process of game development has been impacted owing to its rise. So, how is it that this part of AI technology affects games as a whole? Let us see in the following lines.

The influence of Machine Learning on gaming technology

•   Making mobile games more engaging 

Mobile games are the most popular when it comes to gaming and has taken over 51% of the overall market share as far as players are concerned. Since they are more portable than consoles, mobile games have topped the popularity charts when compared to other tools for gaming. 

There are hundreds of thousands of such games and integrating Machine Learning into mobile games development gives a unique experience to the player, by making it more engaging. Since the new mobile devices are including AI chips in them, the processing power of the hardware is augmented, giving rise to an more immersive experience to the players.

•   Enhanced NPCs

Non-playable-characters or NPCs are quite significant features in gaming. The way they react to a player’s action during gameplay is already defined during game development. However, when the same is integrated with Machine Learning, the reactions cannot be predicted. For example, if the player has mastered a certain combat game, the gameplay automatically becomes more challenging and the NPCs respond in a novel manner as compared to before.

• Interactive gameplay

NPCs have become more interactive and these virtual interactions are not mundane. Since they are unscripted, the players get more engrossed in the games as their conversations/actions appear realistic.

• A more dynamic environment

The environment in which the gameplay happens is more dynamic. Since they are at their creative best owing to game Artificial Intelligence, players are transported to a unique and attractive world. Machine Learning makes it easier for developers to come up with such alternative worlds without much effort and these are meant to keep up the interest of the gamers on any given day.

• Development of games based on data

As mentioned earlier, Artificial Intelligence is all about data. Using this, the algorithms are able to deduce the behavior patterns of players over a period of time. Data driven game development produces the best games that are interactive. The outputs are more dynamic since they are based on previous data and since all this happens without any need for human intervention, there are no delays of any kind. Each player will be able to experience unique gameplay with enhanced game designs.

• Improved/Decreased response time

Based on the data collected, the response time decreases in the gameplay. The dynamic processing capabilities make this happen. There is no delay in getting a reaction to a player’s particular action and this gives rise to a better gaming experience. Since the outputs are faster, players are always on their feet as they cannot predict the reaction and will be more immersed in the game. It is more like a customized response time that depends on how good a player is in the said gameplay.

Machine Learning is a huge part of game development trends

Machine Learning is a major contributor to creating engrossing games in design as well as development perspectives. Whether it is the NPCs or the output results, this application has been recognized by video, mobile and console game developers. Generating responsive and faster outputs that are relevant to the players’ actions are unique and offer an experience that cannot be replaced. 

The fact that Machine Learning is able to create an undeniably realistic experience for players of all ages is one of the major reasons for its wide usage. Since the tool is self-learning and does not require any specific programming, it is being implemented successfully in different types of games. The future of the gaming industry lies in how well game developers are able to adapt to the AI Technology as a whole, and Machine Learning in particular.

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