The UK gaming industry has experienced challenging times of late but latest reports suggest it has entered a period of growth, with an increase in the number of creative staff working directly on game development, and the industry’s annual contribution to UK Gross Domestic Product calculated as rising to £947m.
Interested in joining the sector? You’re not alone. There are dozens of educational institutions around the UK offering courses in everything from game design to animation and programming. This is one of the world’s most fast-paced industries, from mobile gaming to 3D and virtual reality, and that’s even without mentioning the major boom in online gambling that has been fuelled by sites such as http://www.onlinecasinobluebook.com.
So how do you make sure your project will be the next Grand Theft Auto and not the next Duke Nukem Forever? Aim for the stars. There are dozens of industry awards created to honour the best in gaming, and some of them are pretty prestigious – the BAFTAs have featured a games category for at least a decade now.
Here’s how to make a game that will make awards judges sit up and take notice:
Qualifications
For most game designers, qualifications such as maths, physics or computer science are often seen as a foot in the door of the industry. That’s not to say they’re essential, but they certainly remove some of the need to get lucky.
Network
Shaun Spalding, an award-winning games developer in the UK, recommends attending as many gaming events and festivals as you can. These are melting-pots of ideas where, besides picking up valuable connections, you’ll benefit from information and advice from some of the leading figures in the industry.
Know Your Audience
Before you even start coding, you need to know who your game is actually aimed at. Consider not just what players want, but what they may need from a game. For instance, many games on the Nintendo DS were aimed at the elderly, and were helpful in slowing mental decline and keeping manual joints flexible. And if you’re working on a childrens’ game, then aspects that will aid their mental or physical development will curry favour with judges.
Make It Fun
Remember that we are subjected to a barrage of entertainment on multiple devices at all times of the day, so whatever else your game is, it needs to make an impact right from the off, and have staying power. Above all it needs to be fun to play or it will flop.
Narrative Is Critical
A clear, engaging story is what makes so many films, TV shows and novels work, and it’s no different with games. Ensure that everyone on the design team fully understands the game’s narrative, and that all development is aimed at driving that forwards. Resist the temptation to over-complicate the structure, as it can end up clouding the core narrative and make the game less involving.
Experiment
It’s important to play around with different game development software packages to see which suit you best. Some basic packages that help people find their feet are free of charge. Practice all the time – every attempt, even if it ends in failure, will help you learn a lesson.
Innovate
In the same vein, don’t be afraid to try new things and push boundaries. Even if something looks like a dead end it may help you find a new path. Judges love innovation, it shows fearlessness and a drive to push the industry forward.
Feedback
At every stage of development you should be running your game past friends and family who like to play, and most especially, peers in the industry, for their responses. This early feedback can help you spot errors and opportunities before you launch your game.
What do judges look for?
Obviously, awards bodies don’t want to make it too easy for entrants, but some clues can be gleaned from the comments given by BAFTA judges at the 2013 awards. Discussing winning entrants, they approved of compelling gameplay, especially that which had a sense of style. Clear visuals and plenty of detail were also important.
Judges from other competitions have commented in the past on their love for sociability, audio and visual design, and games that showed purposes and originality.
This article was written by Amanda Walters, an experienced freelance writer and regular contributor to Huffington Post. Follow her here: @Amanda_W84
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