Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
leads to a lot of activity on the Web. Information on all aspects of programming for the system
can be found online for free. There's no need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement or wait for
some authority to grant you access to their holy ecosystem.
Initially, many of the most successful games on the market were developed by one-person
companies and small teams. Major publishers did not set foot in this market for a long time,
at least not successfully. Gameloft serves as a prime example. Although big on the iPhone,
Gameloft couldn't get a foothold on Android for a long time and decided instead to sell their
games on their own website. Gameloft might not have been happy with the absence of a Digital
Rights Management scheme (which is available on Android now). Ultimately, Gameloft started
publishing on Google Play again, along with other big companies like Zynga or Glu Mobile.
The Android environment also allows for a lot of experimentation and innovation, as bored
people surfing Google Play are searching for little gems, including new ideas and game play
mechanics. Experimentation on classic gaming platforms, such as the PC or consoles, often
meets with failure. However, Google Play enables you to reach a large audience that is willing
to try experimental new ideas, and to reach them with a lot less effort.
This doesn't mean, of course, that you don't have to market your game. One way to do so is
to inform various blogs and dedicated sites on the Web about your latest game. Many Android
users are enthusiasts and regularly frequent such sites, checking in on the next big hit.
Another way to reach a large audience is to get featured in Google Play. Once featured,
your application will appear to users in a list that shows up when they start the Google Play
application. Many developers have reported a tremendous increase in downloads, which is
directly correlated to getting featured in Google Play. How to get featured is a bit of a mystery,
though. Having an awesome idea and executing it in the most polished way possible is your
best bet, whether you are a big publisher or a small, one-person shop.
Finally, social networks can boost the downloads and sales of your app considerably, just
by simple word of mouth. Viral games often make this process even easier for the player by
integrating Facebook or Twitter directly. Making a game go viral is one of those black arts that
usually has more to do with being at the right place at the right time than planning.
Summary
Android is an exciting beast. You have seen what it's made of and gotten to know a little about
its developer ecosystem. From a development standpoint, it offers you a very interesting
system in terms of software and hardware, and the barrier of entry is extremely low, given the
freely available SDK. The devices themselves are pretty powerful for handhelds, and they will
enable you to present visually rich gaming worlds to your users. The use of sensors, such as the
accelerometer, lets you create innovative game ideas with new user interactions. And after you
have finished developing your games, you can deploy them to millions of potential gamers in a
matter of minutes. Sound exciting? Time to get your hands dirty with some code!
