Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
that your game idea will fit into one of the broad genres currently popular. Most genres have
established game mechanics standards (for example, control schemes, specific goals, and so
forth). Deviating from these standards can make a game a great hit, as gamers always long for
something new. It can also be a great risk, though, so consider carefully if your new platformer/
first-person shooter/real-time strategy game actually has an audience.
Let's check out some examples for the more popular genres on Google Play.
Casual Games
Probably the biggest segment of games on Google Play consists of so-called
casual games
.
So what exactly is a casual game? That question has no concrete answer, but casual games
share a few common traits. Usually, they feature great accessibility, so even non-gamers can
pick them up easily, which immensely increases the pool of potential players. A game session
is meant to take just a couple of minutes at most. However, the addictive nature of a casual
game's simplicity often gets players hooked for hours. The actual game mechanics range from
extremely simplistic puzzle games to one-button platformers to something as simple as tossing
a paper ball into a basket. The possibilities are endless because of the blurry definition of the
casual genre.
Temple Run
(see Figure
3-1
), by Imangi Studios, is the perfect casual game example. You
guide a figure through multiple tracks filled with obstacles. The entire input scheme is based on
swiping. If you swipe left or right, the character takes a turn in that direction (provided there's an
intersection ahead). If you swipe upward, the character jumps, while swiping downward makes
the character slide beneath obstacles. Along the way you can pick up all kinds of rewards and
power-ups. Easy-to-understand controls, a clear goal, and nice 3D graphics made this game an
instant hit, both on Apple's App Store and on Google Play.
Figure 3-1.
Temple Run, by Imangi Studios
