Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
These are just a few examples of creative ways to exploit the technical characterist-
ics of a device to create innovative gameplay without spending millions. Keep these
in mind when planning your next indie game or application!
External controllers
A number of manufacturers provide add-on controllers that can simulate classic con-
sole controllers, joysticks, and even miniature arcade cases. They are a reasonable
alternative to virtual buttons on the screen and generally provide a better user exper-
ience, especially for the more retro-styled mobile games.
On the other hand, they are external hardware, and as such you cannot expect them
to be a requirement for a game. Designing a mobile game around an external control
only makes sense if you are developing the game for the hardware manufacturer in
the first place.
Anyway, they exist, and are quite popular too, so why miss the opportunity of sup-
porting them in your next game in order to provide extra value?
