9 Key Aspects to Consider During Video Game Design and Development

When designing a game, there are many factors to consider in order to create a successful and enjoyable experience for players.

What type of game will it be? What mechanics will it use? What theme will it have? What story will it tell?

It can be overwhelming to think about all of the different elements of game development, but it’s important to take the time to consider each one carefully. The decisions you make will determine the success of your game.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of nine critical factors to consider when making game design decisions. You can get started with a career in game design with the help of a game developer program.

About video game design and development

Video game design and development is a complex process that can seem intimidating to those who are new to the industry.

The first step in video game design and development is brainstorming. This is when you come up with ideas for your game: what it will look like, what kind of story it will have, and how you want the player to interact with it. Next, it’s time to flesh them out and make them more concrete. This is where concept art comes in: creating visual representations of your ideas so that they become more real and tangible. Concept artists specialize help bring your vision into reality! Finally, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty details: programming! Programmers work hard at making sure every little part of the video game design works.

Importance of video game design

Video game design and development have become an important part of our daily lives. We spend hours every day playing games, talking about them, and even designing them. The industry is growing at a rapid pace, with new games introduced each day.

When designing or developing games or learning how to design games, it’s important to make sure they are engaging to keep players coming back for more. For this, designers often put in rewards for completing levels that require players to work as a team to succeed.

Read more useful guides on video game design, how to design games or how to create your own game, and game design aspects here:components-of-game-design

9 Areas to Consider During Video Game Design and Development

Below is the list of 9 Key Aspects to Consider During Video Game Design and Development.

1. The platform

   What platform will the game be played on? This will affect the game’s graphics, controls, and overall gameplay.

   When designing a game, one of the first things you need to consider is what platforms you want to release your game on. This can be a daunting task, as there are so many different platforms to choose from.

   One thing to keep in mind is that each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, PC games tend to be more complex and have higher system requirements than console games.

   Meanwhile, console games tend to be more accessible and have a wider audience. Another thing to consider is the cost of developing for each platform. PC games can be very expensive to develop, as you need to account for the different hardware specifications of each PC.

   Console games are also expensive to develop, but the cost is spread out over a larger number of units. ultimately, the decision of which platforms to develop for comes down to a cost-benefit analysis.

   You need to weigh the costs of developing for a particular platform against the potential benefits of doing so. Only you can decide which platforms are worth developing for.

2. Game mechanics

   These are the rules and systems that govern how a game works. They can be simple or complex, but they all serve to make the game more fun and enjoyable for players.

   The difference between more linear entertainment media (like movies, books, etc.) and gaming is that the mechanics set the foundation for how the player interacts in-game with their surroundings.

   There are a variety of different game mechanics, and each one adds its own unique twist to the game. Some common game mechanics include resource management, player interaction, chance and luck, and progression systems.

   Resource management is all about managing the resources in the game, such as money, time, or energy. Player interaction mechanics govern how players interact with each other and can include things like trade, combat, or cooperative play.

   Chance and luck mechanics add an element of chance to the game and can be used to create suspense or excitement. Progression systems give players a sense of accomplishment and motivate them to keep playing by giving them goals to strive for.

3. Storytelling

   Whether you’re playing a video game, watching a movie, or reading a book, stories are everywhere. And for good reason – stories are a great way to entertain and engage your audience. They can also be a powerful tool for teaching and learning.

   Storytelling is one of the most important aspects of any game. It can make or break a game, and it’s something that players always remember. A good story can make a game more immersive and enjoyable, while a bad story can ruin the experience.

   There are a lot of different ways to tell a story in a game. Developers and designers can use cutscenes, dialogue, narration, and in-game events to move the story forward as the gameplay continues. They can also use more subtle methods, such as environmental storytelling and character development.

   Developers need to be careful with how they tell their story and need to understand the audience’s expectation of the story and design it accordingly.

   The narrative of a game sets the context for the game and allows the players to understand the in-game universe better. It gives them the opportunity to engage with the different elements of the game and understand the goal of the game.

   There are a few elements that all good stories have. They should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. They should also have interesting characters and a conflict that needs to be resolved. Lastly, a good story should be easy to follow and understand.

4. Visual design

   Video games are no longer a niche form of entertainment, but a widely popular form of culture and art. As the popularity of gaming has grown, so too has the level of sophistication in visual design.

   Today’s video games are increasingly realistic and immersive, with incredible attention to detail in both the game world and the characters that inhabit it.

   One of the most important aspects of visual design in video games is character design. The way a character looks can say a lot about their personality and role in the game. For example, a heroic character might be designed to look strong and confident, while a villain might be designed to look menacing and predatory.

   Character design is just one small part of the overall visual design of a video game. Other important aspects include the game world itself, the user interface, and the visual effects. All of these elements come together to create the overall look and feel of the game.

   The visual design of a video game is important not only for the look of the game, but also for the gameplay experience. A well-designed game world can be immersive and exciting to explore, while a poorly designed one can feel empty and dull.

   The same is true of the user interface; a well-designed UI will be intuitive and easy

   There are a number of ways that a design can be created depending on the style of game they are going to make. Storyboards are good for story-based games where each box will show how a user will step through a game. A branching diagram or flow chart can be used for games with decision-making to show ‘if this, then that’ occurrences.

   Game design and development courses  or a game designer course can be a great way for you to get started and understand the elements of visual design in gaming. 

5. Game pacing

   How fast or slow a game progresses is an important consideration. If a game is too slow, players may become bored; if it’s too fast, players may feel overwhelmed.

   It’s important to strike a balance so that players always have something to do but never feel like they’re stuck in a rut.

   One aspect of game pacing that is often overlooked is the player’s level of experience. Novice players will obviously require a different pacing than experienced players.

   For example, in a strategy game, a novice player might need more time to plan each move, while an experienced player can make decisions more quickly. The game’s pacing should be adjusted accordingly to accommodate different types of players.

   Another important consideration is the type of game. Action games are typically fast-paced, while puzzle games are usually slower. The pacing should match the gameplay so that players are never bored or frustrated.

   Finally, the pacing should be tweaked based on player feedback. If players are consistently complaining that the game is too slow or too fast, then the developers should adjust the pacing accordingly.

   Game pacing is an important consideration for game developers to create an enjoyable experience for their players. Different aspects such as the player’s level of experience, type of game, and player feedback should all be taken into account when adjusting the pacing of a game.

6. Player engagement

   When designing a game, it’s important to ensure that players are engaged throughout. One way to do this is by incorporating a variety of gameplay mechanics, such as exploration, combat, and puzzles.

   Players should also be given a reason to care about the game world and its characters. Otherwise, they’ll quickly lose interest. There are many ways of delivering engagement to the player: visual, auditory, narrative, constructive, and more.

   For this to happen, you need to understand your players’ needs, behaviors, and preferences. What do they look for in their gaming experience? Why do they respond to certain features and not others? What designs and color schemes will keep them engaged? Finding answers to these questions can help you create a game they’ll love. 

7. Graphics and audio

   While graphics and audio are not the only important elements of a game, they can still play a role in player engagement.

   Good graphics and audio can immerse players in the game world and make them feel more engaged. There are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about graphics and audio in game design.

   First, it is important to consider the player’s perspective. What kind of graphics and audio will create the most immersive experience for the player?

   Second, consider the game’s overall aesthetic. The graphics and audio should complement each other to create a cohesive look and feel for the game.

   Third, think about how the graphics and audio can be used to convey important information to the player.

   Good game design uses all of the available tools to create a well-rounded experience for the player. Graphics and audio can be used to help players understand the game world, convey important gameplay mechanics, and guide them through the game.

   When used effectively, graphics and audio can enhance the player’s experience and make the game more enjoyable. However, it is important to consider all aspects of the game design before making decisions about graphics and audio.

8. Development process

   A key game developer skill is to understand the development process thoroughly. To get an idea of how this works, let’s take a look at the development process of games. 

   The first stage of game development is the pre-production stage. This is when the game’s concept is created and the team is assembled.

   The pre-production stage is also when the game’s budget is finalized. The second stage of game development is the production stage. This is when the actual development of the game takes place. This is also when most of the game’s content is created, including levels, art, and music. The third stage of game development is the post-production stage.

   This is when the game is released to the public. This is also when the game is evaluated by players and critics. The fourth stage of game development is the post-mortem stage. This is when the team looks back at the game and evaluates what went well and what could be improved.

   Each stage of game development is important, but the pre-production stage is the most important. This is because the pre-production stage sets the foundations for the rest of the game’s development.

9. Market research

   One of the most important aspects of game designing is doing market research and figuring out the ideal target demographics.

What age group do you want to appeal to? What sort of gameplay do they enjoy? What do they look for in a game?

Another factor to consider is the game’s genre. What kind of game do you want to make? Is it a shooter? A puzzle game? A strategy game?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you determine what sort of game you need to make.

When you conduct a market research survey, the audience of people you want to take the survey should be extremely well-defined.

Be specific and identify gender, age, education, income, marital status, geographic location, and other demographic traits as well as personality traits such as hobbies, publications they read, and more.

How to become a Game Designer?

Hero Vired introduces the Certificate Program in Gaming and eSports, in partnership with NODWIN Gaming, one of the best game design and development courses in India designed for anyone looking to get started in the world of gaming.

This game designer course is designed keeping in mind the growing needs of the industry and the key skills it is looking for. The program offers Placement Assurance wherein you get access to various game design and development jobs and get placed in one of them. 

You will learn all the key skills for Game Developer role and be able to work on real-world gaming projects and jobs. 

The game developer program from Hero Vired and NODWIN Gaming can help you kickstart an exciting and successful career in game designing.

Conclusion

We have covered the key aspects of how to design games, how to create your own game, and game design aspects. We hope it helps gain insight into video game design, as well as what it takes to get started in this field.

If you’re just starting on how to design games or how to create your own game, you will need to learn the game design aspects mentioned in this article. Our courses on Gaming and Esports and A comprehensive guide for becoming a great developer are great for learning how to design games or how to create your own game including important game design aspects.