The rise of the gaming sector during the past 10 years or so means that competition within it is now intense. The different game studios and gaming platforms must constantly find ways to enhance their products and services.
That means games of all types are getting better and better. For instance, anyone who plays casino games at casino 888 will find slots with cutting edge video graphics and the latest in live video-stream table games including poker and roulette.
Such improvements are not possible without developments in game design though. The term ‘game design’ means the process that starts with devising the initial idea and ends with a completed product for people to play.
In this article we will explore why that lengthy process is so important.
Why is Game Design Important?
The simple answer to that question is that without it there would be no games. Looking at it in more detail though, the quality of the design of a game is what can make it stand out in what is an increasingly crowded field.
Take the graphics for example. They are at the heart of the visual design aspect of games and in 2023 gamers expect graphics that are more and more realistic.
That is true even of games set in imaginary fantasy worlds. The aim of the visual design is to present both gritty realistic worlds and fantastical ones in ultra-detailed fashion, so that they seem to come to life and immerse the players within them.
The Last of Us II is an example of a game that achieved the required visual realism brilliantly. Its dystopian world was rendered with spectacularly true-to-life graphics and an overall visual design that made every bleak detail seem like experiencing documentary footage of life after an apocalyptic event.
It is not alone in achieving that though. Another example of impressive visual design is Cyberpunk 2077, which depicts a futuristic city where danger and the unknown lurk around every corner.
From the buildings to the neon lights and surrounding shadowy darkness, everything is rendered with meticulous depth and attention to detail. Games like this combine top of the range visuals with equally excellent sound design, to produce a fully immersive environment for players to lose themselves in.
What Must Online Platforms Consider in Terms of Game Design?
Arguably there are three key elements to game design, which are:
- The narrative or purpose of the game
- The visuals
- The sound
Those are the main aspects that go into making a good game and are what online gaming platforms have to consider when it comes to design. Only titles that deliver on all three of those things will succeed at a time when there is so much choice available to gamers.
That is something which is true for every subsector of the industry. It is why online casinos are always looking to add slot games with better graphics and themes that will engage their customers, as well as why platforms like Twitch are constantly upgrading their games content.
When it comes to casino sites, this applies to the card games as well as the slot ones. The designs on the playing cards used in games such as blackjack or poker are important to capturing the feel and themes of the games, so the online casino versions must recreate them as accurately as possible.
It is as important to online poker or blackjack game design as the algorithms that ensure fair dealing of cards. Outside of casinos, the game designs must match the audio/visual elements to a compelling storyline.
The Last of Us, based on the hit television show, is one example of a game that got all of those design elements right. Its stunning graphics and audio are in the service of a gripping storyline that depicts two complicated characters – Joel and Ellie – attempting to survive together in a world that presents them with difficult choices. It makes for a sophisticated and multi-layered gaming experience.
Benefits of Good Game Design
The primary benefit that developers and platforms derive from good game design is commercial success. It is the games that get every design element right that succeed in a competitive marketplace.
This enables the studios to make money and names for themselves and it ensures that the platforms that host them retain and build their customer bases. It is not just about cash and commercialism though.
Quality and innovation in game design helps to drive the industry forward creatively. It is those games that break new ground that challenge other studios to match them and this is how things get better for people playing the games.
Now you know what is meant by game design and why it is the most important part of the gaming industry.
