The Cost Required To Develop Mobile Game Applications

Since the day smartphones have taken over, the gaming industry has expanded its target reach to a certain extent. It is mainly because they can enhance the individual experience by leading them through various options available. The gaming industry has always been booming, even before technology took over. Think of the days when children roamed the streets playing hopscotch, Chinese jump rope, cat’s cradle, tag the partner, etc. However, the idea of introducing games among children was to enhance their physical and mental stimulants. But with the advent of technology, gaming companies can provide a convenient platform to its user by giving them the real-time experience of a particular event or environment just through a smartphone and mobile gaming application.

In an era of digitalization, mobile gaming accounts for over 55% of the gaming industry, which is not stopping soon, as discussed in our blog on Mobile App Genres That Are Defying the Economic Downturn. Such a consideration has compelled gaming companies to switch their gaming network toward digital media. However, gaming consoles have played an integral role in enhancing the user experience for quite a time. Many gigantic techs- monster have catered their products and services in the gaming industry for a prolonged time and are persistent in efforts to gratify their business in years to come.

Some big names that have blanketed over gaming industries over decades are Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo, and Sega, among others. But throughout the years, many gaming corporations have analyzed a smooth shift of users towards mobile gaming. It is because of the approach “One size fits all “that came along with the invention of smartphones. Moreover, gaming application has proven to be cost-efficient and flexible. Such a demand for mobile game applications has compelled a wide pool of gaming companies to develop a mobile app that caters to their target audience by leading them through individual experiences.  

How can Mobile Game Applications be more beneficial? 

Due to the rapid growth of aggressive competition among industries, every business is looking ahead to implement various factors that build strong captivation. Among them, the one that tops the list is adding the feature for entertainment that can work as an ice breaker in their busy life. As it’s a known fact that the gaming industry is all about providing entertainment to its user, it’s important that businesses stay ahead of the competition by incorporating games into mobile applications. Mobile gaming apps can be beneficial in many ways, as they’re cost-effective, requires minimal resources, is time efficient, and have flexible usability.  

Even in an era where digital media has taken over, gaming companies hesitate to consider mobile applications for their business operations. It is mainly due to the stigma associated with a mobile application that demands great resources and cost for a top-notch gaming experience. Although such a claim could be partially true, on the whole, mobile gaming application has proven to be beneficial for industries in the long run. Businesses looking ahead to making renowned positions in the gaming industry should consider a mobile platform for smooth productivity.

Costing Required to Make Top-Notch Mobile Gaming Applications. 

There is no particular answer to such a question as various factors come into play when creating a gaming app for mobile. Some of the most common factors primarily considered among gaming developers are.

· Operating System

Companies should consider a suitable operating system depending on their target reach, which is a crucial decision as outlined in the Difference Between a Website and Web Application. According to The App Founders, the two most distinctive operating system that caters across the globe is Android and IOS. However, the target reach of IOS is higher in the USA, which is why the cost budget is expected to be higher for Apple users than for Android users.

· Type of Game /Cost/Time. 

The gaming type holds integral importance when creating a game for mobile applications. There are three major categories of gaming type which are supportive of the mobile interface, and all of it has their own sets of pros and cons.

– Small Games–

Small games are based on 2d illustration, which doesn’t require huge data or storage. The cost of creating small games falls within $3,000 – $50,000, and the time required for it is 2-5 months.

– Mid-Level Games.

Mid-level games are based on a particular storyline, leading a player through engaging content set through different levels and episodes. Creating such games costs between $60,000 – $120,000 and requires over 6 months for development. Mid-level games are regarded to hold over 70% of mobile applications.

– AAA Games.

AAA Games usually require great storage and interface to increase the functionality of a player experience. However, AAA is least considered for mobile applications as it lacks in performance and can drain the mobile batteries in a matter of time. Such a category hardly covers 5% of gaming applications on mobile as it costs much more than the other two categories defined. The minimal cost for AAA games starts from $300,000 and exceeds the above limits. Moreover, game development requires over a year, which any gaming company hardly considers.

Factors that impact Mobile Game App Development Cost. 

Various other factors can affect costs for mobile game applications, some of which are comprehensively discussed in our blog.

– Design Layout. 

The design layout is critical in attracting an audience to your mobile gaming application. Game developers must implement aesthetic designs into their layout for smooth captivation, as due to the fierce competition, there is barely any chance for a gaming app to fall into the immediate consideration of players that lacks design standards. By adding thumbnails and teasers, you can give an overview of how the game functions.

– Gaming Category. 

A wide array of games is available in the market, and not every game is meant to be downloaded by a player. This makes it important for developers to extract their target audience and create a game in a particular genre that influences a huge pool of audiences. Some of the common genres for mobile gaming include.

– Action Games. 

Action games are always on trend, and with the advancement of technology, it is soon to expand more productively. Games demand a great sense of motion, sounds, and graphics, giving the user an experience that pumps up their blood levels and gives reflexes to the brain. Creating an action game demands, a cost of a minimum of $10,000.

– Puzzle Games.

Puzzle games require great attention from players, which leads them to a certain plan and complete an objective. However, puzzle games do not require much time but can efficiently stimulate the mental activity of the player. Puzzle games are regarded to improve and sharpen your thinking capacity. The market for puzzle games has increased due to the variety of options available in play stores. The cost of creating a puzzle app varies from $3000- $10,000, depending on the complexity of your game functions.

– Arcade Games. 

Arcade games hold greater space in mobile game applications than in any other category. The reason for it being popular is due to its straightforward gameplay, time –efficient and random challenge rate. As the game advances, it becomes more complex, which is why most players fall for arcade games. The development cost starts from $8000 and exceeds depending upon the complexity.

– AR/VR Games. 

AR/VR games have been trending since the advent of wearable gadget that helps in enhancing user experience productively. The cost for AR/VR games is pretty high, giving the player a real-time experience of the gaming environment, with the additional cost of Oculus and a joystick. Moreover, not every developer has command over creating AR/VR mobile game apps, which adds business development costs. The average cost for AR/VR game development is $250,000. Considering the game at this point might not be a potential decision.

– Adventure Games. 

Adventure games lead players through broad storylines that require great interfacing within the application for smooth progression. If developers lack to attain a certain engagement, it can disrupt the player’s experience. Adventure games cover up to 14 million downloads in a year, which compels companies to put their hands into creating one for mobile phones. The development cost for adventure games varies from $20,000 to $400,000.

– Sports Games. 

Sports games are occasionally trending depending upon the events happening in real life. It is observed that during the cricket world cup, the number of cricket games downloaded on mobile phones increases to a certain level, and the same goes for FIFA fans. However, there is no certain development cost required for sports games. But many gaming apps refer to adding 3d characters that resemble players in real life, which can add cost for claiming rights. The expected cost for sports games varies from $25,000-$100,000.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, gaming applications require certain factors to consider business owners to enhance their user experience. Although the gaming industry covers up to 70% of mobile applications in the Play Store, not every game is downloaded. This makes it integral for game developers and businesses to extract primary knowledge about their players, gaming type, and cost associated.

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