Research - syddyd/Tree-Platformer GitHub Wiki

ℹ Researching for a game concept is a crucial phase in game development, especially when you're trying to establish a solid foundation for your game's theme, mechanics, story, and overall design. This process involves gathering information, inspiration, and insights that will guide the development of your game. Here's a structured approach to conducting research for a game concept:

• Initial Idea: Start with a basic idea or theme for your game. This could be as simple as a genre, a unique mechanic, or a narrative you want to explore.
• Objectives: Clearly define what you want your game to achieve. Consider aspects like target audience, experience you want to offer, and what makes your game different.

• Competitor Analysis: Study games that are similar to your concept. Analyze their gameplay, mechanics, story, what they do well, and where they fall short.
• Trends: Look at current trends in the gaming industry. This includes popular genres, themes, and what the audience is currently engaging with.
• Target Audience: Research your potential players. Understand their preferences, gaming habits, and what they are looking for in a game.
• Research the main factors that influenced the success of current or past popular games: Many indie games receive a great amount of popularity due to famous game streamers on social media showcasing and playing them. Factors like multi-player, themes, and having very enjoyable gameplay mechanics can decide the success of a game dramatically.

• Historical/Cultural Research: If your game is set in a specific historical period or culture, conduct thorough research to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.
• Genre-Specific Research: Delve into the conventions and expectations of the genre you're working with, whether it's fantasy, sci-fi, horror, etc.
• Narrative Inspiration: Look into books, movies, myths, and legends that could inspire your game’s story.

• Game Mechanics Study: Investigate various game mechanics and how they contribute to the player's experience. Think about how these mechanics can be adapted or combined in your game.
• Player Psychology: Understand what motivates players, what challenges them, and what keeps them engaged.

• Visual Style: Explore different art styles and aesthetics. This includes color schemes, character designs, environments, and UI elements.
• Audio Inspiration: Consider the role of music and sound effects in your game. Research different genres and styles of music that could complement your game’s atmosphere.

• Platform Capabilities: Research the platforms on which you plan to release your game. Understand their limitations and opportunities (like PC, consoles, mobile).
• Technical Research: Stay informed about the latest in game development technology, tools, assets, and software that can be used to build your game.

• Community Engagement: Engage with gaming communities to gather feedback on your concept. This can be done through forums, social media, or early concept testing.
• Iterative Development: Be prepared to refine your concept based on the research findings and feedback.

• Game Design Document (GDD): Compile your research into a GDD. This document should outline your game concept, mechanics, story, art, sound, and market analysis.
• Concept Art and Prototypes: Start creating concept art and basic prototypes to visualize your game concept.

• Intellectual Property: Ensure that your game concept and assets do not infringe on existing intellectual property.

• Continual Learning: The gaming industry is fast-paced. Keep updating your knowledge and be flexible to adapt your concept as needed.

Conducting thorough research in the concept phase lays a strong foundation for your game's development. It helps in making informed decisions, increases the game's chance of success, and enhances creativity by providing a rich background of ideas and information.