When deciding what sort of video game to make for platforms like Steam or consoles, it's crucial to navigate through various considerations to ensure both success and personal fulfilment. Imagine a Venn diagram with three intersecting circles representing what sells, what you can make, and what you enjoy making. This diagram encapsulates the essence of choosing the right video game to develop. It’s a delicate balance between market viability, technical feasibility, and creative passion.
What Sells
The first and most important step in choosing what video game to make is understanding what currently sells well on your chosen platform.
Insights from industry experts like Chris Zukowski, from "How To Market A Game," offer valuable guidance on understanding market trends. You need to understand what the current trends are if you want to make money from video games. Each year on Steam 2D platformers make up a sizable portion of what games are released. However they’re one of the lowest sellers on Steam. There are exceptions to the rule like Limbo, Hollow Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest. These games have stellar graphics, they look super professional. That’s the quality bar you need if you want to make your 2D platformer stand out. You’d be more likely to gain interest on Steam from games that perform well and aren’t saturated like narrative games or 4X games. It’s prudent to make a game that sells well to your chosen platform. Games with the Horror tags sell consistently well on Steam too, not just in the spooky season.
What You Can Make
To understand what sort of games you can make with your team, create small core loop prototypes to learn what skills are required for the full game. Prototyping is also a great way to test the waters with your potential audience and see what resonates most on social media like TikTok and Reddit. Remember that the platform you advertise on will have their own unique demographic. TikTok is a younger demographic than Facebook for example. Another tip: You can’t effectively promote on all social media so choose one or two that work best for you and stick with it. Spend time learning how to leverage it effectively for your game.
Consider your team composition carefully. If you have a great artist available, steer clear of text or film-based games. If your coder doesn’t have experience making MMORPGs, avoid pursuing that genre. Scope is also an important consideration. If you are a team of 3, make a small game.
What You Enjoy Making
During the prototyping phase, you'll discover the type of game you enjoy creating as a team. It should be a blend of comfort and challenge. Some aspects will align with your expertise, while others will require you to learn new skills. Embracing this learning process, whether it's tackling UI/UX design or enhancing technical art skills, is essential. Enjoying the development journey increases the likelihood of reaching the finish line. Working with a supportive team adds to this motivation, fostering a sense of responsibility and determination. As Ali Abdaal the YouTuber and author says “The goal is not to do the thing. The goal is to enjoy the process of doing the thing. That’s the secret to productivity.”
When embarking on the journey of creating a video game, it's imperative to consider what sells well, what you can feasibly create, and what you'll enjoy making. Understanding market trends and aligning your game concept with platform preferences are crucial steps in ensuring success. Prototyping allows you to test the waters and identify required skills while also gauging audience interest. Additionally, embracing the learning process and enjoying the development journey, alongside working with a supportive team, are key factors in reaching the finish line. Ultimately, the goal is not just to create a game but to also enjoy the process of making it, as that’s the secret to productivity.
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