5 Rules for Producing Great Games

ames are hot business these days and it's important for game makers to know a set of golden rules that will make their games both fun and exciting to play. Because without these elements even the best promoted games will fail. Here are the five rules that make all the difference.

Intuitive controls

Try to make your game as intuitive as possible. If the user immediately knows how it works than that's a great head start you'll enjoy versus other games. Of course sometimes you'll be limited to a curtain control scheme, like the Wii or the Xbox 360, but try to make logical decisions. And afterwards test the game to see if the gamers immediately hit the right buttons.

Interaction

It's great if the user can do a lot in the game, so as developer you should try to give the user as much freedom as you possibly can, without sacrificing story or gameplay! Call of Duty is a great example. It's fairly limited but it fits the purpose and a lot of the cutscenes are amazing partly because the user keeps a bit of control (look slightly to left or right). It's an easy function to implement but really effective.

Make choices matter

Always try to let the users make decisions based on significant situations. It's bad to let the user choose between a cheese sandwich and a hamburger, but it's a bit better already if you let him choose between going to McDonald's or cook at home. Also don't tire the user by making him walk home afterwards. Repeats are generally no fun.

Progression and goal

The most important aspect of a game is the goal and the progression. You should always try to project the progression the user is making in the game. If a user feels like he or she's making no progression, they'll stop. Also consider giving some hints on curtain puzzles.

Just as important is the goal the user is working for. The recent implementation of trophies and achievements on the consoles are a great example of this. Apparently it's very rewarding to earn all trophies and users are willing to go really far to get them. Try to give them a real price for finishing the game.

Presentation

Make sure the graphics and sound of your application are spot on. It can spark interest of users if your game looks amazing. Likewise it can keep people playing for just a little longer. Nobody likes to look at ugly screens and textures, always try to reach for the best you possibly can. It also gives your game a more premium feel.

Try to implement these golden rules in your game making. If you do it right I'm sure your game will be a huge success. ?