They may be fun to play and their business prospects may look bright, but individuals and businesses indulging in Android game development are not immune to the risks it carries. Having a great gaming idea and the skills to develop it doesn’t suffice today as the stakeholders fall short of meeting market expectations. To avoid that, there are a few fundamental aspects of game development that they need to get right to build games that appeal to the target audience and win their approval.

Here are a few common but serious Android game development mistakes that developers should avoid at all costs

Having no well-defined target audience

Creating anything without being fully aware of its purpose and factoring in the necessary variables is tantamount to an anchorless boat in the ocean on a stormy night. This holds true for Android game development as well since without having a target audience in mind and acknowledging its tastes and preferences, the game would certainly not receive the mass approval the developers want. While analyzing the end-user, all revenant details such as their paying capacity, device specifications, gaming preferences, and others should be amassed and considered during the development process.

Skipping competitor analysis

Mobile game developers should acknowledge the fact that they are not operating in isolation and are in fact taking on stiff market competition. No development plan should be attempted without a thorough market analysis that reveals the current gaming trends, top market players, their strengths and weaknesses, and the like. Also, conducting a thorough study of the market would help the developers build a USP for their games and not just release another copied version of the already available ones.

Not estimating the user acquisition cost

Budget is a critical factor in game development and the cost per install (CPI) has a significant bearing on the bottom line. Developers shouldn’t make the mistake of waiting for the game to get released to calculate the user acquisition (UA) cost. This could ultimately lead to a painful waste of time and resources. Businesses should be very clear about the revenue streams of the game and the possible expenses in maintaining it so that necessary steps can be taken at the earlier stages of the development process.

No scaling plan in place

For developers who want their game to be relevant and popular even after the initial days of its release, having a scaling plan is imperative. Scalability should be part of the game’s architecture and design and hence it should be planned and implemented from day 1 of the development process. The individuals involved should have a clear idea of the content, mechanics, monetization plan, and expenses of the game for the long-term. If it is being developed by an outsourcing partner, the client must set clear expectations for the long-term partnership involving the game’s updates, marketing, and maintenance.

Building mobile games is easy, building mobile games that sell is an uphill task. Considering the competition in Android game app development, the above-listed mistakes would be suicidal for stakeholders. Although avoiding them alone doesn’t guarantee the success of a game, ignoring them would certainly multiply its chances of failure. Hence, it’s critical for developers and businesses to get these basics right at the outset of the development process to increase their chances of success.