Here's how you can adapt to developing for mobile, console, and PC platforms.

Using cross-platform tools like Unity and Unreal Engine is essential for developing games for multiple platforms. These tools streamline the process by allowing you to write code once and deploy it across various devices, saving time and effort. However, it's crucial to optimize for each platform's unique requirements to ensure the best performance and user experience. Regular testing on all target platforms will help identify and resolve any specific issues early in the development cycle.

Cross-platform development tools like Unity and Unreal Engine are a game-changer for aspiring developers. Imagine coding your game once and having it playable on everything from phones to powerful PCs! These engines take care of the nitty-gritty differences between each platform, freeing you up to focus on the fun part: creating the game itself. While they streamline the process, you'll still need to keep each platform's strengths and weaknesses in mind from the get-go. Designing a game that works flawlessly on a tiny phone screen is different than crafting a visually stunning experience for a high-end PC. But overall, these tools open up a vast audience for your creations, making it easier than ever to bring your game ideas to life.

I have only used unity but I believe there are more such engines out there. Unity is a powerful engine which supports cross platform development. You can have the same code and deploy it on multiple platforms. No need to change the inputs even. The input system package helps with cross platform input as well. Even the free version of unity allows builds on Mobile devices and PC. However if you're looking for console development as well you will be needing the premium subscription.

Adapting game development for mobile, console, and PC involves: 1. Cross-Platform Tools: Use engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Utilize cross-platform libraries and maintain a single codebase with platform-specific tweaks. 2. Design Considerations: Adapt for different inputs (touch, controllers, keyboard/mouse), ensure UI works on various screen sizes, and tailor the experience for each platform’s audience. 3. Performance Optimization: Optimize assets for different hardware, include adjustable graphics settings, and test on all target devices.

The most crucial thing is to wrap the concept of "platform" in a generic wrapper and then write any specific platform-side code per platform. This way, a gameplay programmer will only ever interact with the wrapper and won't have to care about the nuances of each platform. It also means that the game can be adapted more easily, once you have gone through this setup properly for your initial set of platforms.

Design hinderance can cause a lot of problems and instability. Performance wise you'll have to optimize it if you're planning on mobile devices along with other platforms. Unity supports Dots which can come a little difficult at first but it boosts up performance really well. Visual wise you'll have to consider correct scaling of screen and ensure that the UI is easy to read and accessible on all screen sizes. You'll also have to make the controls balanced for each platform if you're planning cross-play and especially if your game is competitive multiplayer, to ensure one doesn't have advantage over the other.

Most of us still tend to think in boxes (big boxes now, but still boxes) I would invite everyone, especially in an early design phase, to zoom out a bit and think about a metaverse approach (booo! Catchphrase! I know, but) what I mean by that is imagine your product is successful and your console target audience loves it - why limit them to a few hours in the evening, why not give them the ability to progress on their phones during the day? I'm not talking about fully synchronized cross-platform capability, I'm talking about two different core mechanics that drive the progression of the same e.g. player character. - Keep this POV in mind as you think about future growth strategy - it's been a very valuable lesson I've learned this year.

It's all about fitting the game to the platform like a glove. Mobile gamers are on the go, so quick bursts of action and intuitive touch controls are key. Console players crave deeper experiences, and the controllers offer more complex input options for intricate gameplay. PC gamers have the most diverse setup, so flexibility in controls and customization is a big win. No matter the platform, understanding these strengths and limitations is crucial. Your game's design should adapt to factors like screen size, processing power, and even how players will be using the device. It's not just about controls – it's about creating an experience that thrives within the unique environment of each platform.

While each platform offers different experience, you should aim for the game design to be something that caters to all platforms. Make sure not to design a game that goes deep into one specific playstyle as it will be hard to port it for the other platforms, finding that balance is key. i.e mobile games have the capability to be played by just one click on screen like hypercasual games. But that said, have a game design that goes bit deeper than that so that its controls feel roughly the same when porting to other platforms. If you approach a game with the mind of porting it to multiple platforms you will come out with a much better and flexible game design. So keep a generalist approach in mind to avoid the hardship of porting in future

Design must have in mind always the minimim possible platform that will be used and its requirements, to avoid uncomfortable situations when running the application that you have made. Use a display standard that can be suitable in all the platforms, both in size and in quality. For example, I prefer to use 16:9 aspect ratio - FHD in all my applications, websites and games. It fits in everything that I have worked for the moment. Also, keep in mind where you put UI elements, avoid them to be touched by borders or vanish in some platforms.

The key to successfully bringing your game to different platforms lies in understanding their strengths and limitations. Mobile devices are powerhouses in our pockets, but their processing power can't compete with consoles and PCs. This means optimizing your game to run smoothly on a wider range of devices. Techniques like adjusting the detail of objects in the distance (level of detail) and shrinking the size of textures without sacrificing quality (texture compression) become crucial for mobile versions. On the other hand, consoles have specific technical requirements you'll need to meet to ensure a seamless experience for players. It's all about making sure your game runs like a champ, no matter where you play it.

When making a multi-platform game, if you have a choice then go for Low end devices first. By focusing on devices like mobile you will automatically be more observant on the performance optimization. Using techniques like object pooling to having optimized particles and meshes the game itself will be made optimized from ground up. From there its relatively easier to add more details and polish it for high end platforms like PC. This tried and tested technique can save precious time and hardship.

Performance optimization is a common challenge that is faced by every developer when making a 3D game. As the game needs to give the same experience in all the platforms we use different techniques to optimize. 1) Using URP(universal render pipeline): This technique converts all the assets into presets based on the graphic settings. This setting is really helpful in achieving optimal results in mobile devices. 2) Using LODs: this technique reduces the burden on mobile or pc gpu effectively. When using LOD assets, the gpu renders the assets which are nearer to the player and farther objects are reduced based on their distance. Reducing the usage of lifecycle methods, texture compression, sprite mapping are few other techniques

Design thinking in the performance of your weakest device possible. Use resources wisely, is not the same to optimize an app to be run in a gamer pc than doing the same for a medium power mobile. For low/medium capability devices use valuable elements as LOD adjustments, minimize poligons, and in general, be pending of stats and how they affect the app performance. Nothing affects more an app usability than the low speed and "lagging".

Performance optimization is essential to ensure your game runs smoothly on various platforms. For mobile devices, prioritize optimizing graphics and gameplay to accommodate lower processing power and memory, utilizing techniques such as LOD adjustments, texture compression, and shader efficiency. Consoles, while more powerful, require adherence to specific technical standards set by manufacturers. Always aim for the highest level of optimization to enhance the user experience and meet platform-specific expectations.

The key takeaway here is that one-size-fits-all doesn't apply to user interfaces across different platforms. Imagine trying to navigate a tiny mobile button on a giant PC screen, frustrating, right? That's why developers need to adapt their UI design to each device's strengths and limitations. Think touchscreens, controllers, and keyboard/mouse, each needs clear, accessible buttons, interactions designed for that specific way of playing. For instance, bigger buttons for clumsy fingers on a phone, while bigger text might be needed for console users sitting further away from the screen. While keeping a consistent overall feel is important, don't be afraid to tweak things for each platform to make sure using the game is smooth and enjoyable.

While my suggestion might not be applicable all of the time, but it is still helpful. Working on WebGL (PC & mobile) I decided to make a custom Interface Adaptor, that adjusts the UI based on the device screen size/orientation. Once set the behaviour of UI between PC and mobile can be set up by the designer himself and the game can quickly progress forward without much delay. Making a tool that auto regulates this behaviour can save a lot of time and it can be used for future projects as well.

Think in the weakest device that will run your app/game and design the UI for it. Avoid that the IU elements touch the screen borders or even worse, that the borders cut or block the different buttons or UI panels of the game. Follow the UI classics, there are always have UI pattern designs for almost all kinds of applications and games. Don't reinvent the wheel, if they have served for hundreds of thousands of applications, they will do for yours too. Using UI classic distributions also has a plus, the users are accustomed to these setups, so the learning curve and the UX will improve dramatically compared with a random distributed UI. Never forget that your game or app is what your client looks, use UI with wisdom and beauty.

Tip if you plan to have localization: It's crucial to have your pre-Alpha (or even earlier) build tested by a Localization Tech Specialist or similar expert. They can identify potential UI issues, such as overruns, truncations, and other text-related problems, since translations are often longer than the original master text.

User Interface (UI) adaptation is crucial for enhancing player engagement across different platforms. Each device has unique ergonomics that must be considered; for instance, mobile interfaces need larger touch targets due to the precision of touch interaction, while consoles may need bigger text to accommodate viewing from a distance. Though maintaining a consistent aesthetic across platforms is important, customizing UI elements to fit the native interaction styles and display sizes of each platform will significantly improve user experience.

Nobody actually enjoys bugs. With this in mind it is important that all aspects of games be subjected to thorough testing from game physics to game mechanics just mentioning but a few. If errors and bugs were to occur from such vital aspects of the game the game loses its fun and is broken by design. QA ensures that the game is actually fun to play something that cannot be achieved through automated testing.

Testing and Quality Assurance (QA) are crucial for delivering a consistent and enjoyable gaming experience across all platforms. Each platform has its unique characteristics and potential pitfalls, necessitating thorough testing for performance, input compatibility, and platform-specific features. The certification process for consoles is particularly stringent, often requiring additional compliance testing. Planning for extra time in your development schedule for these tests can help avoid unexpected delays and ensure your game meets the highest quality standards before release.

In manufacturing there is a clear distinction between Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Quality Control is defined as the processes required to identify defects (where we define 'defects' as deviations from a specification or requirement). Quality Assurance is defined as the policies and procedures an organisation should have in place that prevent defects occurring in the first place (e.g. up-to-date specs, requirements traceability). In software QA however, Quality Control (i.e. finding bugs) is re-labelled as Quality Assurance, and actual Quality Assurance (i.e. prevention of defects) is largely absent. Why is this?

*Always* have monetisation in mind. This is what makes it possible for us to make more games. But also don't be afraid to experiment a little, and to accept when an experiment fails. Just don't fall into the trap of telling yourself that game design or development is one thing, and that business is another.

In my experience, each platform where you plan to distribute your game requires a unique "monetization profile." A project that earns successfully on Nutaku, for instance, will not achieve the same results on Steam if it is transferred without any modifications. It is crucial to tailor the monetization profile of the project for each specific platform and the distinct audience cohorts. There are already white-label solutions available that can be used effectively for this purpose.

Adapt to developing for mobile, console, and PC platforms by first understanding the unique requirements and constraints of each platform. Familiarize yourself with different development tools and engines like Unity or Unreal Engine that support cross-platform development. Optimize your game’s performance and interface for varying screen sizes and hardware capabilities. Implement platform-specific features and controls, such as touch for mobile and controllers for consoles. Test extensively on each platform to ensure a smooth user experience. Stay updated on platform guidelines and best practices to meet compliance and deliver a high-quality game across all platforms.

I think the simplest but most effective approach would be: - Play games on these platforms - Talk to colleagues who make games on these platforms