New technologies are constantly emerging and changing the landscape of game development. Whether it is a new platform, a new tool, a new genre, or a new trend, game developers need to be able to adapt and innovate to stay relevant and competitive. In this article, we will explore some ways game developers can adapt to new technologies and how they can benefit from them.
One of the best ways to adapt to new technologies is to embrace experimentation. Experimentation allows game developers to test new ideas, learn new skills, and discover new possibilities. Experimentation can also help game developers to find their niche, differentiate themselves from the competition, and create unique and memorable experiences for the players. Experimentation can be done in various ways, such as using game jams, prototypes, demos, feedback, and analytics.
Experimentation is a great way to learn as you might explore topics, tools or techniques that might be different from the traditional ones that are used by everyone and fit into your comfort zone. Experimentation does not always mean trying a new idea or making a whole new game concept, it also means trying small new things like a while developing or learning to develop games
Experimentation is a method to explore more ways to achieve efficiency and level up your expertise. With the new technologies emerging every other day you have to work on your skillset to match the need of required expertise in new technologies. Learning new ways to do the same job will increase your changes to find the perfect method for a particular task
The best way I have found is to have a small side project with an achievable goal with a relatively short time frame. One of things I have done a lot in my career when a new game engine (for example) comes up that I’m interested in is try and make a smaller scope game like Tetris or Breakout to test how things are done in the engine. Usually this helps me touch a bunch of systems and see how the tools work. I rarely experiment with game design for this task as the goal is to learn the technology.
Embracing experimentation in game development involves leveraging Generative AI technologies for procedural content generation. For instance, using AI to dynamically generate unique and personalized in-game environments provides developers with a novel approach. This not only enhances creativity but also ensures adaptive and engaging gaming experiences, showcasing the transformative power of AI in game development. Definitely new era!
Master your tools to master your craft. The best way to learn how to use technology is to use it. Observing is good but practicing is paramount. Moreover test the tech in a variety of ways. The games industry is growing and evolving faster than it can optimize which means there are a multitude of methods we can improve to make our games run and play better
Another way to adapt to new technologies is to learn from others. Learning from others can help game developers to gain inspiration, insight, and guidance from the experts, peers, and communities in the field. Learning from others can also help game developers to avoid common pitfalls, overcome challenges, and improve their quality and efficiency. Learning from others can be done in various ways, such as following blogs, podcasts, videos, courses, books, and forums.
Our game is based on communication! Joining an online community like a game development forum or participating in social media groups allows developers to engage with experienced peers. Through these platforms, they can share knowledge, discuss trends, and seek advice on implementing new technologies. This collaborative learning approach fosters a supportive environment for staying informed and adapting to emerging technologies in the game development landscape.
Interacting with other people allows us to learn from them and we can additionally obtain feedback on topics that may be very obvious but we overlook. Additionally, we often learn a lot when we teach others. We should not be afraid to share our knowledge. Other people will appreciate it and it will help us in our own growth.
Rodearse de otras personas creativas es algo muy importante para despertar nuestra creatividad. Usa la inspiración y no la copia burda.
A third way to adapt to new technologies is to use cross-platform tools. Cross-platform tools are tools that allow game developers to create games that can run on multiple platforms, such as PC, console, mobile, web, and VR. Cross-platform tools can help game developers to reach a wider audience, increase their revenue potential, and reduce their development costs and time. Cross-platform tools can also help game developers to leverage the strengths and features of each platform, such as graphics, controls, and social integration.
Acredito que o uso de tais ferramentas n?o s?o apenas um facilitador técnico, mas uma estratégia inteligente para capitalizar as nuances únicas de cada plataforma, trazendo como resultado gráficos impressionantes, controles adaptados e integra??o social aprimorada. Ao fazer uso dessas ferramentas versáteis, os desenvolvedores ganham a capacidade de criar experiências que transcendem barreiras de dispositivos, atingindo uma audiência diversificada em plataformas como PC, consoles, celulares, web e VR. Ampliando as oportunidades de receita, mas também criando um espa?o para narrativas envolventes e inova??es interativas. A eficiência no desenvolvimento proporcionada por tais ferramentas reduz os custos, além de acelerar o tempo de produ??o.
A fourth way to adapt to new technologies is to update and optimize. Updating and optimizing are processes that involve making changes and improvements to existing games to enhance their performance, compatibility, and functionality. Updating and optimizing can help game developers to maintain and grow their player base, fix bugs and errors, add new content and features, and respond to feedback and requests. Updating and optimizing can be done in various ways, such as using patches, DLCs, mods, and APIs.
Consider a scenario where a game developer utilizes the latest graphics rendering technology to enhance visual quality. Through an optimization update, they optimize the game's code, making it more efficient and improving overall performance. This not only caters to players with high-end hardware but also ensures a smoother experience for those with older devices. Regularly updating and optimizing games aligns them with contemporary technologies, enhancing user satisfaction and extending the game's lifespan.
Si queremos un futuro sostenible debemos mejorar la optimización de nuestro software, especialmente el relacionado con los videojuegos. Generar Hardware cada vez más rápido también lleva consigo un aumento de la huella de carbono.
A fifth way to adapt to new technologies is to collaborate and network. Collaborating and networking are activities that involve working with and connecting with other game developers, professionals, and organizations in the industry. Collaborating and networking can help game developers to access new resources, opportunities, and support, as well as to share knowledge, skills, and ideas. Collaborating and networking can be done in various ways, such as joining teams, studios, associations, events, and platforms.
Senior Software Developer | Tech Lead | Game/Unreal Developer | Technical Artist
Our current world has the advantage that there is great accumulated knowledge. However, that implies a problem: we will never have enough time to obtain all that knowledge. That is why it is important to ally ourselves with people who have already acquired the knowledge that we do not have, and to complement each other so that we all benefit. “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”
Imagine a game developer joining a collaborative project focused on exploring the potential of augmented reality (AR) technology. By working with experienced AR developers, they gain insights into effective AR mechanics and design principles. Through this collaboration, not only do they contribute their skills to the project, but they also build a network within the AR development community. This collaboration fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas, accelerates learning, and opens doors to future opportunities in emerging technologies.
In my experience, investing in training weeks for team members who are falling behind on the latest technologies is fundamental.
Em um setor t?o dinamico, a colabora??o é uma for?a propulsora que impulsiona a inova??o e cria oportunidades únicas. Trabalhar em rede n?o apenas permite o acesso a novos recursos e suporte valioso, mas também proporciona um ambiente onde o compartilhamento de conhecimento, habilidades e ideias é incentivado. Participar de equipes, estúdios e eventos n?o só amplia a rede de contatos, mas também abre portas para colabora??es e projetos conjuntos. Essa colabora??o pode levar a cria??es verdadeiramente extraordinárias, aproveitando a diversidade de talentos e perspectivas. Acredito que a colabora??o e o networking impulsionam o desenvolvimento de jogos para novos patamares.
A sixth way to adapt to new technologies is to be flexible and open-minded. Being flexible and open-minded means being willing and able to adjust and adapt to changing situations, demands, and expectations. Being flexible and open-minded can help game developers to cope with uncertainty, complexity, and diversity, as well as to embrace change, innovation, and creativity. Being flexible and open-minded can be done in various ways, such as setting realistic and achievable goals, seeking feedback and criticism, and exploring new genres and styles.
I have worked with many game engines and tools over my career and one mistake I used to make a lot was trying to see how a technique I used in the past could be replicated in the new tool. A better approach I have found with experience is reevaluating how to achieve the goal the technique was trying to perform and adapting to the way the new tool does this rather than try to replicate the same process that the previous tool was doing. A simple example: Prefabs in Unity vs Blueprints in Unreal vs Scenes in Godot.
Imagine a game developer with a background in traditional character design techniques. To adapt to the advancements in Generative AI, he/she decide to experiment with tools like StyleGAN for character generation or any other modern techniques! By embracing this technology, the developer explores the AI-generated character possibilities, learning how to integrate these unique and dynamically generated characters into their games. This flexibility to harnessing the capabilities of Generative AI enhance the creative toolkit and lead to novel and engaging game characters.
Maintain variety. You will find it hard to pick up new tools if you are always using the same ones for everything. There is rarely the case that one tool is the only tool for the job. Using different engines and software packages for their strengths regularly will help mutate your skills into transferrable ones that can adapt to new environments easier. This helps as the current dominant force in whatever field won't always be on top. This helps you to be a fan of the output not the tool.
Try getting out there! Try to complete and develop a whole game from start to end and publish it on any of the famous app stores out there. The scope of the game can be small but a finished product is what vouches for your overall skillset.