HTML5 GAME DEVELOPMENT

Numerous factors are involved in determining the length of an HTML5 game development project. Below, we mention some of them: 

Resources 

Typically, the more resources you have at your disposal to execute your HTML5 game project, the less time it will take. Likewise, if your team size is small, the development time would extend to more days. 

Because the more members in your team, the more your resources can specialize in certain aspects of your game. The team won’t have to handle multiple responsibilities and get everything mixed up. Instead, they can share responsibilities based on the skill levels of different team members, which can all come together to result in quality output. 

Experience Level 

The experience level of your team with HTML5 game development is also a critical factor. Because the less experienced the members of your team are, the longer your team will take to develop your game—the more experienced, the less time they will need. 

This is because beginners would have a steep learning curve and be unable to tackle most of the everyday HTML5 game development challenges efficiently. Hence, the time would extend beyond what is possible with a team of experienced developers. 

So, it is good to have a mix of both experienced and beginner developers in your HTML5 game development team. The experts can also guide beginners toward a better learning experience and tackle development challenges without significant roadblocks.  

The Scale of Your Game 

Complex games require a longer duration to execute. It requires the completion of multiple HTML5 game development modules during the production stage. Even in the pre-production stage, it requires a lot of time for the team to plan out the entire project roadmap because of the vast scope. 

Numerous factors determine the scope. But for simplicity’s sake, we will consider two of them: features and assets. 

Features – The more features in your game, the more your HTML5 game developers have to invest time working on the diverse modules in your game. This is because the team has to ensure that each feature is working and that it is according to the specific requirements. 

Assets – the more assets in the game, the more time your artists need to make them. So, if your game has many characters, environments, and props, your game’s development time will extend longer than a simple game with no characters and limited assets. 

Scope Change 

Scope changes in the project during the middle of development are sometimes inevitable. You might have a specific plan initially, but the more you go deep into the development phase, the more ideas you generate and choose to implement. 

Even though this is positive, it negatively impacts the time required for development. Because the more you make changes to the plan after you have begun development, the more you have to scratch out the progress you have already made and make changes to further the new plan. This can lead to a chaotic game development process that naturally extends the time required to develop your game. Sometimes, you may even have to eliminate all your progress and start your project from the beginning. 

Game Engine Used 

The factor of the game engine you use comes into play because the length of game development depends on whether you choose to develop your game on a custom or a third-party commercial game engine. 

Custom game engines are better suited for projects with hyper-specific requirements that cannot be taken care of by commercial game engines available at the given time. However, using them would prolong the game development time as it would require the team to create the game engine in the first place. 

On the other hand, commercial game engines already have all the features ready to use. All you have to do is commence the game development process. 

HTML5 is a diverse framework that empowers game developers to come up with games of wide genres. Below are some of the most common ones: 

Board 

Board games are virtual renditions of games that are played on boards. Often, these are the digital versions of games that already exist in the real world as board games. Or they are entirely new games, designed from scratch by a game development team. 

Strategy 

Although most games have strategy as part of the gameplay, strategy games are games that have the strategic aspect of the gameplay as the core aspect the entire game revolves around. Therefore, these games demand the players carefully build plans to beat the different challenges within the game. 

Action 

Action games encompass shooters and fighting games, where the action is at the forefront of the gameplay. In addition, such games can include unlockable characters, weapons, and special skills that provide the players with a great player experience. 

Adventure 

Adventure games are story-driven games with a player-controlled character embarking on different adventures. Elements like puzzle solving, exploration, and the overall narrative sets this game apart from other forms of games. 

Platformers 

Platformers are games with movement-based mechanics where players have to navigate different platforms. At times, the player must fend off attacks against enemies, overcome obstacles, and perform various tricks. 

Match 3 

These are games where the player has to match 3 items that all belong to the same category (which might be color or a type of item) from an array of different items. Games such as Candy Crush and Bejeweled hail from this genre. 

Puzzles 

Puzzle games are the type of games that force players to use their maximum brain power. These games deliver challenges that the player has to complete, often before a timer gets over. However, these games do not have action at the core of the gameplay. 

Sports 

These types of games are either virtual versions of different real-world sports or the creation of new kinds of virtual sports. These games focus on skills and quick player reactions and are often turned into eSports competitions. 

RPG 

RPG games are games where the player takes on the role of one or multiple characters in a narrative. These games are characterized by a massive world (often fantasy), numerous NPCs (Non-Playable Characters), and quests. 

Racing 

These games, as the name implies, are centered around racing. Players are put into different races and must reach the finish line before anybody else (or whatever the requirements of that particular race are.) Unlockable tracks and vehicles are often chief elements in this game genre. 

Card 

Card games range in two types: the ones based on real-world games and the ones that are original. The ones based on real-world games include Poker, Baloot, Rummy, etc., that people play in the real world. The original ones are games the designers have conceived and created from scratch. 

Educational 

Educational games are games that not only entertain but, at the same time, educate players on a subject or multiple subjects. These games have become popular in recent times as it has become a valuable teaching and training tool because of their higher level of engagement compared to other forms of educational methods. 

Without understanding the project specifics, it is impossible to narrow down how much a specific HTML5 game development project would cost. The budget required to execute the project would be based on numerous factors. 

Below are some of these critical factors that come into play that you have to consider when you account for the budget your HTML5 game would need: 

Your Game’s Complexity 

Not all games require equal effort. Some require the effort of a team working together for months. Others only need a solo developer to toil for a few days. 

Because not all games have the same level of complexity, especially in today’s era, when the capabilities of devices have increased and the games that can run on them have improved. Naturally, this has led to game developers trying out games with complex features, in-depth storylines, and massive worlds. 

Generally, the more complex your game is, the more time your HTML5 game would need for development because it would require the collaborative effort of many resources. And the more the number of resources, the more the cost, as you would need to account for various overhead and operational expenses.  

The Frameworks and Technologies You Use 

There are numerous HTML5 game development frameworks that you can use for your game’s development. First are the open-source frameworks that both beginner and expert developers prefer, and then there are the commercial game engines that top HTML5 game development companies use. 

The framework you choose from among these significantly impacts your game’s cost, as not all frameworks are free. Some of them are paid tools developed by third-party companies. So, to use the game engines, the HTML5 game developers have to pay a sum of amount either as upfront payment or as a periodic subscription, under whatever model the framework owning company is licensing their product. 

In addition to the framework, your cost can increase further if you release a multiplayer HTML5 game because you have to host the server and provide a robust infrastructure that can handle concurrent users from different parts of the globe.  

Change in Scope 

Not all game development projects go as per the plan that you laid out initially. As the development progresses, the team is bound to find different ways to alter the existing plan for the better; A feature here, a new quest there, or a brand new character. 

These changes can impact the cost just like they can extend the duration because additional features would require increasing the game’s complexity. So, the team would need to put in extra hours than planned. As a result, the cost of the HTML5 game development project will shoot up even more. 

Furthermore, the impact on the development cost is even more if it happens later in the production pipeline. For example, if you are near the end of your game’s release and have to add new features and remove some of the old ones, your team has to re-work a lot of things and go back in terms of progress. If this happens earlier, the amount of re-work required would be less, and hence, the cost would also be less.  

HTML5, a powerful technology, has numerous game engines and development frameworks. Some of these frameworks are used by HTML5 game development companies and developers from around the globe. These engines’ stunning features have caught the gaming community’s attention. 

Below are some of these top game engines: 

Three.JS 

ThreeJS is a JavaScript framework. It is one of the most powerful HTML5 game development frameworks available on the market. As a result, HTML5 developers widely use it for both personal and commercial game projects. 

The main feature of ThreeJS is its support for 3D graphics. It utilizes WebGL’s GPU-accelerated performance features and the HTML’s canvas feature to create immersive 3D experiences that are near-console quality. 

In addition, the game framework also has a host of other features, including support for high LOD objects and VR and AR support via the WebXR API. 

PlayCanvas 

PlayCanvas is a game engine that markets itself as the ‘web-first game engine.’ And for the right reasons.  

Because one of the biggest features of PlayCanvas is that the games developed using the engine support browsers across different platforms. Whether mobile, desktop, or tablet, the engine is capable of helping developers create games that support the major browsers of these platforms. 

In addition to its support for developing games across all genres, the game engine is also apt for developing solutions such as 3D simulations and product configurators for other industries. 

Other features of PlayCanvas include the Entity-Component System, a powerful Audio API, and Physical Based Rendering. 

PixiJS 

PixiJS is a WebGL renderer. HTML5 game developers use it to create 2D games. It also has an active community of developers behind it. 

One of the key features of PixiJS is its speed. In fact, the framework is optimized to gain the maximum speed possible through its rendering pipeline. 

Other features of the game engine include multi-platform support and easy-to-use API. It also has an asset loader that supports sprites, animation, graphics, fonts, and a full-scene graph. 

Phaser 

Phaser is a free-to-use and open-source game engine. HTML5 game developers use it for its support of 2D game creation. 

The game engine supports development in two common languages: TypeScript and JavaScript. Both are powerful languages that developers can use. It also has robust support for both WebGL and Canvas elements. Furthermore, the game engine can automatically switch between both based on the requirements. 

It also has multiple physics systems and support for both web audio and HTML5 audio. In addition, it also has a built-in particle system and support for various input schemes. 

Cocos Creator 

Cocos Creator is the successor of the famed game engine Cocos2d-X. The latter was a game engine that was used for the development of games across multiple platforms. 

One aspect of Cocos Creator that sets it apart from most HTML5 game engines is that it supports both 2D and 3D game development. It supports development across multiple gaming platforms and is equally suited for large-scale and small-scale projects.  

Among the features of Cocos Creator are its Animation Editor, 3D Scene Editor, and Terrain Editor. In addition, the game engine is open-source and supports development in both TypeScript and JavaScript. 

HTML5 game development is something that benefits a wide range of industries. Below we list some of them and explain how these types of games benefit that particular industry: 

Advertising 

Games have immense potential in the realm of advertising. This is why many companies worldwide have experimented with advertising using gaming at one point or the other. With HTML5, the potential is even higher as web games are easier to share among each other, as it requires just sharing of a single link. 

Usually, advertising in games comes in two forms: advergames and playable ads. 

Advergames are full games created solely to advertise a product, service, or company. Usually, such games have some of the products of the company as the core part of the gameplay, such as the mascot of the company being the main character. This helps the company garner positive reception for them. 

Playable ads, on the other hand, are ads for games. These ads are shown in other games and usually contain one simple level of the particular game that is being advertised. This form of ad is gaining popularity because showing a sample of the gameplay to an audience already interested in gaming is an excellent way to make people try your game. 

Learning 

The educational sector has been experimenting with games for years now. Authorities have identified games as a fun and engaging way to impart knowledge to children and adults alike.  

For this reason, among many, learning HTML5 games have become popular. Developers can create fun-to-play games that tackle diverse subjects that range from complex to simple ones and use the medium of gaming to help players learn. 

Healthcare 

Healthcare is another industry that can benefit from HTML5 games. People can use it to educate people on different things, such as how our bodies and minds work. 

HTML5 games can also be valuable tools for training individuals on different processes within the hospital. Hospitals can even use it as part of employee onboarding and training purposes. 

Games can also be used to let medical students learn important skills. Rather than forcing them to learn in a real-world environment, they can be taught in a game first and then later exposed to real-world scenarios.  

E-Commerce 

E-Commerce is all about engagement. Because the industry is rife with competition and brand loyalty often reaps rewards that last for years. 

Many e-commerce apps and websites have started, including a section for dedicated games. These are usually lightweight games that are accessible to a wide demographic range. In addition, they also have social features such as leaderboards. 

As a result, even when people are not actively looking to buy anything, they would be on the website. Hence, they are likely to see something they are interested in while playing. So, the likelihood of them making a purchase is also high.  

Business 

Businesses can also gain a lot from games. From using it for employee engagement to using it for training and educational purposes, there are a lot of things that games allow businesses to do. 

Some games help entrepreneurs learn valuable skills that can help them build businesses that thrive. These games would have features that educate the would-be entrepreneurs about the challenges ahead. Unfortunately, some of these are simulation games that constrain players and force them to overcome challenges.