What different games require.
WHAT ACTION GAMES DEMAND
Responsive input handling High frame rates Precise collision Animation that communicates state clearly
WHAT STRATEGY GAMES DEMAND
Many entities updated efficiently Clear information presentation Artificial opponents that are competent Deterministic simulation, for multiplayer
WHAT ROLE-PLAYING GAMES DEMAND
Large quantities of content Systems for progression, inventory and dialogue Save systems handling complex state Balance across long play sessions
WHY SAVE SYSTEMS ARE HARD THERE
Everything in the world may have changed, and all of it must persist and restore.
WHAT PUZZLE GAMES DEMAND
Careful difficulty progression Rules that are learnable without explanation Level design tooling
WHAT SIMULATION GAMES DEMAND
Systems that interact in unplanned ways Performance with many simulated entities Tools for the player to understand what is happening
WHAT MULTIPLAYER ADDS TO ANY GENRE
Networking Cheating prevention Server infrastructure and its cost Matchmaking
WHAT TO CHOOSE FOR A FIRST PROJECT
Something whose demands you can meet.
WHAT TO AVOID
A genre requiring content volume you cannot produce.
