Big studios did it first, but they’re no longer alone at the top. Boutique developers are climbing the ladder too. If you take a look at the work of Booming Games you’d get our point in a blink of an eye. Studios as such are not focused on making thousands of games. Instead, they employ small teams, focused on the goal of making a few games but done well. Here’s what’s done differently these days.
Design Above Simple Looks
For the majority of us, talking about design is being focused too much on the graphics. Design is so much more in the gaming world. It is also how things move in game. The appearances of menus, paired with music, and the mood in general. The way all available and necessary information is shown on screen, and eventually how easy a game is for playing. When a game is well designed it has no need to tell you that. You will feel it through its smoothness, the story will make sense, and you’ll be slowly guided through the gameplay. Small studios are able to put a lot of care in these areas. They’re not out there to mimic available trends, but rather to provide a nice product. Their games have personality, while the aim and the pressure of having millions playing the game is not in focus.
Storytelling is Different These Days
The games of old were different. Without a story, and with a lot of jumping, running, and shooting. For many folks that was it and it was enough. Today, even the players at Bitcasino want more. Context matters. When playing slots, players want a story. Math, numbers, luck, jackpots, winning and losing are not the norm anymore. Story is a necessity. That’s why you will see slots inspired and themed around pirates, fishing, Greek and Norse gods, candy, cowboys, ninjas, and everything in between. The story doesn’t have to be as deep as the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Yet, it needs to be present, fitting to the game, and just catchy enough to keep the players around.
Small studios that understood this have become more prominent. When excelling in combining both the visuals and the theme and story, success awaits. Booming Games has become a synonym for games with a strong mood. They are not shy of producing dark, mysterious and grim stories, but also love to have fast and bright ones. It is easy to be at both places at the same time when one knows how to mix animation, sound, colours, themes, and stories in the right way.
Why Boutique Developers Matter
Big studios make games, a lot of them. They’re always on schedule, have deadlines, and are in the business of churning out what already works. We don’t say that playing safe is bad. It’s not. It just doesn’t feel original and independent at times. With small studios the situation is different. Almost the opposite. It’s not about the volume, it is about the details. New ideas are what gives them the edge. Many things sets them apart, and here are the primary ones:
- Styles are unique and are followed by one of a kind art in gaming. There are no trends to follow, or the way how things must be done.
- Themes are the main focus. Each game feels different, with little to no generic elements.
- Boutique developers add a different pace to their games. They aim to create games that move fast, interrupted with slow moments at the right time.
- With them, players are not numbers. They’re not data/info. It is all about respecting the player’s attention and time.
Design & Storytelling Mixture
It is all about boding. Design and storytelling bode well. Studios who put effort into both succeed. Yet, it is magic to tell a story through mere design. Yet, it can be done. All one needs is to have perfect visual tone. Shape and colour can describe a mood. Also, sounds, tones, and music play a role too. The scene is made with the right music. Animation only makes it better. Movement is matter for games regardless if we’re talking about the latest slot or Pokemon Go. When animations are paired nicely with symbols and icons, you get a game that feels good to the eye. Lastly, combining it all with transition and pacing make a story easy to understand.
Trends in Digital Game Design
As in all other spheres of life everything is humbled to our smartphones. Modern games need to be designed with mobile devices in mind. While PCs and consoles are not going anywhere anytime soon, having mobile first design is a must. Also, with our attention span getting shorter, play sessions in game need to be shorter too. Design needs to support that notion. Themes & Sounds also play a vital role. You start with a strong theme and pack it with high end sounds, background loops, and much more. Lastly, clarity matters too. Combining all of the elements we’ve talked about so far in a messy union will not lead a game developer anywhere. When the plan is clearly laid out, and carried out as intended, the end product can’t fail.
Why It Works
An easy question to answer. It respects the player. Everyone wants a simple story told through high end design. It wastes no one’s time. While a quality product, it does not steam away from what it is in its core. A crafty product that is created with an idea from start to finish. At the end of the day, what players want is not more games, but less games with more quality. Small studios have the freedom to deliver this to all of those who seek it. Unlike the big studios who churn out games for millions of users, not being able to distinguish an individual, small studios attempt to hit a target as intended. It is a risk, but a risk that comes with a lot of freedom. New things take time, and find their customer if made good enough. Today, in the age of the internet, an online product can’t be left out on the shelf, but if it has quality it will be bought.
Final Thoughts
Entertainment is evolving as we speak, and a role in its evolution lies in the hands of digital design and storytelling. Not everything is in the hands of the big time developers. Boutique developers are out there to show how much small teams can change the entertainment landscape too. With games that feel sharp, filled with purpose, and clear their voice is heard. Design and story at the forefront of development are a message players want to receive. They care, scale less, and make a difference. From a small developer, you don’t expect much, but receive a lot, and that’s a part of the secret of their success.
