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3 TIPS TO BECOMING AN IDEATION
MASTER
PERFECT YOUR IDEATION
EVERY HIT STARTED AS AN IDEA. BUT WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
Ideation is about coming up with fresh and exciting ideas for your game. This usually involves brainstorming concepts, mechanisms, themes, and genres.
There are dozens of ways to come up with ideas. You’ve probably already tried a few of them. But we’ve rounded up some techniques and innovative methods that we think will work for you too. So sit back, relax, and get inspired . Let’s dive in.
“IDEATION IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE GAME CREATION PROCESS FOR ALL DEVELOPERS.
In fact, coming up with creative and out-of-the-box ideas is becoming increasingly important. Players seem to look more and more for deeper and more creative experiences with which they identify themselves and connect emotionally explains”,
JORGE MENDES, IDEATION EXPERT AT HOMA.
#1
Spark an Idea with the Power of AI
You can supercharge your brainstorming process by using AI. Explore text-based engines, like ChatGPT, or use generative AI image creators like Dall-E, Mid Journey, or Stable Diffusion. They can take you to places you might never have considered.
With text-based tools, the best way is to come up with some pre-built concepts and ask for the missing elements. Think of this as your second brain.
For example, ask for a comprehensive list of game core loops, game themes, and mechanics. While the answers probably won’t be super accurate, they’ll challenge you to dive deeper and question everything. And by putting these ideas in writing, you may be able to highlight areas that are worth exploring
#2
Look for inspiration outside of mobile
For inspiration, look at last year’s indie game releases and watch some gameplay trailers launched. There are plenty on YouTube and you’d be surprised at the creativity. It wouldn’t be a shock if we get a top-charting title this year inspired by one of these games.
Note that most games released on PC or consoles are horizontal because they’re designed for TV or a monitor. But how could you convert a game in landscape mode to portrait mode? By simply flipping the view, you can get some interesting results.
In the meantime, check out the websites that focus on indie game reviews, like Rock Paper Shotgun, IndieDB, and GameJolt. These can often spark a thought or two.
Also, keep in mind the annual indie game festivals, like the Independent Games Festival (IGF) and BitSummit Festival. There, you’ll find a great selection of games and may even discover some pre-release titles that are still largely unknown. This can be a great source of inspiration.
JORGE:
“AI IT'S A GREAT EXCITING NEW TOOL THAT IS ONLY GOING TO EVOLVE EVEN MORE GOING FORWARD WITH EACH NEW VERSIO OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
It's not only great for content creation, narratives, and the generation of bulk ideas that you can pick from. It also gives you possibilities that you would never think of in terms of elements, themes, and how characters and worlds could interact. You can do all kinds of great research work and then polish the end result”.
#3
Feel the pulse of social media trends
Social media trends reflect the interests and desires of a massive global audience. In the coming years, we can expect to see an increase in games that tap into these trends, and immerse players in virtual worlds that reflect the social media landscape.
A good example of this is the hit Tie Dye. This game takes advantage of the tie-dye craze and gamifies the process. As we write, #tiedye has over 6.9 billion views on TikTok.
But let’s dive deeper into the matter. How can you spot these trends? The best way is to search for popular hashtags and examine the trending section. Really try to understand what makes them so interesting and think about how you could gamify these trends. What could the gameplay loop be here?
You can also take a more direct approach by using the discover feature on TikTok and searching for game ideas directly. There are a variety of channels and hashtags for this. The “new game ideas” channel, for example, currently has around 36 million views and offers a wide selection of unusual but interesting short films with concepts. Look at the videos with the most likes to focus on popularity. And be sure to read the comments to dig deeper into the original thought. There’s often gold to be found there.
“TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THESE TRENDS,
the key relies on finding ways to put your own unique spin on it and infuse them with your own creative vision and digital fingerprint. It's the only way to make sure that your game will have its own personality and that it will be different from others that may have drawn inspiration from the same source”,
adds JORGE
Sure, this isn’t a new concept. But many people overlook it. As the saying goes, “Success leaves clues.”
The key is to recognize mechanisms that don’t get much love and then breathe new life into them with a twist. This can be as simple as turning a 2D game into a 3D environment. Or making a bigger transformation, reimagining and expanding the core game.
Another technique is to look at specific “niche” themes that you could redesign to make them more accessible to a broader audience. Ask yourself questions like:
- Are the game controls too complicated and could be simplified with a more mobile-friendly “one-touch” control system?
- What is the difficulty curve of the game? Could the overall gameplay experience be made less taxing and more satisfying?
- Can you hone in on a specific section of a larger game and base your core game loop around just this?
With these tips in mind, you’ll soon have your next idea. But if you’re looking for even more inspiration, check out Homa Academy. There, you’ll find more in-depth techniques, and learn what to do once you’ve decided on a concept.
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