Main
/
Blog
/
Game Porting As The Key to Extend Your Title

Game Porting As The Key to Extend Your Title

top game art outsourcing companies, Argentics art development

Spreading your games on different platforms gives more opportunities not only to your players but to you as well.

The global console games market is projected to reach $80.47 billion in 2023. In 2022, the mobile gaming market was valued at $152.50 billion, with a 9.16% increase from the previous year. The Global PC Games Market's revenue was approximately $29.16 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach around $32.11 billion by 2030.

The data presents an optimistic outlook for the gaming industry, indicating robust growth and increasing revenues across various gaming segments. As well it shows the opportunity to grow your sales by porting your games to different platforms. In this article, Argentics will reveal the importance and nuances of game porting and explain why it is essential to find a reliable partner.

The Significance of Game Porting

The importance of game porting lies in its ability to break down barriers and extend the reach of games to a wider spectrum of players. As the gaming community continues to grow and platforms multiply, porting allows developers to tap into new markets and expand their player bases exponentially. Console gamers seeking immersive experiences, PC enthusiasts craving cutting-edge visuals, and on-the-go mobile players with a penchant for bite-sized entertainment – all are unique audiences waiting to be engaged.

Game porting injects a breath of fresh air into a game's lifecycle, revitalizing player interest and boosting longevity. As games make their way to new platforms, they reignite enthusiasm among existing players while attracting new ones, fostering a sense of discovery and novelty. Porting also enables developers to capitalize on trends and technological advancements. For example, remastered versions of beloved classics or games adapted for virtual reality can introduce a new generation of players to timeless experiences, reinforcing the game's enduring appeal.

Yet, amid the immense opportunities porting offers, the process is not without its complexities. Navigating the intricacies of porting requires meticulous attention to detail, technical expertise, and an understanding of each platform's unique features and limitations. From adapting game mechanics and optimizing performance to ensuring seamless user experience, the path to successful porting can be challenging.

The Game Porting Process

The process of game porting involves adapting a video game from one platform to another. This can include transitioning a game from a specific console to PC, from PC to mobile devices, or even between different console generations. Game porting aims to enable the game to run smoothly and effectively on the target platform while preserving the original gaming experience as much as possible. Here are the key steps involved in the game porting process:

Platform Analysis. The first step in game porting is to analyze the target platform's hardware and software specifications. This involves understanding the platform's CPU, GPU, memory, storage capabilities, and any specific features unique to that platform. The analysis helps identify potential challenges and opportunities in adapting the game to the new platform.
Technical Adaptation. Game porting requires making technical changes to the game's codebase to ensure compatibility with the new platform. This involves modifying platform-specific APIs, addressing hardware-specific functions, and adapting the game's user interface to suit the target platform's screen size and aspect ratio.
Performance Optimization. Each platform has varying hardware capabilities, so performance optimization is crucial to ensure the game runs smoothly on the target device. This may involve adjusting graphics settings, implementing dynamic level of detail (LOD) scaling, and optimizing frame rates to suit the platform's capabilities.

Input and Control Mapping. Games often have different control schemes for different platforms. Game porting requires mapping the controls and input methods to match the capabilities of the target platform's input devices, such as game controllers, touchscreens, or keyboards and mice.
Testing and Quality Assurance. Rigorous testing is essential to identify and resolve any issues that arise during the porting process. Quality assurance teams thoroughly playtest the game on the target platform to ensure that it functions correctly, has no game-breaking bugs, and maintains a high level of performance and stability.
Bug Fixing and Optimization Iterations. After testing, developers address any remaining issues, bugs, or performance bottlenecks through multiple iterations. This iterative process ensures that the final port is polished, optimized, and ready for release.
Platform-Specific Enhancements. In some cases, game porting provides an opportunity to leverage specific features unique to the target platform. This may involve enhancing graphics for high-end PC hardware, utilizing advanced haptic feedback on game controllers, or incorporating motion controls on specific consoles.
Certification and Approval. Depending on the platform, the game may need to go through a certification process to ensure it meets the platform's quality and compatibility standards. Once approved, the game is ready for release on the target platform.

Nuances and Challenges of Game Porting

Developers might face different nuances and challenges while porting games to achieve a seamless adaptation. Let’s take a look at the complexities involved in the porting process.

Testing and optimizing your content | Unreal Engine

Porting Games with Diverse Engines and Codebases
Porting games built on different engines or with distinct codebases presents a formidable challenge. Each game engine operates on unique principles, and transitioning a game from one engine to another demands meticulous understanding and adaptability. Developers may encounter variations in rendering pipelines, physics simulations, and asset management systems, among other aspects, which necessitate comprehensive adjustments. Consequently, developers must creatively find solutions to implement equivalent features without compromising the game's integrity.

The codebase of a game might be intricately intertwined with the original platform, necessitating refactoring and restructuring to accommodate the new platform's conventions. This process requires experienced programmers capable of untangling and rebuilding the game's foundations with precision.

Challenges of Hardware Variations and Performance Considerations
One of the primary challenges in game porting lies in the diversity of hardware among gaming platforms. Each platform may possess distinct hardware specifications, such as CPU, GPU, memory, and storage capabilities. The differences in performance and processing power can significantly impact the game's optimization and frame rates.

To address this challenge, developers must employ advanced techniques such as dynamic level of detail (LOD) scaling, texture compression, and intelligent asset streaming. These techniques enable games to adapt to varying hardware resources, ensuring optimal performance without compromising on visual fidelity.

Furthermore, ensuring a consistent frame rate is critical to delivering a smooth, immersive gaming experience. Game porting demands careful monitoring and optimization of frame rates, especially on platforms with limited hardware resources, such as mobile devices.

Resolution, Aspect Ratio, and Control Mapping Adjustments
Porting games across platforms with diverse screen resolutions and aspect ratios demands meticulous attention to ensure a consistent and visually appealing experience. Games designed for wide-screen displays may require adjustment to suit narrower or differently proportioned screens. Developers must ensure that the game's user interface elements and visual assets adapt seamlessly to the target platform's screen specifications.

Control mapping is another critical aspect of the porting process, especially when transitioning from one input method to another. Adjusting control schemes to cater to the nuances of different input devices, such as gamepads, touchscreens, or keyboard-mouse setups, is essential to maintain the game's playability and intuitiveness.

Potential issues may arise when translating user interface elements designed for a specific platform's conventions to another. Ensuring that players can navigate the game's menus and interfaces with ease and familiarity is vital to a successful porting experience.

Preserving the Original Gaming Experience
While technical adaptation and optimization are vital aspects of game porting, maintaining the essence of the original gaming experience is equally important. Players have specific expectations and memories associated with a game, and any deviation from the original design can impact player satisfaction.

Preserving the game's core mechanics, art style, and narrative is essential to evoke nostalgia and retain the player's emotional connection to the game. Consistency in gameplay and controls across platforms ensures that players can seamlessly transition between devices without a jarring experience.

Success Cases

Fortnite's cross-platform functionality stands as an example of successful game porting. With a multi-platform availability that spans PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Android devices, Fortnite has amassed a massive player base across diverse platforms. The game's vibrant graphics, addictive gameplay, and regular content updates remain consistently accessible to millions of players worldwide, regardless of their chosen platform. Such seamless cross-platform gameplay is a testament to Epic Games' technical prowess and expertise in optimizing the game for various hardware configurations.

Minecraft stands as another example of successful game porting, boasting remarkable inclusivity that transcends platforms and embraces a diverse array of devices. The success of Minecraft's cross-platform is mirrored by its astronomical sales figures with over 238 million units sold worldwide. The extensive platform support for Minecraft includes:

Windows (Java & Bedrock);
macOS (Java only);
Linux (Java only);
Android, iOS, iPadOS;
Windows Mobile;
Fire OS/TV, PlayStation 4 & 5;
Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X;
Nintendo Switch;
Samsung Gear VR;
PSVR;
and Oculus.

Genshin Impact captivates players across various platforms and solidifies its position as one of the best mobile games to play in 2023. Whether players are immersed in the world of Teyvat from an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, or mobile device, supporting both iOS and Android operating systems, the game's seamless cross-play feature ensures harmonious gameplay experiences.

The Role of a Reliable Partner

In the ever-evolving realm of the gaming industry, game porting emerges as a strategic step that opens new horizons for game developers. The titles above are great examples of successful porting that not only satisfies a wide range of players but also brings developers profit in sales. To succeed in this, aligning with a reputable and reliable partner is important.

The complexities involved in adapting a game to new platforms demand expertise, technical finesse, and a profound understanding of the gaming industry. As such, the role of a dependable game porting partner cannot be overstated, as it can significantly impact the porting process's efficiency and the ultimate quality of the ported game.

A reputable game porting partner like Argentics brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and resources to the table, easing the burden on developers and ensuring a smooth porting experience. Moreover, a reliable partner offers valuable insights into the nuances of various platforms, allowing for comprehensive optimization and successful navigation of platform-specific challenges. With us, you can build a strategic alliance that not only unlocks new horizons for your game but also fosters a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience for players across diverse platforms. Contact us today to discuss your project’s desires.

Ukraine / USA / Israel