The cost of electronic game programming varies depending on the type of game, its complexity, and the target platform.
The more features it has, like AI or multiplayer, the higher the costs. Startups can reduce costs through smart solutions such as using ready-made libraries. Partnering with a specialized company ensures the best balance between quality and cost.
📞 Contact us now for a free consultation to estimate the cost of your next game!
How Much Does Mobile Game Programming Cost?
The cost of designing a mobile game depends on key factors such as the type of game, its complexity, the target operating system (Android or iOS), and the gameplay style. The more features a game has, such as multiplayer support, 3D graphics, or artificial intelligence, the higher the investment required for its development.
Price Differences Between 2D and 3D Mobile Games
Graphics are a crucial factor in determining the cost of game programming. The technical and artistic requirements differ significantly between 2D and 3D games.
Simple 2D Games – Less Time and Less Effort
This type of game features a direct and smooth design, making it ideal for quick projects or games targeting a broad audience with simple gameplay. Development time is short, and the team size is limited, making it a suitable option for small or experimental budgets.
Advanced 3D Games – Higher Graphics and Performance
When you start developing a 3D game, you enter a higher level of complexity in terms of design, animation, and performance. These games require a multidisciplinary team, advanced technologies, and precise testing to ensure a realistic and professional gaming experience.
The Impact of the Operating System on Development Price
The target system also affects the development process and required resources. Development for Android differs in some technical aspects from iOS, and supporting the game on both systems requires broader planning.
Android vs iOS – Is There a Difference?
- Android: Requires more extensive testing due to the diversity of devices and screens.
- iOS: More unified in terms of devices but requires a closed development environment and specific licenses.
- Developing for both systems: An excellent option to reach the largest segment of players, but it requires additional planning and parallel development.
Mobile Game Complexity Levels
Simple Games (Mini Games)
These are small, fast games with limited features, often focusing on a single innovative or entertaining idea, and do not require complex technical features.
Mid-Level Games
These include several stages, attractive graphics, and perhaps some social interaction, making them more appealing to players and requiring a complete development team.
Massive Games (AAA Mobile Games)
These games include advanced features such as online multiplayer, multiple scenarios, professional sound design, and high-quality graphics, requiring long-term planning and a professional team.
What is the Price of Designing a Simple or Complex Electronic Game?
If you’re wondering about the price of designing a simple or complex electronic game, the answer doesn’t just depend on the game’s external appearance, but on the technical and experimental elements it contains that make a big difference in the effort required, the necessary team, and the time it takes.
Comparison Between Independent (Indie) Games and Commercial Games
Distinguishing between independent and commercial games is not just about size, but about the production structure and development approach:
Indie Developer Budgets vs. Full Work Teams
- An independent developer (Indie Developer) usually works alone or with a small team. Games are simpler, sometimes built on ready-made engines with limited features, and often target a specific audience with a short or innovative gaming experience.
- Commercial development teams include developers, interface designers, graphic artists, sound engineers, and project managers. This type of team works on games of a wider scale, with multiple features, and a long-term gaming experience.
💡The more people involved in the development process, the more complex the project becomes in terms of coordination, testing, and accuracy, and thus the higher the total cost.
What Makes a Game “Complex”?
The term “complex” in the world of game programming is not measured only by graphics or aesthetics, but by the functional characteristics and interactive intelligence within the game.
Artificial Intelligence, Graphics, Multiplayer
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): The more characters within the game interact in a realistic way, the more complex algorithms are required to simulate human decisions.
- Graphics: Moving from simple 2D graphics to realistic 3D graphics increases the amount of work on design, animation, and visual effects.
- Multiplayer System: Supporting more than one player at the same time requires connecting the game to live servers, with precise and smooth data management.
💡 Each of these elements in Game Design adds a layer of technical complexity that requires precise planning and professional execution.
Development Cost by Number of Features
Even within the same game genre, the number of features and specifications included is what makes the real difference in the final cost.
Games Without a Store, Stages, or Multiplayer Interaction
These games are often linear, based on a single idea, and do not contain elements such as in-app purchases or multiple stages. Therefore, they require less development time and a smaller team.
Examples of these games: simple clicker games, or single-screen puzzle games.
Games Containing Stages, Interactions, and a Scoring System
These games require:
- Designing diverse user interfaces for each stage.
- Creating a scoring or reward system to encourage interaction.
- Creating databases to store progress and results.
- Integrating features such as achievements and replayability.
📍Each new feature adds real value to the player, but at the same time increases the required programming and design effort.
Discover the time you need to build a successful electronic game step-by-step in this complete guide.
🔍Click here and start smart planning for your project!
What Factors Determine Game Programming Cost?
If you plan to design an electronic game, knowing the factors that determine game programming cost is the first thing you should consider. The game’s cost is not only about the idea or design, but is affected by several technical and strategic aspects that play a role in determining the required budget and the final result you will get.
Team Size and Programming Company Experience
Choosing the team that will undertake game design and development directly affects the product’s quality, timeline, and final project cost.
Freelance Developer vs. Specialized Company like Athr
- A freelance developer may be suitable for simple games, but often lacks the technical capabilities and supporting team, making the project vulnerable to delays or technical shortcomings.
- A specialized company like Athr provides you with an integrated system that includes:
- Idea analysis and game structure planning.
- User interface and experience design.
- Professional programming using the latest engines.
- Comprehensive quality and gameplay testing.
- Post-launch support, ensuring the long-term success of your game.
🎮The difference in cost between a freelance developer and a specialized company is justified by the quality of the result, the team’s experience, and the speed of completion.
Game Engine Used in Development
The game engine is the primary tool through which your game is built. Each engine has technical advantages that differ in terms of performance and flexibility.
Unity vs. Unreal – Which is Cheaper?
- Unity is a popular choice for 2D and 3D game development, characterized by its flexibility and suitable environment for mobile games. Its large community also facilitates access to solutions and support tutorials.
- Unreal Engine is more powerful in terms of realistic graphics and visual effects, and is often used in complex 3D games or advanced platform games.
📍Choosing the right engine not only affects the gaming experience but also plays a significant role in determining the Cost of Electronic Game programming, and here the company’s role comes in guiding you towards the optimal choice according to your goals.
Expected Time to Launch the Game
The timeline is one of the most important elements of pricing and planning, as time pressure may require doubling efforts or increasing the number of team members.
Impact of the Timeline on the Final Cost
- Rapid Development: When there is pressure on delivery time, you will need to expand the team, use development acceleration tools, and perhaps sacrifice some features to deliver an initial version.
- Flexible Schedule: Allows for more precise project execution, with comprehensive testing and an improved gaming experience. It also provides an opportunity to introduce modifications before the official launch.
⏳The clearer the time planning from the beginning, the better you can control costs and achieve the best balance between quality and speed.
Does the Cost Include Post-Launch Services?
Does the cost of game programming include post-launch services? This is a question most clients ask.
Maintenance, Updates, and Technical Support
After the game is launched, a phase no less important than development begins:
- Regular Maintenance: To fix technical errors or improve performance.
- Updates: To add new stages, features, or gameplay improvements.
- Technical Support: To answer player inquiries or manage issues in stores and platforms.
At Athr for Game Design and Programming, we provide continuous support packages to ensure your game’s success.
Your next step starts here! 📞Contact the Athr team now and start building your game professionally.
Cost of Electronic Game Development for Startups
Many startups seek to launch their first game with high quality without burdening the project budget with additional costs. This is achieved by choosing a flexible development company that relies on smart production methods and provides innovative technical solutions that help reduce costs without affecting the quality of the final result.
Striking this balance in Game Programming is what makes the difference between a successful, sustainable game and a project that struggles from the start.
How Can Costs Be Reduced Without Affecting Quality?
Game programming does not necessarily mean huge spending. There are modern methods and techniques that help you reduce expenses while maintaining product quality.
Using Ready-Made Libraries and Pre-Built Components
- Using ready-made Assets from Unity or Unreal stores reduces the time needed to design from scratch.
- Benefiting from reusable programming components such as scoring systems, menus, or advertisements.
- Relying on game templates as a starting point and then modifying them according to your unique identity and style.
✅These tools not only reduce costs but also allow you to focus on adding elements that distinguish your game, instead of rebuilding the basics.
Athr Company’s Services for Professional and Flexible Game Development
At Athr, we understand the challenges of startups, and we realize that cost alone does not determine success, but rather the quality of execution and a smart action plan.
Customized Packages According to Your Startup’s Budget
- We provide flexible development packages suitable for small and medium-sized projects.
- We start with a precise analysis of the idea and provide technical consultation on how to reduce costs without compromising the gaming experience.
- We use Agile techniques to divide development stages, giving you a clear vision and progression in costs and results.
🎯Our goal is to build a game that is not only fun but also sustainable and scalable, whether you want to improve it later or launch a new part of it.
Why is Investing in a Professional Game Profitable?
The Cost of Electronic Game Programming may seem like a large number at first, but the truth is that a successful game can become a digital asset that generates continuous profits.
Opportunities for Profit Through Ads, In-Game Purchases, and Subscriptions
- Ads: Profit from the number of views or clicks.
- In-App Purchases: Selling cosmetic items or special features.
- Monthly Subscriptions: An advanced model for entertainment and service games.
💲Profit comes not only from the number of downloads but from the sustainability of interaction within the game, which is what we focus on in Game Programming and development at Athr.
🧩Get a customized quote for programming your game according to your budget and goals.
Choosing to build an electronic game is a bold step towards a promising market, but the success of this step largely depends on your understanding of the cost of game programming and the accompanying technical and commercial details. Cost does not just mean numbers, but it means choosing the right team, the right tools, and the plan that achieves the best possible return on your investment.
At Athr, we help you plan and execute your game according to your budget, without compromising on quality or experience.
Don’t let cost estimation be an obstacle to your idea,
Athr Company is ready to help you with everything related to game design and programming– 📞Contact us and start now.
