How to deal with ‘competition’

In an earlier post, I explained why it is important for you to have a clear idea of your brand. The next step on from this is what sets your games apart from the competition, and it doesn’t have to go against the spirit of the indie community.

The indie games community is vibrant, and generally very friendly. As a games makers, you will not have to look far to get some great help and advice from other enthusiasts who have been in similar situations. We are great supporters of this community spirit and it is vital in order for new talent to get started in the world of making their own games.

Of course, the other members of this wonderful community are creating games themselves and they are wanting to attract the attention of gamers just as much as you. It’s quite easy to ignore this element of games development because it’s can be a worrying thing to do. It can also be seen as a negative thing. After all, you most likely got into this so you could make some great games, not so you could get one over some other guy!

A part of the problem may be the word ‘competition’ itself. It’s difficult to hear that word and think of positive things. Just think of them as other creative people who are just as passionate as you are, plus their game(s).

Researching your competition doesn’t have to be as negative as it sounds. At its core, it is simply having an understanding of the other games out there. While the large publishers are often depicted as battling each other tooth and nail (no prizes for the top example), you can look at what other games makers are doing and gain some positive inspiration.

So have a play and see what makes other people’s games fun. If you look at the most popular games you may also gain an insight into the kinds of things that the games audience is into.

Obviously don’t shamelessly rip off other people’s work, but you can keep it all in mind when you are making your design decisions. You’ll also be far less likely to spend countless hours making a game that already exists!

Oh, and if you like someone’s game let them know. It’s a great industry made by lovely, enthusiastic people. It would be awesome if you could make it that little bit better!