Game architecture is an integral part of the game development process, emphasizing the game components, behavior, and structure. It is an important pillar on which your game depends and develops.
Choosing the game architecture that is just right for you can be the sole reason for a game’s success or failure. Sounds kind of a dealbreaker, doesn’t it? Worry not, for in this article, you will find the right tips to ensure your game’s success.
We will discuss the different types of game architectures that are there. We will also talk about which one is right for you based on the type of game you want to develop. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
The Different Kinds Of Game Architecture
1. Monolithic Game Architecture
Monolithic Architecture, popular as the “Big Ball of Mud” architecture, is a simple and straightforward approach to game development. This game architecture requires developers to develop a single executable file that contains all the resources, assets, and codes of the game.
The Monolithic Architecture is quite easy to test as well as implement. However, a drawback of this is that it can quickly get complicated as your game grows more complex and complicated.
2. Modular Game Architecture
This particular game architecture divides your game into components or modules that are easy to separately develop and test. Developers can easily replace or update every single module without being afraid to affect the rest of the game.
This makes it much easier to maintain and extend the game. An advantage, however, of Modular Architecture is that designing and implementing it can be quite difficult and might take up a lot of your time.
3. Client-Server Game Architecture
The Client-Server game architecture divides the logic and its resources into two separate parts, i.e., the client and server. The client is solely responsible for handling the user input and the user interface.
On the other hand, the server is responsible for handling the data storage and logic of the game. This game architecture can easily control the huge player bases and also allows for scalability. However, it does need many more resources and can be much tougher to execute.
4. Microservices Game Architecture
Microservices Architecture is famous for breaking down a particular game into small and independent services. These services can communicate with each other with the help of APIs. Furthermore, every single service is responsible for handling a particular function.
This function could either be player authentication, leaderboards, or matchmaking. This game architecture is quite flexible and allows for fault tolerance as well as scalability. The only disadvantage is that it can get quite challenging to implement and maintain.
Going For The Perfect Game Architecture
It can be quite complicated when you actually have to decide which game architecture you should go for, as there are many factors you have to consider.
Choosing the perfect game architecture that is right for your game can depend on how complex the game is, its target platform, and the development’s teams experiences as well as skills. Sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, for we have got you covered on that front!
In this next section, you will find a couple of tips to help you make the right choice:
Consider The Game’s Complexity
An easy game like a platformer or puzzle might not require such a difficult architecture. However, a multiplayer game with complicated mechanics and a huge player base might require a client-server architecture or a microservices game architecture.
Consider The Target Platform
There are different limitations and requirements for each platform. An example of this is that mobile games need a simple game architecture that consumes fewer CPU resources and memory. However, a PC might require a more complex game architecture that is capable of handling high-quality graphics and processing power.
Consider The Development Team’s Skills And Experience
An inexperienced game development team might opt for a game architecture that can be easily implemented and maintained. However, a team that has a lot more skills and experience might be satisfied with a much more complicated game architecture.
Consider the Game’s Future
Game developers prefer a modular or microservices game architecture in cases where a game is expected to grow and evolve with time. Developers also consider it when the game might also require a flexible game architecture that can easily adapt to changing requirements.
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