Create Hyper-Casual Games: The Hyper Casual Games Blueprint from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

The ultimate blueprint for hyper casual games.
Retention benchmarks that all the top mobile publishers want.
What is cpi and why it's critical to get your game published by top mobile publishers.

Identify core features needed to succeed with hyper-casual games.
Understand what it takes to make your hyper casual mobile game go mass market.
Bonus: create a game logo in photoshop like a pro ( with no experience )

The ultimate blueprint for hyper casual games.
Retention benchmarks that all the top mobile publishers want.
What is cpi and why it's critical to get your game published by top mobile publishers.
Identify core features needed to succeed with hyper-casual games.
Understand what it takes to make your hyper casual mobile game go mass market.
Bonus: create a game logo in photoshop like a pro ( with no experience )

Syllabus

Introduction

Hyper casual games are the hottest new trend to hit the App Store and are dominating. In our usual No-Nonsense style, we’ve packaged up all the core principles and crucial elements of what goes into creating this new wave of “Snackable” hit games.

The Anatomy of Hyper Casual Games

Publisher Retention Benchmarks

Developer Benefits

Deconstructed – Hyper Casual Games - Game Elements Breakdown

A deconstruction breakdown of Helix Jump by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Exciting adventure of the bouncing ball through the helix tower labyrinth. One-tap easy-to-learn controls, rich visual effects and addictive gameplay mechanics.

A deconstruction breakdown of Dunk Hit by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Get on fire in this hot, epic and bouncy basketball game! Score as many point as you can before the time runs out!

A deconstruction breakdown of Fire Rides by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Exciting adventure of the magic fireball through the weird geometric cave. One-tap easy-to-learn controls, rich visual effects and addictive gameplay mechanics.

A deconstruction breakdown of Sky Rusher by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Welcome aboard to your spaceship! Avoid obstacles and go as far as you can in this high speed tunnel. Are you Ready?

A deconstruction breakdown of Splashy by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Touch the screen and move your finger to move the ball. How far will you bounce?

A deconstruction breakdown of Rolly Vortex by Voodoo.

Game Description:

Roll quickly, be alert, manage your way through the obstacles, score high and challenge friends.

Live Boot Camp Workshops Replays

To kick things off we concentrated on the 2D Games that are topping the charts and being Published by Voodoo right now. Interesting to see that out of the Top 20 Games in the App Store, in the Hyper Casual Game Genre, 2d slightly pipped 3D. A 60% / 40% split in favour showing that 2D is still very much a solid option.

Games We Tested:

The Fish Master! by Voodoo

https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-fish-master/id1392946805?mt=8

Blast Valley by Voodoo

https://itunes.apple.com/app/blast-valley/id1355025704?mt=8

Games we Tested:

Hole.io by Voodoo

https://itunes.apple.com/app/hole-io/id1389111413?mt=8

Waves ! by Voodoo

https://itunes.apple.com/app/waves/id1357172215?mt=8

We explore all things CPI and what can we do to reduce it along with taking Paint Hit by MAG Interactive for a spin.

Bonus Workshops - RisingHigh Academy Live Sessions

Academy Live Session Replay:

We took a deep dive into the Voodoo portfolio and de-constructed the new Hyper Casual Level Progression system that will be a solid staple over the next few months.

Breaking down these elements is crucial for us to really understand these "Snackable" / "Hyper Casual" games that are hot right now.

If you're looking to build these types of games, and are hunting for that elusive Jackpot Publishing Deal, I highly recommend you check it out.

We also take a good long look at Voodoo's latest game, bonus points if you can name it, along with some prototypes from Academy Members.

Academy Live Session Replay:

How we go about building a game for a publisher, what we look at, who we look at, and the exact process we go through to start creating a game publishers are looking for. We start with a look at Ketchapp. We have a quick look at Bulkybrains new game concept, take it for a test drive and deep dive into some inspiring ideas, ending on a quick round of game mocks in photoshop.

Academy Live Session Replay:

It's Workshop time, and this week we show you how to create stunning logos for your games that anyone can do regardless of skills and experience. If you're not a graphics whizz, then this workshop is for you!

We fire up Photoshop ( although these techniques can be applied to any graphics package ) and we show you the design principles and techniques that we use when creating our Logos. We visit some of our favourite websites to draw inspiration from and show you exactly how you can produce a Kickass home screen logo for your game.

We also took a deep dive into the Voodoo portfolio and de-constructed the new Hyper Casual Level Progression system that will be a solid staple over the next few months.

We start off the Live Session as always with a couple of members questions, including which advertisers / current Ad Networks should I use right now?

Each week inside our Academy we break apart and play test the latest Hyper Casual games. In addition to these weekly Live shows, we've added another monthly show Academy Rewind.

We review all the games we've played the previous months games and dive deeper into their chart positions, if was a ton of fun.

If you want to join us Live each week, use the following link and save 50% on your first months membership :)

Full Details:
https://risinghighacademy.com/join-the-academy/

Coupon Code:
https://members.risinghighacademy.com/monthly/?coupon=1STMONTH50

Our Monthly Game of the Month Academy Rewind Show! We deep dive on the great game design of Wobbleman.

Want to join us for more weekly Livestreams and be a part of our Gamedev community?

Full Details:
https://risinghighacademy.com/join-the-academy/

Save 50% on your first months Academy Membership :)

Coupon Code:
https://members.risinghighacademy.com/monthly/?coupon=1STMONTH50

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers the principles for creating innovative and successful hyper casual mobile games

Provides a comprehensive understanding of essential game design elements for hyper casual games

Led by Kevin Wolstenholme, a reputable instructor known for his expertise in hyper casual game design

Suitable for beginner and veteran mobile game designers looking to enter the hyper casual space

Covers important metrics such as retention benchmarks and CPI (Cost Per Install), crucial for success in the hyper casual market

Includes practical workshops and live boot camp replays, providing hands-on learning experiences

Reviews summary

Positive hyper casual overview

According to students, Create Hyper-Casual Games is a course that teaches the basics of hyper-casual game development. They describe it as a helpful introduction to the topic.

Introduces the fundamentals of game development well.

"Nice introduction into hyper casual game development"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Create Hyper-Casual Games: The Hyper Casual Games Blueprint with these activities:

Review game design elements

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Refresh your knowledge of the essential game design elements to reinforce your understanding of course materials.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Read articles and research papers on game design
Analyze successful mobile games
Make notes on the essential game design elements

Follow tutorials on game design

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Expand your knowledge of game design by following online tutorials and resources.

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Search for tutorials on game design
Select tutorials that align with your interests and skills
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises
Experiment with different game design techniques
Join online communities for game designers

Join a game design study group

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Collaborate with peers to strengthen your understanding of game design principles.

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Find a study group or create your own
Set regular meeting times
Discuss game design topics
Share ideas and feedback
Work on game design projects together

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Attend game industry events

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Connect with other game designers and industry professionals to expand your network and gain insights.

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Research upcoming game industry events
Register for events that align with your interests and goals
Attend the events
Network with other attendees
Present your work and get feedback

Create a game design document

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Develop a game design document that outlines your game's core principles and mechanics to reinforce your understanding of course materials.

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Identify the game's concept and target audience
Define the game's core mechanics and gameplay loop
Create a prototype of the game
Test the prototype and gather feedback
Revise the game design document based on feedback

Participate in game design workshops

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Develop new skills and refine existing ones by attending game design workshops.

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Research upcoming game design workshops
Select workshops that align with your interests and skills
Register for workshops and attend them
Participate in the workshops and learn from industry experts
Network with other participants

Mentor junior game designers

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Solidify your understanding of game design concepts by mentoring junior designers.

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Identify opportunities to mentor junior game designers
Share your knowledge and experience
Provide feedback and support
Track their progress and provide guidance
Celebrate their successes

Practice iterative game design

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Engage in iterative game design to refine your skills and enhance your knowledge of game development.

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Create multiple prototypes of your game
Test each prototype with target audience
Gather feedback on each prototype
Make changes to the game based on feedback
Repeat steps 1-4 until the game is polished

Contribute to open-source game design projects

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Practice game design skills and contribute to the community by working on open-source projects.

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Find open-source game design projects that align with your interests
Join the project and contribute code
Collaborate with other contributors
Submit pull requests and merge your changes
Test and debug the project

Career center

Learners who complete Create Hyper-Casual Games: The Hyper Casual Games Blueprint will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall game experience, including the game's rules, levels, characters, and story. With the rise of mobile gaming, Game Designers are in high demand. This course can help prepare you for a successful career as a Game Designer by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to create engaging and successful hyper casual games. You will learn the core principles of hyper casual game design, as well as how to create games that are both fun and profitable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Developer

Game Developers are responsible for the technical aspects of game development, including programming, graphics, and sound design. This course can help you develop the technical skills you need to be a successful Game Developer. You will learn the basics of programming, game physics, and 3D modeling, which are all essential skills for creating hyper casual games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Producer

Game Producers are responsible for the overall development and production of video games. They oversee the game's development process, budget, and marketing. This course can help you prepare for a career as a Game Producer by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to manage a team of developers and create a successful game.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Game Artist

Game Artists create the visual content for games. They are responsible for creating the game's characters, environments, and objects. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Game Artist. You will learn the basics of 3D modeling, animation, and texturing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are individuals who start their own businesses. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Entrepreneur. You will learn the basics of business planning, marketing, and finance. If you have a passion for creating your own games and starting your own business, this course can help you turn your dream into a reality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns that promote products and services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Marketing Manager. You will learn the basics of marketing, advertising, and social media. If you have a passion for marketing and want to work in the video game industry, this course can help you gain the skills you need.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading sales teams and generating revenue for their companies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Sales Manager. You will learn the basics of sales, negotiation, and customer relationship management. If you have a passion for sales and want to work in the video game industry, this course can help you gain the skills you need.

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Game Tester

Game Testers are responsible for testing video games for bugs and glitches. This course can help you build a foundation in game testing. You will learn the basics of game testing and bug reporting. Whether you want to work in the video game industry or simply want to learn more about the process of game development, this course can help you gain the skills you need.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Game Journalist

Game Journalists write about video games for a variety of publications. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Game Journalist. You will learn the basics of journalism, writing, and editing. If you have a passion for video games and want to write about them, this course can help you gain the skills you need.

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Freelance Game Developer

Freelance Game Developers work independently to create and develop video games. This course can help you develop the skills you need to establish yourself as a successful Freelance Game Developer. You will learn the basics of game design, development, and marketing. Whether you want to create your own games or develop games for clients, this course can help you gain the skills you need.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Game Developer

Game Programmer

Game Programmers are responsible for coding video games. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of programming, which could help you get started in the field of game development. However, this course is primarily focused on the business side of game development, so it is not a suitable replacement for a programming course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer