With the increase in gaming across platforms, accessibility on all platforms have become most crucial while developing games. Sometimes we play on a different platform and wish for the game to be available on another platform. That’s where game porting comes in.
We shall discuss game porting, why you should port your games and its benefits.
What is Game Porting?
In essence, porting a game refers to the process through which developers adapt a game for one platform to another. To put it another way, think of the procedure as translating something into a different language so that others may enjoy the same content, with the exception that we’re discussing other game platforms.
For those who are unaware, porting is the process of moving a game from its original platform and making it accessible on another.
A video game that is created to run on one platform, such as an arcade, video game console, or personal computer, is said to be ported when it is made to work on another platform, possibly with some small variations. Up to the 1990s, “ports,” sometimes known as “conversions,” were frequently not actual ports but rather altered versions of the games because of the restrictions of various systems.
This can involve porting PC games to consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch as well as mobile platforms like Android and iOS, and vice versa. Simply put, porting is moving a game from one platform to another.
Porting can be between platforms like porting from Console to PC or PC to. Mobile or between technologies such as porting from Unity to Unreal Engine etc.
Why are video games ported?
A developer can desire to participate in the game porting process for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, it gives the creators the chance to reach more gamers with their game. There is nothing greater than expanding a successful title’s popularity to a larger audience across even more platforms. The original experience can still be enjoyed with a well-ported game despite any other platform-specific mechanical restrictions.
Second, it gives developers the flexibility to concentrate on creating upcoming games. It takes a lot of time and work to port a game, which we’ll discuss in more detail later. It may be simpler for a developer to delegate the porting to a reputable game porting business.
Players may play their favorite cross-platform games from anywhere and on any device. After a long day, they can relax with some amazing gameplay on a PC. By porting a game, you can encourage players to continue playing, lengthen user sessions, and enhance other user engagement metrics. You may assess whether your game objectives are being met using session length data.
Video game makers can increase their visibility and draw in additional prospective players by porting their game. Your game will be playable on a variety of gaming platforms, allowing you to reach more people globally and get more downloads and reviews. As a result, your revenue will dramatically rise.
Stages of Video game porting
Porting a video game is no easy task it involves series of meticulous processes. In fact, this process takes many stages to pass through and it is summarized below:
Planning
Games are frequently ported by outside developers who are unfamiliar with the product’s architecture rather than by the original development team. Therefore, the initial step is to collect and analyze game-related data. Determining what features should be updated for the new format of use, as well as what should be added to and taken away from a game, is crucial.
Writing or rewriting the Code
Direct developer involvement is important throughout the porting process, and it typically takes a lengthy time to import the source code, make the necessary adjustments, and translate the game experience to a new platform.
Fortunately, if a product was created using a gaming engine like Unity or Unreal Engine, porting can be completed more quickly. This is so that games made with powerful engines may function equally well across a variety of platforms. Additionally, engines typically come equipped with all the equipment required for platform porting.
Additionally, since different platforms have varied specifications for the caliber and size of models, one of the most crucial responsibilities facing a porting specialist is to modify game assets.
Work on the graphics, performance and control scheme:
When games are ported from own platform to another, the graphics, performance and controls do not remain the same. However, it is the job of the developers to make sure that they look or feel the same. The control scheme must be developed to suit the platform to which the game is being ported to.
Testing
The majority of bugs in ported games come from the original production team not adequately testing the game. The argument is that, given that you might not be familiar with how something functions, it’s simple to overlook errors in a product that someone else made. Therefore, running tests that can detect both old and new mistakes is essential. To avoid spending money on game porting, many businesses outsource game testing services.
Are there any challenges while porting games?
Of course, there are numerous challenges during game porting. It just goes to explain that game porting is not an easy task. Some of the challenges are:
Software incompatibility
This is the problem with old games. Some old games are not compatible with the destination port of the game
Performance and Graphics balance:
When converting a computer game into an Android or iOS application, performance and graphic symmetry are also of utmost importance. The aesthetic feel and smoothness of gameplay to graphics must be preserved in mobile resolution, however several shades, transitions, and complex visuals must be cut.
Controls:
It is usually difficult to translate the control mechanics from one platform to the other. For example, porting from PC which uses mouse, keyboard and controllers to Mobile which uses touchscreen controls is usually very challenging.
Cost
The resources and equipment needed to port a game is not usually cheap. It requires heavy financial resources and if not addressed properly, could hamper the whole process.
Finally, maintaining a game's original characteristics, such as textures, sound effects, and polygon formats, is essential when porting a game. To prevent players from telling the difference between the ported game and the original, these elements should be properly ported.