When it comes to choosing smart phones, one usually has to choose between mobile devices that support two main platforms – iOS and Android. Other OSs are not included in the calculation because they form a very small part of the equation. Therefore, with the tremendous growth in the mobile gaming industry, upcoming developers are prepared with the big question of choosing between iOS and Android game development. Both these platforms have their own pros and cons when it comes to game development. Let’s take a look at the differences between these two platforms in this regard.
Development
Android takes longer than iOS. A major reason for this is the testing process. While iOS games are tested on a small number of devices (iPhones and iPads), Android games have to be tested on many types of devices and are very time consuming. Again, after testing, when bugs have been found and fixed, all those devices have to be tested again. As a result, Android game development takes a lot of time compared to iOS game development.
Devices that support OS
One has to consider the devices supporting these platforms before deciding which platform to use for game development. If you happen to be in Android game development, then you have to think about developing for the myriad of Android devices available in the market. There are many companies making Android devices and all these devices come with different specifications such as the hardware used, screen size, screen resolution, etc. So when someone develops an Android game, they have to make sure that the game works in a crowd. Of equipment.
On the other hand, Apple produces a limited number of devices, and thus the development of iOS games is not as complex, as it has a much smaller variety of devices in mind than Android.
Revenue Generation
A mobile app generates revenue in many ways, including app purchases, app purchases, advertisements, subscriptions, and more. It has been found that Google Play (the application delivery platform in Android) generates more than double the revenue generated by the App Store (app distribution platform in iOS). This is because most apps and games available in the App Store are premium and users have to pay to download and use them. However, Google Play scores when it scores iOS due to the humble number of Android users, along with the option to download apps and games for free. This does not mean that there are no premium games available in Google Play; However, they are much less compared to iOS. Revenue generation in Android apps is mainly due to offering a paid version of apps with features such as app purchases, cost per install, advertisements and more.
It completely depends on the developer how he wants to make money from the game. However, for a fast return on investment, iOS is the ideal platform for game development.
Design
When it comes to games, the more real they look, the more experience they provide. And this is one area where Android is above iOS. While games look flat on iOS devices and you seem to be playing “just another 2D game on a flat surface”, Google’s UI elements provide seams, shadows, and edges, which ensure that the game Is a more authentic form of.
Investment
iOS games require using the XCode IDE with the iOS SDK. The XCode IDE only runs on MacBooks and to develop an iOS game, one would need to buy a MacBook with a much higher configuration, which would prove to be a costly affair.
Android games require one to download Android Studio and code the app. Android Studio is supported by almost all devices and one does not need to shell out those big bucks as an initial investment.
Therefore, after analysis, it seems that iOS has a slight edge over Android as a game development platform. However, it all depends on the developer which platform to choose. Nowadays, cross-platform development tools are also available that allow for both Android and iOS game development in a single platform.