One thing that we are learning here at Screwtape Towers is the idea of embracing the platform that we are working with, and trying to find the strengths and weakness that exist there. At the moment we’re pretty much exclusively designing for the iPhone, and that platform comes with a very specific set of opportunities and challenges.

I think that the key thing to think about when designing a game for the iPhone, iPad, or indeed any mobile device in this category, is simplicity. That’s what embracing the iOS platform means, keeping things simple. Everything needs to be simple and quick, from the presentation of information, to how the user is required to interact with the device, to the game mechanics themselves. Simplicity is key.

We seem live in a time where not too many people are keen on reading a lot, (this breaks my heart) especially it seems, gamers. Or perhaps people do read quite a bit still, and it’s just that games aren’t the place they’d like to do their reading. Either way, no one wants to read when they’re playing a game (unless they’re my age and still playing ZORK). This is the status quo on PC and consoles, don’t think it’s any different on a sub 4-inch screen. Keep your feedback simple, and where possible, text free. It will make the game quicker to engage with, and you’ll cut down on localisation time! Use well established patterns for information recognition, you don’t have to reinvent every aspect of communication. Play popular iPhone games and see how they implement their systems, if they feel intuitive, see how you can rip them off and put them in your game. Design patterns work for a reason.

The iPhone dosen’t have any buttons you can use in your titles. To me, embracing the platform means NOT adding 5 buttons to make your game function like a console or PC game. If you want to make that amazingly intricate platformer, make it for XBLA or try and get it onto Steam or maybe have a look at Desura, the potential audience is smaller, but the actual audience you’ll get will probably be larger. Here’s the challenge I have set for myself and my team when we start a new design for a game. Let’s try and make it with NO buttons, other than pause. (And the menu, don’t be a smartass). If a button does need to be added, it better be a button that sells 100,000 more games, because that’s at least how many potential customers you just lost.

If you’re going to have simple input, then you’re probably going to want simple gameplay to go along with it, look at the big ones, no need to mention their names here. One thing they all have in common are a simple mechanic that can be used in interesting ways to create a really fun experience. And most of them don’t have buttons. Think about all the things one finger can do on these touch screens. That alone should keep you busy for years.

Of course there are always exceptions, really well done exceptions too, but if you’re still wet behind the ears, at least try embracing the platform and see what success you have before you build that ground breaking, iOS FPS RTS MMO Hybrid.