Making Games More Inclusive And Social
June has been the month that my children look forward to every year, as this is when we usually travel to visit my large family in Australia to spend the school holidays.
As the pandemic continues to complicate the way we are celebrating our children's much-needed break, I can relate to what parents with young children and those whose families are based overseas are feeling right now: We miss our loved ones, but we are well aware that their safety is our utmost priority. At the same time, we are struggling to balance our work and family life, as well as finding a me-time to unwind.
It is heartening for me to know that I have a life partner who always has my back and is supportive of my career as CEO of a fast-growing startup (storms.com). However, I do feel that I have a shared responsibility to find solutions that help many people out there who are either stuck at their home or are running out
I think now is the right time for us to start connecting with our children at home by immersing ourselves together in easy to play games. Even better, you might consider creating new games for billions of people to have fun.
of ideas on how we can keep our children entertained with COVID-19 friendly activities.
I am of the belief that the gaming industry can play a part in addressing this challenge by making games more inclusive and social.
BONDING THROUGH EASY TO PLAY GAMES
Sharing the same hobby as your young children might sound like a utopia, but here's the reality: there are games out there that can entertain people of all ages. These games are called ‘hypercasual games'.
In a nutshell, these are games like Candy Crush, which are easy to play. They're so easily understood that don't have to read the instructions to play it, and people from different generations can join the fun. These games also suit people's
busy lifestyle as they require little time and are ‘forgiving'. You will not lose in these games if you do not play them for a day or two.
For working parents like me, these games are especially useful as I can bond with my children over games and compete on our scores.
While many of us are privileged enough to access these games on our mobile phones easily, the truth is there are billions of people in the emerging markets who have yet to enjoy high-quality games such as Fruit Ninja that we grew up with.
This made me realise that there is still more work to be done.
MAKING INSTANT GAMES SOCIAL
Millions of people in the emerging markets are still using smart feature phones with limited storage capacity and some can only access the Internet through personal computers. This makes it rather challenging for them to play quality games - the mobile hit games that many of us can easily download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
The good news is there is a technology that makes it possible for us to bring quality games to these markets: It is called “HTML5”. This technology allows game developers and publishers to turn their native mobile games into instant games' format. With this format, users can play games without downloading any app - the games simply run on their web browsers.
The problem with these instant games though is that they often have limited social elements. Users cannot show their scores to their friends easily and there is a lack of motivation for them to continue playing.
What makes a game more fun is when you can play it together - like how I challenge my 6-yearold and 4-year-old boys to surpass my score in a soccer dribbling mobile game (Though I quite regretted doing so as they eventually surpassed my score in a few minutes).
Of course, as a father of young children, I do recognise that while such mobile games help me bond with my children, ensuring that they are playing games that suit their age moderately is my priority.
In my case, I am doing it by establishing certain rules - like only allowing my boys to play puzzle and logic games on a weekend afternoon, as well as monitoring and applying these rules consistently.
Millions of people in the emerging markets are still using smart feature phones with limited storage capacity and some can only access the Internet through personal computers.
WHAT'S NEXT
Given the COVID-19 uncertainties, I think users should expect gaming companies to bring more social elements into their mobile apps or platforms whether it is by allowing users to share their scores with their friends, compete and earn spots on a leaderboard, or even participate in mini esports tournaments with prizes to win.
We, humans, are social beings by our nature - indeed. But we should not forget that we also play a role as responsible citizens in our country and on this planet.
I think now is the right time for us to start connecting with our children at home by immersing ourselves together in easy to play games. Even better, you might consider creating new games for billions of people to have fun.