Collecting stickers, stamps, video games, etc., are some of the fundamental impulses of humankind. In this era of advanced video gaming, collectibles have become a cornerstone of video game design and development. For video game designers, it is an effective tool to allure gamers to play the game. Gamers tend to buy video game collectibles to accomplish the ‘100% completion’ promised by the game. On the other side, the monetization of the video game becomes a success holding the hands of in-game collectibles.
As the gamer’s addiction to in-game collectibles gets higher, it elevates the difficulty level for the designers to design a game and its collectibles. Video game designers should include the collectibles in the game so that it convinces the gamers to continue the collections until their pockets get filled.
For example, you are thinking to implement blockchain in your business. But, unless you hire the right custom blockchain development company, you may never understand how to use blockchain technology perfectly to boost your business. A similar thing happens for designing video game collectibles. It is true that the fundamental liking of humankind for collectibles has given rise to NFT development services. However, in the case of gaming, the right implementation of in-game collectibles is a prerequisite. By and large, while working on adding collectibles in a video game, there are some common mistakes designers tend to do. Here we will share those mistakes to help both seasoned and newbie game designers to carry out a flawless implementation of collectibles in gameplay.
Benefits of Adding Collectibles to Gameplay
Gamers these days crave a deeper gaming experience, layers within layers to the core gameplay. Collectibles undoubtedly enrich the gameplay experience for gamers.
- Digital collectibles bring a new motivational drive to the gameplay.
- They enhance the value of the game levels.
- They help game studios to expand the base of their demographic.
Mistakes to Avoid While Adding Video Game Collectibles
Following are a few mistakes to avoid while adding video game collectibles to your game.
Don’t Let Collectibles Affect the Gameplay Balance
Super-power potions, weapons, skins, etc., can make your game alluring. Gamers will not get tired of wanting more. But there is a catch. It is nothing but a short-term gain. When the game items become powerful, the characters become mighty the gameplay eventually becomes easy. The gamer’s interest will evaporate in no time.
So, how to add collectibles to your game? The secret of including video game collectibles doesn’t lie within ‘how’ but in ‘when.’ Game designers should allow gamers to get access to super-powerful collectibles when the time is ripe. Once you restrict access to collectibles, you can easily make your game free from the flooding of dominant and powerful items.
Don’t Underestimate the Value of Old Collectible
Gamers toil through effort after effort, striving to get one specific collectible. But what would happen when they put the same effort to get another powerful in-game collectible? They may feel all of their efforts are going in vain. They may what was the purpose of their effort to collect the earlier items.
Collectibles must go valid for a few months at a stretch. The players must not feel once they acquire a new collectible, the old ones become redundant. Keep the unique collectible and the old collectibles valid at the same point.
Don’t Create Duplicates
Yes, to some point, duplicate collectibles are crucial to keep your game and gamer’s interest in your game alive. But it doesn’t work all the time. Think this way, you are partnering with a custom blockchain development company to avail unique and customized blockchain applications. Likewise, players are playing your game to unlock and experience unique video game collectibles. Players always seek unique and fascinating in-game collectibles. So, instead of constantly duplicating your collectibles, try to create novel items to surprise your gamers.
Never Feel Tired of Explaining the Complexity of Your Collectibles
It happens many times. Complex gameplay always comes with complicated in-game items. The players need to focus on understanding the gameplay mechanics. So, game designers need to create complex collectibles too to make them suitable for the game. Whenever you do that, provide your players with adequate instruction regarding the use of the collectible, the power or weakness of the character, etc.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, video game collectibles are an extra addition to the fun element of video gameplay. But, there is a catch. While the apt use of collectibles brings a balance between power pack gameplay mechanics and rarity, inappropriate and faulty implementation of collectibles will bring disaster to the gameplay. So, the inclusion of collectibles should never hinder the flow of gameplay. Remember, you are adding collectibles to your gameplay to make the video game complete not a catastrophe. So, try to avoid these above-mentioned mistakes while adding collectibles to your gameplay.
