Cross-platform game development method

Abstract

The invention discloses a cross-platform game development method, which belongs to the technical field of game development, and comprises the following steps: S1, analyzing hardware and software requirements of different game platforms by game developers; s2, designing a game engine; s3, developing middleware; s4, designing a universal game architecture and interface; s5, creating game content; s6, test optimization; and S7, deploying and publishing. The method has the advantages that the development efficiency is improved, the game can be quickly developed and deployed on different platforms through the unified game engine and middleware, and the development period is greatly shortened; a game engine and middleware adopt standardized interfaces and protocols, so that the compatibility and the stability of the game on different platforms are ensured; due to the fact that independent development on each platform is not needed, a large amount of manpower and material resources can be saved, and the game development cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of game development technology, and more specifically to cross-platform game development methods. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of mobile network technology and the popularization of smart terminal devices, the growth of the mobile game industry has been greatly promoted. Games are no longer limited to a single platform, and the same game can be run on different mobile smart terminal platforms to achieve cross-platform game services.

[0003] Existing cross-platform game development methods often require separate development for each platform due to differences between platforms. This results in low development efficiency and makes it difficult to guarantee the compatibility and stability of the game across different platforms. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address these issues, the present invention provides a cross-platform game development method.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] Cross-platform game development methodology includes the following steps:

[0007] S1. Game developers analyze the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms;

[0008] S2. Designing the Game Engine: Based on the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms and the needs of cross-platform games, game developers use standardized interfaces and protocols to design a unified game engine with high configurability and scalability through Unreal Engine software.

[0009] S3. Develop middleware: Build middleware using build tools such as Maven and Gradle to automate the building, testing, and deployment of the middleware system, enabling communication and interaction between the game engine and various platforms. The middleware uses standardized protocols and interfaces.

[0010] S4. Design a general game architecture and interface using game engines or graphic design tools;

[0011] S5. Creating game content: Develop various gameplay and special effects using the game engine's built-in testing tools and middleware, such as Unity Test in Unity and the automated testing tools in Unreal Engine;

[0012] S6. Test Optimization: Simulate user operations to run test cases and generate test reports using game engines or automated testing frameworks. Perform cross-platform testing to check the game's performance on different platforms and optimize the game engine and code to comply with the specifications and limitations of different platforms, as well as fix compatibility issues. For example, Selenium can be used to test the user interface of web games, while Appium can be used to test mobile games.

[0013] S7. Deployment and Release: Set the target platform in the game engine, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. Configure the corresponding release environment according to the requirements of the target platform, upload the game to the app store of the target platform, such as Google Play, App Store, Steam, etc., deploy the game to various platforms, and achieve seamless integration between the game engine and the platform through middleware.

[0014] Furthermore, hardware includes architecture and processors, memory and storage, graphics processing units, screen resolution and size, and sensors and input devices; software includes operating systems, application frameworks, browser differences, and development tools.

[0015] Furthermore, standardized interfaces and protocols include application programming interfaces (APIs), network communication protocols, input device interfaces, audio and video codecs, and cloud gaming protocols.

[0016] Furthermore, the application programming interface includes at least one set of game engine APIs.

[0017] Furthermore, network communication protocols include TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

[0018] Furthermore, input device interfaces include keyboards, mice, gamepads, and headphones.

[0019] Furthermore, the game engine API includes graphics rendering, physics simulation, audio processing, and user input.

[0020] Furthermore, test optimization employs automated testing algorithms, specifically:

[0021] T = (P × C × F) / A;

[0022] Where: T represents the total testing time, P represents the number of test cases, C represents the degree of parallel testing, F represents the time required to fix errors, and A represents the proportion of automated testing. By increasing test cases, improving the degree of parallel testing, shortening the time to fix errors, and increasing the proportion of automated testing, testing time can be reduced to the maximum extent and work efficiency can be improved.

[0023] The present invention has the following advantages: improved development efficiency: through a unified game engine and middleware, rapid development and deployment of games on different platforms are realized, greatly shortening the development cycle;

[0024] Improved game compatibility: The game engine and middleware use standardized interfaces and protocols to ensure the game's compatibility and stability on different platforms;

[0025] Reduced development costs: Since there is no need to develop separately for each platform, a significant amount of human and material resources can be saved, reducing the cost of game development. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is an overall flowchart of a cross-platform game development method provided for some embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the cross-platform game development method in the first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0029] S1. Game developers analyze the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms;

[0030] S2. Game Engine Design: Based on the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms and the needs of cross-platform games, game developers use standardized interfaces and protocols to design a unified, highly configurable, and scalable game engine through Unreal Engine software. Developed by Epic Games, it provides a wealth of game development tools and resources, including a physics engine, rendering system, animation system, etc., which can help developers quickly build high-quality games.

[0031] S3. Develop middleware: Build middleware using build tools such as Maven and Gradle to automate the building, testing, and deployment of the middleware system, enabling communication and interaction between the game engine and various platforms. The middleware uses standardized protocols and interfaces.

[0032] S4. Design a general game architecture and interface using game engines or graphic design tools;

[0033] S5. Creating Game Content: Utilize the game engine's built-in testing tools and middleware to develop various gameplay elements and effects, such as Unity Test and Unreal Engine's automated testing tools. These tools can help developers write and execute unit tests, integration tests, and performance tests to ensure that the game functions correctly under various conditions.

[0034] S6. Test Optimization: Simulate user actions to run test cases and generate test reports using game engines or automated testing frameworks. Perform cross-platform testing to check the game's performance on different platforms and optimize the game engine and code to comply with the specifications and limitations of different platforms, as well as fix compatibility issues. For example, Selenium can be used to test the user interface of web games, while Appium can be used to test mobile games. These frameworks can simulate user actions, automatically execute test cases, and generate test reports to test the game on different devices and configurations, ensuring that the game runs normally in various environments.

[0035] S7. Deployment and Release: Set the target platform in the game engine, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. Configure the corresponding release environment according to the requirements of the target platform, upload the game to the app store of the target platform, such as Google Play, App Store, Steam, etc., deploy the game to various platforms, and achieve seamless integration between the game engine and the platform through middleware.

[0036] The hardware includes architecture and processors, memory and storage, graphics processing units, screen resolution and size, and sensors and input devices; the software includes operating systems, application frameworks, browser differences, and development tools.

[0037] Standardized interfaces and protocols include application programming interfaces (APIs), network communication protocols, input device interfaces, audio and video codecs, and cloud gaming protocols.

[0038] Audio and Video Codecs: Games typically contain audio and video content, requiring appropriate codecs for decoding and playback. To ensure consistent audio and video performance across different platforms, developers use standardized audio and video codecs. These codecs adhere to unified encoding standards and formats, enabling games to play high-quality audio and video content across platforms.

[0039] Cloud gaming protocols: With the development of cloud gaming, games need to be transmitted to users' devices via the internet. Cloud gaming protocols specify the methods for transmitting and encoding game data, as well as the communication methods for user input and feedback. These protocols ensure smooth gameplay and a high-quality experience across different devices and network conditions.

[0040] The application programming interface (API) includes at least one set of game engine APIs, which include graphics rendering, physics simulation, audio processing, and user input. By following the game engine's API specifications, developers can ensure that their code is compatible with the engine and achieves consistent functionality across different platforms.

[0041] Network communication protocols include TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). Multiplayer online games (MMORPGs) require these protocols to enable real-time interaction between players. TCP provides reliable connection-oriented communication, while UDP is suitable for scenarios requiring fast response and low latency. Game developers typically choose the appropriate protocol based on the game's needs and ensure compatible network communication across different platforms.

[0042] Input device interfaces include external devices such as keyboards, mice, gamepads, and headsets. Games need to receive signals from different input devices. To ensure that games can recognize and process various input devices, developers use standardized input device interfaces. These interfaces define the format and transmission method of device input data, enabling games to be compatible with different input devices.

[0043] The test optimization employs automated testing algorithms, specifically:

[0044] T = (P × C × F) / A;

[0045] Where: T represents the total testing time, P represents the number of test cases, C represents the degree of parallel testing, F represents the time required to fix errors, and A represents the proportion of automated testing. By increasing test cases, improving the degree of parallel testing, shortening the time to fix errors, and increasing the proportion of automated testing, testing time can be reduced to the maximum extent and work efficiency can be improved.

Claims

1. A cross-platform game development method, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Game developers analyze the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms; S2. Game Engine Design: Based on the hardware and software requirements of different game platforms and the needs of cross-platform games, game developers use standardized interfaces and protocols to design a unified game engine with high configurability and scalability through Unreal Engine software. S3. Develop middleware: Build middleware using build tools to enable communication and interaction between the game engine and various platforms. The middleware uses standardized protocols and interfaces. S4. Design a general game architecture and interface using game engines or graphic design tools; S5. Creating Game Content: Developing various gameplay elements and special effects using game engines and middleware; S6. Test Optimization: Simulate user operations to run test cases and generate test reports through the game engine or automated testing framework. Perform cross-platform testing to check the game's performance on different platforms and optimize the game engine and code to comply with the specifications and limitations of different platforms, as well as fix compatibility issues. S7. Deployment and Release: Set the target platform in the game engine, configure the corresponding release environment according to the requirements of the target platform, upload the game to the app store of the target platform, deploy the game to various platforms, and achieve seamless integration between the game engine and the platform through middleware.

2. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Hardware includes architecture and processors, memory and storage, graphics processing units, screen resolution and size, and sensors and input devices; software includes operating systems, application frameworks, browser differences, and development tools.

3. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Standardized interfaces and protocols include application programming interfaces (APIs), network communication protocols, input device interfaces, audio and video codecs, and cloud gaming protocols.

4. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The application programming interface includes at least one set of game engine APIs.

5. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 3, characterized in that: Network communication protocols include Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

6. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 3, characterized in that: Input device interfaces include keyboards, mice, gamepads, and headphones.

7. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 4, characterized in that: Game engine APIs include graphics rendering, physics simulation, audio processing, and user input.

8. The cross-platform game development method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Test optimization employs automated testing algorithms, specifically: T = (P × C × F) / A; Where: T represents the total testing time, P represents the number of test cases, C represents the degree of parallel testing, F represents the time required to fix errors, and A represents the proportion of automated testing.

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