It may not be an obvious connection, but website design impacts certain areas of the gaming industry, whether that be online games, console games, or even traditional board games.
For independent sellers and developers, having a fantastic looking, well-functioning, and easy to find website is critically important to compete with the biggest names in the industry. On top of that, general games users – those looking to discuss, give tips or review games – also rely on web design to fulfil their hobbies and passions.
Games sales
In 2018, the UK was the 6th largest video game market in terms of consumer revenues after the likes of the USA and Japan, with around 37 million people playing games. Although high street sellers of games remain popular, online games sales are taking over – the ability to browse, ask questions, and occasionally even play the games are to thank for this.
This is due to the convenience and ease of which buying games online is done. Website design has a hand in the success story of online games sales, bringing about the ability to advertise new releases using social media promotions, video content, and discount codes.
Hints and tips
Aside from sales, the gaming industry is boosted by websites that offer hints and tips for every game under the sun. For somebody considering starting their own gaming tips website, getting ahead of the competition by using web designers ALT Agency would be a savvy move.
Often hints and tips websites are made cheaply, with little design input other than spaces to write text. The gap in the market for a clear, good-looking, and functional hints website is obvious and would be a fine addition to the games industry.
Forums
Forums are of a similar ilk in this way; many hundreds of them are poorly designed. Fantastic looking forums aid the gaming industry as they encourage gamers to chat and discuss as well as share their opinions on new releases.
Reviews
This may sound glaringly obvious, but the biggest review websites have truly exceptionally designed websites. They are easy to navigate, look incredible, and, in turn, attract a lot of traffic. Games reviews websites boost the gaming industry by kicking off the discourse about new games, independent developers, and alternative consoles.
Independent developers
The best-selling video game of all time, Minecraft, was developed by an independent maker. The truth of the matter is, though, that not all indie developers can expect this much success. They must battle against the huge programming and designing power of the likes of Electronic Arts or Ubisoft, vying for some market share.
With an attractive website rich with good SEO, they have a much better chance of managing this. In the gaming industry, it is the plethora of different ideas and the range of creativity that makes it tick, and if no independent developer was ever found online, then only identikit games would be churned out year after year. Web design can help the smaller businesses by giving them a platform to show off their work and be confident in their skills.
