Hire Expert Android Game Developers

Smart devices now account for the lion’s share of global web usage. A recent study by StatCounter found that 50.48% of web traffic comes from mobile devices vs. 46.51% from desktop devices.

Android is the world’s leading mobile platform in terms of user numbers. Naturally, Android’s market share means lots of Android games and game-focused Android users. Many games have a huge active community of players. As such, lots of startups and organizations are trying to make a mark in the lucrative Android mobile gaming market.

If you want to launch a successful Android game, then you need the right Android game developers. The demand for Android mobile game developers is very high, meaning these game developers earn a high salary. Your hiring lead time might be high due to these factors. Therefore, your hiring plans ought to be well thought out and executed.

Though it is the cheapest option, hiring Android game developers from freelance platforms comes with risks. Your best bet is to hire a trustworthy Android game development company like us - DevTeam.Space. However, we will get to the hiring options later on.

Firstly, we need to cover the skills requirements for developing Android games. These are as follows:

Primary Android game development skills

Android game developers need the following skills:

• Sound knowledge of native Android development;
• Proficiency in programming languages like Java and Kotlin; 
• Knowledge of IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) like Android Studio;
• Solid understanding of integrating various Android SDKs into code written in Kotlin or Java programming languages;
• Deep knowledge of scripting languages like Lua, Throne, Rust, or GameLisp;
• Familiarity with the leading game engines;
• In-depth of the leading Android game libraries;
• Knowledge of important resources like the Android Game Development extension (AGDE) for Visual Studio;
• Experience in using a visual editor for game development;
• Knowledge of modern technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) that are used heavily by game developers;
• In-depth knowledge of Google Play;
• Understanding of important guidelines for app stores, e.g., Google Play Store app submission guidelines; 
• Familiarity with game development for other platforms like iOS and Windows.
• Good understanding of game consoles like Nintendo Switch;
• Thorough knowledge of SQL vs NoSQL databases;
• Experience in MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or other popular open-source databases;
• Sound knowledge of Unit testing, integration testing, regression testing, etc.
• Familiarity with DevOps processes, methods, tools, and practices.

Note: You might eventually launch your Android game in multiple geographies, such as the Middle East, Asia Pacific, etc. App internationalization and app localization are crucial skills for this. Look for developers with these skills if you have plans to launch your app in different countries. 

Other software development skills needed for developing mobile games  

Competent Android mobile game developers need the following additional skills:

A. Application security skills needed for Android game development

Android games are popular, and cyber-criminals routinely take advantage of their large user base. Popular games offer features like in-app purchases, which make them highly lucrative but vulnerable. All game apps need to process sensitive user data. You need to design and implement a robust data security and privacy solution to protect sensitive data. Therefore, you need developers who know how to code secure apps.

Developers should know the following:

• How to mitigate the important application security vulnerabilities.
• Using data encryption effectively;
• How to utilize tools like firewalls, antivirus, and digital signatures;
• API security;
• Resolving issues found in security and compliance testing;
• Cloud computing security practices and tools.

Look for developers who proactively fix bugs. Hackers routinely exploit bugs in apps to lay their hands on sensitive data.

B. API development skills needed for Android mobile game development

You will likely use a few 3rd party APIs in a mobile game development project. However, you should develop your own APIs for important business functionalities. That’s because you add an external dependency for every external API you use, so using your own APIs gives you more control.

You need developers with API development skills. Programmers should know the following:

• How to choose between GraphQL vs REST APIs when developing APIs;
• RESTful API development best practices;
• How to host APIs using cloud platforms;
• API development tools like Postman;
• API documentation tools like Swagger;
• How to design API endpoints;
• How to formulate rules for API requests and responses.
• Testing and securing APIs.

C. A knowledge of the use of cloud platforms and tools

Android game development teams need a good understanding of cloud computing. Cloud computing is important in the modern application development landscape, as it is when companies develop games.

You need developers to know the following:

• How different cloud platforms like IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), MBaaS (Mobile-Backend-as-a-Service) work;
• The characteristics of different cloud delivery models like public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud;
• The differentiators offered by the leading cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure;
• The differences between leading MBaaS platforms;
• Leading cloud computing services;
• Prominent tools offered by cloud providers.

D. Code review skills needed for Android game development

You need Android development experts with code review experience in an Android game development project. Code review can help you to find defects early in the lifecycle.

Code review is the process of reviewing code written by another developer in order to identify any mistakes or issues and to ensure that the code adheres to the project's coding standards and guidelines. It is an important part of the software development process because it helps to ensure the quality and maintainability of the codebase.

There are several reasons why code review skills are important:

• Improved code quality: Code review can help to identify and fix mistakes or issues in the code before they become a problem. This can help to improve the overall quality of the codebase.
• Improved team communication: Code review can facilitate communication and collaboration within a team. It allows team members to discuss the code and share their knowledge and insights.
• Enhanced learning opportunities: Code review can be an opportunity for developers to learn from each other and to improve their skills. It allows developers to see how others approach problems and to learn new techniques and best practices.
• Increased efficiency: By identifying and fixing issues in the code early on, code review can help to prevent costly rework and delays later in the development process.

Overall, code review skills are important because they contribute to the development of high-quality code and help to foster collaboration and learning within a team.

Look for developers with knowledge of code review strategies. They should approach code reviews in a structured and systematic way.

E. Software engineering and software development methodologies skills

You need developers with knowledge of the game development process. However, they also need overall software engineering and software development methodologies skills.

Look for developers with knowledge of the software development lifecycle. Game designers and developers should know about popular development methodologies, such as Agile and Waterfall. Many game development projects utilize the agile methodology; therefore, knowledge of it is crucial.

Agile is a software development approach that emphasizes flexibility and rapid delivery. It is based on the Agile Manifesto, which outlines a set of values and principles for delivering software in a rapid and flexible manner.

There are several reasons why agile is important in software development:

• Increased flexibility: Agile allows teams to adapt to changing requirements or priorities quickly. This is especially important in an environment where the business landscape constantly changes.
• Improved collaboration: Agile encourages collaboration and communication between team members and stakeholders. This can lead to a more efficient development process and better outcomes.
• Faster delivery: Agile emphasizes the regular delivery of small increments of functionality. This can help speed up the development process and bring new features to market faster.
• Higher quality: Agile promotes continuous testing and feedback, which can help identify and fix issues early on in the development process, leading to a higher-quality product.

Overall, agile is an important approach to software development because it allows teams to be more flexible, collaborative, and efficient and to deliver higher-quality products to market faster.

F. Software architecture skills that Android game developers need

The knowledge of software architecture is necessary for Android development, and it’s essential when you create games, too. You should look for Android game developers with extensive knowledge of software architecture. They should also know about the leading software architecture patterns. You need developers who know how to code in line with architectural decisions.

Several architectures can be used for creating Android games. Some options include:

• Model-View-Controller (MVC): MVC is a software architecture pattern that separates the representation of data (the model) from the user interface (the view) and the logic that manipulates the data (the controller). MVC is a good choice for Android game development because it allows developers to separate the different parts of the game, making it easier to maintain and update.
• Model-View-Presenter (MVP): MVP is similar to MVC, but it separates the view from the model using a presenter layer. This can help to make the code more modular and easier to test.
• Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM): MVVM is an architecture that separates the view from the model using a view model layer. The view model translates the model into a format that is suitable for the view to display. This architecture can make it easier to write maintainable code and to update the view without changing the model.

Client-Server: In a client-server architecture, the game runs on a central server, and players connect to the server to play the game. This architecture can be useful for games that require real-time communication between players or for games that need to store data on a central server.

Ultimately, the best architecture for creating an Android game will depend on the specific requirements and constraints of the game. It may be necessary to use a combination of different architectures in order to achieve the desired functionality. Your developers will need to know these.

G. Competencies that the expert Android mobile game developers need

Android developers creating mobile games need the following competencies:

• Empathy: Developers need to understand the desired features of a proposed game from the perspective of the target audience. 
• Teamwork: Developing high-quality games requires the active participation of your entire team. You need developers with teamwork skills.
• Communication skills: Communication skills are important when you want effective Android game development services. Developers who communicate well stand a better chance of building a successful product.
• Problem-solving skills: Successful Android games might have numerous complex features. Such projects require teams with robust problem-solving skills.
• Passion for excellence: The mobile game world is competitive. You need to attract and retain players in a competitive landscape; therefore, you ought to offer excellence. You need developers with a passion for excellence. 
• Commitment: In the Android gaming world, developing most games involves a degree of uncertainty. Your team must meet the project scope, budget, schedule, and quality requirements despite these uncertainties. You need developers with a commitment to overcome unforeseen problems, such as development roadblocks, etc.   

How to find the best Android game developers? 

You now understand the skill requirements for developing Android mobile games. Start the hiring process by taking the following steps:

1. Decide the kind of platform to hire developers to create Android games 

As stated in the introduction, Android is one of the top mobile platforms and has a vast user base. Most games on this platform must contend with heavy competition. If you want to make a mark in this market, then excellence is critical. You need a top team to develop a high-quality game. The right hiring decision is, therefore, crucial. You need to choose the right hiring platform.

You might think that hiring a freelance developer is a good idea. Freelance platforms do enable you to hire a developer at a low hourly rate. Sometimes, this works out. However, we don’t recommend you take this approach.

Games on mobile devices must offer a top user experience to succeed. Developing such games can be complex. You don’t want beginner developers who might be developing their first game. Evaluating the relevant expertise of freelancers can be hard, so if you get one who is faking it, your project will suffer.

Freelancers also work part-time on your project. You might not get enough bandwidth from them. Freelance platforms don’t provide any project management support. If freelancers leave your project mid-way, then you need to find a replacement.

We recommend you hire full-time developers from a trustworthy Android game development company. These companies have skilled and experienced Android game developers. At DevTeam.Space, we routinely encourage our full-time developers to upgrade their skills. Therefore, our developers are highly motivated.

Our game developers have extensive experience with the leading game engines. They have experience in native as well as cross-platform development.

We provide project management support. Our dedicated account managers work closely with you. They provide management oversight for our developers’ work. Hiring mobile game developers from software development companies like DevTeam.Space, which outsources its developers and dev teams, offers you the best chance of success.

2. Interview the mobile developers for creating successful games 

By now, you have posted your Android game development job requirements after choosing the right hiring platform. You have received applications from mobile game developers. You can now start interviewing them.

You can ask friends or colleagues to conduct interviews if you aren’t proficient in Android game development. Alternatively, you can check out interview questions found on the Internet. Note: You will not need to conduct deep background interviews if you hire from a software development company, as their developers will already be vetted and trained.

Ask questions to cover all the relevant technology areas. You should ask questions to evaluate the hands-on skills of developers and not just theoretical skills.

Ask how the candidates have resolved past project problems. Don’t satisfy yourself with just superficial answers and jargon!

Explain your proposed Android game project. Ask developers how they would approach your project. You should expect specific suggestions.

3. Provide detailed information about your Android game development project

You have now found the right Android game developers. However, even the best Android game developers need sufficient information, processes, methods, and tools to succeed. Therefore, you now need to onboard them effectively.

• Explain your project. Provide the relevant project documents to the new developers. These should include the business requirements, technical solutions, etc.
• Provide the required access to the new game developers. They should have access to the code repository and other relevant tools. 
• Introduce the new developers to your existing team. You should explain the roles and responsibilities of the team. 
• Describe your project plan and, subsequently, explain the project schedule. Talk about the project milestones. Describe the work approval process. You need to set up an effective communication channel; furthermore, you should establish accountability.

Interviewing tips for hiring Android game developers 

Review the following tips when hiring Android developers to create games:

A. Hire native Android developers instead of cross-platform developers

Cross-platform development enables you to target multiple platforms with only one codebase. However, native Android development is better for game apps. Native apps can make better use of the hardware features of Android devices. These apps offer a better user experience, performance, and security. Therefore, look for native Android development experience when hiring game developers.

B. Hire sufficiently experienced developers

Developing a winning Android game can be a complex project. You need a judicious mix of experienced and mid-level developers in your team. Don’t hire only junior developers. You should especially hire senior developers for leadership roles.

C. Look for developers with experience in using cloud testing labs

Multiple smartphone makers use the Android operating system. Therefore, there are many Android devices from different manufacturers. Your game app needs to work on all of these devices. You need to test it on a wide range of devices. Using a cloud-based testing lab can help here since you can get many devices to test. Hire team members with experience in using such cloud testing labs.

Examples of coding questions to ask Android developers who create games 

Ask questions that go beyond theoretical knowledge. You should ask questions that help you assess the relevant skills of Android game designers and developers. For e.g., you can check our Android interview questions. The following are a few examples:

A. Describe your experience of using powerful game engines. 

Answer:

In response to this open-ended question, you should expect developers to talk about how they used the most powerful game engines. They might describe their experience of using open-source game engines. Expect them to talk about the powerful features offered by game engines like Unreal Engine.

B. Describe the lessons you learned by reviewing leading games. 

Answer:

In reply to this open-ended question, you should expect developers to describe the ideas that they obtained by studying the leading games. They might talk about what they learned by reviewing games like Candy Crush Saga. Furthermore, they might describe the ideas that they found in games from Epic Games, hyper-casual games, puzzle games, or other classic games.

C. Explain your experience of implementing important features in the game apps.

Answer:

Developers should talk about their experience in implementing important features, such as in-app purchases, in-game ads, etc.  In reply to this open-ended question, developers might also talk about how they implemented features like push communication, user management, etc.

Submit a Project With Zero Risk

Android development and mobile gaming are both very popular. Many innovations make this segment of the mobile gaming market both exciting and fast-moving. Developing games for Android can be hard. You need good developers to get it right. Why take the risk of hiring anything but the best Android game developers?

DevTeam.Space is a community of experienced field expert software developers. All of our dedicated Android game developers have been vetted and trained in our unique agile software development process.

We match only the most suitable developer or development team to your project specifications. If you would like to learn more, simply fill out our DevTeam.Space product specification form, and one of our experienced account managers will get in touch to answer any questions you might have.

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