1 Know your audience

The first step in designing game controls is to know who you are designing for. Different players have different preferences, skills, and expectations when it comes to controlling a game. For example, casual gamers may prefer simple and accessible controls, while hardcore gamers may enjoy more complex and challenging ones. You should also consider the age, gender, culture, and physical abilities of your target audience, as they may affect how they interact with your game. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your game controls to their needs and wants.

2 Choose the right input method

The next step is to choose the right input method for your game. This depends on the platform, genre, and gameplay of your game. For example, if you are making a mobile game, you may want to use touch or motion controls, as they are more natural and convenient for mobile devices. If you are making a PC game, you may want to use keyboard and mouse, as they offer more precision and flexibility for complex games. If you are making a console game, you may want to use a gamepad, as it is more comfortable and ergonomic for long sessions. You should also consider the advantages and limitations of each input method, and how they affect the feedback, immersion, and accessibility of your game.

3 Follow the conventions

The third step is to follow the conventions of your game's genre and platform. Conventions are the common and expected ways of controlling a game, based on the established practices and standards of the industry. For example, if you are making a first-person shooter game, you may want to use the left stick to move, the right stick to aim, the triggers to shoot, and the buttons to jump, crouch, and reload. These are the conventions that most players are familiar with and expect from this genre. Following the conventions will make your game controls easier to learn and use, as they reduce the cognitive load and confusion of the players.

4 Test and iterate

The fourth step is to test and iterate your game controls. Testing and iterating are the processes of evaluating and improving your game controls based on the feedback and data from the players. You should test your game controls early and often, using different methods and tools, such as playtesting, surveys, analytics, and prototyping. You should also test your game controls with different types of players, such as novices, experts, and people with disabilities. Testing and iterating will help you identify and fix any problems or issues with your game controls, such as bugs, glitches, inconsistencies, or frustrations.

5 Balance simplicity and complexity

The fifth step is to balance simplicity and complexity in your game controls. Simplicity and complexity are the degrees of ease and difficulty of controlling a game, respectively. Simplicity makes your game controls more accessible and intuitive, while complexity makes your game controls more engaging and challenging. You should balance simplicity and complexity in your game controls, based on the goals, theme, and tone of your game. For example, if you are making a casual and relaxing game, you may want to use simple and minimal controls, such as tapping or swiping. If you are making a hardcore and intense game, you may want to use complex and varied controls, such as combos or gestures.

6 Provide feedback and guidance

The sixth step is to provide feedback and guidance for your game controls. Feedback and guidance are the ways of informing and instructing the players about how to control your game, and how their actions affect the game. Feedback and guidance can be visual, auditory, or tactile, such as icons, sounds, or vibrations. You should provide feedback and guidance for your game controls, especially when they are new, unfamiliar, or important. For example, you can use tutorials, hints, prompts, or indicators to teach and remind the players how to use your game controls. You can also use animations, effects, or sounds to show and reinforce the consequences of their actions. Providing feedback and guidance will make your game controls more satisfying and effective, as they increase the learning and enjoyment of the players.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?