Understanding Game Development Process: 6 Crucial Stages

Millions of people mass online to buy and play new awesome video games each year, search for other versions and enjoy their time. The gaming world is conquering the real one and with every invention in the field, such as new kinds of virtual reality, the gaming world is becoming too real sometimes. But not so many people really have a clear understanding of how video games are created, in terms of the steps taken and technologies used.

This article is for all video games fans or just people interested in learning something new about technology. We will speak about crucial Stages in Video Game Development.

Stage 1. Planning

Usually, video game companies recycle game ideas already developed some years ago. They analyze the strong and weak sides of these games and launch newer, shinier, more engaging versions of them. The users get enthralled by new graphics, top-notch functionality, and upgraded hardware capabilities. Other CEOs go different ways. For example, they hire a creative team to generate more than one theme line of their product or create a new game based on a desired topic. Sometimes they also need biologists, historians, sports professionals, etc. in their team of developers. The hard work of creative groups and professionals in their fields brings more and more game genres: car racing, monster/virus control, hotel management, games about evolution, historical games, and many others. They simulate real-life experiences.

Some companies do even easier. They pay for a franchise and create a game based on well-known characters such as The Simpsons, Marvel superheroes, Harry Potter, and more.

Whatever strategy a company chooses, in this first stage they determine:

  • The genre of the video game
  • 2D or 3D
  • Key characters
  • Worldbuilding
  • Levels and stages
  • Target audience
  • The best platforms

Once they have the answers to the above questions, they can move to the next step.

Proof-of-concept to count:

  • Estimated cost.
  • Technological prowess.
  • Team size and external professionals.
  • Need for a new engine.
  • Development time frame.
  • Monetization strategy.

For gaming studios opting to make a game under the patronage of a publisher, this stage is crucial because it is necessary for getting the budget, time, and marketing decisions approval.

For independent studios, things are more flexible. Crowdfunding websites help them overcome the budget constraints. Shovel Knight and Pillars Of Eternity are popular video games built with the help of crowdfunding.

Stage 2. Pre-production

This stage is all about putting innumerable ideas together. All the team members cooperate to finalize the scope of the video game. They discuss the narrative structure of the story, main characters, their backgrounds, graphics and audio inputs, special effects - everything to create an outstanding and fun game.

Code writers and project leaders interact with producers and design leaders. They mostly concentrate on making schedules and organizing the cooperation of all team members. The task for the technical specialists is to dig deep into how the game should function, also considering the way producers, designers, and managers see it. If there is something too hard to perform from the technical side, this part could be modified and returned to the departments in charge of the technical background along with the list of the corrections made.

Stage 3. Production cycle

This is the most time-consuming stage. During this process:

  • Character models are designed, rendered, or improved.
  • Creating audio design that works tirelessly, and where the sounds are authentic.
  • Level designers craft dynamic, immersive, and suitable environments for every type of playstyles.
  • Writing and reading scripts, adjusting the emotions, timing, and tone.
  • Thousands-of-lines-of-source code is being written to bring all the components together.
  • Cooperation and regular status updates.

Sometimes, years of work and dedication are required to create the desired game. During the production cycle, some mistakes may occur, and suitable changes might be incorporated, making the whole game delivery time longer.

Stage 4: Testing and pre-launch

Now the game needs to go through grueling tests. Some of the elements tested and controlled are:

  • Game functionality and accuracy
  • The presence of bugs<
  • Game performance on various devices
  • Levels’ complexity
  • Characters, graphics, and engagement levels.

Game development companies employ numerous game-testers. Based on their feedback, suitable and timely modifications can be made. This phase is complimentary but is crucial for those willing to design a successful game.

Also, at this stage first promotional videos and marketing campaigns are being designed and created. Independent studios do not always have the appropriate marketing budgets to drive attention to their games on the biggest platforms. Fortunately, crowdfunding and little advertising might be just as effective.

Stage 5 Launch

The finish line is near.

In addition to bug fixing, developers will typically polish the game as much as possible before its launch and even during the first weeks.

Depending on the game engine and its technological capabilities, proximity to launch date, the level of polishing can vary.

Stage 6. Post-launch

Post-launch is often the most exciting time for any gaming studio. Months or even years of hard work finally pay off, and video game sales are (hopefully) going up each day. But even when the game development process seems to be over, there is still some work to do.

The first few months during the post-launch stage are typically spent identifying and eliminating the bugs that might occur over time. Gaming studios also pay a lot of attention to bug reports and online forums. It is called post-launch support.

Another part of post-launch is creating regular game updates. These updates might include various improvements from game-balancing patches and improved graphics, to DLCs. New levels, storylines, characters, and player modes are just a few of the many DLC options a gaming studio can add.

Conclusions

Depending on the game and the studio undertaking the project, the process of game development can take anything from a few weeks to over a decade. It can involve thousands of designers, artists, programmers, writers, and testers, or be carried out by a single developer. But understanding the ebbs and flows of each stage are crucial to better understand the process and collaborate with your game developer more effectively.

WRITTEN BY

Sofia Kutko

2021-11-01

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