Despite the fact that video game production is chaotic by nature, there are still rules and frameworks in place to keep studios functioning smoothly and projects on schedule. The following are the stages of game development:
Making plans for a video game
An idea for a video game must emerge before the writers begin writing, the designers begin designing, and the developers begin developing. This is the very first stage of the planning process, and it is from these foundations that every video game will grow.
The most basic questions will need to be answered at the planning stage, such as:
- What kind of video game are we putting out?
Is it going to be 2D or 3D?
What are some of the essential characteristics?
Who are the characters in the storey?
When and where will it happen?
Who do we want to reach out to?
On what platform are we constructing this?
It may not appear so, but conceptualising a video game is one of the most difficult aspects of game creation. The backbone of the game will be the idea that a gaming company comes up with. It’s what sets the bar for every employee participating in the game’s development, as well as providing publishers with a high-level picture of what to expect. This leads us to the next stage of development: concept proofing.
A proof of concept examines all of the concepts that have been created and determines whether or not they are viable for production by the gaming company. Additional questions will need to be answered after that, such as:
- What do you think the cost of developing this game will be?
Do we have the technological means to construct it?
Will a new game engine be required?
What size team will we require?
Are we going to hire outside voice actors and writers?
When do you think we’ll be ready to launch?
How are we going to make money off of it? Hint: loot boxes aren’t the best option.
Proofing an idea is essential before moving further with pre-production for studios working on a game under the aegis of a publisher, and may even necessitate a vertical slice. Because the publisher must approve a pitch for time, budget, and marketing, this is the case.
Pre-production
Pre-production, the next stage of game development, brainstorms how to bring the many concepts given down in the planning phase to life. This is where writers, artists, designers, developers, engineers, project leads, and other key departments cooperate on the game’s scope and where each jigsaw piece fits. Here are a few ideas of how this partnership might look:
- Writers meet with project leaders to flesh out the story’s narrative. Who are the protagonists in this storey? What is the backstory of each of them? What is the relationship between each character? Are there any loose ends that need to be addressed later?
Engineers meet with authors to inform them that due to technology limitations, we can’t fill that environment with more than 100 characters otherwise the game will crash.
Artists and designers meet to ensure that visuals, colour palettes, and art styles are consistent and aligned with what was planned.
Developers and engineers are gathering to finalise all in-game mechanics, physics, and how items will appear on the player’s screen.
Project managers are meeting with representatives from several departments to determine the “joy factor,” which, as you’ll see later, is difficult to pin down until the testing stage.