For the casual observer, the creation of games looks very attractive and rosy. But everything is far from so simple. Each game design studio is faced with a huge number of obstacles, problems and pitfalls when developing even the simplest casual mobile game. Not to mention AAA projects, one description of which can take hundreds of pages.
People working in the gaming industry are constantly testing their endurance. More often than not, work is a constant series of alterations, improvements, and reworking to the eerie accompaniment of impending deadlines. But the desire to create great and recognized products keeps them afloat. And this applies to both any mobile game development agency and a large AAA publisher.
Let’s shed some light on this wonderful and slightly insane cycle of game making.
Planning
In the beginning was an idea. No art, coding, or writing work can be started without an initial understanding of the game’s essence. Many people combine this stage with pre-production. However, planning is still a more general stage, where primary information about the game is systematized. For example, the questions in this phase might be:
- What is the genre of the game?
- Is this a 2D or 3D game?
- Who is the target audience?
- What platform is the game for?
- What is the meaning of the game?
- How is the game different from its counterparts?
All this information should be carefully recorded. If some other aspects of the game can change, then these often remain unchanged and form the foundation of the game. After the general information is defined and recorded, you can proceed to the next stage.
Pre-Production
At this stage, the team comes up with the best ways to implement the planned ideas. Also, the concept is complemented by details. In particular, game designers and writers think over the plot and characters, missions and quests. At the same time, developers who control the technical feasibility of implementing ideas must take part in the discussion.
Pre-production necessarily includes the creation of a so-called game design document. This is a special file that contains all the approved information about the game. It starts with an overview from the planning stage and goes into more and more details. The more information it contains, the clearer it is for specialists on what they have to work on. And fewer misunderstandings are to be found at the next stage.
Production
Any game art company knows that production is the most active and insane stage of game development. The idea and concept are ready, so it’s time to start implementing them. At this stage, artists are engaged in the visualization of characters and environments in accordance with the style. Sound engineers select the appropriate sounds for each game interaction. Level designers come up with a fun and dynamic level layout. And of course, the developers pack it all up for playability.
Each of these processes can undergo numerous changes or iterations. Characters can be redrawn many times. Levels can change the structure. All this takes a lot of time and effort. Sometimes huge layers of work turn out to be unclaimed because at some point it turned out to be ill-considered, or the technical aspect was not taken into account. Every little thing matters here. Correct organization of the work of the studio providing game design services significantly reduces the risks of delaying work. Timely testing is also incredibly important. It guarantees that the final product does not contain critical errors.
Post-Production
After the release, the game continues to demand attention to itself. In particular, this is a search for possible errors or flaws that accidentally leaked into the game. To maintain interest in the game, developers often resort to an add-on strategy. Downloadable content includes new levels, missions and other game elements. Companies providing video game design services necessarily think in advance whether the game will receive updates and what they will be.
Wrapping Up
Game development only favors those who truly love it. This is not the place for craftsmen who only pursue earnings. Games are a product primarily for people who perfectly feel falsehood, inaccuracy and indifference. The overly commercial intention is one of the reasons why many AAA titles fail, and low-budget indie titles are winning the hearts of millions of gamers.
If your choice is the perfect balance between a good idea and a certain benefit, then game development services at Kevuru Games is what you need. It employs experienced game developers and artists who have thoroughly studied the market and know what the players need. By contacting them for help or advice, you will receive a comprehensive answer regarding the viability of your game idea.
