The video games industry is growing exponentially as thousands of new games are popping up each year. Many of these games come from renowned developers like EA, Ubisoft, Activision, and others, while others have more humble origins. However, irrespective of the developers’ financial position, all of these games undergo the same development process. Of course, the exact details for each one are different, but the framework remains uniform. We, at Gamecloud Technologies, have identified three pillars of creating a successful game.
Pre-Production (Concept and Design)
The idea or the concept behind the game is the first and the most vital step in the development process. The idea could be simple like Pacman, or it could be complex like Red Dead Redemption or any other high-end game. It is tough to predict public opinion for merely an idea. One way to figure it out is by asking yourself, would you pay for it, and can you build on the basic concept in the future? Brainstorming and thoroughly researching could be very beneficial.
The next step would be the game design. Game layout, concept art, color scheme, and several other aspects belong to the designing part. You’ll have to work on sketch designs on buildings, maps, characters, and other physiographic details of the game.
Production and Budget
The next and the longest part of the process is production, as it can take years to complete. You’ll also need to set up a defined budget and confine your operations within it. There are several subtasks within production, beginning with scaling and proportion, creating levels, and adding textures. Programming is another vital part of the production, and it would be best if you had a team of programmers rather than doing it yourself. Depending on your project’s size, you might need different types of programmers like AI programmers, 3D graphics programmers, and network programmers. They will add new features, test prototypes, among other stuff.
Furthermore, adding AI mechanisms where necessary, optimize lighting, audio production, and improving functionality and interactivity are critical elements of production. You may or may not choose to go for cinematics, but it would surely help make the game more enjoyable. The menu is the first thing that the gamer sees, so designing it to make it more intriguing to play the game would be helpful. The same can be said for HUD or Heads Up Display, they are present in most games and show stats like the map, health, ammo, etc.
Post Production (Video Game Quality Assurance)
The final part of the journey is post-production where the focus is on maximizing game quality. To ensure that game quality is of the highest standards, developers run the game through rigorous testing. QA testing, beta testing, compatibility testing, compliance testing, and functionality testing are some of the most common types of tests. Most big studios have an in-house team of testers, while independent and small-time developers consult professional game testing agencies. At Gamecloud Technologies, we always prioritize testing as much as possible because it not only reveals bugs and glitches but also points out areas of improvement. Any game which crashes too often or is full of bugs cannot hope to be successful.
After testing and identifying the issues, it’s time to address them. This means redesigning the faulty elements of the game while not compromising the original idea.
Once all of the technical parts of development are over, then comes the non-technical stuff. This includes packaging, promotion, and maintenance. All of these are crucial, but advertising and marketing need some special attention. You need to spread awareness and create a buzz about the game so that players are drawn towards it and want to play it. Finally, you want to work on maintenance, which mostly includes coming up with new patches based on the bug reports.
Conclusion
Creating a game is a project of significant proportions. You’ll need a robust plan and a team of skilled professionals to undertake such a massive operation. Our motto at Gamecloud Technologies is to help our customers in creating the highest quality games that’ll satisfy the end-users. Moreover, you should also be prepared for uncertainties, for instance, the current Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic proving to be a blessing in disguise for the gaming industry, there are some setbacks. Several studios have halted production for many upcoming games due to a lack of on-site workforce.
