7 Step Guide to Game Development

The game production process has been thoroughly discussed everywhere. Even individuals with only a cursory understanding of the game industry do know that building an entertaining game is not as fun as it seems at times. It can turn into a developer’s nightmare, no matter how you define strategy, issues, bottlenecks, improper timing, and other surprises are common in game development.
The game development process is not a bedtime fairytale. Typically, no information regarding a game’s production cycle is usually made public because each studio customizes it for itself. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t tell you either. We can shed some light on the major stages of game production, which are the same for all projects, as a game development company. So brace yourself to enter the fascinating, lively, dynamic, and slightly insane world of game development!

Planning
When viewed from the outside, game production appears to be rather simple. Well, what’s the big deal because a group of individuals got together and created a game. Many naive individuals continue to criticize game developers for being too slow in developing games. However, if we disregard non-professionalism, the vision reveals a terrible reality. Making a video game is a multi-step and complex process. You will find the following information here:

• There is a lot of planning and conceptual framework to put your mind into, which is exhilarating but at times it can eternity and even drain the blood out of the designer
• Working simultaneously on design and art, which both inspires and terrifies artists who accept and implement endless modifications;
• Programming and testing, analogous to a glass blower’s delicate jewelry work, where mistakes can only be remedied while the glass can still be molded
• Adding upbeat sounds and music that are one of a kind, giving voices to characters, make the sound designers crack their knuckles hard.
• Other personnel who connect departments, coordinate, communicate with customers

Pre- Production

Before doing something you need to have a proper notion about how you are going to do it. Many people who think they are experts in their areas, overlook this stage, expecting that all the specifics would emerge naturally during the process. It’s difficult to imagine a more unsophisticated approach to game production.

This step is known as the foundation, skeleton development, or root design, depending on what you want to label it. The basic thing is that it steers the main work in the right direction. The more you work it out in detail, the more harmonious, seamless, and problem-free the subsequent the whole process will be. So, what questions should be addressed at this crucial stage in the development of a video game?

• Money matters: A tight budget does not imply poor quality or purposefully awful gameplay.
• Type: this is not the same as the genre. the types of games are divided into four categories based on the budget: tiny 2D games, casual 2D/3D games, mid-core 3D games, and hardcore 3D games.
• Platform: It is vital to decide the platform on which you will create the game, whether it would be a mobile or browser or PC or a console game.
• Genre: There’s a lot to choose from here, whether it should be a board game, puzzle game, sports game, simulations, RPG, or strategy game
• Audience: This topic is nuanced as well. If you’re designing a casual game, you want to appeal to as many diverse gamers as possible. If the game is more narrowly focused in terms of genre, it’s important to know who the game’s primary audience will be.
• The mechanics of the game: These are the rules that govern how the player interacts with the game, taking into consideration the game’s unique features and its limitations. Achievements, limitations, modifications, awards, and other details are all considered in this section.
• Characters: In most games, the digital avatar of the player is basically the main character who shadows them in the entire game. Characters aren’t required in some of the most basic games.
• Plot: The plot usually appears as the game’s scale and complexity grow. It’s not always necessary in casual games. However, if you have a significant project, you need to pay careful attention to this.
• Monetization: The game is designed to not only entertain the participants but also to generate revenue. Players typically acquire large PC projects for money, thus they don’t require further monetization methods. In-app purchases or advertising are the most common ways for mobile or internet games to make money.

The developers build a “prototype” of the game before going into full production. Please keep in mind that this is currently in the planning stages. The prototype is a rudimentary representation of the game that lacks art and details, allowing you to appreciate and feel the vibe of the gameplay. The prototype’s main purpose is to put the concept to the test in order to reduce risks while continuing to develop the project further. If you ignore this process you are in big trouble since you’ll continue to work before realizing how well the game’s interface with the user, dynamics, and functionality are considered to be.

Production

Because the team will be implementing a huge number of clarifications, tweaks, and edits, production is one of the longest parts of the game development process. Before arriving at the optimal visual and technical representation of the game, hit and miss are very common.

You should have a full concept of what product you want before moving on to one of the most active and dynamic stages of game development. If you responsibly approach the previous stage, you will have no severe issues here. There are three primary steps in the production process:

• Design and graphics. Figures, components, visual effects, landscapes, and interface elements are all created by 2D/3D artists. The structure of the levels and the major obstacles in the player’s path are worked out by level designers. Comprehensive information from the game design document provides maximum clarity and conformity to the game style.
• Programming. Even while programmers were already in the game during prototyping, this is when their real labor begins. Based on an existing engine or a customized design from scratch, they provide a playable product backbone that offers interaction with the gamer.
• Sound design. The audio effect for the game is created by sound designers. Sound effects, voice-overs, and music are all part of this project, and they’re all dynamic and change depending on the player’s actions and what’s going on in the game.

Testing

Although quality assurance is frequently discussed as part of the manufacturing process, it is essential enough to be discussed alone. Testing differs from the rest of the game development process in that it prevents the game from failing. There is nothing new being created in this phase except the fact that everything is gambled. The access of all regions of the game, the right presentation of objects from all angles, the correct execution of multiple components, are all checked by testers.

When the game is returned to programmers or artists after the testers have spotted flaws, the game is taken back several levels and the adjustments are implemented accordingly. This process will repeat as many times as necessary until the testers approve the game for release. You can think of them as the game’s final fortress or guardians, guarding the fort beyond which it becomes unfettered.

Pre-launch

This step may or may not be included in the development of a video game. However, if there is a huge PC or console project pre-launch efforts are required. This phase basically includes marketing, which can be done through different platforms, social, digital, or another. To inform people basically that there is going to be another big fish in the market. Press conferences are held to notify people about the game and its uniqueness and a brand ambassador is also allocated at times if it is a high-budget game. This way a proper PR campaign is run.

Launch

The campaign has been successfully completed, now comes the most essential step: the game launch. The team can still make some minor changes and additions at this time. This usually involves enhancing the visual range, such as texture quality, improvement in animation, and model refinement. Even seemingly minor features are crucial in making the game more vibrant, enjoyable, and immersive.

Providing a game to game retailers is the same as launching it. Then, depending on which platform it is released for and under what circumstances, players will be able to buy it or download it for free. The video game creation process, however, does not cease even after the game is launched.

Post-production

The main task has been finished, and the basic steps in the game design process have been finalized. Your game has wowed the gamers, all the hard work and late nights have been paid off, and the development team is relieved that their efforts were fruitful. But maintenance is an ongoing process. Two things are very crucial in this last stage. Taking care of minor bugs and Creation of patches and updates are done to optimize the level of the game and to add new chapters to it as the game progresses.

So guys this is all there is to know about the game development process. We took a step-by-step look at the game production process, observing its diversity, turbulence, and our own unique touch. Having a technically faultless game isn’t enough. It’s important to give it a flicker of life so that gamers can notice the charm it has. At Narsun Studios, we’re doing just that.