When thinking about entertainment and games, most of us tend to focus on the fun part. But unfortunately, most people do not stop to think about everything that goes into game production and development. This process may also seem fun, as one may assume when considering the process itself. Even so often, when it comes to designing any game, it is hard work and usually does not go according to plan, even though it can be quite entertaining and engaging. From the initial concept of creating a game down to when the game is finished, here is a quick guide to explain the seven stages of creating a game.
Planning
The first step in developing any game is to find a general idea of the type of game that will be developed before any team can begin their work. Here are a few common questions: what kind of video game will be made; what kind of technology will be used; who will be the audience; what kind of characters will be? During this process, you will usually be tasked with brainstorming and experimenting with different ideas to come up with good ones. As part of the game development process, game developers might also study other popular games such as war games, casino online, or arcade games to develop a better plan for the new game. Even though it may not seem like it at first glance, it’s not surprising that this part of the video game creation process is the most difficult.
Pre-production
A number of teams and departments get together at this next stage of the game production process to find ways to bring everything from the previous stage into life. Therefore, writers, engineers, illustrators, game developers, and the project leader all get together to discuss the next steps for the project. As a result, they all work together to figure out the most efficient ways to bring the entire project to a successful conclusion. Usually, studios create prototypes of character prototypes, environment prototypes, and interface prototypes during this process. As a result, the team usually gets familiar with the project they will be working on during this time.
Production
There is no doubt that the production stage is the most costly part of the entire process in terms of money, time and effort. Designing and rendering character models is one of the most critical aspects of this process. In addition, the audio part of the game is currently being developed to fit into the entire setting. To assist developers in this process, there are various software solutions available.
Testing
The game needs to be tested before it ever reaches an audience after the production process has been completed. Some gaming companies run the testing phase along with the production phase, while others do it separately from the production phase. As a game developer, you should ensure that everything runs smoothly during the testing phase and that there are no bugs that could interrupt the game. The fact that you will have to face various issues during this phase is quite normal, and that’s exactly the point – so that they can be easily resolved on time while in this phase.
Pre-launch
When the game designers and developers feel they have created something that works, the pre-launch phase occurs after creating the product. It is common for game companies to give players exclusive access to the game before the game is officially released. Therefore, even if the testing process went as smoothly as it could have, there will likely be a plethora of new issues and bugs which the testing team failed to detect during the testing phase. In addition, during the pre-launch phase, the team will be able to see the general thoughts and perceptions of the gameplay they have developed and what they think about it.
Launch
The end is almost here – but we haven’t quite reached it yet. As a general rule, the launch date for a new product is pre-determined a long time in advance. Therefore, as the launch date draws near, the team spends the remainder of their time perfecting the game and fixing any remaining bugs that may have remained in it. A studio will create a sort of hierarchy of bugs when it happens to the game that the game has more bugs than can be resolved within the timeframe leading up to the game’s launch, and this takes place more often than you think.
Post-launch
The journey that you have been on has finally come to an end. The hard work you have put in on the game has finally paid off. Having released the game and seeing the audience’s reactions, you can see the results of your efforts. Even so, it’s not the end of the road for the entire team involved in developing the title. Undoubtedly, games are often launched with minor bugs that need to be fixed before they are released. Additionally, the studio will need to ensure that they provide their audience with regular software updates, stellar customer support, and everything else their audience may need, in addition to delivering regular software updates.