The Complete Guide to Game Development

It is hard to believe that the video game industry generated more revenue in 2021 than Hollywood and Global Music combined. Yes, you read it right. The global video game market hit a whopping revenue of $180BN last year, which, as of the time of this writing, is unmatched by any other entertainment sector. This implies the number of people playing video games now exceeds that of individuals streaming Spotify playlists and viewing Netflix episodes combined.

Since it is established that video game development is one of the most lucrative businesses, more and more companies are prone to involve themselves in some way, shape or form.. But it is easier said than done. If you are a business owner who is stepping in to get a video game developed, you’re likely to cross paths with the following challenges:

Firstly, game development is complex and requires more technical expertise than just a creative idea to produce a gaming masterpiece.

Secondly, the increased demand for game development professionals has made it harder for companies to hire the right expertise to beat the cut-throat competition.

Confused about where to start? This write-up covers everything you need to know about the video game development process before beginning your hunt for the best team. We will be looking at the factors that affect the video game development process and, in the end, will leave you with some valuable tips for hiring the best game developers.

We are Living in the Era of Video Games

According to a report by Statista , the global gaming market is expected to reach a revenue of around 197 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2022. At thus annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 7.67%, the projected market volume will touch $285BN by 2027.

It's established that the gaming industry is only going to grow bigger in the years to come. Businesses have realized this and started investing heavily in game design and development. Creating an engaging, immersive experience for players can provide a valuable edge for any business. Put another way, businesses that invest in game development are better equipped to compete for industry leading positions.

So, if a business is looking to capitalize on this growing trend and take the lead in the market, video games provide a perfect opportunity to take advantage of. With the right strategies, tools, and a skilled team, one can create an engaging, immersive gaming experience for customers that will not only keep them coming back but also make the brand stand out.

What Does a Typical Game Development Process Look Like?

Aspiring businesses need to begin understanding the game development process before investing valuable resources in it. It will not just help create more customized gaming solutions but will also allow better project management and tracking of product success goals.

Pre-Production:

The first phase lays the foundation of your development process. The idea is to make this stage as detailed and documented as possible to avoid later confusion in the project scope.

Game Budget:

Budgeting is essential in game development since it will determine how much money and resources you have available to create the game. This means evaluating your current financial situation, setting a goal for how much you would like to spend, and deciding where the money will come from. Pro Tip : Always, keep a buffer within the budget as most game projects tend to go over budget, such is the nature of game development.

Gaming Platform:

The platform you choose for your game will determine what hardware you need and which audience you will target. The most popular platforms include PC, console, mobile, and web. However, Statista believes the PC is still the most prominent and future-proof gaming platform.

Gaming Genre:

The genre of your game will significantly impact the scope of the overall project, relevant technical resources, and, most importantly, the number of people on the team. The choice is usually between puzzle, adventure, RPG, action, simulation, and RTS genres. Are you planning an indie or an AAA title?

Game Mechanics:

Game mechanics include the theme, characters, levels, objectives, controls, power-ups, etc., that will make up the overall experience of your game. It also considers the game achievements, stages, level logic, player avatars, and overall storyline.

Monetization:

How is this game going to make money? There are various ways to monetize your game, including microtransactions, pay-to-play models, subscriptions, and advertising. Consider what will work best for your game and target audience.

Factors for future video gaming growth according to game developers. Source: Statista

By taking the time to plan out your pre-production phase carefully, you can ensure that your game will be a success. In addition, doing so can help save you time and money down the line and ensure that your game stands out in the crowded gaming market.

Production Phase

Game development is arguably the longest, most complex, yet the most rewarding phase of your project, as it can create amazing and engaging experiences. Therefore, the idea is to strictly follow the game document that was created in the last stage.

Graphics, Design, and Animation

Game designers, level designers, and 2D and 3D artists join in the production phase to create characteristics, avatars, environments, textures, visual effects, and game motions. Depending upon the game requirement, this step's length may vary significantly.

For example, in some games, you need background artwork for each level or environment in the game. Other games may require more gameplay art, such as monsters or weapons that players fight against during the course of play.

Programming

You will also need gameplay code for how those objects interact with each other. Specialized programmers handle the programming requirements of their specialized areas to write codes that power their game's features.

Sound Design

Game audio is just as important as other aspects of a game's production. It often requires live recording instrumentation from real musicians who then edit their recordings into something suitable for use in an electronic environment like video games.

Testing

Every great game needs an equally great amount of testing before release. The final product should be playable from start to finish without any major bugs or errors occurring before it is released on its intended platform for play. Professional testing services are employed to check the accessibility of different areas of the game, including its display, ease of play, and overall gaming experience.

Post Production

The game creation is completed? Right? No! It's time to move on to the post-production process. It is a crucial part of game development when all the elements come together to create the final product. This is when your hard work truly pays off, and you get to experience the result of all the hard work that went into your project.

Bug testing

It is when the game is tested for any bugs or glitches. This can involve beta testing, where players are invited to play the game and provide feedback about any issues they encounter. This feedback can help the developers identify and fix any problems before the game is released.

Optimization

Where the game's performance is tweaked, so it runs smoothly on different devices. This includes optimizing the graphics, audio, and other elements so that they look and sound their best. Once these optimizations have been made, the game can be released.

Marketing

This involves promoting and advertising, such as creating trailers and screenshots to post online and running campaigns to reach potential players. It's also important to reach out to critics and journalists in order to get reviews of your game.

Post-production may seem daunting, but it can be a rewarding experience with careful planning and effort. Taking the time to ensure your game looks and plays its best will help make sure it's successful and enjoyable for all who play it.

Why Does Outsourcing Your Game Development Project Always Work?

The demand for video game development is on a surge, and the numbers are likely to project further. Hiring game developers specializing in their trade is one way of tapping into this demand surge. However, there is another cost-effective and efficient way to do this; outsourcing.

Finding the right remote game development company for your project can be daunting, but it comes with its own benefits. Here is a look at some of those:

Cost-efficiency

By outsourcing, you can save on the costs of setting up a development team and infrastructure. Just imagine the amount of capital and energy your company could save by getting your game development project done without the requirement of training, expensive in-house gaming setups, and bench time.

Faster Turnaround

Regardless of the scope and complexity of your game development project, outsourcing allows businesses to get their projects finished in a considerably faster turnaround. The reason is that in-house game developers are engaged in more than one project at a time which could lead to less focus, scope confusion, and retarded efforts.

Employment flexibility

Outsourcing allows you to employ the right people at the right time. You don't have to hire a full-time team if you don't need one, and you can easily scale up or down as needed. This makes it much easier to adjust resources when needed instead of hiring or laying off employees.

Access to Diverse Talents

By outsourcing game development, you gain access to a global network of experienced developers and game designers who can help bring your vision to life. By tapping into the global pool of talent, you can develop your game faster and with fewer issues than if you were to do it all yourself.

Wrapping Up

Mobile game development is ruling the entertainment industry. A cut-to-edge, well-developed, and marketed game could bring your business sizeable revenues and enormous brand value. But it all starts with a specialized and rightly skilled game development team. However, to avoid the huge upfront investments and costs of projects, companies are now outsourcing their game development projects and receiving desirable goals.

Have an opinion about outsourcing your mobile game development projects, or do you want to learn more about these development lifecycles? Then, get in touch with industry experts at Aspired and get all your queries answered in a go!