Introduction
A lot has already been spreading across the world about the game development process. In 2021, game development has its trend intact. Even so, creating an entertaining product like a game app is not so easy. Although, sometimes, many developers get stuck in-between the game development process for months. Evidently, the game development process is anything but an unconstrained story. The precise information about the mobile game app development process is not usually disclosed. So, fasten your seat belts, and welcome to the dynamic, animated, and somewhat wild land of game development!
Video Game Development: View from the Outside and the Inside
If you look from the outside without having any slight idea about the game development process, video game development seems rather simple. And considering a team of some people got together and built the game app. But no, it’s a big deal and not that simple. It involves many steps. Many developers sometimes give up on the game development process.
Truth be told, steps to building a video game are complex and multi-component.
Here you’ll discover actual steps of game development:
- A lot of initial preparation and theoretical work is thrilling but tedious and can torment the game developer.
- Work on game design and art which drive the artist to perform endless edits.
- Programming and testing, where one bug takes days for the programmer to figure out.
- Creating sounds and music should define the game briefly and ensuring incomparable voices and sounds within the game.
- As well as showing the client each step to his likings and so on.
After glancing at the above points, I bet no one would think game development is easy.
Yet, many consider game development is same as game design. To prove this, let’s briefly recollect the essence.
Firstly, the game designer comes up with the idea of the game. Including its general concept, vision, plot, characters, and also describe the target audience. Then, game designers enter the project first. They create dialogues, win and loss scenarios, all the elements in the game. The game designers likewise compose the game design report, a manual for an activity for all other team members.
Whereas game developers are associated with developing those ideas composed by game designers on paper into an actual and functional video game. They are the second to enter the project after the game designers. Besides, they only turn the idea into coding to make the product interactive and implant the devised art into the game app.
The Phases of Game Development
To bring out the most fundamental stage, you have to crush all the phases to attain it, and surely, you’ll get the pre-production phase. In this section of the article, you’ll learn about the Phases, which are:
1. Pre-Production
The pre-production stage ensures the construction of the groundwork. In general, it’s the development of the main work. Noticeably, numerous naive game developers skip this extremely central step. While in the process, they face multiple obstacles because of neglecting this stage. Let’s find out what the pre-production phase has in its compartment.
- Budget
- Type
- Platform
- Genre
- The target audience
These steps provide game designers and game developers a more organized plan to develop what they need. After executing these documented steps, now let’s dive into the detailed specification of the game app itself:
- Intended gameplay
- Game mechanics
- Characters
- Plot
- Monetization
Planning the above-listed steps can make a more clear and vigorous game app.
2. Production
Keep in mind, when the above stages defined by us are accomplished correctly, then no solemn drawback will ascend in this phase. Also, it significantly helps if you had a complete understanding of what product you want to get.
This phase involves three major steps:
- Graphics and design
- Programming
- Sound design
Production is one of the extensive development steps. Furthermore, in this phase, the developers face numerous setbacks and drive them to start all over again—obstructions, which include loads of edits, clarification, and adjustments. Thus, the developers will endure a bundle of trial and error before approaching the imagined Disneyland.
3. Testing
Now, Quality surety is part of the production phase, but since testing proved worthy of any other steps, we’ll discuss it separately.
A fallacy can be consumed regarding testing in the development process. Often, careful considerations are given to the other development process steps, excluding the testing phase. The client usually wants their product to be launched in no time. Therefore, less than enough time is distributed to the testing phase. If you skip such a crucial step of the development phase, you may get ready to face the consequences. Be mindful of the players. The players are brutal and picky about the minor details of the game. If you missed anything per se, the player will rate and give devilishly comments about your game app in the App Stores. Afterward, no player will waste their time playing your game app. At this stage, your app has crumbled just like a piece of paper and trashed in the dustbin, worth nothing.
Be sure to test it cautiously and take your time. Because all you got is a single launch to prove your game’s worth. Don’t let your game fall into the unsuccessful category. You can see testing can be very handy to save your game app from failure. If it got a bug, fix it before you launch.
4. Pre-Launch
If you plan a hefty investment for your game, then be sure not to neglect pre-launch activities. Pre-launch means informing people in advance that a new game project is being launched. In addition, pre-launch involves advertising your game as much as possible. That includes publishing articles and reviews, screenshots of the game, etc. this may cost you a fortune, but if you are making a top game app, it sure does need it.
5. Launch
Here you are now, the launch of your game. In this phase, you’ll launch your game in the app store. You are enabling the players to download it. It can be thrilling but also a panicky stage, considering the players’ reviews. Moreover, the game development process does not end here. Therefore, regular updates may be needed for the players’ requirements.
6. Post-Production
After executing the primary steps, the game development process has ended. Now, your game is awesome, achieving good reviews and many players thrive on playing to it. And the investment has paid off. Now what remains is the maintenance action. It includes:
- Correction of minor bugs.
- Creation of patches and updates.
You have to keep on updating your game by adding new features. This key step will indulge the player more in your game. It is a crucial stage for the game to keep it floating on the top game list for a long time.
Conclusion
To sum up, polished and vibrant roadmaps allow us to face and address any difficulties and challenges. To build an awesome and competitive game, you have to take in all the scope of the development steps mentioned in this article. Furthermore, video games have undoubtedly captivated our attention in 2021. Even in the coming future, it will be the same. More and more game development companies focus on advancing their gaming apps to attract the most fastidious players. So, if you got any gaming idea, then you must take steps to make it. You can choose “Cubix,” the best mobile app development company in los angeles that would undoubtedly, assist you in building your game as per your requirements and budget.