There are several core phases of the custom video game development process. The game development process involves creating different programming, visual and audio components for consoles, smartphones, and mobile devices.
These processes are powered by development teams consisting of writers, artists, and engineers who collaborate to deliver the project scope. As a software developer yourself, you’ll want to get familiar with all the different production stages that go into a typical video game.
This way, you’ll understand how to turn a simple concept into an immersive game with different characters, levels and stories. You’ll even learn some smart tips for after release, like digital marketing strategies in the gaming industry.
Read on to learn about the core phases of the custom video game development process.
Pre-Development Planning
Begin the video game engineering process with thorough pre-development planning. During this stage, you’ll need to choose a unique, creative video game idea and concept. Decide if your video game will be 2D or 3D, and start brainstorming the storyline.
In addition, take time to think about multiplayer modes, online gaming capabilities, and notable character features to include. Afterwards, you can start jotting down your storylines, side quests, and core game objectives.
You can also choose immersive virtual locations, settings, and time periods for your game to take place in. Once you’ve done so, decide what gaming consoles and systems your product will be available on. You should also define your target audience, whether it’s kids, adults or in between.
Tech Stack Configuration
Next, start the tech stack configuration phase in the video game development process. There’s several critical tools, technologies, and resources you’ll want to include in your video game development tech stack. For example, you’ll want to use a Docker registry by JFrog as an end-to-end solution to cover the full lifecycle of your gaming platform. With this solution in place, you’ll be able to effectively control development, perform vulnerability analyses, and conduct artifact flow control.
At the same time, these technologies give you everything needed to gain better control over distribution. Of course, the next key step in the video game development phase is all about tech stack configuration.
Game Production
After your tech stack is fully enabled, production is the next crucial phase in the video game development process. Here, your team turns brainstormed game concepts into executable source code.
The design department will render character models, craft immersive environments, and design accessible interfaces. In collaboration, you’ll need to develop prototype concepts, incorporate features and fix any discovered bugs.
Artists, on the other hand, work to incorporate design elements during this stage. This often includes character styles, apparel, dialogue and in-game effects. Even more, music composers and voice actors work together to create the game’s soundtrack. In short, the production stage of video game development is where your game concepts all come to life.
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System Testing
Following the development, the testing phase of the video game development process begins. To save time and money, you can outsource your finished video game to professional quality assurance (QA) testers. QA testers will thoroughly test your game for bugs, defects, and errors before public release. Additionally, have these testers play the game multiple times to detect all prospective issues and problems. Afterwards, they’ll provide you with a formal test report to review. This should highlight any bugs, crashes or glitches that occur throughout the performance. With this report in hand, you can address each issue to perfect game performance, user experience and UX design. Then, your game should be able work smoothly from technical, visual and audio standpoints.
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Post-Production
Additionally, the post-production phase is one of the final stages of the video game development process. After release, continue technical maintenance on your game. Create game patches to fix bugs, send updates, and improve quality. In addition, release bonus content to keep gamers active and interested in your product.
You should also keep developing new downloadable content that adds to the game’s experience. Plus, plan future game sequel ideas and set releases dates. Plus, take time to debrief about elements that worked well, or didn’t work at all. Definitely, another important video game development phase is post-production.
There are several core phases of the custom video game development process. You can begin with the pre-development planning stage to create your game’s idea and concepts.
Next, move on into the tech stack configuration stage. During the production, your game concepts will begin to come to life. Following the development, QA experts can test your game for bugs, glitches, or crashes.
Even after release, continue technical maintenance on your game during the post-production phase. These are the core phases of the custom video game development process.
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