How are games created?
We all love games don’t we? They have been a great source of entertainment for humans from a very long time. Games are a great way to eliminate stress, tension and they also help to learn many skills. If you are someone who is fond of games, I am sure the process that goes into making these games ( game development) will excite you even more!
So, today I will take you to through ins and outs of game development, and will also tell you what the game industry has to offer to you!
Let’s start with answering the basic question,
What is Game development?
The art of making games is known as game development, and it encompasses the design, production, and publishing of a game. It may include concept generation, design, construction, testing, and release. It is very important to consider every aspect while developing a game such as game mechanics, incentives, player involvement, etc .
Game Development can be done by a huge Studio or by a single individual game. You may make it as little or as huge as you like. It may be termed a “game” as long as it allows the user to interact with the content and change the game’s elements.
You do not need to write code to participate in the Game Development process. Artists may produce and design items, whilst a Developer may concentrate on creating a health bar. A Tester may be called in to ensure that the game functions as planned.
A game developer might be a programmer, a sound designer, an artist, a designer, or any of the many different job roles available in the industry!
This brings us to the next question,
What are the stages of game developments?
The game development process can be divided into 3 phases, they are –
Pre-production, production, and post-production. Let’s take a look at each one of them!
Pre-production.
This is the starting point for any project. Pre-production essentially specifies what the game is about, why it should be developed, and what it will take to make it.
You could have a wonderful concept for a game, a tale you want to tell, or you might want to create one that uses a certain sort of technology .
Pre-production will provide solutions to questions such as:
- What exactly is the game about?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is there a demand for it? How is the competition?
- What platform will it be released on?
- How long will it take to mature?
- How will it be made profitable?
- Will it be sold on a platform, or will it be available for free ?
- What personnel and resources will be required?
- What is the projected budget?
This stage can span anywhere from a week to a year, depending on the project nature, resources, and available funds, and can account for up to 20% of overall production time.
The team involved in this stage is relatively tiny. There may be a producer, programmer/s, and a concept artist (or, if you’re a one-man show, you’ll be doing the majority of it!).
The information obtained during this pre-production stage serves as the foundation for the Game Design Document.
The Game Design Document (GDD)
A Game Design Document (GDD) serves as the game’s compass. It’s a live document that helps everyone understand and agree on the project’s overall goal.
Prototyping
A prototype for a video game is an unfinished test that tests functionality, user experience, gameplay, mechanics, and visual direction.
Prototyping occurs during pre-production to determine whether or not the game concept will work and whether it is viable to pursue. Many concepts never make it through this point.
Production.
The process of production can take anything from one to four years, it’s where the game truly begins to take shape. The story is being planned, assets (characters, monsters, items, and locations are being created) game rules are being set, levels and worlds are being designed, code is being written, and so much more is being done!
Production benchmarks:
Several milestones must be met during the game development process.
Prototype: This is the game’s first test that happens in pre-production process. Some games may never go past this point.
First Playable: The first playable provides a much better impression of the appearance and gameplay. While it is far from complete, placeholders are being replaced with higher quality materials, and artwork is being added.
Vertical slice: A vertical slice is a completely playable sample of your game that you may use to pitch to studios or investors. A vertical slice delivers a first-hand experience of your game for a few minutes to half an hour.
Pre alpha : The majority of the content is created during the pre-alpha stage. Some major decisions must be taken at this time in the game’s development. Content may be eliminated, or new components may be required to improve playability.
Alpha: The game is “feature complete,” which implies that all key features have been incorporated and the game can be played from start to finish. Some aspects, such as graphics assets, may still be required, but controls and functionality should be operational. The QA testers will ensure that everything runs well and will report any mistakes to the team.
At this point, all of the content and assets have been integrated, and the team should concentrate on optimization rather than addition.
Master of gold: The game is finally finished and ready to be delivered to a publishing company and made available to the public!
Game development as an industry!
Do you know that the global video game market size was valued at USD 195.65 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% from 2022 to 2030? Crazy right?
Game development has a long history, and why wouldn’t it be? after all, games are popular with people of all ages. The process of creating a game is highly methodical and consistent. It need a highly trained team of numerous people, each with their unique job. Each function has their own specialized responsibility, and the team can be a single unit or an international team depending on the requirements.
Here are several positions in game development, that are well defined!
Programmers.
What if I tell you, you get to design a game however you like, with all the elements of your choice. Interesting right?
Well, that’s exactly what a game programmer does! Programmers are usually software engineers or computer scientists with a strong programming experience, as well as the creativity, arithmetic abilities, and patience required to properly turn ideas into interactive graphics and sounds. They make certain that the game operates smoothly.
Game designers.
Game designers are in charge of the game’s creative features. This can involve developing plots, characters, game rules, goals, and challenges, and it may be a collaborative process in which someone in this capacity simultaneously performs another function, such as programming. Game design include developing game mechanics and selling the concept to publishers and management. The game’s original design might include many designers as well as writers who hammer on the game’s story, dialogue, and text.
Game producers.
Producers of video games supervise the development team as well as the production schedule. They are in charge of budgeting, contracts, marketing, and meeting production deadlines.
Sound Engineers.
During development, video game sound engineers have complete control over all areas of sound. Sound may affect a player’s emotions, build suspense, and increase the game’s excitement. A sound engineer’s responsibilities may include generating background atmosphere, mixing musical soundtracks, and manipulating audio to fit motion, such as synchronizing a recorded voice to the lips and movements of a game character.
Game level designers.
The level designer’s task is to create a “interactive playground” where the mechanisms may be employed if the gameplay designer creates them.
They plot out what would happen to the gamer during his gameplay. They specify the objectives and goals at each step. They design traversable environment layouts. They create rough landscape models using basic forms. This is known as “blocking out.” Block-out assists the Level Designer in determining whether the map is clear enough for the players (does the player know where he has to go? Because if he doesn’t, it’s a little hiccup that has to be addressed). Is it entertaining enough to play?
Writers.
The writer works with words: the tale, the dialogues. These are the people who stand behind the game’s backstory. If it helps, this position is easily comparable to that of a scriptwriter. They don’t have to be concerned with the games. Writers are frequently hired as freelancers!
Now that you know the process of game development and the key job roles in the industry with great earning potentials, it’s time to answer our very next question,
How can you learn game development and make a career out if it?
Here are a few courses that are absolutely free and provides a great learning experience!
In this course, you will learn the basics of programming and game development. You will also learn how to develop a “flappy bird-like” game by libGDX and Java from scratch.
Through this course, you will first learn how to produce, acquire, alter, and integrate AAA grade assets like as sounds, music, and 3D models in this course.
In this course is on 2D and 3D interactive games like Pokemon, Angry Birds, Super Mario Brothers, and more. Students will learn about animation, sound, graphics, collision detection and more by using frameworks like LOVE 2D and Unity .
Whether you make games as a hobby, work for a studio, or want to establish your own gaming company, this course gives an excellent understanding of the commercial side of the industry.
The gaming course is great for beginners. The world is growing and it has a lot to offer. With right attitude and skillset, you can definitely end up bagging your dream job, create new opportunities and make the most of the existing ones!
Hope you liked this article!