Anyone who works in the video game industry knows that development is a difficult but necessary process that must be mastered to produce a spectacular result. However, not all businesses understand how to construct workflows correctly, and as a result of chaos and poor management, things can spiral out of control.

That is why understanding and following a video game development pipeline is critical. A video game development pipeline describes the stages of a project’s development that allows you to organize and optimize your workflow.

In this post, we’ll go over the key stages of game creation and some of their unique features. You’ll also learn more about game production strategies and how to find a dependable bespoke game development partner.

What are the stages of game development?

The five important stages of the game development process are pre-production, production, quality assurance, launch, and post-production maintenance.

Stage 1: of game development is pre-production.

Each stage of the game development process is crucial, but the first planning phase directly impacts the rest of the process. Beginning the computer game development process by gathering knowledge about a potential product, such as technical requirements, is critical. Managers and product owners collaborate to define the project’s goals and business model, and the main concept.

• Examine the market and the competition. It’s critical to figure out what’s hot in the gaming industry and what’s making the most money.
• The intended audience. It’s crucial to figure out who will be interested in your product so that the game’s development may be tailored to their preferences.
• Choosing a platform is the first step. The popularity of a forum and the company’s coding expertise are frequently factors in the decision.
• The distribution of resources. The number of specialists, equipment, and the video game development process timetable required for the project’s execution must all be determined.
• It’s a concept art piece. Concept artists design characters, locations, props, and other gaming elements.
• This is the type of monetization we’re talking about it. Make money via adverts, in-game purchases, or a fixed-price product?
• Analyze the risks. It entails evaluating all potential hazards ahead of time and devising damage mitigation strategies.
• Marketing strategy is important. It’s critical to consider how to appeal to as many individuals as possible with the game.

A Game Design Document (GDD) is generated when all of the necessary information and specifications for a project have been gathered. It contains more specific requirements for a game. Concept, genre, plot, kind of gameplay, game mechanics, level design, and environment are all examples.

Stage 2: Manufacturing

The production stage, separated into multiple internal locations, is the longest and most labor-intensive part of a video game development pipeline.

Stage 3: Quality Control

A game of any complexity should be properly tested to guarantee it is free of bugs and errors. Because a single issue can have a major impact on the user experience and overall game experience, this is the case. As a result, functional and non-functional testing and Alpha and Beta testing are frequently employed.

You can learn more about the various game testing methodologies, their benefits and drawbacks, and some game testing recommendations.

Once functionality, performance, compatibility, and other aspects have been extensively tested, and all issues have been fixed, it’s time to move on to the Alpha and Beta game development stages. QA engineers seek and fix any lingering flaws during alpha testing, which is the final step of a game’s development. Beta testing is done by people who act like end-users rather than professionals and is occasionally done after that.

Stage 4: Launch

The product launch is the pinnacle of game development, and it’s something that everyone is looking forward it. The story, however, does not end there. Even once a game is completed, there are frequently enough flaws and difficulties that the game production team continues to add more information and improvements while it is being released. Simultaneously, testers collect the first user feedback, allowing engineers to make substantial changes.

Stage 5: Post-production

Fixes and improvements to a game after being released to the market necessitate continual monitoring to double-check the degree of stability and performance. In an ideal world, studios would provide updates regularly to satisfy the technical requirements of platforms that are also updated.

Many companies update in-game content and occasionally add fascinating new mechanisms to keep consumers involved in a game. All of this necessitates continual maintenance and regular testing of new game versions to maintain quality.

The bulk of people who work in the video game industry tells you that it’s never as easy as one-two-three.

Game designers must keep their fingers on the pulse of an industry that is always changing. Cloud gaming, for example, is on the rise, according to GlobalWebIndex; virtual reality is growing, with PlayStation introducing the technology to mainstream gamers, and Valve recently released a AAA PC VR-exclusive project, sparking huge interest in the platform.

What happens behind the scenes of a well-made game, though? Developers face numerous problems, including tight timelines, production bottlenecks and dependencies, stakeholder pressure, and continually changing design and requirements.

Many people are ignorant of this irregular cycle and its numerous steps, so let’s look at how games are developed.

Game development, like any other project, starts with an idea. Turning this notion into a shippable product is the most difficult part, and this is something we put a lot of effort into.

• EXPERIENCE

It’s the first step toward making a game out of an idea. The scope of a game and what is required to bring it to a release date are determined during the discovery stage.

Depending on the nature of the project, the resources required, and the funds available, the discovery stage usually lasts a month or two. At this time, the Core Team comprises only a few people, and the Core Team usually includes a Solution Architect, Game Designer, and Art Director.

• PRODUCTION: IN LABOR, THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE STAGE OF THE GAME DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

At this moment, genuine development begins. The team members refine the story, define the game mechanics, and ensure that the game is balanced, paced, and fun to play. They also create all assets (characters, creatures, objects, and locations), set game rules, build levels and scenes, and program the game.

Every part of the game must be carefully studied, from the fun and gameplay to the characters, environment, items, level of difficulty, scenery, etc. Game testing and improvement continue long after the game is released because early concepts rarely translate effectively in practice.

Let’s look at some of the fundamentals of game production and some of the most significant video game development positions, keeping in mind that small teams often take on multiple roles. In contrast, a larger studio will have more team members that specialize in a specific aspect of production.

• APPRAISAL

Every feature and mechanic in the game must be checked for quality assurance. A game that hasn’t been extensively tested isn’t ready to be released as an Alpha.

Playtesters are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some put themselves through stress tests by repeatedly wrecking the game and colliding with walls. Other play-testers evaluate the game’s “fun factor” to see if it’s too difficult or too easy and comfortable.

Depending on how developed the in-game aspects are, the game should be ready for Alpha or Beta release after multiple testing iterations. At this point, the players have their first hands-on experience with the game.

• DISTRIBUTION

There is a ray of optimism at the end of the tunnel as the release date approaches. Typically, the months leading up to a deadline are spent debugging flaws uncovered during the testing phase.

Apart from bug patches, developers devote as much time to the game before it goes live. Perhaps that particular rock has a greater depth. Maybe the character’s clothing will have more substance, or those trees will finally swing in the breeze. These minor tweaks can significantly impact a video game’s immersion.

After the game is bug-free, it’s time to publish and distribute it.

• AFTER-RELEASE SERVICES

Some team members continue to work on the game after it has been released, resolving bugs, providing updates, bonuses, in-game events, or brand-new downloadable content (DLC).

Video games are renowned for having a variety of minor flaws when they first come out. Teams detect and eliminate bugs. Players are also encouraged to report bugs or point out problems in online forums used by game makers. This is all part of the after-release maintenance procedure.

INNOVECS IN GAME DEVELOPMENT

If you want to make video games, you must first understand the game production process. Understanding the purpose and structure of each department, regardless of where you fall into the pipeline, will help you operate more efficiently and avoid costly problems down the road.

New content is common in today’s gaming industry because it increases a game’s replay value, retention, and appeal. If you’re interested in creating a video game or upgrading an existing one from the ground up, feel free to contact the Innovecs experts. The Innovecs team has years of game development experience, allowing them to provide high-quality, error-free products on time and budget.