Step by step guide – What is video game development process?
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers are in high demand, but they don’t all involve sitting in a lab. Video games have become a national and international pastime, and STEM students who want a fun, challenging, and satisfying career are jumping on board and helping game design companies create today’s top titles. The industry continues to grow, making it a great time to break into game design. The job category of video game developer is in high demand.
Interested in getting started? Here are the steps involved with designing a video game, and the jobs that go along with them. Learn it all, many top gaming companies are waiting for you.
Life Cycle – Video Game Development Process:
The Idea & Ideation Process:
Every game starts with an idea. “Indie” games are usually brought to life because of one person’s idea, while larger game studios usually have their own collaborative processes for idea generation. The ideation process might look different depending on the studio and the individuals involved but can include brainstorming, prototypes, sketches, and group discussions. The premise of the game, the scope, and the audience of the game will all be discussed.
This process can take a while. Once a breakthrough has been made and the idea is tested thoroughly, developers can move on to the actual design process.
Designing the Game:
Once the idea for the game has been settled, designers and developers get to work. Designers will decide on the rules of the game, the story, and the characters. They’ll determine the full scope of the world or plot, and they’ll think about the game from the gamer’s point of view. Everything from tone to gameplay to setting will be decided.
Designers don’t need to know how to make all of this happen, necessarily, but a background in programming can help keep the project realistic for the developers who then bring the project to life.
The Development Phase:
In this step of video game development process, programmers, artists, and other professionals will take the design specifications and create a working game. They will be in charge of not only creating the environment and player characters in the game but also the artificial intelligence for people and creatures within the world of the game. This step takes months or years and is only completed when the game has been tested extensively to remove bugs and to ensure that the experience is good for the player.
What You’ll Need to Get Hired:
It’s hard to get hired in game design without a technical background. Video game design is a collaborative process, but it’s important to know how everything works behind the scenes, even if you won’t be involved in programming and engineering the game. To become a video game developer, getting a degree in computer science or software engineering can be crucial in landing a job in the industry. You will learn in detail about game development softwares, tools and techniques.
To become game programmer, some of the languages to consider learning include:
- Java
- C++
- HTML5
- SQL
- CSS3
- C#
Popular Tools & Platforms:
In addition to education, game designers need to be familiar with one or more of the most popular game engines and platforms. Students can get started with platforms like Unity and Unreal for free, while GameMaker and AppGameKit are less accessible to amateurs. It’s good to become as familiar as you can with these tools before applying to jobs.
You might also want to learn about animation and modeling tools, sound design tools, and video tools, depending on your areas of interest.
Learn More:
Want to get more information about what is video game development process? There are lots of great game developer resources available for free. Explore your options and get excited about a career in game design! There are hundreds of video game companies awaiting for you.