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Ok here is my rough idea to the main step in the production of games. These days gaming has become a huge industry and it is becoming much harder to succeed and compete with the best developers. I study computer science at uni so I would like to think that my knowledge on software development would play a little part here too.
Millions is spent on making the best games these days and here in the UK we are spending the most on buying games, the UK market is growing faster than most and may soon be recognised for this. I will explain this bit a little later.
Step 1 - The Idea
All games start as an idea, here what type of game it's going to be is decided. Will it be sport, FPS, simulation, action adventure? Also whom the game is intended for has to be worked out too. Will it be young children, teenagers, adults or all age groups? If the idea is good it will then be turned into a game. Not all ideas that are made into games are original. Many are very similar to past ideas.
Step 2 - Idea into reality
Once the idea has been thought through thoroughly. Advice is then given by the programmers who will then create the game. If they can't get it to work then the game will be scrapped. Some people still decide to go through with the idea if the programmers say it won't work. These games usually turn out different to the original idea. For the ones the programmers like and can make the idea is then worked on to create a game worth selling.
Step 3 - Creating the game
By far the hardest and longest part of making a game. Here everything is done. From graphics, game play, sounds, cheats built in. Everything you see and do and more is put onto the disk from here. The programmers are like chefs, the take all the ingredients for the game and make something worth all the hassle, a decent game. Sometimes things are left out as they are to hard to program into the game or they spoil the original idea. People to provide voices, artists, music composers all have an input to making the game at this stage. Games these days are huge, in the past it was small team who put them together, these days games are more like films with teams of well over 100 people. There will be programmers to write the code, actors to do voices, musicians, story writers, etc. In a way similar to the production of a film.
Step 4 - Testing
Before mass production starts the game has to be tested so that bugs can be found and fixed and all the little problems can be ironed out for the final version. Testing is probably the most important part or any software production to avoid a lot of maintenance but games are never upgraded like PC software so they must be tested to a suitable standard before they can be released and any faults found after release are notified in case a sequel is planned. Testers have to work hard as any missed bug or faults could cause the game to fail when it is released. Many people sign up to get the chance to be beta-testers. This gives some a chance to see what the game is like and how it could be improved and give a little something back to the industry.
Step 5 - Final checks
At this stage the game goes through final checks, the main idea is checked to see if it is still a well thought and interesting idea. They also check there is a market for the game and that there are no other similar ideas which could kick their game into touch. (No point releasing a footy game if it has to compete with FIFA and pro Evolution soccer). If the game looks the way it should and everyone is happy then it is approved and can be mass produced and sold.
Step 6 - Mass Production
After all the bugs are fixed and everyone is happy with the final version the game is created and reproduced for selling. Here the master copy is copied and the game is created. This is what you get in your box. This is the final copy of the game.
Step 7 - Packaging
Packaging for the game is then decided. Some would say this isn't really important as it's the game that matters but developers do think about this quite a lot. Something that stands out and is a little different is usually best. Also the instruction manual and any extras are created and boxed with the game.
Step 8 - Shipping
After everything is finalised the game is shipped. Some of the extremely popular games are so highly demanded that sometimes there aren't enough to meet demand. Japan usually gets games first, then USA and then Europe. That just seems to be the way it has always been.
Step 9 - Advertising
This is like the final piece of the puzzle, if people know the game is good they will buy it. Most developers offer some information during production to the most popular magazines. This lets people know when it will be out and how good it will be. Advertising can be done on TV. The Internet, the radio and in magazines and newspapers. If the games good it will sell millions of copies
Which will surely please all involved with its creation.
Most average games cost around $3 Million to make with some of the more popular well known ones costing a lot more. But with a market worth more than $32 Million and growing fast you can see why all this effort and money is worthwhile. These days some budgets for games are even higher than films and also when a film is being produced some scenes are also modified to suit a game for the film. Scenes are sometimes shot many times and on separate shoots the actors will wear motion sensors so that the action used in the game is as close to the film as possible.
My last comment is on something I touched on earlier, the Europe and especially UK market. It is growing fast yet we are still treated behind the US and Japan in terms of releases.
A game created by a US company is released in the US first then Japan and Europe at a similar time. A Japanese game is released in Japan then the US and then Europe. The NTSC to PAL conversion isn't a big issue as this procedure is an easy thing to do now, most time is spent on translating the language but even this doesn't take too long. Even UK developers tend to release abroad first with the exception of a few.
I would like to see a developer try release in the UK first just to see the reaction and maybe the benefits they would get from doing it this way, maybe show that they realise that the UK market is big and reward us in a way. You never know it could be better for them to release here first and then elsewhere making more developers follow their path.
In a way we have an advantage being after Japan and the US as we get a sneak peek as to what is worth getting and what to avoid. But I do also think we are being a bit ripped off with how long we have to wait for consoles and games to be released.
Obviously the problem isn't that big as we accept it but I know if people didn't accept it developers would have to take stand and notice because this market is one they can't do without anymore.
Millions is spent on making the best games these days and here in the UK we are spending the most on buying games, the UK market is growing faster than most and may soon be recognised for this. I will explain this bit a little later.
Step 1 - The Idea
All games start as an idea, here what type of game it's going to be is decided. Will it be sport, FPS, simulation, action adventure? Also whom the game is intended for has to be worked out too. Will it be young children, teenagers, adults or all age groups? If the idea is good it will then be turned into a game. Not all ideas that are made into games are original. Many are very similar to past ideas.
Step 2 - Idea into reality
Once the idea has been thought through thoroughly. Advice is then given by the programmers who will then create the game. If they can't get it to work then the game will be scrapped. Some people still decide to go through with the idea if the programmers say it won't work. These games usually turn out different to the original idea. For the ones the programmers like and can make the idea is then worked on to create a game worth selling.
Step 3 - Creating the game
By far the hardest and longest part of making a game. Here everything is done. From graphics, game play, sounds, cheats built in. Everything you see and do and more is put onto the disk from here. The programmers are like chefs, the take all the ingredients for the game and make something worth all the hassle, a decent game. Sometimes things are left out as they are to hard to program into the game or they spoil the original idea. People to provide voices, artists, music composers all have an input to making the game at this stage. Games these days are huge, in the past it was small team who put them together, these days games are more like films with teams of well over 100 people. There will be programmers to write the code, actors to do voices, musicians, story writers, etc. In a way similar to the production of a film.
Step 4 - Testing
Before mass production starts the game has to be tested so that bugs can be found and fixed and all the little problems can be ironed out for the final version. Testing is probably the most important part or any software production to avoid a lot of maintenance but games are never upgraded like PC software so they must be tested to a suitable standard before they can be released and any faults found after release are notified in case a sequel is planned. Testers have to work hard as any missed bug or faults could cause the game to fail when it is released. Many people sign up to get the chance to be beta-testers. This gives some a chance to see what the game is like and how it could be improved and give a little something back to the industry.
Step 5 - Final checks
At this stage the game goes through final checks, the main idea is checked to see if it is still a well thought and interesting idea. They also check there is a market for the game and that there are no other similar ideas which could kick their game into touch. (No point releasing a footy game if it has to compete with FIFA and pro Evolution soccer). If the game looks the way it should and everyone is happy then it is approved and can be mass produced and sold.
Step 6 - Mass Production
After all the bugs are fixed and everyone is happy with the final version the game is created and reproduced for selling. Here the master copy is copied and the game is created. This is what you get in your box. This is the final copy of the game.
Step 7 - Packaging
Packaging for the game is then decided. Some would say this isn't really important as it's the game that matters but developers do think about this quite a lot. Something that stands out and is a little different is usually best. Also the instruction manual and any extras are created and boxed with the game.
Step 8 - Shipping
After everything is finalised the game is shipped. Some of the extremely popular games are so highly demanded that sometimes there aren't enough to meet demand. Japan usually gets games first, then USA and then Europe. That just seems to be the way it has always been.
Step 9 - Advertising
This is like the final piece of the puzzle, if people know the game is good they will buy it. Most developers offer some information during production to the most popular magazines. This lets people know when it will be out and how good it will be. Advertising can be done on TV. The Internet, the radio and in magazines and newspapers. If the games good it will sell millions of copies
Which will surely please all involved with its creation.
Most average games cost around $3 Million to make with some of the more popular well known ones costing a lot more. But with a market worth more than $32 Million and growing fast you can see why all this effort and money is worthwhile. These days some budgets for games are even higher than films and also when a film is being produced some scenes are also modified to suit a game for the film. Scenes are sometimes shot many times and on separate shoots the actors will wear motion sensors so that the action used in the game is as close to the film as possible.
My last comment is on something I touched on earlier, the Europe and especially UK market. It is growing fast yet we are still treated behind the US and Japan in terms of releases.
A game created by a US company is released in the US first then Japan and Europe at a similar time. A Japanese game is released in Japan then the US and then Europe. The NTSC to PAL conversion isn't a big issue as this procedure is an easy thing to do now, most time is spent on translating the language but even this doesn't take too long. Even UK developers tend to release abroad first with the exception of a few.
I would like to see a developer try release in the UK first just to see the reaction and maybe the benefits they would get from doing it this way, maybe show that they realise that the UK market is big and reward us in a way. You never know it could be better for them to release here first and then elsewhere making more developers follow their path.
In a way we have an advantage being after Japan and the US as we get a sneak peek as to what is worth getting and what to avoid. But I do also think we are being a bit ripped off with how long we have to wait for consoles and games to be released.
Obviously the problem isn't that big as we accept it but I know if people didn't accept it developers would have to take stand and notice because this market is one they can't do without anymore.
Yeah, that's a good post, and I think you've got it all about right! I don't know any more about it than you, but it's certainly all in the right order.
I think you may have missed mentioning about Beta games and how they're used for testing, and then taken forwards into the new game.
And maybe something about the developers and publishers too. Maybe the developers contact the publishers right at the start, before the ideas, or at the end when the game's done??
But still, a good post. And they'll be someone on here who'll tell you if you missed anything.
I think you may have missed mentioning about Beta games and how they're used for testing, and then taken forwards into the new game.
And maybe something about the developers and publishers too. Maybe the developers contact the publishers right at the start, before the ideas, or at the end when the game's done??
But still, a good post. And they'll be someone on here who'll tell you if you missed anything.
Ok here is my rough idea to the main step in the production of games. These days gaming has become a huge industry and it is becoming much harder to succeed and compete with the best developers. I study computer science at uni so I would like to think that my knowledge on software development would play a little part here too.
Millions is spent on making the best games these days and here in the UK we are spending the most on buying games, the UK market is growing faster than most and may soon be recognised for this. I will explain this bit a little later.
Step 1 - The Idea
All games start as an idea, here what type of game it's going to be is decided. Will it be sport, FPS, simulation, action adventure? Also whom the game is intended for has to be worked out too. Will it be young children, teenagers, adults or all age groups? If the idea is good it will then be turned into a game. Not all ideas that are made into games are original. Many are very similar to past ideas.
Step 2 - Idea into reality
Once the idea has been thought through thoroughly. Advice is then given by the programmers who will then create the game. If they can't get it to work then the game will be scrapped. Some people still decide to go through with the idea if the programmers say it won't work. These games usually turn out different to the original idea. For the ones the programmers like and can make the idea is then worked on to create a game worth selling.
Step 3 - Creating the game
By far the hardest and longest part of making a game. Here everything is done. From graphics, game play, sounds, cheats built in. Everything you see and do and more is put onto the disk from here. The programmers are like chefs, the take all the ingredients for the game and make something worth all the hassle, a decent game. Sometimes things are left out as they are to hard to program into the game or they spoil the original idea. People to provide voices, artists, music composers all have an input to making the game at this stage. Games these days are huge, in the past it was small team who put them together, these days games are more like films with teams of well over 100 people. There will be programmers to write the code, actors to do voices, musicians, story writers, etc. In a way similar to the production of a film.
Step 4 - Testing
Before mass production starts the game has to be tested so that bugs can be found and fixed and all the little problems can be ironed out for the final version. Testing is probably the most important part or any software production to avoid a lot of maintenance but games are never upgraded like PC software so they must be tested to a suitable standard before they can be released and any faults found after release are notified in case a sequel is planned. Testers have to work hard as any missed bug or faults could cause the game to fail when it is released. Many people sign up to get the chance to be beta-testers. This gives some a chance to see what the game is like and how it could be improved and give a little something back to the industry.
Step 5 - Final checks
At this stage the game goes through final checks, the main idea is checked to see if it is still a well thought and interesting idea. They also check there is a market for the game and that there are no other similar ideas which could kick their game into touch. (No point releasing a footy game if it has to compete with FIFA and pro Evolution soccer). If the game looks the way it should and everyone is happy then it is approved and can be mass produced and sold.
Step 6 - Mass Production
After all the bugs are fixed and everyone is happy with the final version the game is created and reproduced for selling. Here the master copy is copied and the game is created. This is what you get in your box. This is the final copy of the game.
Step 7 - Packaging
Packaging for the game is then decided. Some would say this isn't really important as it's the game that matters but developers do think about this quite a lot. Something that stands out and is a little different is usually best. Also the instruction manual and any extras are created and boxed with the game.
Step 8 - Shipping
After everything is finalised the game is shipped. Some of the extremely popular games are so highly demanded that sometimes there aren't enough to meet demand. Japan usually gets games first, then USA and then Europe. That just seems to be the way it has always been.
Step 9 - Advertising
This is like the final piece of the puzzle, if people know the game is good they will buy it. Most developers offer some information during production to the most popular magazines. This lets people know when it will be out and how good it will be. Advertising can be done on TV. The Internet, the radio and in magazines and newspapers. If the games good it will sell millions of copies
Which will surely please all involved with its creation.
Most average games cost around $3 Million to make with some of the more popular well known ones costing a lot more. But with a market worth more than $32 Million and growing fast you can see why all this effort and money is worthwhile. These days some budgets for games are even higher than films and also when a film is being produced some scenes are also modified to suit a game for the film. Scenes are sometimes shot many times and on separate shoots the actors will wear motion sensors so that the action used in the game is as close to the film as possible.
My last comment is on something I touched on earlier, the Europe and especially UK market. It is growing fast yet we are still treated behind the US and Japan in terms of releases.
A game created by a US company is released in the US first then Japan and Europe at a similar time. A Japanese game is released in Japan then the US and then Europe. The NTSC to PAL conversion isn't a big issue as this procedure is an easy thing to do now, most time is spent on translating the language but even this doesn't take too long. Even UK developers tend to release abroad first with the exception of a few.
I would like to see a developer try release in the UK first just to see the reaction and maybe the benefits they would get from doing it this way, maybe show that they realise that the UK market is big and reward us in a way. You never know it could be better for them to release here first and then elsewhere making more developers follow their path.
In a way we have an advantage being after Japan and the US as we get a sneak peek as to what is worth getting and what to avoid. But I do also think we are being a bit ripped off with how long we have to wait for consoles and games to be released.
Obviously the problem isn't that big as we accept it but I know if people didn't accept it developers would have to take stand and notice because this market is one they can't do without anymore.
Millions is spent on making the best games these days and here in the UK we are spending the most on buying games, the UK market is growing faster than most and may soon be recognised for this. I will explain this bit a little later.
Step 1 - The Idea
All games start as an idea, here what type of game it's going to be is decided. Will it be sport, FPS, simulation, action adventure? Also whom the game is intended for has to be worked out too. Will it be young children, teenagers, adults or all age groups? If the idea is good it will then be turned into a game. Not all ideas that are made into games are original. Many are very similar to past ideas.
Step 2 - Idea into reality
Once the idea has been thought through thoroughly. Advice is then given by the programmers who will then create the game. If they can't get it to work then the game will be scrapped. Some people still decide to go through with the idea if the programmers say it won't work. These games usually turn out different to the original idea. For the ones the programmers like and can make the idea is then worked on to create a game worth selling.
Step 3 - Creating the game
By far the hardest and longest part of making a game. Here everything is done. From graphics, game play, sounds, cheats built in. Everything you see and do and more is put onto the disk from here. The programmers are like chefs, the take all the ingredients for the game and make something worth all the hassle, a decent game. Sometimes things are left out as they are to hard to program into the game or they spoil the original idea. People to provide voices, artists, music composers all have an input to making the game at this stage. Games these days are huge, in the past it was small team who put them together, these days games are more like films with teams of well over 100 people. There will be programmers to write the code, actors to do voices, musicians, story writers, etc. In a way similar to the production of a film.
Step 4 - Testing
Before mass production starts the game has to be tested so that bugs can be found and fixed and all the little problems can be ironed out for the final version. Testing is probably the most important part or any software production to avoid a lot of maintenance but games are never upgraded like PC software so they must be tested to a suitable standard before they can be released and any faults found after release are notified in case a sequel is planned. Testers have to work hard as any missed bug or faults could cause the game to fail when it is released. Many people sign up to get the chance to be beta-testers. This gives some a chance to see what the game is like and how it could be improved and give a little something back to the industry.
Step 5 - Final checks
At this stage the game goes through final checks, the main idea is checked to see if it is still a well thought and interesting idea. They also check there is a market for the game and that there are no other similar ideas which could kick their game into touch. (No point releasing a footy game if it has to compete with FIFA and pro Evolution soccer). If the game looks the way it should and everyone is happy then it is approved and can be mass produced and sold.
Step 6 - Mass Production
After all the bugs are fixed and everyone is happy with the final version the game is created and reproduced for selling. Here the master copy is copied and the game is created. This is what you get in your box. This is the final copy of the game.
Step 7 - Packaging
Packaging for the game is then decided. Some would say this isn't really important as it's the game that matters but developers do think about this quite a lot. Something that stands out and is a little different is usually best. Also the instruction manual and any extras are created and boxed with the game.
Step 8 - Shipping
After everything is finalised the game is shipped. Some of the extremely popular games are so highly demanded that sometimes there aren't enough to meet demand. Japan usually gets games first, then USA and then Europe. That just seems to be the way it has always been.
Step 9 - Advertising
This is like the final piece of the puzzle, if people know the game is good they will buy it. Most developers offer some information during production to the most popular magazines. This lets people know when it will be out and how good it will be. Advertising can be done on TV. The Internet, the radio and in magazines and newspapers. If the games good it will sell millions of copies
Which will surely please all involved with its creation.
Most average games cost around $3 Million to make with some of the more popular well known ones costing a lot more. But with a market worth more than $32 Million and growing fast you can see why all this effort and money is worthwhile. These days some budgets for games are even higher than films and also when a film is being produced some scenes are also modified to suit a game for the film. Scenes are sometimes shot many times and on separate shoots the actors will wear motion sensors so that the action used in the game is as close to the film as possible.
My last comment is on something I touched on earlier, the Europe and especially UK market. It is growing fast yet we are still treated behind the US and Japan in terms of releases.
A game created by a US company is released in the US first then Japan and Europe at a similar time. A Japanese game is released in Japan then the US and then Europe. The NTSC to PAL conversion isn't a big issue as this procedure is an easy thing to do now, most time is spent on translating the language but even this doesn't take too long. Even UK developers tend to release abroad first with the exception of a few.
I would like to see a developer try release in the UK first just to see the reaction and maybe the benefits they would get from doing it this way, maybe show that they realise that the UK market is big and reward us in a way. You never know it could be better for them to release here first and then elsewhere making more developers follow their path.
In a way we have an advantage being after Japan and the US as we get a sneak peek as to what is worth getting and what to avoid. But I do also think we are being a bit ripped off with how long we have to wait for consoles and games to be released.
Obviously the problem isn't that big as we accept it but I know if people didn't accept it developers would have to take stand and notice because this market is one they can't do without anymore.