How video games are made: the process from start to finish
It’s time to answer that all-important question that’s been burning in the back of your mind: “how are video games made?” Here’s a very basic rundown of how video games are made.
1.Core team
A group of people who come up with the general concept of the game. Numerous meetings will take place where the group will brainstorm about the game; figure out not only how it will look, but also how it will work. The core team is also in charge of the production schedule, which outlines the tasks assigned to each person and when they perform them the most.
2. Game Breakdown
Every detail, task, job, and deadline about the video game is broken down into components and then added to a bulletin board. This board acts as the nerve center throughout the production of the games.
3. Artistic concept
The artists sketch the characters and backgrounds in the games with a very basic level of detail. These sketches are what graphic artists use to create 3D characters and backgrounds on the computer.
4.Development team
This team uses the latest in computer animation technology to bring all elements of the game to life; adding colors, textures, shadows and even movement. This team uses the 3D characters and backgrounds created by the graphics team.
5. Programming and Engineering
This is the bread and butter of the game’s development stage; because without this part, there would be no game. Suffice to say that the programmers and engineers make the game work. Its coding is what holds the game together and allows the player to actually play the game.
6. Tests
This is the final and most crucial part of the development process. This phase is to see if everything is working correctly and as it should be. Testers will look for bugs and glitches and try to find potential problems.
Game testers will not just play the game and see if the issues find them, it’s the other way around as THEY will be the ones looking for the issues. The testers will do everything possible in the game to ensure that there are no abnormal situations or circumstances; walking through walls, disappearing, enemy AI issues, cinematic glitches, you name it. If the testers lose ANYTHING, it could have disastrous consequences, in the form of lost profit, for the company releasing the game.