Comprehensive Game Development Overview
Establish Expectations - Audience appeal, Resource Allocation, Assumptions, Risk analysis, Constraints, Cost to client breakdown, Viability
1) Design Phase
Brainstorming (Blue Sky)
(Game mechanics)
(Story)
(Unique Selling Points)
(Art Style)
(Platforms)
(User Interaction)
Requires Client approval - before proceeding to the Pre-Pro next phase
Documentation Complete, Mechanics, Concepts, Art Style and deliverables. Game is now ready for mechanics engineering. All core game components and
general project scope are locked in.
2) Pre-Production
Phase
Game Design Document
Art Direction Document
Technical Direction Document
Milestone Schedule
Maintenance Plan
Requires Client approval - before proceeding to the Core Mechanics Development Phase
Game Wireframe – Mechanics engineering is built out around gray play area demonstrating all core game mechanics, this will ensure solid gameplay before art
is implemented.
Game is blocked in with basic objects and engineered
around the core mechanic for playability testing.
3) Core Mechanics
Phase
Based on testing feedback and playability
design documents will be revised
to reflect changes.
(Mechanics)
Play
Testing
“Green Light” - requires client approval - before proceeding to Full Production
Game starts full Production – All assets are generated based on revised documentation
4) Production
Phase
Art Development
Sound Development
Animation Development
User Interface Development
Continued Engineering Development
Play Testing
&
Bug Fixing
Requires Client approval - before proceeding to Alpha
First Playable - Core mechanics are engineered with demonstrable gameplay.
5) Alpha Phase
Mechanics – complete
Content – incomplete
Level layouts wireframed
Rough Art pass
Basic Animation/UI
Content – incomplete
Play Testing
&
Bug Fixing
Requires Client approval - before proceeding to Beta
Playable Beta – (Available for Beta Prerelease depending on platform) Core mechanics and art complete.
6) Beta Phase
100% Feature complete
100% Content complete
Game in “lock down” - Bug Fixing
Play Testing
&
Bug Fixing
Requires Client approval - before proceeding to GMC
Ready to Ship – All Bugs fixed and platform compliant
7) Gold Master
Candidate
Project complete based on documentation
(Ready to be shipped)
Minor
Bug Fixing
Requires manufacturer approval before project is launched
In most cases games will require additional maintenance (bug fixing/server/DLC content/OS updates for compatibility)
8) Maintenance
Follow Project Maintenance Schedule
as defined in the GDD and MSS
Address audience requested
changes and bugs
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Feedback
&
Bug Fixing