Game Development 101: Seven steps from concept to code

There’s no better creative outlet than game development if you want to express yourself. The vast array of art styles, genres, gameplay, user interface options and programming languages, make the possibilities endless.

As a beginner, it can be a daunting prospect working out where to start, but there are plenty of ways to get involved in video game design, either by developing your own game or working with a AAA game design studio.

To help your thinking, we’ve broken down the process of game development into seven simple steps: planning, pre-production, production, testing, pre-launch, launch and post-launch.

Underpinning all the stages is programming, so if you are looking to move from gamer to game developer, learning the basics of a coding language is a must. Several programming languages are popular with game developers, among them C#, C++  python and JavaScript (Java), but others are used too.

Coding and game dev

The language you use to code your game really comes down to the style of game you are looking to create; Java and python are slightly easier introductions to coding and can be used to develop more simplistic, less demanding games, like 2D indie games or mobile games on ios and android.

C# is more complex but can yield higher quality games. It’s also the language used by the Unity game engine, whereas C++ is used by Unreal Engine. These game engines utilise programming languages but do not require the ability to write the code itself and can be used to develop the visual aspect of your game.

For example, Godot is an open-source game engine available on Windows and a variety of other operating systems. Integrated Development environments (IDE) are similar to game engines and can help write code for you if you are not familiar with the language you want to code in.

Whatever the style of game, coding is going to be a fundamental part of the game development process and must be given close attention if you are going to produce an enjoyable and playable game.

Seven steps to successful game development

1.Planning

The planning step is all about answering key questions, like what genre and art style should the game be? Another key question is ‘who is developing this game? ‘

When it comes to game developers there are two types of games ‘studios’, or companies who produce games in the gaming industry:

1. indie developers are smaller businesses with tighter budgets and fewer resources, and

2.  AAA studios who are big names in the world of game dev and have access to cutting edge graphics and gameplay, and who work on a larger scale with a larger budget.

Examples of AAA studios include:

• EA – makers of many sports games like FIFA,

• Activision – who make some of the biggest shooter games e.g Call of Duty, and 

• Nintendo – famous for Pokémon and Mario.

2. Pre-Production

Pre-production is when your game idea is fully developed and plans from stage 1 are fleshed out. As coders and programmers develop ideas for game mechanics and the game world, game design is also a heavy discussion point during this step.

Coding, or scripting, may also start at this stage. Coders can show what the game mechanics might start to look like, to better inform decisions on the feel of the game.

Developers may also want prototypes of characters which could also involve 3D modeling. This would be done by game design specialists who can take the ideas and transform them into digital models.

3. Production

This is the most important part of the entire process where lots of time is spent actually creating the video game in its parts and piecing them together.

Scripters spend time writing code to build the game from the ground up, while voice actors are put to work bringing characters from the page to the game or adding sound effects to existing game mechanics.

This step can also feel like the most challenging as problems arise and need to be resolved, while elements of the game may have to be cut or changed. This can add on weeks or months to development time.

4. Testing

Now the first iteration of the game has been produced, the real fun starts. The game must be rigorously tested to highlight any problems with the game design or the code which could stop the game working correctly.

Debugging helps rectify any issues in the code. It can also highlight bigger issues where the game design doesn’t work as intended – for example a player may be able to break the game by reaching areas not meant to be traversed.

Testing is not just for finding specific problems. It can also assess the general feel of the game. For example, is the game too easy, or too hard? Is the story engaging? Testing can help answer these questions.

5. Pre-launch

By this point the game has been developed to a product which is almost ready for release. A beta version of the game might be given to a select few players to provide feedback and help inform last minute changes.

Pre-launch is also the time for marketing and advertising through trailers and posters, and for the AAA studios to present it at gaming conventions. The early version of the game may be sent to reviewers at gaming magazines and other pundits who play the game and give it a rating which is published online.

The reviews can help build excitement if the game is scored highly, but it’s not guaranteed to tally with the views of the wider gaming community. Infamously the award-winning game ‘Cuphead’ scored low in one video game reviewer’s eyes after they failed to pass the tutorial and intro to the game.

6. Launch

The launch stage involves fixing any remaining bugs in the game to ensure the game is ready for wide release. Small improvements may also be added to neaten up the final product.

7. Post-launch

Once the game has been released, it’s finally time to sit back and rela… Nevermind! More bug fixes are inevitable as the masses (hopefully) of people playing the game will run into issues.

It is imperative to fix these ASAP to ensure customers can enjoy the game and spread the word on social media or just by word of mouth. Also, during post-launch, work can continue to produce extra content for the game to keep people playing.

This is usually released as DLC (or downloadable content) which acts as an add-on to the original game. But beware, developing DLCs can send you back to the start of the game development process.

From gamer to game developer

It’s estimated that two in five people globally spend time gaming. As gamers’ appetite for new video games continues to grow, the gaming industry is constantly innovating to keep up with demand. 

If you want to step into the world of game development, why not consider an MSc in Computer Science at City St George’s, University of London, which will give you skills in programming and software engineering. The course will up-skill you in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and more to prepare you for a range of careers in IT.