![\"Stages](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Stages-of-game-development-cover.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat are the stages of video game development?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The 7 stages of game development are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Planning,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pre-production,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Production,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Testing,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pre-launch,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Launch, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Post-launch. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
1. Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Developing any game starts with some good old-fashioned brainstorming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have an idea for a video game? Great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- What\u2019s it about?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What genre is it?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s the theme?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What are the key game mechanics you want to incorporate?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Which art style will you use?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s the mood of the story? (The music will heavily depend on this.)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who are the characters and what are their motivations?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s the game\u2019s \u201cfun factor\u201d going to be?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Once you figure out the direction of your game, you can move on to market research<\/strong> to pinpoint your competitors and target audience. Determine what your audience wants, what your competition is doing that\u2019s worth copying, and what you want to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And finally, define the thing that makes your game unique<\/strong>. You don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel but do try to make at least 1 aspect of your game stand out enough to make it memorable, recognizable, and unmistakably yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, you could say that Roguebook <\/em>is just another Slay the Spire<\/em> roguelike deckbuilder clone. However, the concurrent use of 2 characters and the unique, ink-based stage exploration make it truly stand out in a saturated subgenre.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Easily](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Easily-create-your-games-project-timeline-in-Plakys-Gantt-chart-view-1024x556.png\")
Easily create your game\u2019s project timeline in Plaky\u2019s Gantt chart view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n But, the planning stage is not all fun and games, so to speak \u2014 this is also the part where you wake up your inner project manager<\/a> to hire a game development team, create a rough project timeline<\/a>, and allocate the budget (provided that you have one).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visualize timeline with Gantt chart software<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re an independent game developer, you might consider crowdfunding as an option for funding your game. Otherwise, you\u2019ll have to pitch your idea to a publisher, and for that, you\u2019ll need Proof of Concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proof of Concept (POC) refers to the tests, prototypes, and simulations developers create to make sure that the game that sounds amazing in theory will actually be amazing in practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine it like a very bare-bones demo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initial Proof of Concept is typically used as part of the pitch for a game publisher. Developers can also choose to create multiple Proofs of Concept throughout the game\u2019s life cycle to make sure that the game mechanics, physics, fun factors, etc., work as imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Pre-production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pre-production is where you lay the foundation for actual game development and start fleshing out ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writers<\/strong> work on worldbuilding, write scripts, and develop the story, characters, and character arcs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Art designers<\/strong> pin down the mood of the game, decide on the color palette, create concept art, design the interface, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sound designers<\/strong> begin working on the music and sound effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developers<\/strong> create the game\u2019s physics and core mechanics and occasionally make prototypes to figure out if everything will work as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Engineers <\/strong>design the software the game will run on and make sure the rest of the team understands what it can and can\u2019t support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the pre-production stage, the team will also create the Game Design Document (GDD)<\/strong>. The GDD contains information about the game\u2019s story, theme, features, characters, mechanics, etc. It exists to put everyone on the same page and serves as a single reference point for the team throughout production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, at this point, the developers are still testing ideas and mechanics in the process that some call the Pre-Alpha. This means that the decisions made in pre-production aren\u2019t set in stone, so the contents of the GDD may change throughout the game development process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pre-Alpha<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
During the Pre-Alpha, the game is still in its early stages. It doesn\u2019t look even close to what it\u2019s supposed to look like \u2014 the developers are still testing ideas and game physics, but there might be more polished environmental elements and 3D models included. At this point, the testing will most likely remain in-house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the game studio, the Pre-Alpha may have a different name or be performed at a different time (e.g., during production).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The production stage is where the game comes together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In theory, this should be the simplest stage of game development \u2014 you\u2019ve created the plan, and now you execute the plan. In practice, this is often the longest and most difficult part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developers<\/strong> do their coding magic and then re-do it and re-re do it until everyone is satisfied with the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Art designers<\/strong> bring their concepts to life and create the character models, environments, and other elements that will actually appear in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sound designers<\/strong> hear the ambient music, sound effects, voice acting, etc., in action and decide if anything needs changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Level designers<\/strong> make sure the levels are engaging, the layouts make sense, and the game feels cohesive and immersive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project leads<\/strong> are there to organize work, make sure everything goes according to plan, the game stays on schedule, the teams collaborate seamlessly, and everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most project leads rely on specialized project management software for game development<\/a> for this part since it allows them better visibility into the project and what everyone is working on. Moreover, all game development teams and their tasks are in the same place, everyone has access to the same files, comments, and feedback, and they can collaborate across teams without missing a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Keep](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Keep-your-teams-on-the-same-page-throughout-game-development-with-Plaky.png\")
Keep your teams on the same page throughout game development with Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\ud83d\udca1 PLAKY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to plan and produce a video game, you\u2019ll need a good way to organize your thoughts and tasks. Here are some of the best software options for video game developers that won\u2019t break the bank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 7 Best Project Management Tools for Game Development Projects<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
4. Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once the game has been completed, it\u2019s time to thoroughly test it for bugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase of testing is internal \u2014 the QA testers check every inch of the game to make sure that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The game mechanics work,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The characters, environments, rendering, and interfaces behave as intended,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The players can\u2019t exploit said mechanics or environments, or pass through solid objects,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The story, characters, and voice acting are consistent,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game is just the right amount of difficult,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The players don\u2019t feel lost or confused about what they\u2019re supposed to do,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game is actually fun to play,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game doesn\u2019t crash when there\u2019s too much happening on the screen,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game works equally well on different hardware and software,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The game meets legal standards, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While the testing stage can be pretty fun, it\u2019s important to take it seriously and keep careful track of each bug you find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, you will have a single space for bug tracking<\/a> and reporting. Then, according to the bug\u2019s category, the right person is assigned to it, and the task is ready to move through the pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Bug](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bug-tracking-template-in-Plaky-1024x504.png\")
Bug tracking template in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Try Plaky’s bug tracking template for free<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the bugs are fixed, and you feel like the game is ready for launch \u2014 don\u2019t trust that feeling. Now it\u2019s time to let actual players have a go at the game.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of the capabilities and meticulousness of your QA team, you can be sure that Alpha testers will find ways to break the game that you couldn\u2019t have dreamed of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, production and testing aren\u2019t really separate stages<\/strong>. They\u2019re more of an iterative cycle that goes on and on until everyone is satisfied with how the game has turned out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alpha release<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Alpha release happens midway through development when most of the game\u2019s core elements are complete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game is now playable and looks decent, but it\u2019s far from done. It may still be lacking things like sound and textures, and it\u2019s definitely still full of bugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the moment when developers will have select players test the mechanics and performance, comment on the fun factor, and look for game-breaking bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early access<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Genuine early access <\/em>gives players the opportunity to play the game well ahead of its release and provide feedback, which the devs then use to improve it (e.g., while developing BG3<\/em>, the entire reaction mechanic was completely reworked because the players did not like the dev\u2019s vision of it.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While a lot of developers and publishers wrongly use the term early access <\/em>as a marketing scheme, this is a great way to make players a part of the production process while also securing some extra funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Pre-launch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Congratulations! If you\u2019ve reached pre-launch, your game is mostly complete. Now is the time to start generating some hype around it. This can mean: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Running marketing campaigns, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sponsoring YouTube videos or events, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reaching out to game journalists and influencers, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Engaging with the community,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Attending gaming events and conventions such as Gamescom, PAX, EGX, DreamHack, etc.,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Creating promotional materials such as teasers, trailers, posters, banners, or even knick-knacks like pins, badges, stickers, T-shirts, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Large game development studios often start with marketing much earlier, sometimes releasing trailers years before launch. On the other hand, independent game developers and indie studios with limited budgets may focus on only some of the above and much closer to the release date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, spreading the word about the game and getting people interested is crucial this close to launch for both big and small titles. But, this kind of marketing requires careful planning \u2014 preferably done in reliable, user-friendly software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Kickstart](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kickstart-your-video-game-marketing-campaign-with-Plakys-free-template-1024x683.png\")
Kickstart your video game marketing campaign with Plaky\u2019s free template<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n With project management software<\/a> like Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a>, you can create separate boards for different aspects of your game development project, all within the same workspace where you manage it. This way, you can have everything in one place and easily accessible by both you and the rest of your team.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even creating boards like the one in the image above is extremely easy because you don\u2019t have to start from scratch \u2014 just choose a template you like from the free template library, make adjustments to fit your particular needs, and you\u2019ll be ready to roll in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get Plaky’s marketing strategy plan template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pre-launch is also the stage where you perform final testing and iron out fine wrinkles. This usually means releasing the game\u2019s Beta version<\/strong> for players to try out and report bugs and exploits the QA team and Alpha testers missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But keep in mind that the launch date is slowly approaching and you won\u2019t be able to fix everything \u2014 so you\u2019ll have to prioritize.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Prioritize](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Prioritize-tasks-by-group-or-create-custom-dropdowns-to-signal-their-importance-in-Plaky-1024x350.png\")
Prioritize tasks by group or create custom dropdowns to signal their importance in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\ud83d\udca1 PLAKY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most effective way to prioritize tasks is to determine their impact on the project and the effort needed to complete them. Here\u2019s how to do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to Use Impact Effort Matrix for Improved Prioritization<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Beta release<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Beta release happens when the game is 99% complete and usually lasts between 2 and 6 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main point of the Beta release is to have a large number of players test the game one final time before release and catch things that QA and Alpha testers missed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The developers want to see if there are any exploits or glitches that can ruin the game\u2019s flow or fun factor. This is also the time to perform stress tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Launch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Finally, it\u2019s go time. Your game is finished and ready for purchase and download on all the intended platforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, though you can allow yourself to celebrate, you still can\u2019t relax because there\u2019s more to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the official launch, you\u2019ll have to closely monitor all the platforms where the game was released, as well as any and all support channels you have for the game, including social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If players have any technical difficulties, these are the most likely places you\u2019ll receive complaints. So, make sure to stay on top of the early feedback so that you can fix the problems quickly and avoid any immediate negative press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might also want to track your KPIs<\/a> in real time to gather data about server performance, player behavior, player count, playtime, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Post-launch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The post-launch is an ongoing game development stage. This is where you continue to keep a close eye on player feedback so that you can keep improving the game through patches and updates with bug fixes, adjustments, and player-requested features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To stay in touch with your players\u2019 wishes and continuously put out great content, we recommend scouring the internet and staying present in your game\u2019s community spaces. When you come across valuable feedback, add it to the backlog and tag relevant people so that it doesn\u2019t get overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel like you have more stories to tell, consider releasing one or more DLCs to expand upon the base game and keep the game alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Organize your game development process with Plaky by CAKE.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Video game development is by no means easy, so you need reliable tools that everyone in your team can use \u2014 and that won\u2019t make your process more complicated than it already is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s where Plaky comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Create](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Create-and-customize-your-workspace-to-fit-your-game-development-style-1024x648.png\")
Create and customize your workspace to fit your game development style<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Plaky offers great value to independent and small indie game developers who are looking for a simple and affordable way to manage game production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Create a free Plaky account<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Plaky by CAKE.com, you can manage and organize your game development stages in a coherent way. For example, you can:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Structure your tasks as lists in Table view, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Break them down into smaller tasks with the subitems feature<\/a>, and even <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add or remove your own customizable fields to show only and exactly<\/em> the information you want to see.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
And if you need to highlight any information, use the conditional coloring feature to make important dates, tasks, or statuses pop.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Conditional](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Conditional-coloring-in-Plaky.png\")
Conditional coloring in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Once game production and testing start, you\u2019ll want to switch to managing your tasks in Sprints, which is where Plaky\u2019s Kanban view comes in handy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you already have your Table view in place, the Kanban view<\/a> will take all that information and present it in the form of item cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there, you can go into settings and choose to restructure your Kanban view any way you like \u2014 no need to create one from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To see Plaky\u2019s Table, Kanban, and Gantt views in action, check out this demo video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Add or remove your own customizable fields to show only and exactly<\/em> the information you want to see.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- How to Use Impact Effort Matrix for Improved Prioritization<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- What genre is it?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s it about?<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n