Social Game Development

Game development is the creation of a video game by an individual or a team of programmers. The components of game development include designing, building, testing, and releasing the game.

There are multiple stages in game development that ensure a successful product is delivered to customers. Similar to other software applications, game development requires planning, pre-production, production, testing, pre-launch (or beta testing), launch, and post-production. Each stage is important in the development of a successful game and can provide insight into future game development projects.

Choosing which platform to develop your game for will depend on the type of game and the audience you wish to reach. Games can be developed for Windows, macOS, mobile devices, Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox. Determining which audience you wish to target, then understanding which platform draws your preferred audience, will determine which platform you should consider. Furthermore, developing a game for Windows or certain consoles might provide greater exposure and possibly greater revenue. Finally, costs will likely play a role in which platform you choose. If your budget is tight, developing on mobile devices might be less expensive than a particular console such as a Sony PlayStation.

There are a variety of software options to choose from when developing a video game. Which one is best for you and your project will depend on the overall cost, the learning curve, the quality of the final game product, and whether it enables game development for your preferred platform. For those with a small budget hoping to develop video games for mobile devices, Construct 2 offers affordability, ease of use, and good graphics. For those interested in developing a game with little programming experience, GameSalad is a great option, as it is very affordable and offers a drag-and-drop interface. For developers who are adept at learning code, Unity offers a robust product where coding is necessary but the outcome can be quite exceptional.

For beginners interested in getting into video game development, starting small is a suggested approach. Determining what kind of video game you want to develop and choosing a software that requires little or no coding experience is a good start. Mapping out the game’s purpose, its general strategy, and how players can achieve success should be part of an overall strategy that drives the chosen software and the type of game developed. Software such as Construct 2 and GameSalad offers beginners the opportunity to dive into game development without a significant investment.