If you’re a gamer, you already know that mastering the rules of a game is the key to winning it all. While the latest technologies in video game design are constantly evolving, you follow a certain process to ensure the project gets delivered on time.

Whether or not you think working in game development is in the cards for you, it pays to familiarize yourself with its pipeline. This is the process of building a video game from concept to completion. Having a basic understanding of the entertainment and multimedia computing process will help you determine if it’s the right path for you. If anything else, it would certainly give you a better appreciation of the craft.

Pre-production: building the concept

This is the stage where every project begins. This period can last from two weeks up to a year, depending on your budget, resources, and project type. Pre-production usually takes up 20 percent of the entire game development process. 

In the pre-production stage, you need to define what the game is all about. Once you establish its purpose, you’ll then figure out what it takes to translate the game from a concept into a playable project. 

The information you gather gets consolidated into a game design document. This working document helps the entire team align with each other on the project goals and limitations. 

From there, you need to develop a prototype of the game. This serves as a raw test to determine the project’s gameplay, functionality, mechanics, and other basic details. Prototyping is key to finding out if the project is worth pursuing, and if people will embrace the game itself. If the prototype has potential, you can proceed to the production stage.

Production: making the game

This is the longest stage in the entertainment and multimedia computing process, and teamwork is essential for the project to progress. The production of the game project can take from one to four years, depending on the complexity of your project goals. 

The production stage is the time wherein the storyline of the project gets refined, assets of the game are created, and a lot of coding takes place. Basically, this is the part wherein you build the world you hope other gamers will find compelling.

A lot of initial ideas don’t always turn out great in reality, and that’s why a lot of refining is important to make sure that the game works. The goal is for the prototype to eventually become a fully playable game. 

Post-production: checking for gaps

Finally completing the game doesn’t mean that the team gets to just sit back and launch it without revisions. It is essential to make sure the game works well and is free of bugs. Even the most detailed and well-conceptualized projects will encounter setbacks, and the team needs to be ready to take them on accordingly.

A post-mortem or debrief then takes place for the team to determine what worked and what can be improved. There is always room to make the project better, and this is the time to lay your cards on the table. 

Be a part of the process

These stages will be regular fixtures in your life should you pursue a career in entertainment and multimedia computing. Before you dive into the professional world, it’s important you understand the fundamentals.

As an academic institution that promotes high-quality, industry-based teaching, CIIT Philippines will equip you with the basic skills you need in the gaming industry. With our Bachelor of Science in Entertainment and Multimedia Computing, you can better prepare yourself for the long, winding process of game development—and climb up the ladder to success in no time. Explore our college courses today to get started.