Video game development, often shortened to game dev, is the process of creating a video game. It's a multidisciplinary practice that involves a wide range of skills, including:
- Programming: Brings the game to life by coding the rules, mechanics, and behaviors that everything in the game does.
- Design: Creates the overall look and feel of the game, including the game world, characters, and user interface.
- Art: Produces the visual assets of the game, such as the characters, environments, and props.
Video game development process
- Audio: Composes and implements the sound effects and music in the game.
- User interface (UI) design: Creates the menus, buttons, and other elements that players interact with to control the game.
- Writing: Develop the story, dialogue, and other text content in the game.
- Project management: Keeps the development process on track and ensures that the game is completed on time and within budget.
Video game development can be undertaken by large studios with hundreds of employees or by a single individual. The size and complexity of the development team will depend on the scope of the game.
Here are some of the common stages in video game development:
- Pre-production: This stage involves coming up with the initial concept for the game, creating a game design document, and developing a prototype.
- Production: This stage involves developing the game's assets, coding the game, and testing the game.
- Post-production: This stage involves polishing the game, fixing bugs, and getting the game ready for release.
There are a number of different tools and technologies that can be used for video game development. Some of the most popular game engines include Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot. These engines provide a foundation for game development and include tools for creating 3D graphics, physics simulation, and artificial intelligence.