Game Development: Game Company process
Valve Project process
· Pre-Production
This is were the game developer creates the idea and then gets the green light to start the production but if the publisher is a separate company the game developer has make pitches to the publisher and they then have to decide if they want to back up the company’s idea.
· Production
This is when the project is full staffed with: Designers, Artists, programmers, 3d modellers, level designers, sound engineers and sound composers.
Ø Designers
They design the game play, conceiving and designing the rules and structure of the game. They are some times called the game inventor because of there main role in the early game development.
Ø Artistic
They are responsible for all visual aspects of a game. They will also develop concept art from the Designers ideas.
Ø Level designer
They create game levels, challenges and missions. They also can create enemy or non-player placement or scripted events and change and create codes for multiplayer content that will introduce rules or change rules.
Ø 3D modeller
They develop mathematical representation of a three-dimensional object by using 3d modelling software like: 3D s max, Maya and Blender.
Ø Programmer
They are software engineers who mostly specialise in different discipline of game programmers.
Ø Sound engineer
They deal with the recording and reproduction of sound through mechanical and electronic means. Sound engineers have to have a great knowledge of audio devices and the programmes used to edit audio.
· Millstones
Most game companies have millstones during their project because it helps them keep up to date on there work. The millstone also works as a point at were the publisher can see what stage the project is on. If it is not on the right stage then they can with hold payments.
The period before the millstone is called the ‘crunch mode’ this is the game company will work over time to complete work that has slipped and to fix problems.
· Near completion
This is in the last few weeks until the deadline. Most works will work unpaid overtime. This is the time were most of the stress will occur in the game company.
· Testing
This is the main testing staff are needed most because of all the content that is added. The testers also are required to go though the game after content is added to make sure the original content still works.
At this stage the alpha testers are introduced and later on beta testers. Alpha testers come from out side the company. They go through the game and then file reports on any glitches in-game. The company then fixes the problems and send the new update back. This process is repeated until the game company feel s the game is ready for a more beta testers. These are the last group of testers until the game’s release. The difference between alpha and beta testers is that alpha testers see the game at a more basic stage. They also help fix most of the big bugs that affect the game play or even stop the game. The beta testers see the game when it is very near the end product. They help fix glitches such as floating trees, falling through the floor and invisible walls.
· Completion
This is the game is published and released. The employees normally have holiday in this period because of there tight hours when they are creating the game.
· Maintenance
Game developers can now create update or patches for there games to fix problems that occur. This has become more common because of online-enabled consoles. They used to mail floppy discs with the patch on to clients.
Valve Project process
· Pre-Production
This is were the game developer creates the idea and then gets the green light to start the production but if the publisher is a separate company the game developer has make pitches to the publisher and they then have to decide if they want to back up the company’s idea.
· Production
This is when the project is full staffed with: Designers, Artists, programmers, 3d modellers, level designers, sound engineers and sound composers.
Ø Designers
They design the game play, conceiving and designing the rules and structure of the game. They are some times called the game inventor because of there main role in the early game development.
Ø Artistic
They are responsible for all visual aspects of a game. They will also develop concept art from the Designers ideas.
Ø Level designer
They create game levels, challenges and missions. They also can create enemy or non-player placement or scripted events and change and create codes for multiplayer content that will introduce rules or change rules.
Ø 3D modeller
They develop mathematical representation of a three-dimensional object by using 3d modelling software like: 3D s max, Maya and Blender.
Ø Programmer
They are software engineers who mostly specialise in different discipline of game programmers.
Ø Sound engineer
They deal with the recording and reproduction of sound through mechanical and electronic means. Sound engineers have to have a great knowledge of audio devices and the programmes used to edit audio.
· Millstones
Most game companies have millstones during their project because it helps them keep up to date on there work. The millstone also works as a point at were the publisher can see what stage the project is on. If it is not on the right stage then they can with hold payments.
The period before the millstone is called the ‘crunch mode’ this is the game company will work over time to complete work that has slipped and to fix problems.
· Near completion
This is in the last few weeks until the deadline. Most works will work unpaid overtime. This is the time were most of the stress will occur in the game company.
· Testing
This is the main testing staff are needed most because of all the content that is added. The testers also are required to go though the game after content is added to make sure the original content still works.
At this stage the alpha testers are introduced and later on beta testers. Alpha testers come from out side the company. They go through the game and then file reports on any glitches in-game. The company then fixes the problems and send the new update back. This process is repeated until the game company feel s the game is ready for a more beta testers. These are the last group of testers until the game’s release. The difference between alpha and beta testers is that alpha testers see the game at a more basic stage. They also help fix most of the big bugs that affect the game play or even stop the game. The beta testers see the game when it is very near the end product. They help fix glitches such as floating trees, falling through the floor and invisible walls.
· Completion
This is the game is published and released. The employees normally have holiday in this period because of there tight hours when they are creating the game.
· Maintenance
Game developers can now create update or patches for there games to fix problems that occur. This has become more common because of online-enabled consoles. They used to mail floppy discs with the patch on to clients.
Game Development: Game Publisher
Steam
‘Steam is a digital distribution, digital rights management, multiplayer and communications platform developed by Valve Corporation. It is used to distribute a large number of games and related media entirely over the internet, from small independent efforts to larger, more popular games. Steam is set apart from similar services primarily by its community features, completely automated game update process, and its use of in-game functionality.
There are over 1,000 games available on Steam, and in January 2010 Valve announced that it had surpassed 25 million active user accounts.[3] It regularly services in excess of two million concurrent users.[4] Although Valve never releases sales figures, Steam is considered by its competitors and clients to be the market leader, controlling an estimated 70% of the digital distribution market.[5]
Many major publishers have catalogues on Steam, including Electronic Arts, Activision, 2K Games, Ubisoft, THQ, Sega, Codemasters, LucasArts, Capcom, and Bethesda Softworks.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(content_delivery)
Steam is not a publisher but it links in with the Valve games because it is the main distributor of the games made by Valve seeing as Valve made Steam.
Steam helps publishers to digitally sell there content.
Valve uses Electronic Arts to produce there games on CD and then shipped to shops. This means that Valve attacks the consumers on both sides. Online digital downloads and Gaming shops with CD’s. The CD way covers Xbox 360, PS3 and a very small amount of PC formatted discs. The digital way covers most PC gamers.
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