Games are created using game engines. They are used to design the game code, levels and basic animations. There are a lot of different game engines, and some programmers write them out “for themselves”. In large development companies can create their own game engines, although it is difficult and time-consuming process.
It’s much easier to use ready-made solutions. The most popular engines – Unity 3D and Unreal Engine. The peculiarity of the first is that you can create a basic game functionality, without writing a line of code. It is used to develop both small and large AAA-projects.
Unreal Engine – more complex engine, which is more difficult to master. But it has a lot of advantages that make it popular and in demand. This wide set of tools, user-friendly interface, a large number of documentation and the ability to customize it to the needs of your project.
Stages of Game Creation
Every game has its own story of creation, but there are a few basic stages that are the framework of most projects.
Pre-production. This is the initial stage where the main idea and concept is thought up and a detailed design document is created. Programmers create a working prototype that captures the basic gist and mechanics. The prototype is needed to test hypotheses and key technical points.
Production. This stage is where the bulk of the development takes place. All departments and team members are involved at this time. This is the longest stage where the most money is invested. For large games this process can last for several years, like it happened with Cyberpunk 2077.
Testing. Usually testing lasts no more than a couple of months, but in especially large projects this process can take a year or two. The goal of this stage is to find bugs and errors in the game and make documentation that will help to improve it.
Support. This stage begins at the time of release. Support for online games is regular and ongoing. If it’s not an online game, developers can sometimes release updates and patches, improving the process.
The gaming industry is broad and diverse – everyone can find a profession for themselves here. Even if you are not familiar with programming or design – it’s not too late to change everything or go another way. You can always get into gamemaking as a tester or a project manager, the main thing is to really love your job and to develop regularly.