What is a Game Developer: A Guide to Video Game Development

Video games hold a special place in many people's hearts and are a huge part of pop culture. For some, these games bring back nostalgic memories of 8-bit classics, while for others, they are something exciting to look forward to with each new release. Game Developers pour their passion and creativity into crafting these unforgettable experiences, keeping the gaming community thrilled and engaged.

According to Statista, the video games market is expected to reach a staggering £271.06 billion by the end of 2023. This highlights the promising career opportunities in the gaming industry, including for indie Developers. If you love video games and want to learn more about the people and processes behind their creation, this blog is for you. Keep reading to discover What is a Game Developer, their key roles, responsibilities, types, and much more. 

Table of Contents 

1) What is a Game Developer? 

2) What Do Game Developers Do?

     a) Designing Concepts

     b) Performing Programming

     c) Bringing Visuals To Life

     d) Creating Animations

     e) Sound Designing

     f) Game Testing

3) Are there different kinds of Game Developers? 

4) Conclusion 

What is a Game Developer?

A Game Developer is a professional who programs video game structures and mechanics, taking a project from its beginning concept to the final product. They are responsible for creating the core functionality of games, including gameplay mechanics, user interfaces (UIs), and interactive elements. This role requires a profound understanding of coding, problem-solving skills, and creativity to bring a game to life.

Game Developers can work on various projects, from large-scale AAA gaming studio productions to smaller, self-published indie games. In large studios, they often collaborate with extensive teams and resources, while in indie projects, they might handle multiple roles. Regardless of the project's size, Game Developers play a vital role in reshaping the gaming experience and ensuring the final product is engaging and enjoyable for players.

What Does Game Developers Do?

Game Developers play a crucial role in bringing video games to life and handling various aspects of the development process. Their roles and responsibilities can widely vary depending on the studio's size and their specific role within the team. From Indie Developers managing everything on their own to specialised teams in larger studios, each Developer's contribution is vital. Here are some key responsibilities:

1) Designing Concepts

This involves the initial planning phase, where Developers decide on character designs, game genres, play styles, and level progressions. It sets the overall experience and mood of the game, guiding Illustrators, Animators, and Artists to ensure a cohesive narrative and visual style from the start.

2) Performing Programming

Programming is crucial as it transforms character designs and game ideas into functional video games. Developers use languages like C++, C#, Python, and frameworks like Py.Game and Py.Turtle. This phase also includes using No Code (NC) or Low Code (LC) tools, allowing beginners to explore game development without extensive coding knowledge.

3) Creating Animations

This involves creating soundtracks, background music, and sound effects to enhance the gaming experience. This includes using trained voice actors and interactive sound effects to differentiate characters, adding depth and immersion to the game through carefully crafted audio elements.

4) Sound Designing

This involves creating soundtracks, background music, and sound effects to enhance the gaming experience. This includes using trained voice actors and interactive sound effects to differentiate characters, adding depth and immersion to the game through carefully crafted audio elements.

5) Game Testing

Game testing is essential for identifying and fixing bugs before the game's release. Developers collect feedback from Testers during Alpha and Beta releases to make necessary improvements. This process ensures the final product is polished and error-free, enhancing the overall player experience and satisfaction.  

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Are There Different Kinds of Game Developers? 

Game Developers can be grouped based on their specialisation and the type of games they work on. However, when it comes to development practices, they're usually divided into four main categories. Here are the types of game developers:

1) First Party Game Developers 

First-party Developers normally refer to any video game development company that is responsible for creating a console. Some examples of this are PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. 

These Developers are responsible not only for making a profit through their games but also for giving a competitive edge to the console. These Developers can create a game dedicated to a particular console, leading to fans purchasing a particular console if they wish to play it.

First-party Developers tend to have a financial advantage, as they are backed up by a huge Multinational Corporation (MNC). However, this also means that MNCs can suffer huge losses if a game does not do well in the market. 

If a game becomes popular with the audience, the company can make a huge profit as it is not obligated to make royalty payments, as it would with other Developers.

2) Second Party Game Developers 

Second-party Developers is a terminology coined by the gaming community over time as video game development became more specialised. These Developers are normally responsible for creating a game as an independent studio. 

However, a game console company purchased the rights to that game. As a result, these developers have complete freedom in how they wish to approach the development process of a game, but they cannot release the game for any other company.

An excellent example of the term Second-party Developer is from Fromsoft Studios in the development of Bloodborne in the year 2015. Bloodborne is considered one of the best games from Fromsoft, and it is notable for its high-speed combat and high-scale difficulty. 

3) Third-Party Game Developers

Third-party Developers are studios that create a game and are also responsible for publishing it. These games are accessible on different consoles, such as Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation, and they are also available on common platforms such as personal computers (PCs).

The advent of Third-party development led to a revolution in how video games are created and how much freedom the Developers have. Most Game Developers were in-house during the era of 8-bit and 16-bit pixel games, which were released for NES, SNES and Sega. This meant the Developers were the company's employees, who created the console to play the games on.However, in 1979, this changed as Atari Programmers left their home company to start creating games by the name Activision, which were supported for the Atari console but were not directly owned by it.

In the modern age, a large majority of games are third-party. This gives the Developers a choice between different consoles without losing the freedom to profit from different consoles if they choose to do so. This choice of which console a game is made for is vital, as one console may have specifications that others do not. However, most third-party development games are also released for PC, allowing people to adapt their system to accommodate the game. 

4) Indie Game Developers 

Indie Game Developers refer to games created by a small team and not dependent on a single publisher. Indie Developers tend to have a small workforce, sometimes being as low as a single person working on an entire game. 

A notable example of such a developer is Thomas Happ, who was responsible for creating Axiom Verge and Axiom Verge 2. He was responsible for working on the game as a programmer, artist, and musician. 

Indie Game Developers can form a contract with a console company, which allows them to release their games on a specific console. Additionally, certain Developers, such as Yacht Club Games, and their titles, such as Shovel Knight, can be funded by the audience, relying on the internet and the words of the gaming community.

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Conclusion 

As we conclude this blog on “What is a Game Developer?” we hope it inspires you to pursue a career in game development. Certain games have undoubtedly brought you immense joy, and it is only natural to desire that others experience those same moments of enjoyment. The dedication of game Developers to their projects deserves our respect and admiration. Thank you for reading and may your game development journey be both rewarding and fulfilling.

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