An overview of the game development process from the point of view of the Philippine experience. (c. 2010)

1. Cesar S. Tolentino
August 7, 2010
Manila, Philippines

2. The Game Development
Value Chain
DEVELOPERS
PUBLISHERS
DISTRIBUTORS
RETAILERS
GAMERS
Much like a mini-Hollywood !

3. The Game Development
Process
CONCEPT
DESIGN PROTOTYPE
PROGRAM
DEV’T
ART & MUSIC
DESIGN
TESTING RELEASE &
MAINTENANCE
What is now outsourced to the Philippines

4. Steps on Game Development
1. Develop Game Concept
2. Choose Target Audience
3. Choose Game Platform
4. Define Game Design Parameters
5. Map Out Calendar with Milestones
6. Create Project Plan Document
7. Quantify Budget
8. Form/Select Development Team
9. Contract Services of Development Team
10. Track Progress and Completion
11. Monitor Quality
12. Confirm Completion and Turnover of Finished Product

5. Develop Game Concept
1. Describe Game Theme
2. Describe Characters
3. Define Role of Player
4. Describe Win/Reward Condition
5. Describe Challenges for Player
6. Enumerate Number of Levels/Challenges (optional)
7. Define Length of Game Experience (optional)
8. Enumerate Game Extras (optional)

6. Choose Target Audience
1. Age
2. Gender
3. Profession (if applicable)
4. Culture and Religion (optional)
5. Lifestyle (description)
6. Brand preferences (optional)

7. Choose Game Platform
Options include
1. PC
2. Mobile
3. Portable (Nintendo DS, PSP, iPhone, iPad)
4. Console (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Wii)
5. Online
6. Mini-game/Casual game downloads
7. Social networking game (ex., Farmville)

8. Game Design Parameters
Technical considerations include
1. Programming language to use
2. Technologies to be used (engines, payment portals,
chat applications, network management for
multiplayer functionality, etc.)
3. Server requirements (if applicable)
4. Internet access for online, multiplayer functionality
(if applicable)

9. Map Out Calendar
Making sure the calendar indicates milestones for
1. Concept design and character design
2. Storyboard(if applicable)
3. Completion of game art and art assets
4. Completion of gameplay programming
5. Completion of animated sequences (if applicable)
6. Completion of sound production
7. Completion of user interface design
8. Game prototyping
9. Game completion and integration
10. Game testing
11. Completion of marketing materials and customer support
systems

10. Project Plan Document
Making sure the Project Plan includes
1. Game Concept Summary
2. Target Audience Description
3. Game Platform Selected
4. Game Design Parameters
5. Calendar with Milestones

11. Quantify Budget
Make sure the Budget is based on the following
parameters
1. Sufficient to cover Scope of Project (refer to Project Plan)
2. Alignment with Milestones (for Budget Disbursements on a
Per Tranche Basis)
3. Allows for Contingencies outside of Project Plan
4. Allows for Financial Risk due to project delays and for
Project Resets due to problems encountered with
technologies selected

12. Form/Select
Development Team
1. Decide whether to develop in-house or outsource
2. If outsource,
 Define selection criteria
 Short-list vendors
 Select vendor via use of criteria using an evaluation
committee
3. If in-house,
 Better to hire a top-level game designer and allow
him/her to form his/her team
 Better to have a mix of full-time and freelance personnel

13. Contract Services of
Development Team
1. Prepare airtight contracts first before finalizing deal
with vendors
2. Ensure the Project Plan with Milestones is
enforceable in the contract, including ensuring
there is sufficient provisions for monitoring
progress and quality, quantifying standards of
progress and quality, elaborating penalties for
negative variances, and rewards for positive
variances

14. Track Progress and Completion
1. Ensure the Project progress and quality monitoring
system is accessible to top management in key
milestones (minimum of once a week for short-
term projects, and once a month for long-term
projects)
2. Ensure there is at least weekly progress and quality
check reports
3. Ensure there is a measurable point of project
completion, with a well-defined process for the
submission/turnover of the finished product to a
key individual (turnkey approach)

15. Monitor Quality
1. Ensure quality monitoring includes product testing
at key stages, with the objective of testing
playability
2. Ensure there is a system in place for implementing
Project Plan changes in scope if there is failure in
product quality as approved/certified by top
management
3. Observe a gatekeeper approach to final game
testing (product is not released if quality failure is
imminent or detected)

16. Confirm Completion
and Turnover
1. Assign beforehand the identity of person who will
receive the finished product from the vendor (game
developer)
2. Observe a turnkey approach to finished product
turnover (with sign off from both the vendor and
the Project Owner/Publisher)

17. Thank You!