The document discusses the different stages of game development: 1) Idea Development is when the initial idea for a game is conceived and discussed for viability. 2) Pre-Production is the planning phase where design documents are made to outline tasks, schedules and estimates. 3) Production is the main development stage where game assets, code, levels are created. 4) Post-Production provides time off for developers after a game's release.

1. Games Designer Ryan Costello

2. Idea DevelopmentIdea Development is the stage of production when the idea of the games is come up with and discussed to see if it’s a viable option for a new game.

3. Pre-ProductionPre-production or design phase is a planning phase of the project focused on idea and concept development and production of initial design documents. The goal of concept development is to produce clear and easy to understand documentation, which describes all the tasks, schedules and estimates for the development team. The suite of documents produced in this phase is called production plan. This phase is usually not funded by a publisher, however good publishers may require developers to produce plans during pre-production.

4. ProductionProduction is the main stage of development, when assets and source code for the game are produced.Mainstream production is usually defined as the period of time when the project is fully staffed. Programmers write new source code, artists develop game assets, such as, sprites or 3D models. Sound engineers develop sound effects and composers develop music for the game. Level designers create levels, and writers write dialogue for cutscenes and NPCs.Game designers continue to develop the game's design throughout production.

5. Post-ProductionAfter the game goes gold and ships, some developers will give team members comp time (perhaps up to a week or two) to compensate for the overtime put in to complete the game, though this compensation is not standard.

6. MarketingThe game production has similar distribution methods to those of music and film industries.The publisher's marketing team targets the game for a specific market and then advertises it.The team advises the developer on target demographics and market trends, as well as suggests specific features. The game is then advertised and the game's high concept is incorporated into the promotional material, ranging from magazine ads to TV spots. Communication between developer and marketing is important.