“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad”
- Not actually Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto.
Whose quote this really is, is a complicated question too but a topic for another time and blog.
But it is true, isn’t it?
How long it will be until a game is released is a complicated and sometimes an emotional question.
Fans who are currently waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6 will be over a decade older than when GTA 5 was released (2013). That’s enough time to become a legal adult, get a job, a spouse, and have children who are now in school.
But you can bet the game is going to be mind-blowing!
In a similar vein, a 3D game most certainly takes more time to develop as compared to 2D games. It’s just more complex.
In this blog piece, we will focus on the stages of the game development process and how they influence the eventual release time of the game. These are the pre-production, production, and post-production phases.
Moreover, we will discuss the factors that can accelerate or delay the process.
Let’s dive right in!
1. Pre-production Phase: Laying the Foundation
This is the stage that lays the groundwork for the upcoming phases. It serves as the blueprint that sets the direction and tone for the rest of the game design process.
Developers conceptualize their vision for the game. They brainstorm ideas, themes, and mechanics that will ultimately shape the gameplay. Then comes the market research. It is important to understand your target audience, analyze trends, and understand competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.
All the gathered data will be outlined in a game design document (GDD). This will represent the mechanics, gameplay loops, levels, story, etc.
Finally, the 3D game animation studio must gather the right talent, technology, and tools.
Establish roles and responsibilities. Encourage clear communication and effective planning. This will minimize the risk of unexpected challenges and delays.
2. Production Phase: Bringing Ideas to Life
This is where the magic happens. This is also the longest phase in the game development process.
All the planning and preparation in the pre-production phase transitions to actively developing the game. Especially important is the creation of assets, including 3D models, textures, animations, and sound effects. They need to be aligned with the game’s aesthetic.
The programmers code and implement the game mechanics, AI behavior, user interfaces, and other interactive elements.
Designers construct environments and scenarios that players will interact with. This is the level design step. It is a critical process that makes the game world immersive and engaging.
The phase can only be successful through positive collaboration and clear communication. Regular meetings, feedback sessions, and milestone evaluations help ensure that the process and the people are on track.
3. Post-production Phase: Polishing and Refining
And here we are at the home stretch. Now that the assets are created and in-place, it is time to refine them. This involves fixing bugs, localization, performance optimization, and marketing.
Playtesting takes center stage in this stage. The feedback from real players helps the game devs identify pain points, fine-tune gameplay mechanics, and address any lingering issues.
Beyond the technical fine-tuning, this stage involves polishing the game’s aesthetics, sound design, and narrative elements.
Both of these iterative processes ensure that players receive an immersive experience.
Time Estimates and Variables: Managing Expectations
When creating a 3D game for a game design studio, there are a number of variables that can add or subtract from the development time. Let’s see what they are so it becomes easier to be mindful of these:
- Depending on the scope of the project, a simple 3D game might come out in a few months. But an open world 3D game will be a different story.
- The size of the team directly influences the development time.
A small team has the benefit of agile work and effective communication, but they lack the manpower that some games might need. Conversely, a large team means accelerated progress as they can work on multiple tasks simultaneously. However, this can cross with the budget constraints.
- Choosing the right game engine can accelerate the process. They come with built-in tools and assets that can cut out a lot of busy work.
- Unexpected roadblocks like bugs, feature creep, or design overhauls can add significant time to the development work.
Patience is key, especially when developing a 3D game.
As a rule of thumb, a small indie game can take a few months and up to a year to come out. A mid-sized project would take between 1-3 years. Finally, AAA Titles can take 3-5 years or even longer to be released.
Conclusion
As us GTA fans wait for the game 6, we now see that the long development time is a feature, not a bug. As developers, it is important that the finished product can meet the players’ expectations.
It is a collaborative effort and help is always welcome. That’s where we come in.
Hi, we are EDIIIE, a pioneering game design and development studio.
We deliver exceptional game development services that will help you turn your ideas into interactive reality. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us!
