The Process of Game Development(Part2)

The Process of Game Development(Part2)

The Pitch

If your game or project is more than just ahobby, the pitch is the most important part of your plan. To convince others to be involved in production, you need to persuade them (at least on some level) to participate. You need to form a sales pitch to help people get as fired up about your idea as you are. Developing a pitch is also a good time to figure out whether your idea is a good one. Keep in mind that if you can’t sell someone on your game’s concept, you probably won’t be able to sell anyone the final result. Remember that not everyone shares your ideas of what’s cool or exciting.Your pitch needs to present the project in such a way that most people can see why your idea is marketable.

Gathering the Team

Gathering your team is a more important step than many people realize. If you have ever tried to

work with a group of people to accomplish a goal, you know exactly how important this step is.

Working with a group to finish a project is often like trying to order a pizza that satisfies everyone.

You have to take into account personal schedules, emergencies, obligations, and other dayto-

day stuff that pops up for people who live in the real world. The following sections explain

what factors you should consider when trying to get a team together.

Space shot of wormhole.

Know Who You Need on Your Team

Take some time to figure out exactly what kind of jobs are necessary to complete your project. It’s

pointless to seek out team members until you have done this step. Remember, however, that when

working with a small group, often team members can fill more than one role. On the other hand,

if your project has complex tasks, such as extensive modeling, you might need to sign on more

than one person to complete those tasks.

The following list describes some possible positions for members of your team:

Concept artist—

This person provides all the drawings and sketches needed for your project, such as characters, weapons, vehicles, and map layouts. For example, the earlier sections in this chapter about the story for Eternal Exodus included several pieces of what could be considered concept art. Naturally, concept artists need to exhibit exceptional skill at creating 2D art based on ideas and descriptions. Having a good design sense, too, is a tremendous help in enhancing the final look and feel of the game’s elements.

Modeler—

This team member converts the concept artist’s 2D artwork into 3D assets that can be imported into your game. Typically,modelers’ work needs to be relatively low in polygon count, depending on
the amount of physical detail your project needs.Modelers need to be familiar with the polygonal modeling tools in your chosen 3D package and should be ready to work closely with concept artists to make sure their work follows the original designs. Modelers must also stay in close contact
with level designers so that they’re modeling all the necessary static meshes for each map.

Texture artist—

The tactile look of your game elements are left to the texture artist, who is the team member responsible for making sure your project’s objects seem to be made of the correct materials and have

appropriate colors and shading. Texture artists must have extensive knowledge of 2D computer art applications, such as Photoshop, and know where to find sources of real-world textures.

Creature setup technician—

This team member is responsible for creating the control system that turns your character models into digital puppets that the animator can later set to move. Creature setup technicians need to have a thorough understanding of character rigging techniques in the 3D package you have decided to use for the project, such as Maya or 3ds max. Often, especially on smaller teams, this person doubles as an animator.

Animator—

When motion is needed, the animator is the one to call. The animator not only understands animation methods in your selected 3D animation software, but also has a thorough knowledge of the way objects move, especially their timing. If the animator isn’t doing the creature setup, you should make sure the creature setup technician and animator work together closely so that there are no conflicting ideas about how control systems should be designed.

Programmer/coder—

This team member knows how UnrealScript works and how to use it to integrate the necessary functionality into the game or project. In most cases, programmers also understand many of the fundamental concepts that drive the Unreal Engine, so don’t be afraid to go to them for advice on your idea. Good programmers should also understand the capabilities of the UnrealScript language so that they can judge the difficulty—or even the possibility—of integrating a new idea into the system.

Project manager—

This person doesn’t usually create any of the game’s elements, but still plays a vital role by making sure each part of the project is being completed on time and any internal problems are solved. In many cases, this team member might turn out to be you. If, however, you don’t feel comfortable with or capable of keeping your workers on schedule, you should probably consider finding someone else for the job. If you have someone other than yourself in this position, make sure you stay in close contact with him or her throughout the project so that you’re informed of the project’s progress.

 Web designer—

The web designer can be any member of the team who has experience in creating web pages, but you might want to bring in a person dedicated strictly to designing a site and keeping it maintained and updated. Get other online game community sites and forums to mention your game or project so that people check out your site and get excited about its release. Promoting your project is an important aspect of its success. An easy way to get your game noticed is to design a web page that informs the public about your project and offers updates on the progress of its development.

Choose the Right People

Find recruits who are reliable and hard-working. This advice cannot be emphasized enough. You

need people for your project who are just as serious as you are about seeing it through to the end.

Don’t be afraid to reject potential team members who don’t seem as though they can stick with

the project. If you don’t think someone is cut out for the project, be honest and explain why you

feel that way. Your honesty might even provoke him or her into “proving you wrong” by working

hard and becoming a strong member of the team.

Find people who enjoy working on jobs such as your project and are willing to dedicate time to

it. 

Know Their Capabilities

Don’t add someone to the team as an animator unless you know this person can animate well.

Ask to see references or past work.Depending on the professional level of your project, you might

request a formal resume, demo reel, or documentation of previous related work. Ask people who

have worked with your potential team member in the past so that you have a better idea what to

expect of his or her work and attitude. At the very least, make sure you know whether this person

is capable of the work and skill level needed for the project.

Planet exploding as a result of the Creators’ attack.

Honesty Is Still the Best Policy

Be honest with people from the start. If you know the schedule will be tough, let your team members

know when they sign on. If team members aren’t working up to your standards, tell them

immediately, but remember to be fair in your criticism of their work. Fairness and honesty go a

long way toward preventing conflicts. Your honesty can help your team members trust you and

place more value on your opinions.

Creating a Production Schedule

Few things are more discouraging to a project’s participants than falling off schedule. Keep in

mind that during production, delays are bound to happen, and you and your team should be

ready to strive to maintain the set schedule. During the project, remember to make the most of

your project manager’s skills to keep your team’s progress on time.

How do you set up a workable schedule for your project? It takes close communication between

you and your team members to make sure they know exactly what they need to do and the order

in which to do it. They also need to let you know how fast they can complete each task.With that

knowledge, it’s much easier for team members to have a schedule they’re able to maintain without

undue pressure.