This lesson covers some of the terms used during the course.
The further you dive into the game development world, the more you will learn. Some of the terms are quite obvious, but some might confuse you, especially if you work in the programming or art department.
We have gathered some of the terms here. These will help you get started.
Click on the flashcards to learn useful terminology.
Even if this course doesn't go over the production, it's still useful to be aware of it. Game designers and game producers work closely together, and, in smaller companies, they can even be the same person.
Stage 1: Pre-production This is the stage where you set the plans in motion. What kind of game are you making and how are you going to make it? The general style, scope and goals should be set here. During pre-production, studios prototype characters, environments, interfaces, control schemes, and other in-game elements to see how they look, feel, and interact with one another.
Stage 2: Production This stage includes most of the development. Basically, this is the part where the core and foundation of the game are created. Depending on the scope of the project, this stage can take anything from months to years. After this is done, the developers can start moving on to…
Stage 3: Testing Every feature and mechanic in the game needs to be tested for quality control. A game that hasn’t been thoroughly tested is a game that’s not even ready for an Alpha release.
Stage 4: Pre-launch The pre-launch stage is a stressful time for gaming studios. This is where the developers refine the game after they've received feedback through testing. The beta build of the game is created, and marketing should be very active at all times.
Stage 5: Launch Making the finishing touches and then launching the game
Stage 6: Post-production Post-production covers basically all the development support after the launch of the game. The game might be out there in the wild, but the work isn't done. The game should still get support like bug fixes, more content, and other potential changes.
So, this is what the overall process looks like. Now, let’s dig a little deeper into what being a designer really means.