Pre Production
Pre-Production Overview
Section titled “Pre-Production Overview”The Importance of Planning
Section titled “The Importance of Planning”Pre-production is entirely focused on planning before any game development begins. This crucial phase involves making numerous decisions that will shape the entire project.
Key Pre-Production Considerations
Section titled “Key Pre-Production Considerations”Target Audience and Market Analysis
Section titled “Target Audience and Market Analysis”- What is your target audience?
- How big is that market?
- Research revenue highs and lows for similar games in your genre
Budget and Resources
Section titled “Budget and Resources”- What budget is available for current design goals?
- What resources can be allocated to development?
Genre Definition
Section titled “Genre Definition”- What genre are you looking to create?
- Study similar games in your chosen genre
Defining Success
Section titled “Defining Success”Success in game development can have multiple meanings depending on your goals:
Financial Success
Section titled “Financial Success”- Create enough revenue to continuously employ a core team
- Continue making great games sustainably
- Research typical revenue ranges for your genre
Personal Expression
Section titled “Personal Expression”- Tell a very personal story or share experiences
- Create educational or scientific content
- Build fun and unique experiences
Learning from the Industry
Section titled “Learning from the Industry”The game development community is known for knowledge sharing through:
- Convention talks
- Developer logs on YouTube
- Discord communities
- Developer interviews about success and failure stories
Pre-Production Best Practices
Section titled “Pre-Production Best Practices”Work in Phases
Section titled “Work in Phases”- Identify early development goals
- Don’t try to fully build specific features initially
- Always focus on the core game loop
Scope Management
Section titled “Scope Management”Core Development Principle
Section titled “Core Development Principle”- Keep it simple
- Focus on creating a playable experience early
- Test and iterate frequently
Pre-Production Goals
Section titled “Pre-Production Goals”The primary objective of pre-production is to create a solid foundation for development. This means having clear answers to fundamental questions about audience, budget, genre, and success metrics before moving into production phases.
Remember: proper planning prevents poor performance. Taking time during pre-production will save countless hours and prevent project cancellations later in development.