By ArchiveSearch Staff
Every video game relies on software engineering to turn artwork, rules and player input into an interactive world on screen.
How Video Games Are Developed
Building a video game resembles film production, except the characters and environments are brought to life through code rather than live actors.
Design
Production begins with the concept and storyline. Writers outline the plot, objectives, cast of characters and core mechanics of the game.
Once the cast is defined, concept artists sketch the characters on paper or storyboards and establish how each one moves and interacts. If a character is a monkey, for instance, its jumps, climbs and gestures are mapped out before the artwork is digitised on a computer.
Development
Development covers both the target medium, such as a console disc, and the underlying program. Software engineers write the game code using languages such as C++, Visual C++ and Java to control character actions and game logic. A separate audio team records music and sound effects in a studio using instruments and recording techniques.
Testing
Once a playable build is ready, developers and quality assurance testers play through the stages to identify software bugs. Beta versions are also shared with players to spot issues before the final release is pressed to CD or DVD and distributed.
