Video game development: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What video game development is

A developer builds a game, covering design, programming, art integration, sound, testing and release on mobile, computer or console platforms. You need it when you have a game idea to make real or when you want a studio to finish a game you have already started.

Signs you need it

  • You have a game concept and need a team to build a playable version
  • You have art or music and need the game built around it
  • You want a prototype to test the idea with players before a full build
  • You want a game for a specific platform, such as mobile or a computer
  • You need a game for a business, such as a training or a marketing tool

What the pro does

  • Reviews the game idea, the target platforms and the core loop of play
  • Plans the levels, the systems and the art and sound needs
  • Builds the game in playable stages and tests each one with players
  • Fixes bugs, balances the game and tests it on each platform
  • Prepares the store listing and the release, then supports the launch

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The size and scope of the game, including levels, systems and content
  • The number of platforms and whether each needs separate testing
  • Whether art, animation and sound are made or supplied
  • Whether multiplayer, online features or accounts are included
  • The number of testing rounds and players involved
  • Whether post launch updates and support are included

What a written quote should spell out

  • The features, levels and platforms built, listed one by one
  • What art, sound and music are included or supplied by you
  • Testing rounds and how bugs are reported
  • Store accounts and release steps, with who owns each
  • Support period and how updates are priced

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Who owns the game, the code and the art when it is finished?
  • What is the first playable version, and when will I see it?
  • Which platforms will you test on, and what hardware do you have?
  • How do you handle the store approval step?
  • What happens if the game needs changes after launch?
  • Can you show me games you have shipped?

Red flags

  • Promises a full game in weeks without a clear scope
  • Keeps the game code, the store accounts or the art under its own name only
  • Will not show a playable build or past games
  • Takes large payments before any playable version exists

What you can do yourself

Write a one page game design with the goal, the controls and the main loop of play, and test the idea with friends using paper or a simple prototype. Keep your art and music files in one place. Hire a developer for the build, the testing and the release.

Licenses and permits

A license is usually not required for video game development. Games that handle payments, personal data or gambling-style features can have legal requirements that depend on your state, so check with your state or local licensing agency and the app store rules.

Video game development questions

How long does a game take to make?

It depends on the scope and the team. Ask for a schedule that begins with a playable prototype, since that shows how the game plays early.

Who owns the game?

You should, if the contract says so. Make sure the code, the art and the music are owned or licensed to you.

Should I release on every platform?

Start with the platform your players use most. Each platform adds testing and release work.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer video game development remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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  3. 3. They reach out

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