GameApps

With the growth of audience expectations and the increase in the number of new releases, the gaming industry is becoming one of the most competitive industries in the world of technology. Players today have too many choices – companies are forced to compete not only for sales, but also for the time that people are willing to spend on their product.

Only a professional approach to game development allows you to withstand competition and not get lost among thousands of companies. It begins with an analysis of the market landscape and the chosen niche, studying the current needs of the audience, clearly setting tasks and high-quality technical implementation of the project.

AVADA MEDIA team has been developing custom games for over 10 years, we have implemented dozens of game development projects. The company offers full-cycle service: we implement your ideas on a turnkey basis – from concept and design to game mechanics and code.

In order to successfully enter the market in the context of globalization and high industry saturation, a good idea alone is not enough — a high level of execution at each stage of development is required. The market is characterized by a high level of competition — on the one hand, large corporations with multi-million budgets and established franchises, on the other — talented indie developers actively developing niches.

The rapid development of technologies (AI, VR/AR, cloud gaming) opens up new niches and opportunities, but at the same time increases the requirements for product quality and speed of adaptation. The cross-platform struggle between products for mobile devices, PCs, consoles and cloud platforms is also intensifying.

In such conditions, the company’s ability to transform an idea into a competitive product that meets market requirements and user expectations is critically important. To achieve this goal, an individual approach to each project, careful elaboration of all stages of production and a high level of execution at each of them are necessary. These are the principles that the AVADA MEDIA team is guided by.

What do we mean by a professional approach to game development:

Clear goal setting

• Careful development of the concept and idea of ​​the project, selection of a niche.
• Relevance of the genre, understanding of trends, competitive environment and platform requirements.
• Understanding the tastes, preferences and characteristics of the audience (age, devices used, expectations).
• Clear documentation of the client’s requirements and expectations – having a detailed game design document for a comprehensive vision and consistent execution of tasks, measurability of results and stable work.

Development of goals and compilation of a game design document is the foundation of a successful game project. This helps to fix the goal and formulate the concept, ensuring effective planning, management and quality control in the development of custom games.

Choosing a qualified team

• Selection of developers with relevant experience and competencies – programmers, game designers, animators, artists, etc.
• Organization of coordinated work and productive communication between specialists and the customer.
• Effective management is a competent organization of the team, resource and deadline management.

Only specialists with the appropriate qualifications and relevant experience can create a game that will be profitable, interesting to the target audience and technically stable. Selecting a team is a strategic investment, on which the result of game development and the success of its release depend.

Relevant tools and technologies

• Choosing an engine suitable for the project tasks (Unity, Unreal Engine, etc.).
• A current stack of technologies, internal tools, automation (for example, CI/CD and build systems).
• Ready-made assets, modules and frameworks for optimizing the development process.

The choice and combination of tools and technologies affect the performance, scalability and payback of the product, the pace and cost of game development services, the quality of gameplay and visuals. The adaptability of the project to different platforms and the ability to integrate monetization, analytics, third-party services also depend on the technical stack.

Time management, effective management

• Realistic assessment of deadlines with task prioritization.
• Iterative work process and progress monitoring (agile, scrum, kanban).
• Prototyping and testing at the initial stages to filter out non-working hypotheses.

Time management, iterative work, prototyping and testing are critically important at the early stages of turnkey game development. These elements of work allow you to effectively manage risks, save resources and ensure a result that meets the expectations of the customer and the audience.

Feedback collection, testing

• Use of playtests, involvement of focus groups.
• Comprehensive testing for bugs (functional, combinatorial, exploratory, regression, game, etc.), elimination of defects.
• Adaptation and refinement of the product based on feedback from the audience.

Feedback collection and testing are an integral part of game production. They allow you to test hypotheses and the viability of design solutions, identify bugs and weaknesses in gameplay, check UX, server stability, compatibility with various devices, etc. You can order turnkey game development in compliance with these conditions from AVADA MEDIA.

A responsible approach to testing a product before entering the market allows you to prepare for a successful release, prevent wasting resources on unnecessary functions and bad ideas, and improve the user experience.

A quality game is the result of a comprehensive approach at every stage of development. Here are 6 key aspects that influence how the audience will accept your product:

Well-designed, balanced graphics

Users expect high-quality images, good color rendition, and high detail. At the same time, during the development of games and applications, it is important to optimize resource consumption so that the user’s device is not overloaded.

Interesting, dynamic gameplay

The components of success are exciting, original mechanics with gradually increasing complexity of tasks, a variety of interactions and activities (environment, enemies, artifacts, alternative solutions, bonus levels).

Analysis of the audience, understanding the market landscape and current trends allows you to ensure and maintain the interest of players during the game.

Intuitive interface and rules

A user-friendly menu, easy access to important information, and a logical arrangement of buttons are important. When creating a game, it is important to maintain a balance between originality and simplicity.

Completing tasks should be interesting and feasible. Clearly developed rules and consistent logic help with this: so that the player can quickly navigate the laws of the universe, the principles of interaction with the environment and other participants. All actions must have a predictable, justified result.

High-quality backend

Stable application operation and good user experience are incompatible with bugs and crashes. Well-thought-out game mechanics and technically competent implementation of each element, including clear controls and responsiveness, are necessary for success.

Diversity of content

Alternative tasks, tactics and styles of play, additional enemies, abilities, hidden levels, mini-games and plot branches diversify the user experience and increase engagement.

There are many options to retain and increase player retention: new modes, achievements, goals, alternative endings, online competitions. You can order the development of a game with all these elements in different combinations from AVADA MEDIA.

Atmosphere and motivation of players

Visual design, a unique world with authentic aesthetics and history, a well-developed plot and interesting characters help users immerse themselves in your universe. The complexity of tasks as the plot progresses, a well-thought-out arrangement of enemies and objects on the player’s path ensure an increase in interest.

Clearly defined tasks and a well-thought-out reward system (points, abilities, items, etc.) maintain excitement and give a sense of progress. AVADA MEDIA developers create games taking these rules into account.

The process of creating custom games includes five major stages, each of which is divided into several stages and areas of work.

Pre-production

At the pre-production stage, key components of the future project are laid down, ensuring stability and predictability of game development by programmers and other specialists.

Preparatory work:

• creation of the concept;
• analysis of the market, audience, platforms;
• finalization of the concept;
• writing a game design document;
• formation of the team;
• prototyping of gameplay;
• budget and deadline planning.

Pre-production allows you to avoid misunderstandings, delays and costly alterations, giving a high-quality start to the entire production cycle.

Production

This is the main stage of game development, during which the concepts recorded in the design document, technical specifications and prototypes are embodied in a working product:

• programming logic and mechanics;
• creation of characters, environment, UI;
• level design (mapping) — creation of game levels, missions, tasks, locations;
• voice acting, sound effects, music overlay;
• integration of AI solutions and multiplayer (optional).

At this stage, all key specialists are involved: programmers, game designers, artists, animators, scriptwriters, testers. All elements are integrated into a single system, production is the basis for the material embodiment of the game.

Testing (QA)

The testing stage (Quality Assurance) is critically important in custom game development — it ensures the high quality of the final product:

• search for and elimination of bugs and other defects;
• gameplay testing;
• testing for compatibility with platforms and devices;
• collecting feedback from focus groups, playtests;
• working with analytics;
• product refinement.

The quality, stability, competitiveness and commercial success of the project depend on testing. Game refinement based on testing strengthens audience trust, supports the company’s image, and reduces post-release maintenance costs.

Release

This is the culmination of game development — the release of the product to the market. This is a strategically important stage, on which the perception and success of the product depend:

• assembly and uploading of the final version of the game to platforms (Steam, App Store, etc.);
• technical support of the release version (content updates).

After the release, a wide audience gets access to the product. This stage shows how the market, players, media, and publishers actually perceive the game, and how well the commercial and image goals were achieved.

The future and potential of the project — the feasibility and prospects of content updates, additions (DLS), activities, creation of sequels, and franchises — depend on how well the release is carried out.

Post-release technical support

In the conditions of high competition and rapidly changing user expectations, post-release technical support is the final, but no less important stage of the game life cycle. It ensures stable operation and development of the project after its release to the market:

• Introduction of updates and fixes;
• Launch of seasonal events and additional content (DLS);
• Analysis of player behavior and feedback;
• Interaction with the community;
• Implementation of monetization and in-game purchases (optional).

Post-release technical support ensures technical stability, relevance and commercial success of the game in the long term.

Compliance with this sequence of actions when outsourcing game development allows AVADA MEDIA to create high-quality IT products without bugs and errors, deliver them within the agreed time frame, in accordance with the specified technical specifications and the client’s expectations.

If you are interested in developing a game from scratch

Creating a game from scratch is a multi-level process that requires a professional approach, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the specifics of the gaming industry. AVADA MEDIA specialists offer comprehensive support for the development of IT products from idea to release with subsequent technical support.

What will be the algorithm of actions if you are interested in developing a turnkey game:

• Assigning a team of experienced developers to the project, who will promptly implement your turnkey ideas.
• Analysis of the market, niche, audience.
• Development of documentation on game design.
• Proposal of concepts, options for artistic styles and memorable characters.
• Prototyping of the main mechanics and elements of the gameplay to test hypotheses for operability and test interest from players.

A flexible, step-by-step production cycle for turnkey game development and an iterative format of cooperation ensure prompt introduction of edits and changes without stopping the process.

• Organization of a soft launch to collect feedback before the release.
• Technical support of the product after its official release, release of updates, etc.

A flexible interaction model combined with a team of experienced developers ensures high-quality results and their compliance with audience expectations. An AVADA MEDIA specialist will tell you how much it costs to create a game from scratch and how long it will take to complete your project — contact us.

If you want to speed up the release of an existing product

To implement a game project, it is not always necessary to form a fully staffed team, including specialists of all profiles. Sometimes it is more effective to involve an external team on a project basis that meets the company’s goals and the scale of the plan.

In such cases, a team is formed that is adapted to the specific needs of the customer — with the involvement of specialists with the competencies necessary for the successful completion of the project.

Such strengthening of the customer’s internal staff allows you to optimize the production process and ensure timely preparation for the launch date and a successful entry into the market. To clarify the preliminary price of game development, we recommend contacting AVADA MEDIA specialists — after the consultation, an individual calculation will be prepared based on the goals and features of the project.

This approach allows us to specifically cover all project needs, speed up game production and minimize potential risks of missed deadlines without having to expand the company’s staff.

Discussion of the concept and preliminary assessment of the project

The first stage of game production is preparatory: a detailed discussion of the key parameters of the project: concept and idea, expectations, business goals, budget, implementation deadlines and production schedule.

The discussion clarifies the main aspects:

• Genre affiliation and key game mechanics – it is planned to create a shooter, strategy, puzzle, platformer, RPG or simulator.
• Features of the target audience – adults, teenagers, children, casual players or hardcore gamers, genre preferences, geo- and cultural components, motivation (entertainment, communication, achievements, etc.).
• Development platform – mobile devices (iOS, Android), PC, consoles or browser solutions.

Preliminary development of these aspects allows you to lay the foundation for subsequent stages of production and ensure that the product meets the expectations of the customer, the target audience and the market situation. Preliminary estimates of the cost of game development services are made. It depends on the chosen genre and complexity, deadline expectations, technology stack, required number and skill level of specialists. This could be a game designer, programmer, 2D/3D artist, animator, tester, producer or manager.

As a rule, we provide a preliminary cost of game development for the project within a week after the first consultation.

Design (preparation for production)

After agreeing on the key parameters of the project, it is necessary to formalize the cooperation:

• a contract for the provision of services with clearly defined deadlines, stages and conditions of implementation is concluded;
• a project team is formed to develop the game from specialists who meet the objectives of the project and the genre specifics of the game;
• a package of technical and organizational documentation is prepared.

These steps ensure transparency of cooperation, efficiency of project management and measurability of results.

Before production and programming, the following are compiled and agreed upon:

• Game design document (GDD) with a detailed description of the narrative, mechanics, relationships, gameplay, game cycles, technologies (Unity, Unreal Engine or another engine, in 2D or 3D, in the style of realism, anime, etc.). It is necessary for assessing deadlines and reconciliation during work on creating a game at each stage.
• A document describing the visual component with specified artistic style, wishes and configurations of character design, palette, references, etc.

The stage of preparation for game production takes on average 1-2 months, depending on the complexity of the project.

Creating an MVP, specifying the cost of game development

Having a clear understanding of the concept and visual and plot style of the project, the AVADA MEDIA game development studio determines a list of key elements required to create a minimum viable product (MVP) necessary for a soft launch. This is a limited version release that includes basic gameplay, a scenario base, or the first level of the game with limited access. The goal is to test game mechanics, plot elements, stylistic design, and also collect initial feedback from the target audience to refine individual elements if necessary. Based on the analysis of data on labor costs and resources required to release the MVP, the final project budget is formulated. The sequence of actions ensures transparent planning and effective project management.

Game development (programming, art and sound design)

This is the main stage of the production cycle – the development team gradually implements the game’s functionality in accordance with the approved technical specifications and schedule. AVADA MEDIA team provides weekly detailed reports on the volume of work completed, ensuring transparency of interaction at each stage. If necessary, the project manager and the rest of the team adapt the process taking into account the changing needs and wishes of the client. Product production is divided into sprints (small stages). After 1-2 weeks from the start, based on the results of each such sprint, you will be able to test and evaluate the implemented elements on a weekly basis. On average, after 3 months from the start of work (depending on the complexity and scale of the project), the MVP of the game becomes available for initial testing. The customer receives full access to all the necessary information about the progress of the game development and the current status of the project.

Testing (launching a test version for internal players)

This is a key stage of testing a finished product before a soft launch, especially if it implements experimental mechanics or narrative elements that require preliminary evaluation and possible refinement based on feedback.

Testing allows you to:

• evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility, and attractiveness of mechanics and narrative for players;
• get feedback before launch;
• measure the level of engagement — how the focus group reacts to different elements of the gameplay, what works/is interesting, and what doesn’t, and why.

This information provides material for further optimization and programming of the game — eliminating bugs and non-obvious control problems, refining missions.

Soft launch, optimization

This stage allows you to get a more complete picture of possible shortcomings, user behavior, and adjust mechanics and/or refine content. During a soft launch, a limited number of players get access to the test version to test the product in real conditions. This stage helps to finally prepare for the full release, evaluate the level of user engagement and retention, the success of the chosen monetization model, the strengths and weaknesses of the game and ensure a more successful launch to a wider audience.

Release

Official release — launch of the final version of the game on the market. All mechanics, content and functionality correspond to the technical specifications and game design document. The product functions stably and is ready for sale and entry into the market. At this stage, trailers, screenshots, pages in online stores are created. This is the beginning of interaction with real players and improvement of the project in accordance with feedback from the target audience.

Support after the release

AVADA MEDIA team will create the game and provide its technical support after the release:

• management of activities in the game;
• content updates (new missions, levels, temporary events, sequels).

This helps to make the product better, ensuring its relevance, stimulates and maintains the interest of the audience.

We wrote more about the stages of game development here.

Technologies we use for game development

We use a wide range of relevant technologies:

Game engines:

• Unity is a universal engine suitable for creating 2D and 3D games, including mobile ones.
• Unreal Engine is a more powerful engine for developing games with advanced graphics.

Graphics and modeling:

• For 3D modeling, we use Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush.
• For 2D graphics, we use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Krita, for 2D animation — Spine and Aseprite.
• Working with textures: Substance Painter, Quixel Mixer.

Programming languages:

• C# — when developing games on Unity.
• C++ — when creating projects on Unreal Engine.
• Python, JavaScript — for scripts.

Server technologies: Photon, Mirror, PlayFab, AWS GameLift, Azure PlayFab.

Network protocols: TCP, UDP, WebSocket.

Databases and backend: Firebase, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Redis.

IDEs and development environments: Visual Studio, Rider, VS Code.

Testing and analytics: Unity Analytics, GameAnalytics, Adjust.

Thanks to a wide technology stack, our team develops both simple and high-load game projects adapted to various platforms, target audiences and operating systems.

AVADA MEDIA has been working in the IT industry for over 10 years, making games in dozens of genres for popular platforms and operating systems. The company’s experience and expertise allow us to successfully implement projects of any complexity – from classic gaming solutions to innovative products based on blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies:

• The company has a team of experienced specialists with many years of experience in the gaming industry – developers, game designers, testers and other industry experts. Work on each project is based on an individual approach, taking into account the goals, objectives and specifics of the product and the customer’s audience.
• The processes are built in such a way as to ensure strict compliance with deadlines and agreements at each stage of creating an IT product. AVADA MEDIA takes on the full production cycle: from development and technical implementation of the concept to testing and post-release support.
• As part of an integrated approach, work is carried out on the frontend and backend, A / B testing of game mechanics, collection and analysis of user feedback.
• The stack of relevant technologies, modern game engines and programming languages ​​that the company uses in its work allow creating visually attractive and functional games with original mechanics.
• Special attention is paid to the issue of optimization – games released by the AVADA MEDIA team consistently show themselves, including on devices with limited technical resources.
• The company builds cooperation with clients on the principles of transparency and flexibility. This is achieved through regular reporting, prompt communication and readiness to make adjustments to the production process or concept at any stage of the project.
• Being well acquainted with the specifics and dynamics of processes in the game development industry, AVADA MEDIA ensures the adaptation of the project to changing requirements, taking into account the productivity of processes, compliance with deadlines and the quality of the final product.

Do you want to consult, find out how much it costs to develop a game according to your concept, or just get an answer to a question about game development? Write – we will answer, offer solutions to achieve your goals.

We work on a turnkey basis and on an outsourced basis, we are ready to create a game from scratch and quickly connect at any stage of your project implementation, please contact us.