DEVOTED STUDIOS BLOG

Co-development is a collaborative approach to game development that involves multiple game production companies working together to create a single project. This approach has been shown to be highly effective and can lead to the creation of better and more successful games.

One of the key benefits of co-development is that it allows different game companies to share their expertise and knowledge. For example, a game production company that specializes in creating engaging stories can collaborate with a company that has expertise in creating high-quality graphics, resulting in a game that has both a compelling narrative and beautiful visuals.

Another benefit of co-development is that it allows game companies to pool their resources and talent. By working together, companies can create larger and more ambitious games that would not be possible for a single company to develop on its own. This can lead to the creation of games that are more complex and engaging, and that offer players a richer and more immersive gaming experience.

Co-development also allows game companies to share the risks and costs associated with game development. By working together, companies can spread the financial burden of game development across multiple partners, which can help to reduce the overall cost of development and make it more feasible for companies to create larger and more ambitious games.

Effective Co-development Strategies

Identify Strengths

One of the key strategies for effective co-development is to identify the strengths and expertise of each game company involved in the collaboration. By understanding the unique capabilities of each partner, game companies can work together to create a game that leverages the strengths of each partner and creates a more well-rounded and engaging experience for players.

Distribute Responsibilities

It is crucial to establish clear roles and responsibilities for each partner. By defining the specific tasks and responsibilities of each partner, game companies can ensure that the collaboration is well-organized and efficient and that each partner is contributing to the overall success of the game.

Effective Communication

By establishing regular communication channels and setting up clear lines of communication, game companies can ensure that all partners are informed about the progress of the game and are able to provide input and feedback.

Largest Co-development Projects

In recent years, the gaming industry has seen an increase in the number of games that were co-developed by multiple game production companies. This collaborative approach to game development has been shown to be highly effective and has led to the creation of some of the most successful and critically-acclaimed games in the industry.

One of the most notable examples of a game that was co-developed is the popular action-adventure game, The Last of Us. The game was developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2013. The Last of Us was a commercial and critical success and has been widely praised for its engaging story, compelling characters, and innovative gameplay.

Another successful game that was co-developed is the popular role-playing game, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game was developed by CD Projekt Red and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and was released for multiple platforms in 2015. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a massive success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide, and has been praised for its rich and immersive world, engaging story, and complex characters.

In addition to these examples, there are many other games that have been co-developed by multiple companies, including the popular first-person shooter, Destiny, which was developed by Bungie and published by Activision, and the popular action-adventure game, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which was developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Overall, the increasing use of co-development in the gaming industry has led to the creation of some of the most successful and critically-acclaimed games in the industry. By leveraging the strengths and expertise of multiple game companies, co-development can help to create better and more engaging games that are enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.

Game production companies are responsible for creating and developing video games, which are played on a variety of platforms including computers, consoles, and mobile devices. These companies are typically involved in every aspect of game production, from initial concept and design to development and testing, to marketing and distribution.

There are a number of game production companies operating in the industry today, ranging from small independent studios to large multinational corporations. Some of the most well-known game production companies include Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Microsoft Studios.

Nintendo

When it comes to game production, few companies can match the success and innovation of Japanese game developer and publisher, Nintendo. Founded in 1889, Nintendo is one of the oldest and most respected game companies in the world, and has consistently been at the forefront of the gaming industry for over 130 years.

Throughout its history, Nintendo has been responsible for creating some of the most iconic and beloved game franchises in the world. From the early days of Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. to more recent hits like Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo has consistently been able to create engaging and entertaining games that have captivated players of all ages.

One of the key factors in Nintendo’s success as a game producer is its commitment to innovation and creativity. The company has always been willing to take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of gaming, and this has resulted in a number of industry-changing innovations. For example, Nintendo was one of the first companies to introduce motion control technology to gaming with the release of the Wii console in 2006, which allowed players to control their games using physical gestures.

In addition to its commitment to innovation, Nintendo is also known for its high-quality game design and production. The company’s games are known for their engaging stories, compelling characters, and beautiful graphics, which have helped to make them some of the most popular and successful games in the world.

Despite the challenges posed by the constantly evolving gaming industry, Nintendo has continued to thrive and remains one of the best game producers in the world. With its commitment to innovation, high-quality game design, and a deep understanding of what makes games fun and engaging, Nintendo is poised to continue its success as a game producer for many years to come.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a leading game production company and a subsidiary of the Japanese electronics company, Sony Corporation. The company is best known for its PlayStation line of video game consoles, which have been popular since their introduction in 1994. In addition to its consoles, Sony is also a leading publisher of video games, with a number of popular franchises such as God of War, Uncharted, and The Last of Us.

Sony Interactive Entertainment was first established in 1993 as Sony Computer Entertainment and was responsible for the development and production of the original PlayStation console. The PlayStation, which was released in 1994, was a revolutionary piece of gaming technology that introduced 3D graphics and CD-ROM technology to the world of gaming. The console was a massive success, selling over 100 million units worldwide, and helped to establish Sony as a major player in the gaming industry.

Over the years, Sony has continued to evolve and innovate in the world of gaming. In 2000, the company released the PlayStation 2, which introduced DVD technology to gaming and became the best-selling video game console of all time, with over 155 million units sold worldwide. In 2006, Sony released the PlayStation 3, which introduced motion control technology and became the first video game console to support high-definition graphics.

In addition to its popular consoles, Sony is also a leading publisher of video games. The company has a number of popular franchises, including God of War, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, which have won numerous awards and accolades for their engaging stories, compelling characters, and innovative gameplay.

Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to be a leading game production company and is at the forefront of the gaming industry. With its commitment to innovation and high-quality game design, the company is well-positioned to continue its success and remain one of the top players in the world of gaming.

Microsoft Studios

Microsoft Studios is a leading game production company and a subsidiary of American technology company, Microsoft Corporation. The company is best known for its Xbox line of video game consoles, which were first released in 2001. In addition to its consoles, Microsoft Studios is also a leading publisher of video games, with popular franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, and Minecraft.

Microsoft Studios was first established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios, and was responsible for the development and production of the original Xbox console. The Xbox, which was released in 2001, was a powerful and innovative gaming system that introduced online gaming and a number of other industry-changing features. The console was a success, selling over 24 million units worldwide, and helped to establish Microsoft as a major player in the gaming industry.

Over the years, Microsoft has continued to evolve and innovate in the world of gaming. In 2005, the company released the Xbox 360, which introduced motion control technology and became the first video game console to support high-definition graphics. In 2013, Microsoft released the Xbox One, which introduced a number of new features including voice control and the ability to watch live television.

In addition to its popular consoles, Microsoft Studios is also a leading publisher of video games. The company has a number of popular franchises, including Halo, Gears of War, and Minecraft, which have won numerous awards and accolades for their engaging stories, compelling characters, and innovative gameplay.

Today, Microsoft Studios continues to be a leading game production company and is at the forefront of the gaming industry. With its commitment to innovation and high-quality game design, the company is well-positioned to continue its success and remain one of the top players in the world of gaming.

In addition to these well-known game production companies, there are also many smaller independent studios that are making a name for themselves in the industry. These studios are often known for their creativity and innovation, and are responsible for some of the most critically-acclaimed games in the industry.

The game production industry itself is a vibrant and dynamic sector that is constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of gaming. From large multinational corporations to small independent studios, game production companies are at the forefront of this exciting and rapidly-growing industry.

You may have heard of the metaverse before – it’s a concept that’s been around for a while, made popular by sci-fi books and movies like Ready Player One and the Matrix. Essentially, the metaverse is a parallel universe that can be accessed through cyberspace, where people can interact with each other and with digital representations of real-world objects.

And while the idea of the metaverse may seem like something straight out of a science fiction novel, it’s actually not all that far from reality. In recent years, there have been a number of companies and organizations that have begun to experiment with using the metaverse for marketing purposes. For example, in 2019, Toyota launched an interactive marketing campaign in the metaverse called “The Grid.” Users could explore an immersive digital world filled with Toyota vehicles and interact with avatars representing Toyota employees.

So what does this mean for the future of marketing? While it’s still early days yet, it’s not difficult to imagine a future where more and more brands begin to establish a presence in the metaverse. After all, what better way to reach potential customers than by inviting them into an immersive, interactive world that you control?

Of course, creating a presence in the metaverse is not without its challenges. For starters, it requires a significant amount of time and resources to create a robust and believable virtual world. Additionally, there is always the risk that users will get bored or frustrated with your campaign if it isn’t well-executed.

That being said, we believe that the potential rewards definitely outweigh the risks. If you’re looking for a way to take your marketing efforts to the next level, then we recommend considering investing in the metaverse. It might just be the key to unlocking unmatched levels of customer engagement!

How to Build a Brand in the Metaverse

In the physical world, brands have to worry about things like brick-and-mortar locations, product placement, and marketing campaigns. But in the metaverse, there are far fewer limitations. You can be anything you want to be, and your brand can be anything you want it to be. So how do you create a brand that will stand out in the metaverse?

Here are a few tips:

Find Your Niche

A metaverse is a big place, and there’s room for all sorts of brands. But in order for your brand to be successful, you need to find your niche. What are you offering that no one else is? Why should people care about your brand? Answering these questions will help you figure out what makes your brand unique and how to market it effectively.

Think About Your Avatar

In the metaverse, your avatar is your representative. It’s how people will recognize you and your brand. So it’s important to put some thought into what your avatar looks like. Do you want to be a human? An animal? Something abstract? Once you’ve decided on an avatar, you can start to build out your look with clothes, accessories, and animations that reflect your brand identity.

Create Engaging Content

People come to the metaverse to have fun and escape reality. So it’s important that your brand offers something engaging and entertaining. This could mean hosting events, giving away prizes, or creating interactive experiences. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something people will enjoy and remember.

Examples of Brands that entered the Metaverse

As the metaverse continues to grow and evolve, more and more brands are entering this exciting and rapidly expanding virtual world. From fashion and beauty to tech and gaming, a wide range of brands are finding new and innovative ways to engage with customers and build their presence in the metaverse.

One of the most notable brands to enter the metaverse is fashion giant Louis Vuitton. In 2021, the luxury brand launched its first virtual store in the metaverse, offering customers the opportunity to browse and shop for its iconic products in a fully immersive and interactive virtual environment. The store, which was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, allows customers to virtually try on clothing and accessories, and even customize their own virtual versions of the brand’s iconic bags.

Another major brand that has made a splash in the metaverse is cosmetics company Sephora. In 2022, the company launched a virtual beauty studio in the metaverse, allowing customers to virtually try on makeup and skincare products, and receive personalized beauty consultations from expert virtual makeup artists. The studio, which features a sleek and modern design, offers customers a unique and engaging beauty experience that is not possible in the physical world.

In addition to fashion and beauty brands, a number of tech companies are also making their mark in the metaverse. In 2021, Google launched its first virtual reality (VR) headset, Google Glass, which allows users to fully immerse themselves in the metaverse and experience a wide range of VR content. The headset, which is equipped with advanced AI technology, has become a popular choice among gamers and tech enthusiasts and has helped to establish Google as a major player in the world of VR.

As the metaverse continues to evolve and expand, it is clear that more and more brands will enter this exciting virtual world. Whether they are offering customers unique and engaging virtual experiences or using the metaverse as a platform for innovation and experimentation, these brands are helping to shape the future of the metaverse and are leading the way in this exciting and rapidly growing virtual world.

Unity is a cross-platform game development environment created by Unity Technologie and used to develop video games for the PC platform, consoles, mobile devices, and websites. A significant advantage of Unity is portability without performance loss. The demand for highly skilled talent in Unity development exceeds supply, this creates an impressive shortage in the market.

The Profession of Game Developer

A game developer is a person who writes the code for the game using some game engines such as Unreal, Unity, and others. There are plenty of options where you can find a job and start your career in game development.

Large Project

Among the advantages: are stability, better pay, social bonuses, most likely a really cool team, and well-established work processes. At the same time, you won’t always be working on something you’re really interested in.

Indie Project

Indie developer is often described with their eyes signing bright while they are working on the project they love. However, it’s not always like that. Indie teams are much smaller, which means that one person can do much more work by themselves, and they probably won’t be paid as much as those working on large projects.

Freelance

You can earn enough and work on a bunch of different projects, however, it’s only you who is responsible for looking for the clients, and managing your workload.

Which of these ways is better? It’s only you to decide.

Pros and Cons of the Profession

Here`re some positive aspects of working with game software:

• High salary;
• Enjoyment of your projects;
• Creative fulfillment.

On the other hand, there’re also some disadvantages:

• Burnout – some developers even stop playing games because of the loss of interest.
• Crunches happen, and they are not uncommon. And companies do not always pay for overtime.

Why Choose Unity Software

The two main conventionally free popular game engines in the industry are Unreal and Unity.

Unity is more often used in mobile development, it supports many platforms, has a large community, and uses the simpler and more accessible C# language. Unreal is probably more high-budget AAA games, built-in free visual scripting, and cool tools, but less friendly C++ language.

Unity has great potential for job hunting and freelancing opportunities and is becoming even more used primarily because of the huge popularity of mobile games. Some of the most popular games built on Unity are Pokemon GO, HearthStone, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, Albion Online, and others.

It’s a great time to become a Unity game developer because the industry is booming. A lot of companies that weren’t involved in games before are starting to develop their own game projects, hence the increased interest in developers and hiring unity game development companies. Speaking specifically about Unity, it is a great opportunity for aspiring Unity developers to get their first job more quickly.

What Do Unity Developers Do?

Examples of duties a Unity developer might have:

• Achieving high-quality project graphics for next-generation consoles and PCs;
• Working with shaders, optimizing code, offering solutions, and implementing them;
• Creating toolsets for 3D artists and game designers;
• Leading game development from scratch on Unity for iOS and Android;
• Building project architecture, thinking through approaches to implement game mechanics and features;
• Maintaining and improving processes within the team;
• Leading the development team;
• Setting and overseeing tasks, estimating the scope of work, planning, prioritizing, and decomposing tasks;
• Conducting code reviews, mentoring, and training other team members;
• Solving complex technical problems independently;
• Optimizing games (RAM, build size);
• Participating in application updates.

General requirements from Unity game development company may include:

• C# programming
• Game logic programming
• Creating optimal Low Poly model topology
• PBR-texturing
• Knowledge of Unity API
• Game development for various platforms
• Working with High Poly models
• Creating a Character Skeleton
• Designing and maintaining design document
• 3D Modeling and Animation in Blender
• Texture Map Development
• Importing Models and Animations into Unity

Getting Started in Game Development

When they talk about a low threshold of entry into game-making, it’s largely a marketing ploy. Yes, you can quickly learn how to do visual scripting in Unreal, and simple things in Unity, but it is not where the real work begins. In order to get your start in Unity game development, it’s best to learn C#.

Other than that, you have to make sure you have a technical mindset – if you prefer to draw characters or make them up, then most likely the development profession is not for you. However, I never give up on anyone: I believe that strong motivation and desire will bear fruit. After all, I went all the way from a 3D artist to a Unity developer myself.

I recommend watching any video tutorial on the subject at the start, trying to get into the process, and writing code for hours – see if you enjoy spending so much time going over the details of game mechanics implementation. And whether it works.  If the answer is yes, then go to gamedev.

To make a game you need a good idea and a very good game development team. Once you have created a clear vision of your project, the next step is always to find a team of programmers to bring it to life. Finding the best game developers who are really passionate about video games is no easy task.

Choosing Game Technology

Before hiring a game development team you need to understand what specific technologies your game should be developed on. This will determine the technical expertise you need from the programmers. At this stage, you may need to discuss your specific requirements with an experienced game developer or game development company. For game development, you usually need developers with extensive experience with game engines such as Unity and Unreal game development, and relevant programming languages – C #, C ++, JavaScript, and graphics-related competencies.

The Team

Game development teams consist of various professionals with competencies in programming, 3D modeling, sound, animation, UI / UX, and visual art. The size of the team obviously depends on the complexity of the game to be created. The Ninja Theory development team that created the famous game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice consisted of 20 to 25 people. But if you’re planning a big project, you will definitely need at least 5 times more.

Finding a dedicated game development team can be difficult.

However, there are several ways to find and hire talented game developers:

• Game developer communities – TIGSource, IndieDB, and Develteam can be a starting point for finding game programmers;
• Freelance networks such as UpWork;
• Recruiting agencies that have their own database of programmers and specialize in recruiting IT staff;
• Outsourcing companies with well-managed teams;
• Networking at conferences;
• Social media, Discord communities.

If you want to save money, you may try to pick professionals on freelance platforms or from social media channels, however, no one could guarantee you the quality and keeping the deadlines. Recruiting staff from the agency database is a more reliable option. At the same time, you will have to review every candidate separately, and build the whole team out of them.

If you want to make part of the work done by the well-vetted and perfectly-managed team of professionals in line with your budgets and deadlines, just contact Devoted Studios. We have Unreal game development teams for hire that you can be confident in.

Requirements for Unreal Engine Developer

Unreal Engine developer is in charge of setting up the visual parameters of the game, testing it, looking for bugs, and working on improving functionality for the user. In other words, the programmer works out sounds, animation, and interface of the future game on the popular UE engine.

The duties of the developer include full work with Unreal Engine, he makes games with ready-made models and textures, as well as developing new models from scratch.

A senior specialist often holds the position of lead developer, they have a team of 5-7 people in his charge, and set the pace of work and controls the deadline for the project. In their portfolio, you will find their experience with several projects on Unreal Engine, created by them from scratch. Usually, such a specialist has at least 4 years of development experience under their belt.