Consulting: First Step to Outsource Game Development

Games! Video games! Everybody born after the 70s have played them at least in the early part of their life. Some follow this as a passion even in the later phases of their life as well. Some casual gamers become avid gamers and many come up with their own ideas for new games or to make a better version of an older game. But having a game idea and converting it to reality can be completely different ball game, and you may need to hire game development services to go further with your idea. Below I am giving a glimpse of how a professional game consultant can help you give the right direction to your game idea.

1. Market research: Get the answers to these questions.

• Are you the first one to have this idea?
• Is there a game in the market already on this idea?
• What is the closest game to your idea in the market?
• How successful are those games? How much competition do you have?
• If you are the first one to develop game on this idea, then think why someone has not developed the game before on it? Is it viable?
• If there are already games similar to your idea, then what different are you going to offer to beat the competition?
• Is there enough space in the market to have your game along with other similar games to share the market space and still be profitable?

It is difficult for you to get these answers yourself. This is the first and most crucial step where your consultant will help you.

2. Converting an idea to a business case : Once you are convinced that your game idea has the space and potential to fit in and do well, the next step is to give your idea a shape. The consultant can help put your idea on pen and paper. This gives a concrete shape to your idea. When it is written, the idea converts to a business case. In case of the game, the best way to start is with some drawings. Need not to be an artist at this stage, but start putting your idea for the game play on paper.

3. Identifying the right channel to deliver your idea : Today's world is full of channels through which you can reach to your customers. Your idea can be delivered through web, social channels like Facebook, applications on computers, consoles like PS2 & Xbox, mobiles and other handheld devices. It is a key to understand the strength of your game idea and your target demographics. Based on that right delivery channel(s) need to be chosen for the idea. Your consultants will show you statistics for usage of different channels based on demographics (location, age). A professional business consultant will help define that.

Key:- People enjoy games more on detachable handheld devices rather than wired computers. What fun it is to be able to play while you are laid down on your bed? At the end of the day, you plan to relax.

4. Identifying the right technology : Once you know what needs to be developed and how it needs to be delivered, the next step is to choose the right technology platforms to develop it. Do you want to go for proprietary solutions or open source solutions? Which platforms, frameworks, programming languages, databases do you need? You want to develop for each platform independently or you can work with one of those cross platform framework and leverage the philosophy of Build once, Run anywhere. You can avail game design and development services from experts to choose the best technology platforms to deliver your requirements through your chosen channels.

5. Finding the experts : Now you know the skills that you require. The next step is to find and hire those skills. At this level, your consultant will act as an effective HR for you and get you the right people to do the job.

It is always better to partner with game design studios for gaming ideas. They have a big pool of talented and experienced game app developers to build highly engaging and entertaining gaming applications. You will find gaming consultants, artists, developers, testers, monetization experts, all at one place.

6. Planning the execution : Now you have everything that you need to build the game. It is time to plan the execution. Today's world does not want to wait for a year to get a taste of a new game. If you are going to take a year to bring your idea to world, someone else will get it out earlier. It is the age of MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Do not build too much. Do not try to give everything. Keep your idea lean and get it to the end users quick. Your users will tell you what they want most and build that. Give them what they want and not what you want to give them. Consultant will now put on the Product Managers hat and help you plan this.

7. Marketing : You are not building the product for yourself. You got to sell it as well. Your consultancy partners job is not complete until he helps you with marketing your product as well. Product development is just a small part; the big part is how you market it.

So, go find a consultant who can take you on a ride from start to end. This is the first step. You take this step in right direction, the rest will follow. You falter in this step, it can result in a nightmare.