subject: The Life Cycle of a Game [print this page] The Life Cycle of a Game The Life Cycle of a Game
The life cycle of a game is based on the current requirements and capabilities, both of people, and the hardware platform on which it is designed to run. The game development process is nearly the same as the development process of any other software application. This means that the game has to pass through several phases in development before finally getting released to the market for the buyers.
The very first step in the life cycle of the game is determining if there is a need/desire for it. If the team determines that there is in fact a desire for the prospective game, the development team must start the process of game design. In this process all paperwork is done before initiating the coding part. Once the Game Design process is complete, the next step is to choose team members that are specialized in the technologies which will be used to develop the game. The next step after this will include game development, that is, the actual coding part. This coding is a major phase of Game Development as without this step no game can really be created or released.
Once the coding is done, the next step is to test the game. A special team of highly qualified people will be hired and utilized as Game Testers, and is assigned to test the newly developed game. During this testing phase, the testers check and specify the minimum hardware requirements of the video game, and what should be the recommended system configuration to make the game run smoothly. These testers sometimes also specify the ratings of the game, that is, what age group can legally play the game without adversely affecting their emotional or psychological temperament. Once game testers approve the game, it is then sent for packaging.
The life cycle of a game has a specific lifetime. This means that a game that developed has a limited shelf life on the market. The reason behind this is that system hardware has its own life cycle, after which it becomes obsolete. When this happens, everyone starts disposing of their old computer and game systems, and rushes for latest hardware configuration. In some cases these new hardware configurations may not be compatible with the old videogame, thus making the old game obsolete.
