As with any other highly skilled job, game development can also be divided into segments and portions. Each segment has its own goals. You can combine all pieces into one piece when they are complete.
You can outsource the “minor parts”, and your designers and programmers can focus on the main elements. While your in-house design teams should be able to prioritize the core features of game design and their implementation, repetitive tasks that are less important can be outsourced to trusted contractors. Large companies favor flexible business models, which rely heavily on project-based hiring. To keep the project on track, large companies invite extra workers who can perform certain tasks independently.
For smaller games development studios, they don’t need a lot of specialists to help them after the project is released. Although they may need 100 developers to complete the project, it is likely that only two or three dozen people will be required for routine maintenance. The best solution to such a situation is to outsource the majority of the work and not hire extra employees to work in your company. Not to be forgotten, adaptation and recruitment take time. Outsourcing solves both of these problems simultaneously.
Companies aren’t afraid to outsource virtually every aspect of their games. This includes outsourcing game design, 3D/2D assets creation, music composition, code writing, and more. This requires both a large number of competent contractors and lots of money. If you have a successful Kickstarter campaign? If you have a previous title that has earned you millions of dollars, then why not? Wideload Games, for example, asked for the assistance of 15-20 20 third parties to help make Hail to the Chimp.
You need to know the benefits that outsourcing can bring your project. It is important not to rush when making the final decision to delegate any part of your project’s development. Don’t waste your time or money by hurrying. Take some time to evaluate all the pros and cons and decide if it is worth it. This list will help you make an informed decision.
Benefit #1: Everything happens on time
Each game development UK company understands how difficult it is to stay on schedule. If you don’t have the promised features, it is possible to delay the game release. It’s also possible to make the entire team do daily crunches. This will lead eventually to burning out and could result in poor product quality. It is possible to outsource some of the work to an external team. They can help with small changes or add content to existing titles. Although you’ll have to pay an extra fee, it will be well worth it if your title is published on time.
Benefit #2: More variation and more content
A good number of titles are borrowed from one another by experienced game developers. Because all of the games are created by the same game designers and writers, it is common for this to happen. The outsourcing option may allow for more creativity without adding too much pressure to the in-house creative department. External developers can offer new ideas and create a brand new IP according to your requirements. Additionally, the more talented people you have, the more original content will you produce.
Benefit #3: More flexibility and expertise
It is likely that game developers must have two essential skills that are highly in demand – creativity and expertise. Specialists, for example, have specific skills and are familiar with working in narrow niches. The cost of recruiting specialists to work in a particular job for a limited time would be lower than hiring a new staff member for a single job. A project-based contract is our recommendation in most cases. You can hire one or two experts, or a whole team depending on how large your project is. When the job is completed, you don’t have to pay anything more. It’s win-win for everyone.
Benefit #4: minimizing risks
Game development comes with many risks. It can be detrimental to the development process to force your in-house teams into following the project’s development strategy. It is better to outsource than internal scheming. Outsourcing will ensure that your employees don’t feel stressed out and that they retain that “fun” factor that keeps them engaged during development.
Benefit #5: reducing costs
Outsourcing game development helps you to expand your internal team and reduce overhead costs. Overheads can sometimes be quite expensive. You have to pay for the salaries of your developers as well as hardware and software. Also, you need to rent office space and provide social benefits. You can eliminate these financial burdens by outsourcing workers and only pay their time.
It may seem easy to arrange contracts for third-party companies. We pay you X amount and you do this and that for our company. Although it sounds perfect, reality is full of nuances and difficulties. You should use a simple plan to minimize negative consequences when outsourcing.
Stage 0 – Defining the project’s scope
It all starts with an idea for the future project. It’s easy to describe what the future project will look like. It’s the difficult part: determining how large you want it. It’s almost impossible to fully analyze the game and account for all its nuances without sufficient game development experience. This task can be outsourced to professionals. It is possible to avoid unexpected difficulties later by having a thorough consultation from the start. If you are certain that your dream project will be too complex or huge, it is best to have it completely outsourced to experienced developers.
Stage 1: Preparation & forming budgets
It is impossible to start outsourcing game design without making price estimates and deciding how much you can afford for the job. Companies create budgets long before they need them. This is because it takes into account the fact that some aspects of the project may be outsourced. Managers need to ensure that their partners have sufficient human resources to accomplish all tasks on time. Outsourcing the entire project to a single team of specialists is the best and easiest way to ensure you get all the help you need.
Stage 2: Finding potential partners
Many companies are looking to outsource games. You won’t have any trouble finding potential partners as the game industry is growing. Many experienced contractors have portfolios and feedback received from clients. They can help you identify good studios from poor ones. A project consultation can be a good way to get to know your potential partners. If they leave a good impression right from the beginning, then you have a solid foundation on which to build.
Stage 3: Choosing the right partner
Create a table listing all of the potential contractors that you are interested in working with on your project before selecting a game development company. The second stage should include a review of the portfolios and negotiations to determine how much experience they have in the chosen field.
Stage 4: Discussing tasks and setting goals
Before delegating tasks, it is important to make a comprehensive list of all the people involved, identify their priorities, create detailed descriptions, and submit all documentation. You can then set long-term goals and objectives. It is important to work with partners in order to develop a development schedule and plan ahead if you wish to outsource all your operations.
This stage also requires you to agree conditions for the delivery of and acceptance the final results. Clear and transparent rules will allow both sides to follow the mutual plan. This will ensure that the desired outcome is achieved. Additionally, standard cooperation methods can be used to avoid unnecessary actions (changes and fixes, etc. You can save money by knowing the standard cooperation methods.
Stage 5: Work in Progress
A well-respected game development company should make it easy to follow the rules. Expect minimal intervention and control, and some unexpected bumps in the road. Equality partners can communicate with each other and help to assess work progress and make informed decisions about bottlenecks.
Both sides will ultimately get what they want. The client will be able to test the product and then release it. The contractor will be rewarded with a monetary payment.
