Several different types of game co development have been in the market for a few years now. The most popular one is called crowdsourcing, where companies pay individuals to create games on their behalf. This is done through Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites where some people only want a game created but do not have the resources or knowledge to do so themselves. There are many advantages and disadvantages associated with using this type of production method.
Pros of game co development
1) Affordable
The developers that are used by companies often have no formal experience or education in game programming, so they are often less expensive than other alternatives. The result is a game that is more polished and professional than if it were produced by employees, who would typically be more expensive and skilled.
Game co development also allows for more experimentation in the early stages of a game’s development and helps to bring the budget down by allowing for several different developers to pitch concepts. The company receiving this game can then choose which concept they like best.
2) Faster production
Another advantage of game co development is that the companies can release their games much faster than if they had used internal developers or contracted out to a professional developer. The game can be released when the game is ready to be released instead of having to wait for someone else to finish a project for them.
Video game co development is a convenient way to bring new games to the market and allows companies to utilize external expertise to help speed up the production of the game. This is one of the most popular methods in the industry and has helped to create many successful games.
3) Huge potential for revenues
In the early development stages of a video game, big companies like Nintendo and Sony are often able to utilize crowdsourcing to get games created by their fans. This early development allows these companies to work out many details with their fans and create an interactive relationship that can lead to millions of dollars in sales.
The individual that receives a cut of the game’s sales can do very well as well due to the huge demand for intellectual property. Co-development studio is an excellent way for developers to be able to work with big companies and get a chance to experience the game development process.
4) A greater level of interaction
When a company uses crowdsourcing or co development, they can get feedback from the people that play their games to make them more appealing. Game developers are also able to be much more interactive with their fans because they can use this process as a way to garner interest in their upcoming games. This allows the developers to reinforce their brands and build a large fan base.
In addition, there are many benefits for the fans because they can actively participate in the creation of their favorite games. They also have an inside view of the game design process. This allows for a much higher level of consumer satisfaction and loyalty to the brands that choose to use this method of development.
5) More exposure to products
Game co development is often used in the marketing phase of a game to help create a buzz around the brand. Having a larger fan base ensures that the developer will have more sales over time and will be able to create more games in the future as well. This method of marketing is good because it allows companies to keep their budgets lower while still bringing in revenue.
Cons of game co development
1) Little to no control
The nature of crowdsourcing and co development gives the developers very little control over how their game is designed and how it is going to be produced. This can sometimes lead to problems if the developers do not have the knowledge or resources that they need to create a successful game
Sometimes these companies work with people that do not have the necessary skills or knowledge, and the result is a game that is not as professional as it could have been. The original idea might be good, but they are not able to implement it properly because they do not understand the best method of doing so.
2) Potential for theft
In crowdsourcing and co development, the source code for the game is often posted online for anyone to see. Some people take this opportunity to steal the source code from these big companies and repost it as their own. This can create problems because it allows other people to compete with these big companies by selling their games at a cheaper price. This can lead to a loss in revenue and profit margins.
3) Bad games
One of the biggest issues with co-development is that people that are involved in crowdsourcing and co development do not have a professional background in the video game industry. They do not have any formal education in this area and are often amateurs that are just looking to get their name out there. This can lead to bad games because their main focus is not on creating a good product but on making money.
4) Unsatisfied customers
Allowing for crowdsourcing and co development can lead to unsatisfied customers because the developers that are involved in these processes may not have any expertise in video game creation and could produce a shoddy product. This can result in bad reviews from customers. In addition, the fact that there is no final product until the game is launched means that fans are much more likely to be disappointed than if they were involved in the early stages of production.
5) Costs to the big companies
Crowdsourcing and co development can be very expensive for big companies because they must pay people to create games for them. If the developers do not have any experience or if these developers are inexperienced, then these costs are going to be very expensive to produce a high-quality game. This is going to mean that only big companies can participate in crowdsourcing and co development because they have the capital necessary to make it worthwhile.
Conclusion
It is important to realize that crowdsourcing and co development work well with big companies, but they are not as effective for independent developers. In some cases, these methods can be utilized by independent developers if they can find a company that wants to co-develop their game and if the developer is willing to take the risk of being involved in this type of relationship. This can be beneficial for both parties, but there are many risks in this type of business arrangement.