9 Questions to Ask Whilst Choosing an External Game Development Studio
Outsourcing game development can be a cost-effective way to bring your project to life, but it's important to make sure you're working with a partner who can deliver a high-quality game that meets your needs and requirements.
The process of finding the right studio can be overwhelming, with many options to choose from. But by asking the right questions, you can find a partner that can help realise your game concept and ensure that it meets the specific needs of your project. In this blog post, we will be discussing 9 questions that you should ask whilst choosing an external game development studio:
1. What are the specific needs of my project?
This is an important question to consider before speaking to any external game development studio because it will ensure you have a clear understanding of what you're looking for in a partner. By identifying and clarifying your project’s needs, you'll be able to find a studio that can meet them.
When thinking about the specific needs of your project, consider the following:
What type of game are you developing? Is it a first-person shooter, an action-adventure game, a puzzle game, or something else entirely?
What platforms will the game be released on? Will it be available on iOS, Android, or multiple platforms?
What are the key features you're looking for in the game? Are you looking to include multiplayer functionality, VR support, or other specific features?
By understanding the specific needs of your project, you'll be able to find a studio that has experience in developing the type of game you're looking for, and that has the capability to develop the specific features you require. Additionally, It will also help you to find the right studio that has experience on the platform you want to release the game on.
It's also important to note that identifying the needs of your project will also help you to better communicate your expectations to the studio. This will ensure that both you and the studio are on the same page and that the final product meets your expectations.
Having worked as an external game development studio for nearly a decade, we always strive to meet client expectations but sometimes we find that clients aren’t ready to define what they’re looking for, yet. Having a clear vision does wonders for honing your external game development studio’s workflow and streamlines the entire development process.
2. What is my budget?
Understanding and defining your budget is essential before speaking to an external game development studio. Financial constraints can be one of the biggest restrictions when it comes to game development, whether in-house or with an external studio. Outsourcing game development can be cost-effective but it's important to make sure you're working within your budget.
When thinking about your budget, consider the following:
What is the total budget for the project?
How much of that budget is allocated for the development of the game?
Are there any additional costs that need to be considered, such as porting, third-party integrations, multiplayer functionality, or backend services?
It's important to note that the cost of game development can vary widely depending on the studio, the type of game, and the features you're looking for. Some studios may have lower rates, but may not be able to deliver the same level of quality as more expensive studios. Ultimately, try and identify the right balance between cost and quality for you.
Additionally, be sure to have a clear understanding of the payment terms. Some studios may require a deposit or a milestone-based payment, so make sure you know what you're getting into. It's also important to have a clear contract that outlines the scope of the project, the budget, and the payment terms. This will ensure that both you and the studio are on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings.
3. What is my timeline?
Whilst it might seem obvious, a clear timeline is key for enabling effective development processes and production. Additionally, particularly when working with external game development studios, availability may become an issue. Therefore, defining your timeline in advance will help you find a partner that can work within your schedule and ensure that your project is delivered on time.
When thinking about your timeline, consider the following:
What is the deadline for the project?
Are there any specific milestones that need to be met along the way?
Are there any external factors that may impact the timeline, such as a planned release date for the game?
Game development can be a complex and time-consuming process, and some studios may not be able to meet tight deadlines. Therefore, it's important to have realistic expectations for the timeline and to work with a studio that has a proven track record of delivering projects successfully.
It's also important to ensure that the studio you choose has a clear development process that aligns with your timeline. They should be able to provide you with a project plan that outlines the different stages of the development process and the timeline for each stage. This timeline should include time for providing feedback and requesting changes within any agreed boundaries with the external development studio. It will also be helpful if they provide you with regular updates on the progress of the project, this will help you keep track of the schedule and make any necessary adjustments.
Finally, a well-defined scope of work and clear contract that outlines the timeline, milestones, and deliverables of the project will help to ensure expectations are fully understood by all parties.
4. What kind of experience does the studio have?
Understanding your prospective external game development studio’s past experience should play a big role in finalising which studio you will partner with. Working with a partner that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality games will make it more likely for your project to match the level of quality you seek.
When thinking about the experience of the studio, consider the following:
What types of games has the studio developed in the past?
What platforms have they developed for?
Are there any notable projects or clients that the studio has worked on?
Having a clear understanding of the studio's experience will help you find a partner that has the necessary skills and expertise to develop your game. Different studios may have different areas of expertise, so it's worth searching for a studio that has experience in developing the type of game you're looking to build and working on the platform you want to release the game on.
Additionally, you can also ask for references from the studio and reach out to their past clients to ask about their experiences working with the studio. A good reputation, testimonials, and positive feedback from past clients are all signs of a reputable and experienced studio.
Experience is key when it comes to game development, so it's important to make sure you're working with a studio that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality games that meet the specific needs of your project.
5. What kind of support does the studio offer?
This is an important question to consider before speaking to an external game development studio because it will help you find a partner that can provide ongoing support throughout the development process.
When thinking about the support offered by the studio, consider the following:
What kind of help is available during the development process?
Is there a dedicated point of contact for the project?
What kind of post-launch support is available?
Having a clear understanding of the level of support offered by the studio will help you find a partner that can provide the help you need during the development process. Some studios offer a dedicated project manager or point of contact that will work with you throughout the development process. This person will be responsible for managing the project and providing regular updates on the progress of the development. Smaller organisations don’t have dedicated project managers but allow for direct conversation between your team and the developers, which can assist with even stronger communication.
Additionally, consider asking about post-launch support. Many teams opt to have dedicated support teams or skeleton dev staff take over support for a title once core development has concluded and the game has been released, but you may want your external partner to assist with this.
6. What is the studio's development process?
This is a key question that is regularly forgotten but will help you find a partner that has a process that aligns with your needs, ensuring the development process is efficient and effective.
When thinking about the studio's development process, consider the following:
How does the studio handle the different stages of development such as design, programming, and testing?
How does the studio handle changes and revisions during the development process?
What kind of tools and technologies does the studio use for development and testing?
Different studios may have different development processes, so it's important to find a studio that has a process that works for your project. It's important to ask about the studio's approach to testing and quality assurance. A good studio will have a robust testing process in place to ensure that the game is of high quality and free of bugs. Additionally, a good studio will have a clear process in place for making changes and revisions, and will be able to provide you with regular updates on the progress of the development.
Finally, another important aspect to consider is the technology and tools that the studio uses. Some studios may have proprietary tools and technology that can help speed up the development process and lead to a better final product. At BetaJester, we use several proprietary tools to manage our work and improve our efficiency, for more information on what we do and how we operate, get in touch.
7. What is the studio's communication process?
The need for good communication is obvious and it’s important to clarify how your proposed external game development studio will ensure communication is maintained.
When thinking about the studio's communication process, consider the following:
How does the studio handle communication during the development process?
Is there a dedicated point of contact for the project?
What kind of updates can you expect during the development process? How does the studio handle feedback and revisions?
Different studios may have different communication processes, so it's worth finding a studio that has a process that works for your project. It's also important to ask about the studio's approach to handling feedback and revisions. A good studio will have a clear process in place for receiving feedback and making revisions, and will be able to provide you with regular updates on the progress of the development.
8. What is the studio's project management process?
Clear project management processes are key for any creative endeavour. Identifying that the studio has effective and manageable project management workflows will ensure that the development process is organised and on track.
When thinking about the studio's project management process, consider the following:
How does the studio handle project management?
How does the studio handle changes and revisions during the development process?
How does the studio handle testing and quality assurance?
Having a clear understanding of the studio's project management process will help you find a partner that has a process that aligns with your needs. Different studios may have different project management processes, so it's important to find a studio that has a process that works for your project.
Additionally, you should ask about the studio's approach to handling changes and revisions during the development process, and how they handle testing and quality assurance. A good studio will have a clear process in place for making changes and revisions, and will have a robust testing process in place to ensure that the game is of high quality and free of bugs.
9. What is the studio's team structure?
A well-structured and qualified team will help ensure that your proposed studio can support your project exactly where you need it, whilst also being efficient and effective.
When thinking about the studio's team structure, consider the following:
What is the size of the team working on the project? What are the roles and responsibilities of the team members?
How does the team handle collaboration and communication?
How does the team handle changes and revisions during the development process?
Having a clear understanding of the studio's team structure will help you find a partner that has a team that can meet your specific needs. It's worth asking about the roles and responsibilities of the team members you’ll be working with. A good studio will have a clear division of responsibilities among team members, and everyone should know what their role is and what is expected of them.
Turn your vision into a reality with BetaJester’s game development services
Finding the right external game development studio for your project can be a daunting task, but by asking the right questions, you can find a partner that meets your specific needs. The 10 questions outlined in this blog post - what are the specific needs of my project, what is my budget, what is my timeline, what kind of experience does the studio have, what kind of support does the studio offer, what is the studio's development process, what is the studio's communication process, what is the studio's project management process, what is the studio's team structure, and do the studio's portfolio and case studies meet my requirements - will help you find a partner that can deliver a high-quality game that meets your specific needs and is delivered on time and within budget.
At BetaJester, we pride ourselves on being a reliable partner for your game development needs. Our team of experienced developers and designers have a proven track record of delivering high-quality games on time and within budget. We would love the opportunity to discuss your project with you and show you how we can help bring your game to life.
If you're ready to take the next step and start your game development journey, you can learn more about our game development services here or contact us for bespoke advice tailored to you.