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“When planning a budget for a game project, it is important not to lose sight of the important processes that cannot be skimped on. At the same time, you need to understand where costs can be reduced. This is the art of professional development,” says our expert Yevhen Kasyanenko.
Today we are here to help you plan and allocate your budget for a game project wisely. After all, we have already implemented dozens of game bots, applications, and programs. The experience our developers have gained will help you understand:
Read on, it will be useful and informative!
The cost of game development is essentially everything you need for a successful project. That’s why every element, including graphics, sound, programming, algorithms, promotion, and subsequent updates, requires time and careful analysis.
“It is important to understand that a mistake in calculations can lead to project delays, lag, and additional expenses. That is why the cost is equal to the attention, approach, and tools that will be used in the development of the game universe,” emphasizes the expert.
Price is also equivalent to scale. Mobile games do not require high investments compared to AAA projects, which require large teams and servers for optimization.
Clarity in genre and gaming platform will also help avoid unpleasant financial surprises and take into account hidden costs. For example, a casual game with basic graphics can cost $10,000–50,000, while a photorealistic shooter for PC will definitely exceed $10 million.
If you are using complex animations and real physics, such as for VR games, take into account the cost of mechanical components, performance, and devices. For clarity, let’s take Hollow Knight as an example. The project exceeded its budget of $50,000, and Cyberpunk 2077 exceeded $300 million. Therefore, it is very important to understand the end result and take into account the subtleties of absolutely every process. This will make it much easier for you to accept the project, both morally and financially.
When creating a game project, there are both important and indispensable processes, as well as additional ones. With knowledge of which expenses are unavoidable and where you can save money, it is quite easy to determine the weight category of the project in material terms.
For example, finding a specialist, purchasing a license, making technical decisions, conducting testing, and collecting data for marketing are important aspects that should be included in the game creation process. Processes related to algorithm settings, graphics, and sound design are selective but may require the involvement of additional specialists.
Game development should start with putting together a team of specialists. This will be one of the most expensive stages, as you will need:
Understanding the level of game complexity also allows you to choose the right development organization method. There are three main methods:
“Programming, testing, and gameplay design are things you can’t skimp on! One mistake can ruin all your efforts and kill the project’s reputation,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.
The necessary budget will also depend on the choice of programs used in development, for example:
The complexity of the graphics affects the visual perception of players and can encourage them to visit the app more often. Here, it is important to clearly define your preferences:
Sound is important to immerse the gamer in the virtual world and make them literally feel what is happening. At the same time, they should remain comfortable.
Paid sound effects can be ordered from a performer, author, composer, or recorded in a studio. The cost can start at $500. But the composition will be unique, non-repetitive, and fully convey the theme of the gameplay.
Free methods can be found in online soundtrack archives, where the simplest effects are available. However, the uniqueness of the sound will be minimal.
“If you want to stand out in the gaming marketing market and hook your audience, I recommend focusing on uniqueness and creating your own soundtracks by hiring a composer,” advises our leading expert.
You can lose millions of dollars because of a simple mistake in the game code. That’s why as much as 20% of the budget for creating gameplay is spent on testing. And we’re not just talking about bugs or freezes, but the risk of hacking.
There are two testing methods available in development. We’ll walk you through them in detail using a comparison table.
Criterion | Manual testing | Automatic testing |
Error detection | An employee presses keys, plays, opens, and downloads the application | The program algorithm reads the code |
Ability to track | UI, gameplay, bugs, graphics, sound, UX | Repetitions, functionality |
Accuracy | Human factor, but sees visuals | Accurate, but does not distinguish visual bugs |
Cost | Requires ongoing investment | Requires large investment only at the beginning, works autonomously |
Speed | Slow, especially during repeat tests | Fast, especially during regression testing |
Area of application | Creative functions | Technical nuances |
Test updates | Suitable for any game, flexible during updates | Requires reconfiguration when changes are made |
Cons | Slow, inefficient during routine tasks | Does not detect graphics, animation, or complex UI bugs |
Both testing formats have their pros and cons. Therefore, the method should be chosen based on the characteristics of the future project.
“In particular, all bugs must be tracked before the game is launched. To do this, conduct closed testing, create beta versions, and use server stress tests. After all, the stability of the playing field is important for any player. Otherwise, the gamer will choose another project, and this will be fatal for the development of your game,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.
Creating a game does not mean engagement and demand from users from day one. Marketing is a basic setting that contributes to market recognition.
Therefore, marketing costs can often exceed development costs. This is especially true for mobile games, where competition is high. The main items of expenditure where the budget goes:
“Even an innovative and very modern game may not pay off, fail to generate interest, or cause damage if a balance between quality and budget is not found,” says our expert.
That’s why the KISS Software team has compiled a list of the most common mistakes that can disrupt the structural part of development:
“Even if you take into account the amount of money spent on developing and launching a game, it’s important to understand that all investments are investments in the future. After all, game projects are now at the peak of their popularity and development, and you can now earn real money with them,” advises the expert.
That is why it is important to assess the complexity of the project, the level of graphics, sound quality, platforms, and team resources.
Below, we offer a look at the different scales of games and their price categories.
Mobile games can be considered an affordable option for creating a game project, as follows:
To develop gaming applications for PCs, you need to use more resources, including detailed graphics, high resolution, and a serious storyline:
VR can be considered the most expensive segment. Developing this type of game requires special technical equipment, high-quality graphics, and the implementation of non-standard gameplay.
You can start with a minimum of $100,000. However, it will still be important to consider the optimization of motion trackers, helmets, and sound. If you skimp on this, the gamer will not be able to fully immerse themselves in virtual reality, which is a failure.
“The physics of movement and interaction with objects in the virtual universe is a very delicate matter. You need to take into account the individual characteristics of people in order to make the equipment universal,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.
Below are some key strategies that can help you optimize your budget:
Options include:
If you follow your ambitions and clearly state your position in the market, you can competently formulate the value of your game and attract investors.
“A game should work like a Swiss watch so that people admire it and come back to it with pleasure,” notes our expert.
Here is a list of the most common mistakes that damage a project and negatively affect player reviews:
A professional approach allows you to avoid mistakes that will need to be redone. Edits during the process may only concern minor details that will not affect the overall picture. This approach clearly optimizes and speeds up all implementation processes and allows you to quickly enter the market.
KISS Software takes care of all the details to ensure that a successful and fully packaged project is launched on the market in line with your business goals. Our team, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, works clearly and cohesively, attracting the best experts in each niche. In addition, we accompany you from the idea on paper to the release, participate in updates and improvements to the game universe.
Each project is unique and requires a competent approach and implementation based on the customer’s idea and budget. However, we can provide average prices for the most popular game segments.
Game type | What is included | Price (initial) |
Mobile game | Prototyping, game design, development, graphics, animation, sound, testing, platform builds, publication, ASO, marketing, PR, technical support, administrative expenses | From $10,000 |
PC game | The basic package for mobile games includes: 2D/3D graphics, debugging, multi-platform build, integration with Steam/stores, trailers, promotion, localization. | From $50,000 |
AAA development | The basic package for mobile games and PC games includes: concept, script and lore, testing (QA, alpha/beta), platform integration (Steam, consoles), server infrastructure, legal services, licensing and patents. | From $300,000 |
To find out the exact cost, ask your questions, and discuss any details, please contact us via the feedback form! It’s free. We will help you calculate the budget for your game and select an effective strategy for developing your business!
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