+1 315 210 4488
+91 798 618 8377
October 16, 2024
Today, the average audience spends their time playing games. Of course, why not? The engagement one could experience in games is unexceptional.
However, if you have decided to develop a gaming app, then that’s a fabulous business idea to stand out in the market! In fact, as per the reports of Statista, the average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Mobile Games market is projected to be US$57.64 in 2024. So your investment idea is worth it!
However, while game apps have the potential to captivate a vast audience, have you ever thought how hard the game development team might have gone to make such effective gaming platforms? Yes!
Game development team roles are unique in developing an effective gaming app with a more user-friendly vibe. But how? Let’s find out in this post! Below, we have shared game development team roles in depth.
Game Design Team Structure Based On Agile Mode
Today almost every game development team structure uses the agile methodology, specifically the scum, for game development. This development method deals with self-organizing teams that can be extremely successful in creating rewarded and enthusiastic workers.
Let us tell you the teams are divided into groups of around seven to nine individuals who work on each aspect and phase of a game development project. Between the members, tasks are delegated and decisions are made in unison, making this method a highly team-work-based development method.
Here, we are sharing the roles in a game development team based on the phases:
Phase 1- Pre-Production
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Product Owner | – Define the product vision and goals- Prioritize features and backlog items- Communicate with stakeholders |
| Game Designer | – Conceptualize the game mechanics, story, and gameplay- Create design documentation and initial prototypes |
| Scrum Master | – Facilitate Agile processes and ceremonies- Remove obstacles and ensure team collaboration |
| Art Director | – Define the visual style and artistic direction- Coordinate with artists and designers to create initial art assets |
| Technical Lead | – Define the technical architecture and tools- Plan the technology stack and integration with game engines |
| QA Lead | – Establish quality assurance processes- Define initial testing strategies and tools |
| Project Manager | – Create initial project plan and timelines- Coordinate between departments and manage resources |
| Narrative Designer | – Develop the storyline and character arcs- Work with designers to integrate narrative elements into gameplay |
Phase 2- Production
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Development Team | – Implement features based on backlog priorities- Collaborate on game mechanics, AI, UI, and gameplay programming |
| Artists | – Create 2D/3D art assets, animations, and visual effects- Work closely with the Art Director to maintain visual consistency |
| Sound Designer | – Design and implement sound effects and music- Collaborate with the team to ensure audio enhances the gameplay experience |
| Scrum Master | – Conduct daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives- Monitor sprint progress and address any issues |
| QA Testers | – Perform regular testing of game builds- Report bugs and collaborate with developers to fix issues |
| Product Owner | – Continue to refine and prioritize the backlog- Accept or reject completed features during sprint reviews |
Phase 3- Post Production
| Role | Responsibilities |
| QA Team | – Perform final testing, including playtesting and bug-fixing- Ensure the game meets quality standards before launch |
| Marketing Team | – Develop and execute marketing strategies- Coordinate with the development team for promotional materials |
| Release Manager | – Plan and execute the game’s release- Coordinate with distribution platforms and handle post-launch support |
| Community Manager | – Manage player community interactions- Gather player feedback for future updates and patches |
| Support Team | – Provide technical support and customer service post-launch- Address issues and provide updates as needed |
Phase 4- Maintenance
| Role | Responsibilities |
| Development Team | – Implement updates, patches, and DLCs- Address post-launch bugs and performance issues |
| Live Operations Team | – Monitor game performance and player activity- Plan and execute live events, in-game promotions, and content updates |
| Product Owner | – Continue to iterate on game features based on player feedback- Prioritize post-launch content and feature development |
| Data Analyst | – Analyze player data and gameplay metrics- Provide insights for optimizing game mechanics and player retention |
Note: This table outlines the roles and responsibilities of the game development team in various phases of Agile methodology. It emphasizes collaboration, continuous feedback, and iterative development to ensure the project’s success.
Game Development Team Roles
Each individual in the game development team structure is essential in providing the best possible performance. However, you can not expect to get an effective game app if any team member is absent from the team structure.
A mobile game development team structure typically comprises several people with specific roles in a game development team and responsibilities.
It may vary depending on the size and complexity of the project. As an experienced mobile app development consulting company, RichestSoft knows the key to a perfect team structure.
Here are the game development team roles explained in detail:
1. Product Owner
The Product Owner is responsible for establishing the overall vision and direction to ensure it meets their business goals. They manage the product backlog, creating, prioritizing, and continuously refining the list of features and tasks that must be completed.
They connect the development team and external stakeholders more and ensure everyone is informed and aligned on the game’s progress and direction.
2. Scrum Master
The Scrum Master ensures the team follows Agile principles and practices. They lead ceremonies like sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives to keep the team on track.
By identifying and addressing any blockers or challenges, the Scrum Master enables the team to work as efficiently as possible. They also significantly encourage continuous process improvement.
3. Game Designer
The Game Designer is the creative mastermind who produces detailed documents outlining the game’s structure, gameplay flow, and features, serving as a blueprint for the development team.
By building and testing early versions of game mechanics and features, the Designer validates ideas and iterates on design before full-scale development begins.
4. Art Director
The Art Director sets the artistic vision and establishes the overall visual style. The art director manages the art team in creating visual assets, including characters, environments, and user interfaces, to maintain a cohesive look and feel.
Working closely with the development team, the Art Director ensures that art assets are integrated into the game, keeping the intended visual quality and style.
5. Technical Lead
The Technical Lead defines the technical framework and architecture for the game, choosing appropriate game engines, tools, and technologies. They offer expertise and support to the development team, helping to solve complex technical challenges and ensuring that best practices are followed.
By overseeing the quality of the codebase, the Technical Lead ensures that it is clean, maintainable, and optimized for performance across different platforms.
6. Project Manager
The Project Manager develops and maintains the project plan, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation, to ensure the project stays on schedule.
They coordinate between different departments, balancing workload and ensuring the team has the necessary mobile game development tools and support to meet their goals.
By identifying potential risks and challenges early, the Project Manager develops strategies to address them and keep the project on track.
7. Development Team
The Development Team develops and codes the game’s features, mechanics, and systems according to the design and technical specifications.
They work closely with designers, artists, and other team members to integrate various components into a cohesive, functional game. The team identifies and resolves bugs, performance issues, and technical challenges throughout development.
8. QA Team
The QA Team conducts rigorous testing of the game at various stages of development, including functional, performance, and usability testing, to identify and document issues.
They analyze bugs, glitches, and other problems for the development team, providing detailed reports to facilitate quick resolution. The QA Team delivers a polished final product by ensuring the game meets the required quality standards before release.
Benefits of Hiring A Mobile Game Development Team Structure
Hiring a mobile game development team structure ensures a streamlined process, specialized expertise, efficient project management, enhanced creativity, and high-quality results.
It maximizes productivity and delivers engaging, well-designed games that meet market demands and user expectations.
🡆 Specialized Expertise
Each well-structured game development team member brings specialized skills tailored to different aspects of the project. From game design and art creation to programming and quality assurance, having experts in each area ensures that every game component is developed with proficiency and knowledge.
🡆 Efficient Workflow
A structured team operates with a clear, organized workflow well-defined roles, and responsibilities. This organization helps streamline the development process, reduces confusion, and ensures that tasks are completed systematically and on time, leading to a smoother overall production.
🡆 Enhanced Creativity
Working with a diverse group of professionals fosters an environment of creative collaboration. By bringing together individuals with different perspectives and expertise, the team can brainstorm more effectively, generate innovative ideas, and develop unique and engaging game concepts that stand out in the market.
🡆 Improved Quality
Dedicated quality assurance teams are focused on testing and refining the game throughout development. Their rigorous approach to identifying and fixing bugs ensures that the final product is of high quality, with fewer issues at launch, resulting in a better and more enjoyable experience for players.
🡆 Faster Development Time
A well-organized team allows for parallel work on various elements of the game. By having different specialists work simultaneously on design, development, art, and other areas, the overall development timeline is shortened, enabling a quicker release and faster time-to-market.
🡆 Effective Problem-Solving
With a team of specialists, complex problems can be addressed more efficiently. Each member brings their expertise to the table, allowing the team to tackle challenges with a well-rounded approach. This collaborative problem-solving capability ensures that issues are resolved effectively and creatively.
🡆 Better Project Management
Structured teams benefit from the presence of dedicated project managers who oversee the project’s progress, manage timelines, and allocate resources. This focused management helps keep the project on track, meets deadlines, and maintains the budget, contributing to a successful and organized development process.
Game Development Platforms Used by the Game Design Team Structure
So, you have a brilliant idea for hiring a game design team structure for an immersive architectural game development with a groundbreaking virtual reality experience.
But before you can make your dreams a reality, you need to hire dedicated game developers who are experts in game development and have these factors to put the plan on a pedestal.
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
- Godot Engine
- Cocos2d-x
- GameMaker Studio
- Amazon Lumberyard
- Buildbox
- App Game Kit (AGK)
- CryEngine
Choosing the right platform will ensure a smoother development process and help you create a successful game app.
While you can not choose all the game development platforms, consider these factors to have a smooth experience with the game design development team:
- Target Audience: Choose a platform that supports the devices and operating systems your target audience uses.
- Budget: Consider licensing costs, asset store expenses, and potential royalties.
- Team Expertise: Align the platform with your team’s existing skills and experience.
- Game Type: Some platforms are better suited for 2D games, while others excel at 3D or complex projects. You can even check our simple unity game ideas guide for better knowledge.
- Development Tools: Evaluate each platform’s tools and features and how they fit your project needs.
Cost To Hire An Effective Mobile Game Development Team Structure
So, decided to hire a collaborative game development team structure, but stressed about the cost.
Let us tell you, don’t stress yourself! The cost of hiring a Game Development Team Structure is based on their hourly rate. Usually, you can get the ideal team at a $25 to $50 hourly rate. But the cost depends on several factors, including the project scope, portfolio, the specific skills of game development team structure, experience level, and who can forget the geolocation! But how do these factors affect?
Let’s understand it below-
- Geolocation
Developers working in big cities like San Francisco or New York may see greater demand and command higher rates than those working in smaller towns or less urban areas.
- Portfolio
A strong portfolio showcasing past work on successful projects also carries weight when determining hourly rates—game developers with impressive resumes might well justify charging more than less experienced colleagues who lack such credentials.
- Specific Skills & Expertise
Developers with rare expertise or particular skill sets may also have opportunities to ask for more compensation from clients—for example, programmers who excel at specific languages or artists who are particularly adept at rendering certain visual styles.
- Project Scope
Project scope should also be considered for hourly rates. Developers working on more complex projects or contracts with longer expected completion times may need to set higher per-hour charges to account for the extra work involved.
Payment Models For Game Development Team Structure
So, being a businessman, the cost can significantly stress you. But don’t stress! You can hire a worthy game design team structure in several payment models. Here are three standard payment models used in the game development industry
1. Hourly Rate
In this model, you can hire the development team at an hourly rate for the time spent working on the project. This approach provides transparency, as you only pay for the hours worked. It is an ideal option for projects with evolving requirements, where time and budget flexibility are necessary.
However, estimating the final cost accurately may be challenging, particularly if the project scope expands or the developer’s hourly rate is high.
2. Fixed-Price
In a fixed-price model, businesses can hire a team for a fixed amount for the entire project based on the agreed-upon scope. This approach provides cost certainty, as the total cost is not hidden. It suits finalized project requirements that don’t change significantly during development.
Still, this mode can be challenging when accommodating scope changes or additional features. Renegotiating the contract and potentially incurring extra costs becomes a headache at this time.
3. Revenue share
Many app developers opt for a revenue-sharing business model to reward their efforts in creating successful games. In such instances, instead of paying upfront fees, they receive an agreed-upon cut from sales revenues generated by their invention.
This payment mode aligns with both parties’ best interests in maximizing profit potential. Yet, this method entails complexities in determining equitable percentages and distributing profits.
You can use These three main payment modes to hire the Game development team according to your business requirements.
5 Modes Of Hiring Game Design Team Structure
Now that you know the responsibilities & roles in a game development team within a game development team structure, the following big query is how large your team should be and how to find them.
While hiring, you can use the team in these modes-
- Independent Contractors
- Full-Time Employees
- Offshore Team
- Freelancers
- Development Agency
However, finding the right size for your game development team can be challenging. Still, with careful research, due diligence, and consideration, you can assemble a team that perfectly aligns with your project’s needs.
To determine the optimal size for your game development team, start by evaluating several key factors:
Scope of the Game
Consider how many platforms you intend to release the game on. Developing for multiple platforms may require a larger team to handle the additional complexity and ensure compatibility.
Complexity of the Game
Assess the intricacy of your game and list the features you want to include. A more complex game with advanced features will typically need a larger team to handle the various aspects of development, from design to coding.
Budget Constraints
Review your budget carefully before forming your team. Your budget will influence the number of specialists you can afford and the overall size of the team, so it’s essential to align your team size with your financial resources.
Development Timeline
Set realistic deadlines for your game’s development. If your deadlines are tight, you may need a larger team to ensure the project stays on track and meets its milestones.
Skills and Expertise
Analyze the skills and expertise of potential team members. Depending on your game’s needs, you may require a mix of artists, designers, programmers, and QA testers. Ensuring you have the right balance of skills is crucial for successful development.
An Ideal Game Development Team Structure Via RichestSoft
After all this post, it is easy to understand how essential it is to hire a dedicated and ideal game development team structure. That’s where Richestsoft showcases its essential role!
Yes! We are today’s leading custom app development company, where you will find your ideal game design team structure. We specialize in helping businesses looking to stand out in the gaming industry.
Whether you are looking for blockchain game development services or a Casino Game App Development Company, we serve businesses with all our dedication!
Our app development team holds great expertise in providing powerful game development services that align with each business.
Related Blog – Casino Game App Development Cost
Conclusion
Overall, we hope you have successfully understood the game app development team structure concept. The game development team is essential in building a perfect and ideal app.
However, choosing Richestsoft to hire your game development team structure is one of your wisest decisions.
Our game design team for different roles in a game development team provided for your projects dramatically impacts your business success.
