Top Game Development Companies

Shortlist Your Search for The Top Game Development Company

Top game development companies can help you rise to the top when it comes to developing your dream game project. Games have allowed people to get away from the stress and realities of life to a made-up world. If you have captured this image and decided to create worlds where everything is possible, then you are on the right track to creating wonders. But since the video game industry is a big one, there is a necessity to either be very creative and original, or to perfect the already introduced ideas. 

The advancement of technology has allowed players to enjoy gaming across multiple devices. There is no longer a need to acquire specific hardware to enjoy games. Mobile devices, desktop computers, and laptops have allowed gamers to play from anywhere and anytime. Top game development companies take advantage of such platforms to create the best possible games. If you are on the market to find the top game development companies for your next gaming project, you are in the right place. The point of this article is to give you some guidance on choosing your game development company. Just like with any significant decision, it is good to know some dos and don’ts of the trade. So let’s dig in!

How to choose your game development company

Before going through a list of the top game development companies, you need to focus on what it is you are looking for. Having a concrete idea on your goals and expectation from the game development company of choice can help you filter out your selection process. Not every company functions the same way. Some might specialize in a particular area, whereas others can be broad. The method of looking for the top game development companies can be more straightforward if you have narrowed down your expectations. Knowing what genre of game you want to develop, alongside which platforms will have access and more, can be a great place to start. So, make a list of what it is you are looking for to make things easier for both sides. Down below are further steps to choosing your game development companies in the USA.

Experience

You do not want to waste time with a game development company that has no experience. The problem here is not that they are not experienced in producing games, but rather the experience of working with many clients. Through knowledge comes the perfection of being able to understand customers and their needs. You might already be on a tight budget, and not have the time or money to waste. Developing innovative and highly engaging games for all types of consoles is not a joke. Development companies should have a high command and knowledge of Windows, Android, IOS, and other platforms to create games for their respective devices. With experience comes quality solutions. This aspect also makes the need to work with experienced companies a must. 

It is also to remember that the best game development company in the USA also tends to have one of the best reputations on the market. A way to check to see if the best game development firm stands up to all of the hype is to read reviews. Every company can brag on and on about its superior quality and experience. Only testimonials of past clients can prove their claims. Also, the experience the gaming company builds over the years, helps it establish itself as a trusted name. 

If a company has been around for years, then this gives you peace in knowing that they firstly not a scam, and will deliver. Secondly, if the company has been up and running for all these years, it would mean that they are making money, so they must have clients and people who go to them. Thirdly, over the years, the firm is likely to have published at least a number of games which you can sample, and get an understanding of their level of experience.

Company portfolio

Come on; this one is a no brainer. Every decision to choose any type of company requires you to take a comprehensive look at their collections. A simple glance at a portfolio can give you signals regarding you making the right choice. Every best game development agency will take pride in presenting you to their portfolios with their best works. The goal is not to just admire their work, but also to get an idea of if their style fits yours. If what you see is far from what you want creativity wise, it’s time to move on. They probably could produce the outcome you are looking for, but it will take lots of time and effort from both sides. You can also assess the diversity, and quality of the company’s work by looking at their portfolios. 

A portfolio can also help you see the type of projects that the company has handled in the past. Usually, if you are still in doubt, you can ask the agency for more examples. If they are professional in what they do, they will be more than happy to showcase them. Some firms will even show you their past projects that are similar to your ideas, and this will eradicate the doubts you have about the outcome of the work. In some cases, a view of a portfolio can help you make adjustments to your ideas. You must be able to compromise when the time comes, maybe what they have to offer is actually what you need, rather than what you want. So the top game development companies with the most robust portfolios will help you achieve the result you want. 

Keeping up with the design trends

This is an essential one. Video games are a show of artistic styles that match the modern-day. You should be able to see games like an art painting. Some art pieces become instant classics regardless of their style, while others reflect the demands of modern-day art. In recent years there has been a growing trend that has raised the need for mobile games. Popular game development companies in the US try their best to keep up with the trends of the year. These trends should be analyzed efficiently to ensure a long lifetime for the games produced. 

Gamers are usually divided into different categories. Some gamers look for graphically intensive games, and feature beautiful artwork. Other players search for games that have good storylines and do not care about graphics at all. Your company of choice should be conscious about these factors, and help you determine which category your ideas fall into the most. To design a unique video game, a company must keep an equilibrium between the latest design trends and those that have already been established. 

Game development steps and what to require from your game development company

The top game development companies should be able to offer you a development process that includes the input of both parties. When working together, you will be familiar with the game development steps, and focus on your requirements. So when looking for the top game development companies, go with the one that takes you through a comprehensive route that is worth following for the best possible outcome. Make sure to have the developer explain every stage of the project building. Knowing the actions you have to take will give you the necessary information regarding the things happening. With the knowledge you have gained, you can also infer if the things that are happening, are happening in the right matter. 

In most cases, a good development company will discuss your idea with you to create a detailed concept of the whole picture. Often times, they will refine your ideas that will end up benefiting you. They will help you choose the right style of design that matches your game. When perfecting these styles, your game development company can use your ideas to create game objects with vivid backgrounds and animations. Although you won’t be doing much coding, you will have a chance to understand this process and, if possible, make your contributions. Game level designs and UI elements are often one of the most exciting parts of the development. Working together, you and your company can help bring your imagination to life. You will have an understanding of the process of integrating game elements.

When both sides achieve mutual understanding, you can have peace of mind through participating in testing. After passing each step successfully, you will have access to the final game. Through careful polishing and teamwork, you will then be ready to launch the game. 

How much does it cost to develop a game for your business - what affects the cost

Your game development project is most likely your startup work. When working on startups, it’s essential to consider your budget. Even if this is your full-time work, your budget matters. When it comes to finding the top game development companies, it is crucial to understand the price to quantity ratio you are working with.

It might be tempting at first to work with a company that offers lower prices than the competition. You might think that all of them do the same work, right? Create and develop games. Well, not quite. Although you will receive a final product, you might have a hard time appreciating the quality and relevance to the market you were aiming for. It is a good idea to find top game development companies that have long been around. These sorts of companies can present excellent market visibility. You will have an idea of the fees you will pay, and whether they match the quality of the solutions displayed. 

In short, depending on the complexity of the game you are looking to develop, costs may range from 300 dollars to 300 million dollars. A simple game like Flappy Bird’s development costs were around 300 US dollars. This was a mobile game that was very popular for a brief amount of time. But major triple-A titles like GTA 5 had a cost of 265000000 US Dollars. So, expect your costs to vary depending on your requirements and project ideas. 

Different types of games and game development companies

Game types

Video games have come a long way from being simple dots on a screen too large open-world settings with elaborate characters and stories. The rapid development in the video game industry has made way for the creation of different genres. With the rapid advance of technology, gamers are introduced to game types such as Alternate Reality, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. Alternate Reality games allow players to play both in the real world, and artificially created a game world with a narrative that varies depending on player input. Augmented Reality (AR) games kind of function the same way, but usually AR games add fictional characters and object to real-life sceneries and often times can subtract them. Virtual Reality (VR) games, on the other hand, offer players a unique artificial world that can be interacted with. Oftentimes these settings can feel too real. 

The game genres mentioned above were the latest on offer by game development companies. There are, of course, many other types of games for players to choose from. Anything from the simple Action Shooter games to the Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMO). Some top game developers also create Simulations games that put the player in the shoes of vehicle pilots, athletes, farmers, and more.

Types of popular game development companies

There are four main types of top game development companies. The first type is a First-Party developer that produces video game consoles and games exclusive to that platform. Second-party developers are independent video game developers who usually work with console creators to produce exclusive games for them. Third-party developers produce games for publishers based on contracts to develop different titles. In these cases, publishers usually have the main authority. Fourth-party top game developers or more commonly known as licensed game developers usually create games based on tv shows, movies, and comic books. They are not too welcomed by pure gamers due to the fact that they are mainly concerned with advertising. 

The last but not least type of game development companies are indie game developers. These developers operate independently and use a limited amount of resources to create video games. They use public demand as their main driving force. Indie game developers succeed by meeting the demands of public gamers. 

Important parts of a perfect game

There are many ways to produce the perfect video game. What makes the perfect video game? Well, there are six important parts of a perfect game to look out for. 

The first part is the game world. The game world should be able to make the players feel like they are living and breathing while playing. Every interaction should also feel natural and make an importance in the setting. 

Another aspect of a perfect game, is, of course, the game storyline. There are even cases where a game with not so good visuals is regarded as a good game due to the engaging storyline. This part of a video game is what will keep bringing the players back. 

The in-game characters are also very important in creating the perfect game. Most developers, unfortunately, do not focus heavily on character development which can lead to their demise. Since players will spend most of their time with the in-game characters, they should feel the sense to care about them and enjoy interacting with them. 

Music can be seen as part of a video game that is often overlooked. This mistake is what blocks most games from being the perfect video game. Music in a game should not be an afterthought, but rather a big part of story development. Through music, players will start bonding with the storyline and characters. 

Good visuals are the norm for video games nowadays. A game with low-quality visuals will drive players away from titles. Because of high technological advancements, in most cases, games can feel lifelike, and poor visuals in a game can drive it away from being the perfect video game. 

Final part

Quality assurance is the main recipe in creating the perfect video game. After you have added all the above-mentioned ingredients into a game, you will need to make sure things are polished, and function with respect to each other. 

Game development languages

Every video game that is created requires some kind of development language. These can vary depending on the development team, and video game requirements. Nowadays, the most common game development languages are C++, Java, SQL, Javascript, CSS3, and HTML5. System programming is seen as the main type of development method for video games. Through system programming applications like video games are made to run on numerous devices. C++ is a game development language that is hard to learn, but also the most rewarding because it gives the developer control over hardware and graphical aspects of game development. 

Java, on the other hand, is a language that can be found on everything from microwave programming to video games. The dynamic aspects of Java are what makes it desirable for every developer. Considering how close Java is to C++  it is easy for many developers to learn both languages. 

HTML5 and CSS3 are both web languages that are used to develop page structure and visual display elements in video games. HTML5 in some cases can even replace Javascript. Making it very desirable for any developer. 

Depending on the size of the video game, more than one game language can be used for the development process. But smaller games made for mobile devices usually use a simple game language. 

Game development methodologies

The process of developing a video game can be a massive investment. The methodologies can also differ significantly from other projects like web development. Each video game development agency has its own way of achieving their goals. Firstly you should do some research regarding the technologies required to develop video games. It is imperative to understand the latest design trends, and hardware solutions for game development. Top game development companies utilize the best digital solutions and hardware tools to bring your ideas to life. When choosing your game development company, you should be able to understand their methodologies. After all the effort, you will be able to comprehend their level of work, and appreciate their solutions better. 

How long does it take to develop a game?

Video game development can be a lengthy process. Most modern console or PC video games take anywhere from three to five years to complete. A mobile video game can take around a few months to publish. There are many factors that can influence the overall development time of a video game. Things like the scale, development platform, genre, workforce, and more can affect the overall time spent on development. Triple-A game development companies can roll out games faster due to their enormous amount of resources, developers and overall budget. 

Customer feedback

Reading customer reviews and comments is one of the best ways to determine the top game development companies, and separate them from the worst. The customer is always right when it comes to business. Social media platforms can be used to connect users and service providers. On these social media outlets, you can read feedback from users. Clients will have no hard time commenting on specific posts to voice their opinions. Some websites that host reviews for businesses can also be used to verify the level of honesty in a company. Users are likely to express the errors companies make, and mirror their worst aspects. If it was up to the company, they could go on for hours telling you about how good they are. 

Depending on the company, customer reviews can be read on various platforms. These platforms could be Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc. Although these reviews can give you in-depth information regarding their services, sometimes the report might be biased. To avoid mix up, make sure to enter different websites to read a diverse amount of reviews. If you see positive reviews come up more often than negative ones, it would be worth a shot to give them a call. 

Customer service

Customer service is often the mirror that reflects the true nature of a company’s quality. Having to wait on hold for hours, and not receive any replies to lengthy complaint emails can boil your blood. Top game development companies offer excellent customer service right from the start. This customer support can come in the forms of quick replies, detailed phone calls, video conferences, and, most important of all, up close and personal meetings. If the company of your choice does offer any of the services mentioned above, then you are destined to face issues right from the first stage. 

Sadly, there are lots of game development agencies that fall under the category of bad customer service. Often times, you will see good cooperation between you and your company of choice up to one point. Soon as you purchase their service, your queries will be ignored, and you will start the never-ending cycle of cat and mouse. 

But no worries, because there are ways of tackling such problems. Firstly, if you have done enough research and read plenty of reviews online, you will have an idea of which company has the best customer service. Secondly, the game development firms that have been up and running for years, usually have reasonable customer return rates due to their excellent service. These businesses understand the importance of good customer service, and focus on areas that assist clients at every turn. 

Meeting deadlines

Nobody enjoys doing business with people who continually miss deadlines. Once or twice in your life, you have come across instances where someone has been late to a meeting, or failed to turn in his or her assignment on time. All of these events can prove to be frustrating and delay work significantly. Now imagine such an event that happens with the video game development company you want to work with. Such instances are a clear indication of poor business practices made on the side of the development company. Top game development companies are trying to perfect the art of time-to-market practice.

Time-to-market is a term that refers to the amount of time it takes for a product to be available for release. The practice has evolved over the years to become the standard norm in digital video game development. The reason for this is that the video game industry is a fast-paced one. So the first one to release will be the winner. 

You are risking falling behind the competition if the company you have chosen fails to meet deadlines, and publish your project. The sooner your video game launches and hits the market, the higher the chances you will have good revenues. Hence, focus on choosing a video game development company that delivers results on time, while trying to keep up with rapidly changing trends. 

Conclusion

There are plenty of top game development companies out there for you to choose from. The key is to know what to look for when making a choice. Every company has its specialization regarding some aspect of video game development. It is best to understand your personal goals, and compare them to the main specialties of the video game development company of choice.