The Evolution of Game Art: From Pixels to Realistic Graphics
Video games are an art form, from the gameplay and visuals to the music and sound that surrounds them. Games, from a visual perspective, are like movies and television, video games use the visual medium to explore concepts, but unlike tv and cinema, games are interactive, and you as a player have control over what you will see and where you will go within the environments. This means that everything that is possible to see in the game must be rendered and fleshed out, unlike a show where only what the director is showing you have to be made. This is why movie sets can provide visual guidance for the final cut and games can’t. Because of this, there’s a ton of work that goes into designing a game that you, as a player, may not even care to think about, but the artists probably had sleepless nights over it, just like when they worked on things like clothes and surface textures to weapons, vehicles, monsters/enemies, visual effects, and even pre-production work like storyboards and concept game art. And just like tv shows or movies, games evolved over time with new technology. Games have come a long way since the early days of pixelated graphics and rudimentary sound effects. The evolution of game art has been a long and fascinating journey, taking us from the simple, blocky visuals of the 8-bit era to the stunningly realistic graphics of modern games. Pixel Art and the 8-Bit Era Compared to our modern-day standards, game art could have been better in terms of graphics due to limited technology, and developers had to make do with what they had. This led to the creation of pixel art, a style that relied on small, square pixels to create images on the screen. It all began with the single-pixel game from the 1972 Pong, a table tennis game with two-dimensional graphics, and continued to evolve with games such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Super Mario Bros. Even with their limitations in graphics, their gameplay and iconic characters made them beloved by gamers around the world. As technology advanced, the graphics in games became more sophisticated. The 3D Revolution In 1999, Sega released its Dreamcast console, which marked a significant shift in the gaming industry. For the first time, 3D graphics started to resemble modern game graphics, thanks to advances in computer hardware. Games like Sonic Adventure were truly 3D, unlike the previous generation of games that used sprites. The Sega Dreamcast was ahead of its time and showcased some of the best graphics and gameplay ever seen in video games. Moreover, Dreamcast was also the first console to feature a built-in modular modem for online play. Eventually, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, the big three companies of today’s gaming industry, followed suit with consoles like GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. The Rise of Realistic Graphics The turn of the millennium saw the rise of realistic graphics in gaming. The evolution of game art is closely tied to the development of hardware technology that supports it, and as technology continued to advance, so too did the graphics in gaming. In each game art, every 3D model (or mesh) in a game is composed of triangles and has generally gone through several iterations of optimization to reduce its ‘polycount,’ which refers to the number of triangles (or polygons) it contains. However, during the design stage, high-poly models that contain much detail are created using 3D design tools like Max, Maya, ZBrush, and others. Such high-res models can contain more than a million polygons and cannot be deployed in-game since the renderer would choke. Nonetheless, their details are necessary to make a scene believable. Advancements such as normal mapping allow the detail of high-polygon models to be transferred to an optimized mesh linked to a normal map, giving the illusion of detail and responding to lighting. And graphic shaders, which is a programmable shaders, first introduced by the GeForce 3, transformed 3D rendering and allowed developers to write highly complex shaders. The processing power and graphic capabilities of consoles continue to contribute to the evolution of game art graphics. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 allowed for even greater processing power and more advanced graphics engines, enabling game artists to create more realistic visuals. The Current State of Game art In addition to the ever-growing technologies that support game art, the current generation of consoles, including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, allow for unprecedented processing power and graphics capabilities, enabling developers to create truly breathtaking visuals. Thanks to constantly evolving advancements such as physically-based rendering (PBR), High-Dynamic Range (HDR), and Real-Time Ray Tracing allows, games are one step closer to achieving photorealistic fidelity. Game art has come a long way in just a few decades, with smooth user interfaces, advanced gameplay, faster processors, and mind-blowing video technology providing gamers with an unparalleled experience. Early arcade game developers could never have imagined the evolution of computer game graphics to the extent we see today, with virtual cities in racing games that almost match real ones down to the smallest details. Competition among major players in the gaming industry is fierce as they strive to outdo each other. But this level of competitiveness is a boon for gamers, as it ensures that the best of game graphics is yet to come. It may seem unbelievable, but further advancements in computer game graphics are expected, promising even more breathtaking visual experiences for gamers in the future. The Evolution of Gameplay Video games have constantly been evolving since their inception, with advances in technology allowing for more complex and immersive experiences. As games become more sophisticated and offer more nuanced storytelling and emotional depth, they begin to blur the lines between traditional games and other forms of media, such as movies and literature. This evolution is not necessarily a linear progression but rather a constant exploration and experimentation of what the medium can offer. With advancements in game art, achieving
Exploring What Game Development Service Has to Offer
Thanks to technological advancements and the ever-growing demand for interactive entertainment, the gaming industry has evolved significantly over the past few decades. Game development services have become essential in delivering high-quality games that captivate players worldwide. Let’s take a closer look at the various offerings of today’s game development services and the value they bring to the table. Custom Game Development One of the primary services offered by game development companies is custom game development. This involves creating games tailored to client’s unique requirements, whether they are indie developers, established studios, or businesses looking to use games for marketing or training purposes. Custom game development allows for creating games across multiple platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices, ensuring a broad reach for the final product. Custom game development can range from small indie titles to large-scale AAA games and can be created for a variety of platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices. The process of custom game development involves working closely with clients to understand their vision and goals for the game and then creating a unique design and development plan to bring that vision to life. It’s also beneficial for businesses looking to use games for marketing or training purposes. Games can be designed to promote a product or service, educate employees, or train customers on how to use a particular product. By creating custom games, businesses can engage their target audience in a more interactive and meaningful way, ultimately leading to increased brand recognition and customer loyalty. Overall, custom game development is an important service that allows clients to create unique and engaging games tailored to their specific needs and goals. Game Design and Concept Development A crucial aspect of game development is designing the game’s concept, mechanics, and overall gameplay experience. Game development services collaborate with clients to create unique and engaging game concepts, ensuring that the final product stands out in the competitive gaming market. This process involves brainstorming ideas, developing a storyline, creating characters, and designing the game world, among other tasks. Art and Animation Services Visual appeal is a significant factor in a game’s success, and game development services offer art and animation services to create stunning visuals that enhance the gaming experience. This includes 2D and 3D art, character design, environment design, and animation. These services ensure that the game’s graphics are both aesthetically pleasing and optimized for performance on various platforms. Game development service companies offer many services, but three critical aspects of game art fall within the scope of their art and animation offerings: technical art, 3D game art, and concept art. Technical Art Technical art involves creating and optimizing game assets to ensure that they work seamlessly with the game engine. Technical artists are responsible for developing tools and pipelines that streamline the game development process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. In layman’s terms, technical artists facilitate how art is made. Hence, they work closely with programmers to ensure that the game’s technical aspects are functioning correctly and that the art assets integrate seamlessly with the game engine. Technical art plays a role in creating visually appealing and technically sound games that offer a smooth gaming experience. 3D Game Art The creation of 3D models and environments is an essential aspect of 3D game art. At its core, game art encompasses all visual elements that make up a computer game, such as characters, menus, and user interfaces. It’s the game artist’s responsibility to produce these artistic components, including characters, objects, environments, animations, effects, lighting, and other visual details. To create high-quality 3D models optimized for use in games, 3D artists utilize specialized software. Their primary objective is to create visually stunning characters, objects, and environments that enhance the gaming experience. Crafting 3D game art requires extensive skill and experience to create realistic and immersive environments that players can interact with. Concept Art Concept art is another essential aspect of game art that plays a crucial role in the video game development process, particularly in the early stages. Concept artists are responsible for helping to determine the overall look and feel of the game by creating visual concepts and designs that involve creating visual representations of the game’s characters, environments, and objects. They work closely with game designers to develop a visual style and aesthetic that sets the tone for the game. Concept artists use various tools and techniques to create sketches, drawings, and paintings that convey the game’s look and feel. They help the team to visualize how the game will look and play and play a critical role in the game development process. Concept art sets the tone for the entire project and helps to guide the game’s design. A concept artist’s work continues beyond designing game elements, as they also help to establish the game’s overall artistic direction. They work with art directors to develop the game’s visual style, color palette, and other elements that will make it stand out. Game Programming and Engineering Game programming and engineering have evolved with technology. In the early days of video game history, programmers were accountable for most aspects of game development, including game design. However, as games became more complex, development teams grew significantly, and new jobs were created, which are often more specialized, particularly in larger game studios such as Ubisoft, Blizzard Entertainment, and Electronic Arts. Nowadays, Game development services employ skilled programmers and engineers to bring game design and art to life. They are responsible for creating the game’s engine, writing the code that brings a video game to life, implementing gameplay mechanics, and ensuring that the game runs smoothly. They also work on integrating third-party tools and APIs, such as physics engines, artificial intelligence, and networking solutions, on enhancing the game’s functionality. A game programmer works closely with producers and other departments, such as game designers, game artists, and sound engineers, to transform the project’s vision into a fully functional, playable game. Their responsibilities can range from dictating the speed at which a
Game Development Company: Revolutionizing Technology & Growth
The gaming industry has undergone a massive transformation over the past few decades. From simple pixelated games, it has evolved into a sophisticated world of immersive virtual experiences. This transformation has been fuelled by the rapid advancement of technology, and at the same time, the demand for a new experience in gaming has led game companies to develop new technologies and techniques to improve the gaming experience. This has led to the development of new hardware, such as specialized gaming controllers, graphics cards, and virtual reality headsets, as well as software, such as game engines and AI algorithms. The gaming industry has also contributed to the development of other fields, such as computer graphics and artificial intelligence. For example, real-time rendering techniques developed for games have been adapted for use in fields such as architecture, product design, and film production. This has enabled game development companies to create more complex and engaging games. Today, the industry offers a plethora of options, not only to gamers but also to other fellow game developers or to those seeking careers in the industry. For gamers, the options are endless. The gaming industry offers a wide variety of games that cater to different interests and preferences. From action-packed adventures to strategic simulations, there is a game for everyone. However, as the industry continues to evolve with new trends and technologies, it has a lot more to offer beyond just providing games for players or consumers. Game development companies now offer various services and products that cater to fellow game developers, aspiring game industry professionals, and other stakeholders. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at what a game development company has to offer beyond providing games for its players or consumers. Diverse Gaming Platforms Modern game development companies cater to a wide range of platforms, including PC, consoles, mobile devices, and web browsers. This diversity allows developers to target different audiences and demographics, increasing their potential reach and revenue. PC and Console Gaming Companies like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Rockstar Games continue to develop AAA titles for PC and consoles, such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This high-budget, high-quality games offer rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay. Mobile Gaming With the widespread adoption of smartphones, mobile gaming has become a dominant force in the industry. Companies like Supercell, King, and Tencent create popular mobile games like Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, and PUBG Mobile, which offer casual and competitive gaming experiences on the go. Indie Games Independent game developers have gained prominence recently, with companies like. These indie games often offer unique experiences and artistic expressions that set them apart from mainstream games. This diversity is not limited to each platform. And if you’re a gamer yourself, you might be familiar with the word crossplay or cross-platform, where different game platforms can interact with each other, allowing players to play with each other, regardless of the platforms they use, can be played with different platforms (except for PC of course). And this technological advancement, along with other features in games, is constantly being improved. Cutting-edge Technologies Just like crossplay, today’s game development companies leverage advanced technologies to create state-of-the-art gaming experiences, and game development companies are improving technologies to support better experiences for players. Some of the most prominent technologies include: 3D graphics Although the origins of 3D graphics date back to the 1960s, video games have greatly influenced their advancement. Steve Colley, the creator of the Maze War video game, played a crucial role in the development of the Mars Exploration Rover’s 3D rendering system by repurposing his game’s code. Moreover, video games have contributed to the evolution of technological equipment. Some games necessitated a coprocessor that enhanced graphic capacity, resulting in the preservation of graphic cards in computers and improving the quality of their graphics. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) VR and AR technologies have revolutionized the gaming industry by offering immersive experiences that blur the line between the digital and physical worlds. Companies like Oculus, HTC, and Sony have developed VR headsets, while AR games like Pokémon Go have gained widespread popularity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI enables game developers from visual augmentation to automated level development to story-based situations and storylines. Even non-playable characters (NPCs) can be given intelligence to create more realistic and engaging games by simulating human-like behavior and decision-making. AI also helps in procedural content generation, which allows for the creation of unique and dynamic game worlds. To create realistic representations from synthetic 3D photos, the most modern AI image augmentation techniques are used. AI experts are spearheading the development of deep learning systems that can transform 3D-generated visuals into realistic images. Cloud Gaming Cloud gaming services, like Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce NOW, enable gamers to play high-quality games without the need for expensive hardware. Game development companies can now reach a wider audience, as games can be streamed on various devices, including smartphones and tablets. Career Opportunities and Growth The game development industry offers a wide array of career opportunities, ranging from game design and programming to art and animation. With the global gaming market revenue in the Games segment projected to reach US$396.20bn in 2023 and the number of users expected to amount to 4.33bn users by 2027, the demand for skilled professionals in the field continues to grow. Diverse Roles Game development companies require professionals with diverse skill sets, including game designers, programmers, artists, animators, sound designers, and more. Apart from technical roles, game companies need professionals in marketing to ensure that the game reaches its target audience. Project managers ensure that the game is delivered on time and within budget, while finance experts manage the company’s finances. Human resource professionals ensure that the company’s hiring processes are fair and equitable, and that the workplace is diverse and inclusive. The game industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and is expected to continue growing in the coming years. As such, there is a high demand
More Than Just a Game: The Real-World Applications of the Super Mario Effect
Who knew that games could help us learn? It turns out that every game involves some struggle, which is just what we need for optimal learning! Learning something new can be challenging, we need to go through that trial-and-error phase until we finally reach that amazing “aha” moment. Ever wondered why we tend to give up when faced with challenges instead of seeing them as opportunities for growth? Mark Rober’s TEDxPenn talk, “The Super Mario Effect,” explains that our approach to learning is key. In Super Mario, players are motivated to learn the game mechanics and hone their skills to save the princess rather than fear failure. The Super Mario Effect is explained as “focusing on the Princess and not the pits, to stick with a task and learn more.” There are three takeaways to apply this to feel less stressed and learn more. Reframe Your Mindset The Super Mario Effect is about turning challenges into engaging opportunities for growth. Rather than dwelling on failure, players focus on mastering each level to progress to the next. It’s a game that reframes loss as a learning experience and inspires us to keep going. Gamification can be a game-changer in our lives, according to Rober! By treating challenges as games, we can view the learning process as an enjoyable activity that we want to keep doing. In other words, gamification can help us reframe challenges and make them more engaging and motivating. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Playing a game always ends with one thing: the prize! Even when the going gets tough, the thrill of mastering the game is just too enjoyable to pass up. Unlike real life, mistakes don’t have to be devastating in a “give it your all to win” environment. Instead, they’re like fun-sized opportunities to learn and improve for your next try. According to Rober, The Super Mario Effect is more than just having a positive attitude. Turning challenges into games and emphasizing the prize makes the process feel lighter and more empowering; it makes you think, “What worked? What didn’t? What can I learn from it? I’ll try again.” Rather than enduring, it becomes about learning and trying again. Focusing on the Prize can trick your brain into learning more. Shift Your Focus from Failure By freeing us from the fear of failure, the Super Mario Effect has revolutionized the way we approach challenges. Its core idea is to learn from mistakes without fixating on them, which means that failing to beat level one isn’t a reason to quit, but rather a chance to gain insight from errors and persist toward our goal. Gamification The Super Mario Effect is a phenomenon that describes how individuals become more motivated and engaged in tasks that are challenging and rewarding. By utilizing gamification, this concept can extend beyond gaming to various aspects of life, including education, work, and even personal development. Gamification is the incorporation of game mechanics and principles into non-game contexts. It involves applying gaming characteristics to address problems and achieve goals through various activities and procedures. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s all about figuring out the objective and picking the right game design to achieve it! The ultimate goal of gamification is to boost interaction, collaboration, sharing, and engagement among different groups, including partners, employees, and customers. Gamification also works wonders in marketing. Enhancing engagement and experience increases user retention and acquisition through social sharing. It also promotes brand awareness, loyalty, and provides a sense of accomplishment to users. Lastly, it simplifies data gathering, providing valuable insights to businesses. Gamification can help businesses improve customer engagement and achieve marketing goals by incorporating game elements into their products or services. This leads to more enjoyable and rewarding customer experiences and drives business success. Gamification by AgateGamification isn’t just about making things more productive or efficient. It can also be fun! Incorporating game elements into non-game contexts can make mundane tasks more engaging and exciting. The examples are Agate’s gamification features. They’re helpful in onboarding users and collecting data and provide a fun and interactive experience. Let’s look closer and see how Agate has taken gamification to the next level! GoPay Indonesia designed the Suwit game to encourage users to try their P2P transfer feature, resulting in a 40% increase in daily use. Play Video Populix created a family feud-style game called Pop Quest, which motivated users to answer questions quickly and honestly, leading to better data collection. Play Video Moreover, an elementary school gamified assessment tool was developed to help students recognize their potential and receive personalized recommendations based on their needs, resulting in more accurate behavioral assessments than traditional tests. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type [Mythic Protocol] Creature 3D Artist Art Contract Type : Project Based Details VFX Artist Art Contract Type : Regular Crew Details [Project-Based] Quality Assurance (QA) Quality Contract Type : Project Based Details UI Artist Art Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Load More
When Art Meets Technology: The World of VFX and Technical Artists
At Agate, there are many specialists in the Art Department, including 2D, 3D Character, 3D Environment, Concept, Technical artists, UI, VFX Artists, and Game Animator. Each role requires a unique blend of technical know-how and creativity to produce top-notch artwork. However, two roles in the specialist focus more on technical expertise: VFX and Technical Artist. Let’s learn more about these two roles! VFX Artist At Agate, VFX artists play a crucial role in enhancing the visual effects of games. VFX artists specialize in creating mods for games, which add an extra layer of visual appeal to the game. In addition to this, they are responsible for describing the visuals of game elements and characters’ skills. These elements range from pyro particles, fluids, lightning, explosions, and cracks. They’re responsible for creating VFX concept art by making rough sketches and conducting the RnD for its implementation in the game. This process includes setting up the VFX in the game engine, such as Unity or Unreal, which involves creating textures, shaders, and materials. The ultimate goal of VFX artists in game development is to create visuals that align with the Art Direction and Game Design. By following the directions, they can present visuals that players can easily understand and enjoy, such as character skills, environment atmosphere, visual animation, and UI icon effects. Here are the essential skills required to become a VFX artist in the game industry: Strong knowledge of Realtime VFX in games Proficiency in VFX tools used in the industry pipeline, such as Unity or Unreal game engines Expertise in 2D and 3D VFX VFX artists collaborate with other departments at Agate to bring the game’s visuals to life. They work with Art Direction and Game Design to decide on the best designs, create 2D and 3D VFX, and collaborate with Technical Artists for seamless implementation. Challenges Various VFX Art StylesThe Game Design and Art Direction teams often face Visual Art challenges, such as producing artwork in a particular style ranging from stylized to realistic genres. To tackle these challenges, artists typically utilize software tools that align with the desired art style, making their work more efficient. VFX FormIn certain situations, there may be a need for VFX to be distinct and exclusive from others. For instance, the VFX could be shaped like Hexagons, portals, or other uncommon shapes. To overcome these obstacles, artists usually craft an exclusive 3D shape by utilizing specialized software and designing a personalized shader to realize the required VFX shape. VFX Optimization in GamesWhen creating games, they are often intended for a variety of platforms. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that the VFX remains playable while maintaining its quality. This can be achieved by modifying the Particle Set Up in VFX, such as limiting the particles’ number and reducing the mesh’s poly count. Additionally, it’s essential to consider using shaders on materials to prevent excessive particle usage. Texture Atlasing can also reduce the load on the VFX particle casting process. Play Video Set Up Area of Effect from Magic Shield VFX Technical Artist In the process of game development, technical artists play a multifaceted role that encompasses various stages. Initially, they establish standards and streamlined workflows during the planning stage. They may then assist artists by creating customized tools in the asset creation and polishing stage. Additionally, technical artists may enhance graphics by utilizing shaders, lighting, and post-processing in the game engine. Finally, they must optimize the game to ensure optimal performance and a smooth playing experience. The primary objective of technical artists is to design efficient workflows that enable artists to create high-quality assets on time. They also strive to optimize game performance to provide a seamless and enjoyable gameplay experience. Furthermore, they work towards enhancing the game’s graphical quality to make it visually appealing and engaging. Here are the skills that are required to be Technical Artist in the game industry: In-depth knowledge of game engine Knowledge about 2D workflow and 3D art and tools that artist uses Artistic sense Technical artists collaborate with other roles, such as artists, tech, and designers. This collaboration is essential to understand the specific requirements, objectives, and functioning of each role and establish effective communication channels. Challenges Technical artists face the challenge of keeping pace with constantly evolving technology and ever-increasing standards. They must remain updated and adapt to the latest technological advancements to meet and exceed the growing expectations for game development. They can also address the limitations of diverse devices and platforms by implementing tiers of graphic settings that can be adjusted according to the hardware capabilities of the user. These tiers may include material and shadow quality and utilizing assets with Level of Detail (LOD) and fallback options. Previous image Next image Shader Graph Tips Although there are numerous challenges to face and various necessary skills to acquire as a VFX and Technical artist, here are some tips to help you to be better! A simple tip to become a good VFX Artist is first to understand the basic concepts of Realtime VFX and how they work in game development. Learning the workflow and pipeline tools used in the game industry, such as the software and tools used in game engines, is also important. To learn more, beginners can find courses and tutorials on the Realtime VFX forum. To become a VFX Artist, one must be willing to experiment and try new things when setting up VFX. Sharing previews of VFX creations on platforms like ArtStation, LinkedIn, or Behance can serve as an initial portfolio. To become a better technical artist, having an open mind and a willingness to learn is important. The technology and tools used in game development are constantly evolving, so staying updated and adapting to new changes is important. Developing a practical mindset can also be helpful, as it allows you to find the most effective ways to solve problems. Interested in being a part of our crews? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY ON ART DEPARTMENT Position
Bringing Games to Life: The Process of Game Creation
Ever wonder how your favorite games are made? Or are you eager to create your own games? Well, look no further because we have got you covered! We’ll provide a thorough process of creating a game, from scratch to life! Let’s check it out! Note: The process may vary depending on the company and game type. Creation This is the starting point of game development. This phase aims to get many potential concepts by exploring the market opportunities, game premises, game system, and theme to decide whether the concept is feasible. In this phase, the Product Manager (PM) leads while working alongside the team. IdeationThe PM’s team comprises product marketers, market researchers, and designers. They’ll conduct a study to dive into the current market landscape and identify existing problems and opportunities. This means exploring various aspects such as game premises, player demands, industry trends, and themes to comprehensively understand the market. PitchA pitch contains a selection of ideas that have been developed in the previous stage of the project. The aim is to select the best ideas and concepts to be presented to directors and senior leadership. Feasibility StudyAfter the idea has been approved by Senior Leadership and Directors, the PM and the team can move on to the next step to estimate the game’s market potential and budget. Pre-production During this phase, the PM is still in charge of validating the game design from the initial concepts of user research and trials. The main focus is to prevent major changes in the next phase, so rapid prototyping and design iterations are emphasized. Game User Research (GUR)As part of the validation process, research on the target users ensures our game concept is on the right track. In this process, scientific principles are applied to understand the player and their psychology more. PrototypingA prototype is a basic version of a game that includes its core features. The main goal of developing a prototype is to test the core gameplay mechanics and interactions through playtesting. By starting with a simple prototype, developers can gradually refine and hone their game’s focus as they continue with the prototyping and testing stage. PlaytestingPlaytesting is a step in game development to validate assumptions, gather feedback, and identify flaws. Regular iteration and playtesting can identify design flaws, usability issues, or potential roadblocks. This enables developers to make necessary adjustments early on so the game product is well-received by its intended audience. It helps to create a more polished and successful gaming experience for players. Pre-Alpha ConceptingAfter collecting data from playtesting and previous stages of game development, the next step is to create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product/Pre-Alpha) concept. This concept serves as the initial documentation, including the game design, art, and technical design documents. The MVP concept can be sold and used as a reference during production, providing a clear roadmap for developers to follow. Previous Next MVP (Minimum Viable Product) – Valthirian Arc Hero School Story 2 Production During the production stage, the game producer takes on more responsibilities. This stage has several milestones: Pre-Alpha (MVP), Alpha, and Beta. Additionally, some game developers opt for a ‘Stealth Launch,’ releasing the game under a different name and publisher to get early metrics on the players’ response and determine if it’s suitable for release. Iterative production patterns are critical during this stage and should be emphasized throughout the development phase. Pre-AlphaThe next stage of game development, commonly known as First Playable, involves creating a vertical slice build that incorporates the prototype from the previous stage and follows the specifications outlined in the technical, art design, and game design documents. The goal of this build is to create a playable version of the game that includes all of the key features. AlphaIn the Alpha stage, the game has all major features and is playable, but only about half the content is complete. During this stage, the game’s core gameplay mechanics are set, but can still be revised based on feedback from testing. The Alpha build can be later used for a stealth launch. BetaBeta is the stage when all the important components are done, and the team focuses on fixing any remaining bugs. The main goal is to ensure the game is free of any bugs that could cause problems when it’s released. At the same time, the team is getting ready for the game’s launch by creating marketing plans and arrangements for live operations. Previous Next Vertical Slide – Valthirian Arc Hero School Story 2 Product Launch This is the phase where the game is officially released to the market, and it enters the introduction stage of its product life cycle. The development team puts extra effort to ensure the game is polished and ready for a wider audience, so they’re very strict quality assurance procedures to minimize any bugs. At the same time, the PM teams up with the marketing team to promote the game. https://youtu.be/aWb32Gw5cUs Previous Next Launch Trailer – Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story Live Ops This phase aims to maintain the game’s player community by keeping them engaged. An example is by offering regular updates and organizing events, which are decided based on user feedback and analytics. This phase is linked to the growth to maturity phase of the product life cycle, and it’s managed by the PM and the live ops team. Previous Next Live Ops – Memories Previous Next Early Access Update – Valthirian Arc Hero School Story 2 Sunset At some point during game development, the product manager might need to decide if they need to shut down all operations related to the game based on factors like revenue and user numbers. After reading about the step-by-step process of game creation, are you ready to join our adventure? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type Game Tester Intern Quality Contract Type : Internship Details Product Management Intern Product Manager Contract Type : Internship Details Business Development Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Regular Crew
Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to Empowering Leadership
Want to know how to be an effective leader? Becoming an effective leader can be a daunting task, and trying to master all aspects of leadership alone can be challenging. Empowering leadership requires both soft skills and technical proficiency, with a focus on comprehending the team’s work and effective communication. But worry not, here are some tips for you to be empowering leaders! Create a Safe and Welcoming Space As a leader, creating a space for your team to take risks and try out new ideas without fear of being blamed is important. Rather than pointing fingers, the focus should be learning from mistakes and exploring possible solutions. Clear communication of expectations is also crucial. Leaders should be attentive to feedback from their teams, making it easy for them to discuss complex issues and seek support when needed. Empower Your Team Empowering your team boosts productivity and engagement. Encourage them to take on challenges, organize work, and improve processes. It’s important to give clear goals and context to help them understand what to achieve and why. Trust and give them a sense of ownership to enhance their commitment to their work. Learn Efficiently Stay open to new ideas and be flexible enough to change your opinion based on new information. Discussing new developments with your team before making critical decisions that could impact them is essential. This helps build trust, promotes collaboration, and ensures everyone is on the same page. Nurture Growth Team growth and development can be facilitated in several ways, such as nurturing each crew member’s skill sets, strengths, and interests. Encourage personal and professional growth by allowing your team members to explore their interests and supporting them in learning new skills that could benefit them in their current or future roles. Foster Connection & Belongings Show compassion and understanding towards your team members when communicating with them. Acknowledge their emotions and remember they’re human beings, not just resources for completing tasks. Celebrate successes and failures as a team and openly give credit where it’s due. Strive to balance personal and professional connections, as this can help foster a more supportive and collaborative work environment. Be Competent & Set Examples Take the time to think carefully about the issue at hand and the different options available. Use your knowledge and judgment to make the best decision possible. Analyze the problem, identify its root cause, and hone your problem-solving skills. Additionally, be a positive example to others, lead by example, and be open and honest. As an empowering leader, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the technical aspects of your team’s work. While soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are important for effective leadership, technical skills are equally necessary to manage your team’s tasks effectively. A key element of technical competence is the ability to proficiently document tasks and data. Check out the tips below for more information about documentation! Effective Documentation Tips When creating documentation, it’s important to consider the target audience and the objective of the documentation. If a broad audience will read the documentation, it’s important to use language that is easy to understand for people with technical and non-technical backgrounds. The documentation should be comprehensive enough to meet the needs of more experienced individuals and easily digestible for those with less experience. Moreover, if you share the document with others, you can use online platforms such as Notion, Miro, or Figma to work together more effectively. At Agate, we mostly use Notion for documentation because it’s easy to use. Notion provides a user-friendly interface and user experience, making it beginner-friendly. Its linked databases feature lets us synchronize content across multiple pages, making it easier to filter team task views and create task dashboards. Additionally, Notion’s customizable options allow us to tailor their workspace to meet their needs, resulting in a more organized and efficient workflow. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type Game Tester Intern Quality Contract Type : Internship Details Product Management Intern Product Manager Contract Type : Internship Details Business Development Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Outsourcing Staff Intern Studio Contract Type : Internship Details Load More
Leading the Way: The Role of Leadership in Agate
Leadership is one of the most critical factors determining a company’s success. Effective leadership will inspire and motivate crews, encourage collaboration, drive innovation, and navigate challenges. A good leader sets the tone for the entire team and creates a culture that values teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement. In this fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, leadership isn’t just about managing people and empowering them to achieve their full potential. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of leadership in Agate. But before we begin, let’s take a look at the number of leaders in Agate! Leaders Responsibility Leaders play a crucial role in supporting their team to achieve common objectives that align with the overall strategy of Agate. Activities performed by leaders vary depending on the grade, ranging from ensuring timelines and quality of work by expectations, helping team members solve problems and obstacles in daily work, coordinating with other stakeholders, managing team allocation and workload, creating policies with a specific scope, creating and maintaining OKRs, strategic planning, evaluation, and others. Senior leadership refers to the leaders who hold the highest-level positions and are responsible for guiding the company’s overall direction. They’re responsible for supervising multiple department heads, a broader scope than typical department heads. Their duties include creating long-term plans and evaluations, covering a 3-5 year period, and evaluating the impact on the company. Leadership Program LeadershipReview Every six months, all leads will undergo a review process that involves evaluation by their superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. LeadershipDevelopment Program Leadership Sharing SessionThe Head of Departments or other Senior Leadership members conduct the session, which covers various general competencies such as time management, strategic thinking, and assertive communication. The session is available to all leaders interested in attending, including C-level executives, VPs, Senior Specialists, Producers, Product Managers, and Managers. Leadership Intensive CoachingThis is an ongoing program that collaborates with the Agate Academy team to identify the strengths and areas of improvement for potential and existing leaders. They will be paired with other leaders who can act as coaches to help them develop the necessary skills. For example, Lead A, who excels in numbers but needs to enhance their public speaking abilities, will be matched with Lead B, who has exceptional public speaking skills but needs to improve in numbers. Through this coaching process, participants can schedule sessions to coach each other and complement each other’s skills. Management Trainee Sharing SessionThe session is conducted by Senior Leaders, MTs who have graduated, or other MTs. The session’s content is tailored to the current tasks and challenges faced by MTs. For instance, before the bi-monthly meetings, MTs can share their experiences and discuss topics like OKRs, strategic planning, and evaluations. Additionally, the session covers general competencies that include communication, company knowledge, time management, problem-solving, and decision-making. There’s also an opportunity for MTs to participate in Q&A sessions and other activities that align with their interests. Learning& Development Budget At Agate, leaders can request various learning resources, including workshops, materials, and other tools to help them grow and develop their skills. By taking advantage of these resources, leaders can continue to level up and improve their abilities, leading to better outcomes for themselves and their teams. Trial Timefor Promotion To ensure a smooth transition and set leaders up for success, a trial period of 6-12 months is implemented before crews are promoted to lead or before a lead is promoted to a higher grade. During this period, leaders are exposed to new challenges they will face in their new roles. This trial period allows leaders to develop new skills and gain the necessary experience to confidently and effectively fulfill their new responsibilities. One-on-One Session At Agate, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration is highly valued. Work is not viewed as a transactional task but rather as an opportunity for personal and professional development. To support this culture, we held 1-on-1 meetings between crews and their leaders periodically to allow crew members to discuss their work, personal growth, interests, career projections, and other topics, even those unrelated to work. These meetings are crucial in allowing leaders to practice active listening and empathy and learn how to direct and nurture their team members. By prioritizing open and honest communication, Agate can create an environment where everyone can thrive both personally and professionally. Interested to be a part of our crews? Check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY LIST Position Department Contract Type Game Tester Intern Quality Contract Type : Internship Details Product Management Intern Product Manager Contract Type : Internship Details Business Development Marketing Sales & Operation Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Outsourcing Staff Intern Studio Contract Type : Internship Details Load More
A Peek Into Design Department
The call for the design department is to manage creative and design endeavor, possesses highly creative talent that absorbs visual trend and deploy them in fresh and exciting ways. Some sample roles we have in Agate’s design department are such: The team are required to create program in order to support the creative ecosystem inside our department and fostering balance of work to maintain the wellness in our culture. Another call is to recruit and allocate needed talents. Being a part of this department means you are going to make numerous of interesting and enjoyable games. It also means you need to set your target; one needs to maintain and improve quality. Your skills will be up for challenge in many levels starting from character development to game mechanism. If you think you can convince our recruiter and in-house member that you are capable to be in this department, check out some tips from our in-house member: Make sure you know which level you are applying for. Your working experiences will be a very much what we will be looking into. An honest and creative portfolio is very essential. Don’t overstate your previous works. Learn from your previous works and see in which case you are really compatible. Believe in your skill but stay humble. Willing to learn and accept criticism is another good point. Head down to our vacancy list below and see which role in the design department that fits your profile. Don’t hesitate to try your best luck here with us! VACANCY ON DESIGN DEPARTMENT Position Department Contract Type Senior Game Designer Design Contract Type : Regular Crew Details Load More
Tech Department 101
People behind the department There are three sub-divisions in the Department of Tech in Agate: Programmer (Game Programmer, System Programmer, Fullstack Programmer, etc.) As a Programmer, they need to develop the game by implementing concepts into actual playable games. Engineer (DevOps Engineer, Data Engineer, QA Engineer, etc.) To be an Engineer, one needs to make sure the developed game is stable and to ensure the technology pipeline is efficient and well improved. Research (Research Director, Lead Researcher, Tech Researcher, etc.) Their function is to explore new technology to find the best implementation for company standards. Overall, everyone in the Tech Department is required to provide the technological capability to orchestrate game components and infrastructure and also to bring the game design to life. Some targets they need to accomplish are ensuring the company possesses the best possible technology, improving tech crews to become world-class developers, and implementing the best tech advancement. Skills In order to develop and bring the game to life, crews in the Tech Department are required to master such essential skills, from coding to design. Their call is also to maintain the game, avoiding bugs and glitches. Fundamental Skills: Logic & problem solving General programming English Additional Skills: Verbal & written communication Basic leadership Tools Tools used by a Game Programmer Game Engine (Unity, PhaserJS, Unreal, Babylon) Game Engine has a library of programs to help the game development, including visual and sound design. Multiplayer Engine (Photo Fusion, Photon Quantum (Multiplayer Engine) Multiplayer engine is used by developer to create a multiplayer environment. Tools used by Back-end Developer Backend Framework (Dotnet, C#) Dotnet provides tools and libraries to build a compatible app or platform from desktop to mobile. A Backend Developer needs to master C# programming language to use Dotnet. Database (Rediss, MongoDB, Postgresq) Programmer uses the database to organize a collection of structured information that is electronically stored in a computer system. Tools used by Front-end Developer Web Framework (ReactJS, NextJS) This application is operated by a front-end developer to create a game user interface like menu arrangement, heads-up display, etc. Tools used by Development & Operations Programmer Deployment (Kubernetes) This tool helps developers manage applications made up of many containers and deploy them in different environments (physical or virtual machines). Cloud Server (GCP, AWS, Azure) Cloud Server provides storage for assets and computing resources over the internet for users to play the game from their device. Tools used by All Programmer Version Control (Git) A free and open-source distributed control system: tracking changes in any set of files, coordinating works among programmers, and collaboratively developing source code. Brainstorming & Documentation (Miro, Draw.io, Notion) These are the tools where ideas are being brainstormed, crafted, documented, and archived. If you think you want to be a part of this long experience, here are some tips on how to enter and enjoy being in our tech dept by two of our crews: Technical Director POV As a Technical Director, we are obliged to ensure the project is well delivered without going directly into that project. Yes, that’s another challenge. We need to monitor the end-to-end process even from scratch and provide suggestions when it is required. We are searching for those who are eager to learn. We need someone who can communicate well and collaborate. Knowledge is power. The more you have, the more you are needed in our dept. The quality of your portfolio is what we will be looking at. Lead Programmer POV The best and most challenging of working in Agate is that you are not just developing a game, but you are contributing to the whole ecosystem. We are required to adapt and strive to become better and better in the industry. It would be best if you had your own goal. Learn to master the basic tools and grasp the base theory by experimenting. Elevate your team and colleagues as much as possible. Be more proactive in approaching a discussion with people. Gain more knowledge. Keep progressing even if you need to catch up. Follow channels that might be useful on social media, like Instagram, YouTube, or anything else. Think you might enjoy being in our tech department? Head down to our vacancy list below and see if you match any of it! VACANCY ON TECH DEPARTMENT Position Department Division Contract Type 3D Artist Art Gamification Contract Type : Temporary Details 2D Artist Art Gamification Contract Type : Temporary Details Game Designer Design and Writing Full Development Contract Type : Temporary Details Social Media Specialist Finance, Corporate and Legal Support Contract Type : Temporary Details Load More
