Short answer
Prioritize research and development efforts in the post-production phase of game development to address the current research gap and unlock opportunities for innovation.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development (2016)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Research on game development software engineering processes is heavily concentrated on the production phase, with less attention paid to pre-production and a critical deficit in post-production research. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development. Using Systematic literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize research and development efforts in the post-production phase of game development to address the current research gap and unlock opportunities for innovation.
Game Development Lifecycle: Production Phase Dominates Research, Post-Production Lags Significantly
Research on game development software engineering processes is heavily concentrated on the production phase, with less attention paid to pre-production and a critical deficit in post-production research.
Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development · 2016
Key Findings
- 01The majority of studies focus on the production phase of the game development software engineering process life cycle.
- 02The pre-production phase receives a moderate amount of research attention.
- 03The post-production phase has received significantly less research activity compared to pre-production and production.
Application
Design takeaway
Prioritize research and development efforts in the post-production phase of game development to address the current research gap and unlock opportunities for innovation.
How to apply
When planning a new game development project, allocate resources and research efforts not only to the creation phase but also to strategies for post-launch support, updates, and long-term engagement.
Project actions
- 01When choosing a design project, consider if you can explore the less-researched post-production aspects of a product.
- 02Think about how your design might evolve or be maintained after its initial release.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a broad overview of research trends in game development software engineering.
- +Identifies a clear area for future research focus (post-production).
Limitations
The review is based on published literature, so it might miss internal company processes or unpublished research. The definition of 'post-production' can also vary.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the review depends on the systematic search strategy and the criteria used for including studies. Validity is supported by the systematic approach to literature synthesis.
Think critically
Given the heavy focus on the production phase, what are the potential long-term consequences for game quality, player satisfaction, and the sustainability of game development studios?
Design Principles
"A holistic approach to product development must encompass all lifecycle stages, from conception to end-of-life, to ensure comprehensive design and sustained value."
Understanding the distribution of research effort across the game development lifecycle is crucial for identifying under-explored areas. Focusing on the post-production phase could lead to innovations in areas like long-term maintenance, player support, and iterative updates, ultimately enhancing the longevity and success of game products.
What This Means for Your Design
Most studies about making video games focus on the actual building part, but not enough research looks at what happens before you start or, more importantly, after the game is finished.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study to justify focusing on a less-researched phase of a product's lifecycle in your design project, such as post-launch support or long-term usability.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This systematic review of game development processes indicates a significant research gap in the post-production phase. This suggests an opportunity for design projects to explore and innovate in areas such as long-term product support, iterative updates, and user community management, which are often less emphasized than initial development.
Source
Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development
Game development software engineering process life cycle: a systematic review
journal · 2016
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about game development lifecycle: production phase dominates research, post-production lags significantly?
- Prioritize research and development efforts in the post-production phase of game development to address the current research gap and unlock opportunities for innovation. Evidence: Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development (2016).
- Why does "Game Development Lifecycle: Production Phase Dominates Research, Post-Production Lags Significantly" matter for design?
- Understanding the distribution of research effort across the game development lifecycle is crucial for identifying under-explored areas. Focusing on the post-production phase could lead to innovations in areas like long-term maintenance, player support, and iterative updates, ultimately enhancing the longevity and success of game products.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Prioritize research and development efforts in the post-production phase of game development to address the current research gap and unlock opportunities for innovation.
- What were the main findings?
- The majority of studies focus on the production phase of the game development software engineering process life cycle.. The pre-production phase receives a moderate amount of research attention.. The post-production phase has received significantly less research activity compared to pre-production and production.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2016 journal from Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When planning a new game development project, allocate resources and research efforts not only to the creation phase but also to strategies for post-launch support, updates, and long-term engagement.
- What are the limitations?
- The review's findings are dependent on the scope and accessibility of the digital libraries searched, and the definition of 'game development software engineering process' used in the reviewed literature.