Building a game is a demanding task, especially for those who are responsible for its art. You must not only work with tight deadlines and demanding stakeholders, but you must also create high-quality content that meets expectations and needs. All of the shifting variables, such as available time, money, and in-house specialists, can sabotage your efforts. That is if you haven't already enlisted the help of external game art designers.
Game art outsourcing to a trusted partner can reduce many of the challenges and bottlenecks that a studio confronts during the game production process, compensating for any time, specialist, or expense shortages that you weren't expecting. There are many positive aspects to this type of outsourcing, but you should know what to expect before entering into such a business relationship. Hopefully, our guide will assist you in making the best decision for your company.
Make your specifications as specific as possible.
How thorough you set your criteria will be one of the deciding elements in the quality of art made for you. The more ambiguous your criteria are to artists, the more space for variance there will be, and the more likely you will be disappointed. First and foremost, you must define the art style for the required components, and communicate it clearly with samples.
Check to see if the outsourcing firm provides the services you require.
Of course, the first thing to check is whether or not the outsourcing company you're considering offers game development services. Their offer is based on the fact that they claim to be experts in the field. However, this is only the first step in establishing whether the organization is capable of performing the service you require.
Ensure that the outsourcing firm is equipped with the developers you require.
You can take it as a good sign if an outsourced business lists the frameworks and languages they are familiar with for game development. This indicates that they are aware of the nature of game creation. Make sure they have programmers that are fluent in C# and C++, the two most common game production languages.
Inform yourselves about the accessibility of the personnel at the outsourced firm.
How frequently do you anticipate and require your outsourced personnel to be available? Will the outsourcing company be available during your desired time if you're considering offshoring? Is it possible for them to work around your schedule? Knowing when your game's outsourcing partner is available will help you speed up the development process. As a result, make sure to ask potential partners if you may contact them only during particular hours or if they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Be curious about the post-production support provided by the outsourcing company.
Let's pretend your game is a great hit. It has grabbed your target audience's curiosity, and your newfound admirers are eager for more. You're thinking about expanding your game by adding new characters and games to further the concept. You want your outsourcing partner to be with you every step along the way when this happens.
Question if quality testing is offered by the outsourced firm.
If an outsourcing company offers quality testing, it demonstrates its commitment to providing you with high-quality service. After they've finished your job, they need to double-check that everything is as you expected before handing it off. This could indicate that the game's code is bug-free and the user interface is flawless, or that the art can be seamlessly merged into the game's world.
You must give yourself time to explore these concerns before seeking an outsourcing business to help you build your game. If you find yourself answering yes to these questions in relation to a specific outsourcing firm, you've located the right outsourcing partner for you.
