How to Hire Game Developer! Ready To Bring Your Game App Idea To Life?

Hi, do you have a mobile game idea that could be the next big thing in the game industry? Or is the game on everyone’s phone? If so, then wait no more, learn how to hire a game developer now and launch or start your mobile game development process as early as possible.

The mobile game industry is one of the leading and most profitable entertainment and tech industry niches in the world that is said to generate approximately £100 billion in revenue in the year. With the accelerating profitable trend of mobile game apps in the previous years and a string estimation for current, launching a mobile game should be pivotal for people interested or belonging to the industry.

However, being interested and having a great game idea is not enough! Game development is a complex process that requires a lot of expertise and experience. It also has numerous game development stages and is costly. But with that said, learning how to hire a game developer can help with developing the mobile game seamlessly with ease in every aspect.

This article is curated to assist you with your mobile game venture, you will get to know, how to hire a game developer, what are the game development stages, how much does it cost to hire a game developer, what are the benefits of hiring a professional game provider, tips of finding the best game developer for your project and so much more.

So without further ado let’s start learning!

What is game development?

Before looking for game developers, understanding game development is crucial. Game development is the process of creating a video game, from concept to completion. It requires expertise in various areas, such as programming, art, and design. The development process typically includes several game development stages, such as concept creation, planning, development, testing, and launch. Depending on the scope of the project, game development can take anywhere from a few months to a few years and the cost is dependent on it too.

How to hire a game developer?

This is the most important question to ask when you are looking for game developers to bring your game idea to life. There are multiple steps that you need to determine which will help you in hiring a game developer that is right for your project.

Following are the steps you need to take into account before hiring a game developer;

Being familiar with game development stages

The complexity of game development stages depends on the nature and concept of the mobile game. The more complex the concept is, the more tedious the game development stages are, which will evidently determine who to hire to develop your mobile game.

Game development stages can be broken down into four main categories, which are concept creation, planning, development, and testing.

1. The first game development stage is concept creation. This is when the game’s idea is sketched out. During this stage, the developer will come up with the game’s core concept, mechanics, story, and characters.
2. The next stage is planning, which involves setting up the game’s architecture and developing a timeline for the project. This stage is important for ensuring that the project stays on track and that all tasks are completed on time.
3. The third stage is development, which is when the game is actually developed. This is when the game’s assets are created, such as the characters, levels, and graphics. The developer will also need to write the code for the game, as well as test and debug it.
4. The final stage is testing, which is when the game is tested to make sure it works as intended. This stage is important for ensuring that the game is balanced and that all of the bugs are fixed before it launches.

Knowing these game development stages is pivotal as it helps to narrow down the search for ideal game developers for your project. When you understand what each stage requires of a game developer it helps to ask correct questions, find relevant recommendations, and helps with knowing how much does it cost to hire a game developer.

Things to look for in a game developer

Game development stages lay the foundation when you are looking for a game developer. Knowing the basic stages makes it easier to know how to hire a game developer. The following are the key component to look for;

1. Experience: The key factor to look for in a game developer is their experience. It’s important to find someone who has a lot of experience working on similar projects and niches, as this will ensure that they have the necessary skills to complete the project.
2. Portfolio: Going through a potential game developer’s portfolio is important. Make sure to take a look at their past work and see if it matches what you’re looking for it also helps to determine whether the developer has the skill set to bring your game to life or not. 
3. Testimonials: You should also take a look at the reviews and ratings the developer has received from past clients. This will give you an idea of the kind of work they can produce.
4. Work Ethic: Finally, it’s important to make sure that the developer has the same vision as you. Communication skills, eagerness to explore, accountability, and punctuality are a few aspects that determine a developer’s work ethic and define how smoothly the whole development process will go. Make sure to discuss the project in detail before hiring them, and make sure that you both agree on the scope of the project and the timeline.
5. Intellectual Property: While you are looking for game developers, look at what their take o intellectual property is, to avoid unnecessary miscommunications, disagreements, and court cases.

How much does it cost to hire a game developer?

The cost of hiring a game developer will vary depending on their experience and the scope of the project. Following is the breakdown of factors that will determine how much does it cost to hire a game developer.

1. Functionality and Complexity of the game: The more complex the requirements of the game will be the more the cost will rise.
2. Graphics and Auditory Design of the game: In order to provide an engaging gaming experience, graphics, and sound design is pivotal. And to make sure that the design does justice to the whole project and elevates the overall look exponentially, a good amount needs to be invested in it. 
3. Game Model: Some games are promoted as free, some are subscription-based and some are a one-time purchase, based on the game model, the development varies and so does the cost.
4. Choice of Platform: iOS, Android, and other platforms have different coding requirements and costs.
5. Experience and resources deployed: The more experienced a developer will be, the more on par with technological and market trends they will be which evidently ensures great outcomes but will increase the price.
6. Location of the game developer: If you are hiring a game developer for in-house development, or outsourcing it as a freelance venture, determines how much will they cost. On some occasions, hiring in-house developers is more cost-effective than outsourcing and often it’s the other way around.
7. Duration of the project: The longer the project will be, the more costly the development process will be.
8. Exchange rate: How much does it cost to hire a game developer also depends on inflation and the exchange rate. If you are outsourcing a developer situated in a country with a higher exchange rate than yours, the prices will increase.

All of these factors play an important role in determining the cost of developing the mobile game. It also helps to deduce what the end game will look like.

Where to hire game developers from

After determining the game development stages and how much does it cost to hire a game developer, the next step is to identify platforms and places where game developers could be hired. 

There are a few different options when it comes to how to hire a game developer;

1. Networking: Start looking for game developers in your circle or find one through a reference from a person close to you. It’s the easiest and ideally the most fraud-proof way to find a game developer. 
2. Online freelancing platforms: Often the answer to how to hire a game developer is, to hop on to freelancing sites such as Fiver, Upwork. and Freelancer. This is a great approach, the platforms are a great place to find game developers. These platforms allow you to post your project and receive bids from developers who are interested in working on your project.
3. Game development studios: These are companies that specialize in game development. They typically have a team of experienced developers who can help you create your game.
4. Game development forums: A great place to find game developers. These forums are full of experienced developers who are eager to help out with projects.

Tips on how to hire a game developer

When hiring a game developer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here is a quick walkthrough of what you should do:

1. Set a timeline for the project and make sure that the developer is aware of it. This will help to keep the track of the project and make the developers accountable for their progress.
2. Discuss the project in detail before hiring the developer. This will allow you and the developer to be on the same page, with the same vision and timelines. 
3. Review the developer’s portfolio and reviews. This will give you an idea of the kind of work they can produce, as well as what other clients have thought of their work.
4. Be sound in your game development stages and have a clear picture is to what you want.
5. Do not shy away from negotiating the pricing of the project.
6. See if there are ready-made resources (designs, sounds, codes, and more) that can be used for the project, which could assist the developer and reduce the costs.

Concluding the learning on how to hire a game developer

Knowing how to hire a game developer is so important to bring your game idea to life. A good game developer will make your game a success in all domains and help to make the game leave a lasting impression in the market.

We have curated a list that will help you to find the right game developer, and you know the importance of having one. So don’t wait and wander around start looking for game developers for your project and launch your game soon!

We will be waiting for it, patiently!