As the gaming industry continues to evolve, mobile game development is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the sector. With the rise of mobile devices and the growing demand for high-quality gaming experiences on-the-go, developers are looking for ways to streamline their processes and bring new games to market faster.
At IO Interactive, a leading developer behind hit titles like Hitman and James Bond, the team is working tirelessly to speed up game development and make it more efficient. As part of this effort, they're leveraging their own technology to create tools that can help them iterate faster, test, and refine their games.
"We're looking at how we can bring content quicker to the end-users and how we can iterate faster in production so that we can get feedback," explains Ulas Karademir, IO Interactive's chief technology officer. "In games, you're just trying to build fun. And fun is kind of unmeasurable. It's telling a joke and you don't know if people will laugh. The best way to do it is to iterate faster, test it, make it happen, and then this is fun."
Karademir notes that part of the challenge lies in creating tools that can speed up and automate parts of the development process. "Think of it like you had a screwdriver, and now you have a drill machine," he says. "If you're a carpenter, you buy a really good tool that's reliable and durable for your craft. But if it's a hobby, you won't do that. From the tools perspective, once you start doing the same thing again and again, you start investing in the tools so you can get a better quality."
IO Interactive has been developing its own technology, known as Glacier engine, which Karademir helped develop during his first stint at the company. This allows them to be highly focused on building an engine and tools specific to their individual needs.
"There are so many advantages to using your own tech," he explains. "You can make quick decisions. You can change the direction of the technology. The feedback cycle of user to developer is very tight."
One major advantage of developing in-house is that IO Interactive can avoid the issues that come with trying to grow a massive engine like Unity or Unreal, which are constantly adding new features and use cases.
"For us, it's a games engine," Karademir notes. "We're just making games. So we can narrow our focus on that and create great tools that have impact on the production."
As IO Interactive continues to push the boundaries of mobile game development, they're committed to creating high-quality gaming experiences that are fun, engaging, and easy to use. By leveraging their own technology and focusing on building tools that matter, they're well-positioned to make a lasting impact in the industry.
Cheaper, Faster, Better: Unlocking Speed and Efficiency in Mobile Game Development
As mobile game development continues to evolve, developers are looking for ways to streamline their processes and bring new games to market faster. At IO Interactive, the team is working tirelessly to speed up game development and make it more efficient by leveraging their own technology and creating tools that can help them iterate faster, test, and refine their games.
Automating the Right Way
While automation can be a powerful tool for speeding up development, Karademir notes that there are two paths to take. The first is to build tools that replace humans, which can lead to a cycle of automation for automation's sake. The second path is to build tools that make it easier for humans to do their jobs.
"If you're just trying to get rid of this and automate everything, when the world changes, the requirements change and new things come in… well, now you need to automate something else that you don't know," he says. "And you end up in a cycle of automation for automation's sake, and if things change, you need to rebuild the systems."
By building tools that people can use, IO Interactive is able to interact with their level designers, environment artists, and animators, constantly gathering feedback and improving their processes.
The Power of Glacier Engine
IO Interactive's Glacier engine has been a game-changer for the company. By developing an engine that is highly focused on their individual needs, they're able to make quick decisions, change direction quickly, and have a tight feedback cycle with their developers.
"There are so many advantages to using your own tech," Karademir notes. "You can make quick decisions. You can change the direction of the technology. The feedback cycle of user to developer is very tight."
By leveraging their own technology and creating tools that matter, IO Interactive is well-positioned to make a lasting impact in the mobile game development industry.
Conclusion
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, mobile game development is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the sector. By leveraging their own technology and creating tools that can help them iterate faster, test, and refine their games, IO Interactive is committed to creating high-quality gaming experiences that are fun, engaging, and easy to use.