- Aspiring game developers can enhance their skills through educational game development companies.
- These studios help students understand game design and the work that goes into shipping a game.
- Picking the right studio is important when deciding to embark on the journey.
Game development can be a daunting industry to break into, especially in the current era of layoffs, game cancellations, and studio closures.
However, big titles like the upcoming GTA 6 are said to rival Avatar 2009 and prove that the industry still has much to give. This is why many continue to aspire to become developers, and for the younger generation, there are plenty of educational game development companies to choose from when getting started.
Why it matters: Game development is extremely challenging, so getting all the basics right early on is very important.
The Best Educational Companies
Whimsy Games
New developers have a slew of options to choose from. For instance, Whimsey Games, established in 2018, is best known for its full-cycle development, prototyping, LiveOps, etc.
The studio has helped ship 100+ games to date, which have reached Android, iOS, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and more. Whimsey Games makes use of Unity and Unreal Engine, and the studio employs nearly 100 professionals.
Electric Funstuff
On the other hand, another company like Electric Funstuff can be great for those looking to learn game design and programming. It focuses on the interactivity of the medium and boasts experience dating back to 1998. Examples of Electric Funstuff’s work include Mission US and No Turning Back.
Zatun
Elsewhere, Zatun can guide newcomers regarding VR, external art, and in-house development. Having been part of game development since 2007, it has over 250 collaborative title so its name.
Zatun operates with a curriculum in a manner not too different from a school to ease newcomers into development. It also features Unity and Unreal Engine production for hands-on experience.
Here’s a short comparison table for quick review, along with detailed profiles.
| Company | Founded | Skill Areas | Delivery Record |
| Whimsy Games | 2018 | Full-cycle development, co-development, game art, prototyping, LiveOps | 100+ games, 89 clients, Clutch 5.0 from 25 reviews |
| &ranj | 1999 | Game-based learning, talent assessment, behavioural change | 500+ projects, over a million players, 35+ geographies |
| Electric Funstuff | 1998 | Game design, instructional design, simulation, programming | Mission US series, clients including Scholastic and McGraw Hill Education |
| Zatun | 2007 | External development, external art, VR training builds, in-house IP | 250+ collaborative titles, 20+ own releases, 300+ clients |
| Riseup Labs | 2009 | Educational game development, full-cycle builds, maintenance and support | 700+ projects, 50+ published games, 30 million+ downloads |
| Osso VR | 2016 | Procedural skills training, readiness assessment, VR content production | 100,000+ healthcare professionals across 50+ countries |
| Game Strategies | 2007 | Game-based courses, simulators, AI role play, content authoring | 5,000+ companies running their catalogue |
Challenges Faced During Game Development
Although learning about game development through such companies is typically a great experience, new developers must be ready to face a few challenges early on.
For instance, content volume can quickly get out of hand. Even with a finished build, sometimes a privacy officer can hold a rollout, and a native app may not be supported on hardware for months due to conflicting policies.
Of course, none of these challenges is a deal-breaker. Working with a team can help newcomers navigate around these problems.
Selecting An Educational Game Development Company
Ultimately, it’s important to pick the right game development company. Looking at how many schools a company has worked with is usually a positive sign when looking into different options.
Going through design documents can also come in handy, as they explain the studio’s core philosophy and motto. Similarly, looking into the people behind the companies themselves is a good idea when making a decision.
Testing the studio’s work on older hardware can also serve as a useful litmus test. It should help develop an understanding of whether said studio has shipped into managed environments.
When all is said and done, up-and-coming game developers have plenty of options to choose from, but picking the one that suits them best is the most important thing.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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