How to launch a successful video game: A framework

Launching a successful video game is crucial for any video game developer given a competitive nature of a video game industry. A successful video game can guarantee the continuity of some companies, and their plans in the industry. On the other hand, a video game that does not generate enough sales may bring the business down. An extensive review of the literature on video game and the published frameworks was performed. The results show that existing frameworks only considered limited aspects of game development. Therefore, this paper proposes a holistic framework that covers every aspect of video game development. The framework discusses the pre-launch processes such as concept design, development budget, game engines and the post-launch aspects of marketing, multiplayer, and downloadable content. It also looks at the external forces and how they affect the internal pre and post launch processes. Finally, the proposed framework is applied to Duke Nukem Forever, a video game that was released in 2011 after fifteen years of development.