A little-known secret in the world of game development is the crucial role producers play in bringing a game to life. Many players may not realize how essential they are to ensuring a game’s excellence, so we want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on our producers and explain why they’re absolutely vital to our success! A huge thank you to Micke and Guillaume, our incredible producers at Dotemu, and to Matéo at Supamonks, who expertly handled the art production with dedication and care.
COORDINATION IS KEY
At its core, the producer’s job is all about coordination. For example, how do you create a new character for the game? Every step must be carried out in the right order. Here's a simplified breakdown of how studios typically approach this process:
Game Design – The initial concept for the character is written.
Concept Art – Visual designs are created.
Animations – The character’s movements are brought to life.
Code Integration – The character is implemented into the game.
Sound Design – Voices and sound effects are added.
Testing – Everything is tested to ensure it functions correctly.
In this process alone, at least six people from different disciplines are involved in the creation of a single character or enemy. The producer’s job is to ensure that each team member performs at their best and that the final result meets the highest standards of quality.
FOCUSING ON QUALITY
As a game designer, it’s critical to have the freedom to focus on your core expertise. If you’re bogged down with budget calculations, scouting freelance partners, or managing the sound list, you can’t devote the attention needed to your craft. This is where the producer steps in, taking care of all the side tasks so that the design team can stay focused on what they do best.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
A great producer always keeps an eye on the future. They ensure that upcoming milestones (development checkpoints) are clearly defined and understood by everyone on the team.
Developing a game is a marathon, not a sprint, and these milestones help break the process into manageable stages. The whole team needs to know exactly what they need to do to hit each checkpoint and keep the game moving forward.
What Makes Absolum’s Production So Special?
Absolum is a monumental project—packed with content and high expectations for quality from Dotemu. We aim for it to be a standout title in our long history of beat 'em up productions. That’s why we’ve carefully chosen only the best talent for the job: the best designers, the best programmers, the best artists, the best musicians, and the best project managers.
Managing a game with multiple studios involved presents its own set of challenges. Different work cultures, different visions, and different structures all need to be harmonized. Throughout this process, I’ve worked hard to inspire a sense of unity within the team. Whether it was through day-to-day collaboration or the use of management tools, we communicated openly, worked on Slack, and did our best to avoid becoming isolated or working in silos.
HANDS-ON WORK WITH THE ENGINE
Supamonks played a crucial role in mastering the engine. They took a hands-on approach to learning how to implement and optimize the engine for the best possible animation sprites. Over time, they became almost fully independent in working with the engine for art production. Even our background artist, Manuel Tanon-Tchi, consistently amazed us by introducing new features that further elevated the game.
A SYMPHONY OF NARRATIVE AND ART
When it came to worldbuilding, narrative and art had to work together in perfect harmony. It was a truly collaborative, two-way process. Our artists brought their creative ideas to the table, which in turn inspired the writers to explore new character nuances and backstories. This exchange of ideas enriched the narrative and led to exciting new visual concepts that seamlessly integrated into the story. The result? A game world that feels alive and interconnected, where every detail serves a purpose.
Thank you for reading and see you next time for a new devlog!
The Absolum Team.