Technical specifications

Technical specifications, UX design and UX prototyping for games

In professional game development, a clear technical brief is just as important as a compelling concept, clean code, or recognizable characters. Game UX design and UX prototyping are key components of a technical specifications.

The game's TechSpec sets the vector for the entire development process and determines the quality of the final product: from gameplay mechanics to the monetization model. It is the level of detail in the technical specifications that affects the efficiency of the entire team, the compliance of the result with the expectations of the client and audience, as well as compliance with deadlines and budget.

Game development at Arionis Games always begins with a deep analysis of the idea. We formulate and record in detail the product concept, target audience portrait, market dynamics, requirements for gameplay, design, visual and sound style, mechanics, and platforms. Such a structured approach ensures transparency at the UX design stage of games and avoids errors in the implementation process.

What is a game specification and why is it needed?

A game development specification is a key document that describes the technical requirements and specifications of a game development project. It is the basis for development, game UX design, UX prototyping, production, testing, and game launch. It is the key to successful project management - from simple arcades to AAA projects.

A technical specification helps to capture client expectations and budget, set clear tasks for each team member, and create an effective sequence of development stages. This optimizes the process, ensuring high-quality results and meeting deadlines.

The terms of reference also indicate the deadlines for completing each task and the project as a whole, a specific list of tools and other resources with which the plan will be implemented.

Drawing up a to-order game specification helps avoid misunderstandings, delays, budget overruns, and get a result that meets the client's expectations the first time.

Creating mockups and prototypes

Game interface mockups and UX design are one of the key stages of game development, following the technical specifications. Based on the specifications, Arionis Games UX designers create mockups (layouts) and perform UX prototyping of the game to visualize it and test hypotheses.

A mockup is a static image of the interface of a future game, which corresponds to a coordinated palette, fonts, icons, logos and navigation elements. Mockups help to coordinate the visual part, check the viability of the concept and the feasibility of individual technical solutions. It is a tool for early testing of ideas and making changes to the UX design of the game before the development starts.

A prototype is an interactive simulation of a game interface with navigation. It is used for usability testing, collecting feedback, and analyzing the usability of the interface before software implementation begins. UX prototyping of a game allows you to assess the usability of the future interface and interaction logic before software implementation of the project.

After the mockups and prototypes are approved, an extended technical task is drawn up for the game developers, and the project is transferred to the implementation stage. In combination with the TechSpec, mockups and prototypes help create a product that will be understandable and attractive to the target audience. You can order the TechSpec for the game at the Arionis Games studio.

Why do you need a technical specification for a game?

A technical task for game development is a key element of a project that defines the goals, functionality, technical parameters of the product, as well as the timeframe and budget required for its creation.

What issues does a carefully compiled TechSpec for the game solve:

• Team work consistency. Thanks to the terms of reference, all participants in the game development process have a clear idea of the project as a whole and the specific tasks they have to complete, the timeframe, and the criteria for evaluating the result.
• Manageability and flexibility of the development process. A consistent description of the stages and required resources allows you to clearly formulate deadlines and budget and adhere to them.
• Precise criteria for evaluating the result. A prescribed list of parameters that the final product must meet simplifies the evaluation of the result, ensuring its objectivity.
• Improving performance. Creating a technical brief for a game means avoiding misunderstandings between the client and the development team, as well as between team members at an early stage, minimizing the risks of rework, delays, and errors.
• Guarantee of quality and compliance of the result with the expectations of the client and its audience. During the preparation of the game's requirements, specialists with the necessary competencies can make adjustments to the product specification at the early stages (programmers, designers, testers).

A well-developed technical specification helps to assess the scope of the project, formulate expectations and a list of necessary work. The document ensures structured, predictable development of a quality IT product, helps to avoid misunderstandings and effectively manage potential risks.

Basic elements of the game's technical specifications

Project description

The project description includes key information about the future product, the goals of its creation, and the business objectives it must solve.

Global idea and concept:

• name of the game;
• genre (shooter, strategy, puzzle, RPG, etc.);
• target audience (age, interests, geography);
• basic game mechanics (what the gameplay will be based on – battles, research, resource gathering, etc.);
• plot (narrative) – setting (realism, fantasy, steampunk, etc.), synopsis, main characters.

Also, before writing a TechSpec for a game programmer, it is important to determine the goals.

This could be:

• monetization (through advertising, in-game purchases, subscriptions);
• traffic attraction;
• audience retention;
• promoting a brand, product or franchise;
• teaching;
• entertainment for the audience;
• forming a loyal community;
• demonstrating the capabilities of your product;
• testing new mechanics;
• testing of architectural solutions, etc.

The technical task helps to identify and clearly formulate answers to these questions.

Terms used in this task

The technical specifications for game development must include a list of terms used in the project - the names of tools, types of work, and interface elements. This helps to avoid misinterpretations, ensuring efficiency of work.

Functionality requirements

This section of the game's TechSpec contains a list and description of all the functions and technical capabilities that need to be implemented within the project. The essence and number of subdivisions depend on the genre, the platform for which the game is being developed, the characteristics of the target audience, and the client's goals.

This block of the game development specifications specifies which functions should be implemented, how they will work, and how they will be combined with each other.

Main elements:

• Navigation and interface. Main and game menus, world map and minimap, settings (graphics, sound, and character control), tutorials, hints, etc.
• Gameplay. Basic mechanics, levels, missions and tasks, character leveling, inventory, plot branches, combat systems, upgrades, dialogues.
• User and characters. Player profile, saving and loading data, progress, character creation, achievement and reward system, multiplayer and interaction with other players (co-op, PvP, chats).
• Modes – single-, multi-user or network.
• Network and social features. Online leaderboards, social media integration, item sharing, clans, guilds, communities, referral programs, etc.
• Additional features: Cross-platform, support for mods and user content, ability to record photos and videos of sessions, events, seasonal updates, support for multiple languages.
• Monetization. Built-in purchases, advertising, in-game currencies, donation systems.
• Non-game functionality. Integration with third-party services, ENT (the internal universe, history, and context on which the game world is built), etc.

This information forms the basis for designing the game's ux elements. Arionis Games specialists will offer effective solutions based on the specifics of the project and its objectives, will name the preliminary cost of services for drawing up the requirements for the game based on your project, and will implement it.

Technical requirements

The technical requirements for a game development product specified in the Terms of Reference for game development are a guarantee of its stable operation without critical post-facto modifications, a guarantee of a consistent production process, compliance of the result with expectations, and predictability of the budget and deadlines.

Platforms and devices

Choosing platforms and devices is one of the key stages in writing the requirements specification. Building the architecture and designing games is based on this information.

Key aspects to be covered in this section

Target platforms:

• PC (Windows, macOS, Linux);
• mobile devices (iOS, Android);
• consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch);
• web (HTML5, WebGL, browser engines);
• AR/VR (Meta Quest, HTC Vive, Apple Vision Pro, etc.);
• Smart TV and other non-standard environments (if needed).

Minimum and recommended system requirements:

• processor, video card, storage capacity, RAM;
• operating system versions on target devices;
• Internet connection requirements (if required by the project).

Screen resolution (HD, Full HD, 4K, etc.) and interface orientation – portrait, landscape, or adaptive.

Target devices (optional) – models of smartphones, tablets, headsets, etc. This sub-item of the TechSpec for a game developer plays a key role, especially when launching a product in limited and/or specialized markets.

Support for control and input interfaces – gamepad, keyboard, mouse, touch, voice or gesture control, etc.

Publishing requirements – platform restrictions of the App Store, Google Play, Steam, PlayStation Store and other platforms, requirements for builds, QA and testing on the target platform side.

Distribution and monetization model – free-to-play, subscriptions, in-game purchases, presence of advertising content (the availability of these options may depend on the chosen platform, so this aspect must be agreed in advance, at the stage of drawing up the TechSpec).

Specifying these parameters allows you to determine in advance the necessary development tools and technologies, minimize technical risks and costs during porting, ensure product stability and performance. Also, specifying target platforms and devices provides a realistic estimate of labor costs and budget, preventing the increase in the cost of game development due to rework.

Volume and productivity

To ensure that the game runs stably without overloading weak devices, it is important to determine its "weight" and required performance in advance. Key points:

• CPU RAM limitations;
• maximum installation file size;
• timings (loading time);
• minimum and target frame rate (FPS).

This information helps balance game logic and physics processing, control of AI characters, and execution of background tasks.

Game engine and technologies

The technological stack that will be used when creating a game development product is necessarily specified in the terms of reference for game development:

• engine – Unity, Unreal Engine, etc.;
• programming languages – JavaScript, C++, C#, HTML5, etc.;
• support for 2D and 3D technologies;
• physics and animation features.

The chosen technologies, engine, and tools determine the performance, cross-platform and compatibility, budget, possible implementation times, technical capabilities, and product scaling potential.

Network technologies

The performance and architecture of a multi-user project, the need to use dedicated servers, and the requirements for scalability and fault tolerance depend on the chosen network solutions.

Key aspects:

• online/offline modes;
• multiplayer, PvP, cooperative modes;
• server architecture (peer-to-peer or client-server);
• availability of integrations with databases, cloud services, APIs.

Without a detailed description of the network capabilities and multiplayer architecture, it is impossible to create a high-quality game vehicle. These aspects affect the infrastructure and logic of interaction between players, the server-side architecture, the technology stack, data protection requirements, scalability, and the cost of game development.

Security issues:

• systems for protection against hacking, modifications and cheats;
• authorization and encryption systems;
• protection of personal data (if their processing is envisaged within the framework of the game project).

Including a security clause in the technical specifications for a game programmer ensures the reliability of the future game development product, protection against reputational risks, information leaks, and legal protection of the project from possible unauthorized actions (hacking, theft of funds from user accounts, their personal information, etc.).

Integrations and third-party services

It is important to specify third-party services that require integration in the game's specifications to immediately determine the necessary technologies, interface features, synchronization, and scalability:

• integration of advertising networks (AdMob, Unity Ads, etc.);
• connection of payment systems – Google Play Billing, Apple IAP;
• connection of social networks, push notifications, analytics;
• compliance with platform requirements (Google Play, App Store, Steam, etc.).

Carefully completing this section allows you to design a stable architecture, determine testing methods, and eliminate technical risks.

Audio and graphics

The specified graphic requirements define the style, resolution, level of detail, animation and interface features. Key points:

• graphics requirements (2D, 3D, isometric, first or third person view, top view);
• supported file formats (PNG, MP3, etc.);
• technical requirements for models, textures and animations;
• asset weight limit;
• the presence of sound effects (effects, music and requirements for them).

The quality of the user experience, the degree of their involvement and immersion, the technical implementation and the project budget depend on the visual and audio component. Graphics and sound also affect performance and optimization capabilities - this is an important stage of drawing up the requirements for games.

Testing and debugging

Without clear requirements for product testing, its stable operation, compliance of the game with the requirements of the technical specifications, timely preparation for release, and successful launch are impossible. This stage of development helps to avoid and/or eliminate critical bugs, errors in the game logic, and visual defects.

Main divisions:

• a list of target devices on which testing is required;
• technical requirements for automation and unit tests;
• level of testing coverage;
• support for crash reports and logging.

It is important to include functional, load, UI/UX testing, as well as cross-platform and A/B testing (if needed). The product testing requirements specified in the game's TechSpec allow you to identify problems before release, ensure a high-quality user experience (game UX), and optimize the workflow.

This section of the TechSpec allows the client to control the scope and depth of the checks and be sure that the product has been tested according to all the necessary parameters. And the development company - to create the TechSpec for the game and the product itself in accordance with the client's tasks and preferences.

Our specialists will tell you what technical requirements need to be taken into account in the technical specifications for your project, what the cost of the technical specifications for the game and its further development will be, during a preliminary consultation - please contact us.

Time frame

The terms of reference for a game programmer also necessarily include the overall project completion time and deadlines for key development stages, which ensures controllability, transparency, and efficiency of project implementation.

This allows you to track task performance, quickly respond to changes or deviations from the plan, manage resources, distribute the workload across the team, plan advertising campaigns and other activities during the release and post-release technical support period.

Also, deadlines clearly spelled out in the game's terms of reference help to legally and organizationally protect the interests of the client and the development company, adhere to the budget, and ensure predictability of the result.

Resources and budget

This section of the game development terms of reference lists all the resources, roles, scope of work, and estimated costs that will be required to implement the project, as well as the payment model:

• human resources (team) – project manager (producer), game designer, UX/UI designer, 2D/3D artists, developers (for client-server work), QA engineers, technical writer and DevOps engineer/system administrator (as needed);
• technical resources – software and licenses (engines, plugins, graphic editors and other tools), servers, cloud storage, test devices;
• financial estimates – total budget, cost of services at each stage of production (design, development, testing, etc.), reserves for unforeseen expenses (optional);
• payment model – phased, hourly, fixed, hybrid;
• additional costs – post-release technical support, release of updates, support for multiple languages, cross-platform, etc.

Recording this data is the key to transparency, realistic planning, and financial control. Our specialists will inform you during a preliminary consultation about how much the equipment for the game and the creation of a game dev product for your project at Arionis Games costs, as well as how to order them.

Acceptance criteria

This block prescribes the criteria for evaluating the results of the project and the clear conditions under which the client accepts them as meeting the game's specifications. It formalizes the quality of the product - what is considered "ready", "working" and "meets the technical specifications", forms the basis for evaluation testing, and minimizes risks.

This is an important aspect of the legal protection of both parties - these acceptance criteria form the basis of the contract and, if necessary, are used as evidence of the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the parties' obligations.

Who works on compiling specifications for games at Arionis Games?

Several specialists participate in the creation of game development TechSpec, each of whom, for their part, provides comprehensive coverage of all key aspects of the future product:

• Project manager. Responsible for forming the general concept, features of the target audience, key requirements and limitations of the game, collecting the wishes of the client and his target audience, analyzing the business goals of the project. This specialist also manages the production process: sets project goals and objectives, coordinates the actions of team members, and monitors the timely completion of work at each stage.
• Game designer. Responsible for the concept, development of mechanics, storylines, game logic and dynamics, description of levels and interfaces, scenarios, game balance. Often he also helps the project manager coordinate work on the project. He details the gameplay, integrates all elements of the technical task and product into a single document that ensures the clarity of the tasks set for the client and team members.
• UI/UX designer. This specialist is responsible for the attractiveness and usability of the game interface (UI and UX of the game) – determines the logic of player interaction with the product, creates a user journey. The UI/UX designer works on screen prototypes, mockups and wireframes, draws up a functionality map, develops navigation, game graphics and its interface – what elements are needed, where they should be located and how they work.
• Lead developer. This specialist is responsible for the technical architecture and aspects that affect the stability of the IT product - the choice of technology stack, engine, formalization of system requirements, integrations, databases, compatibility, server solutions and APIs.
• Artist, designer. Forms the visual style of the project, fixes the requirements for graphics. He is also responsible for developing concepts and collecting references, ensuring the integrity of the style and the aesthetic compatibility of all elements.
• QA Specialist (Test Engineer). The tester develops a testing strategy taking into account the specifics of the project and its technical features, including target platforms and devices, genre, and other characteristics. He or she draws up requirements for debugging and testing, criteria for bug reports, and acceptance of the finished product for the technical specifications.

You can order the preparation of technical specifications for a turnkey game and the creation of a game application based on it at Arionis Games. A comprehensive approach to the preparation of technical specifications allows our team to take into account all the nuances and features of the project and implement game products in accordance with this document.

What is included in the service: stages of developing technical specifications for games at Arionis Games

For maximum clarity, the Arionis Games team prepares a text and visual version of the Terms of Reference for the game. The development of the technical specifications takes from 1 to 3 months, depending on the complexity, functionality, and scale of the project.

Drawing up the requirements for a game is a systematic, multi-level process that includes 8 main stages:

1. Requirements gathering, analytics

At this stage, the customer, producer (or project manager), and game designer discuss and formulate the project's goals, describe its target audience, decide on the game genre, and the platforms for which it is being created. The client's wishes are discussed.

Arionis Games specialists analyze the market, niche, audience, and competing analogues, identify specific indicators and goals that are planned to be achieved with the help of the game development product, and create a forecast. Specialized specialists add recommendations, if necessary, which are approved by the customer.

For example, if the goal is to increase brand awareness, branding elements (logos, corporate colors, etc.) are included in the design. If the game is intended to increase sales of a specific company product, the project can include issuing in-game items for scanning its QR code, etc.

Target audience analysis allows you to adapt the genre, plot, design, and functionality of the game to the current needs and interests of a specific user segment. It is important to take into account the age, habits, social background, and other characteristics of potential players.

1. Concept formation

At this stage of creating a technical specification for a game, the game designer, screenwriter, and UX/UI designer form the general idea, plot, and game mechanics of the product. They prepare initial sketches of the interface and user interaction scenarios with it, and prescribe the key features of the game dev product and user experience.

1. Functional description

At this stage, the game designer and developers prescribe game mechanics, logic, level system, characters, physics of object behavior, game balance, interactive elements, and in-game events.

1. Formalization of technical requirements

Based on the information obtained in the previous stages, the lead developer, programmers, and DevOps engineers prescribe a list of platforms, technical requirements for the game, integrations with third-party services, the technology stack necessary for the project, data security requirements, performance, etc. This data is necessarily included in the technical specifications for the game developer.

1. Drawing up visual specifications

The art director and UI designer describe the graphic style, type of animation, palette, fonts, audio effects, requirements, and tools needed to realize the visual concept of the product.

1. Development planning

The Arionis Games project manager presents the customer with a project roadmap broken down into global stages and sprints (if development is conducted using the Agile methodology) with key milestones and project completion deadlines.

1. Budget and resource calculation

Based on the information obtained at the previous stages, Arionis Games specialists calculate the number of man-hours, costs for software and licenses, services, and competencies of the involved specialists necessary for the implementation of the project, after which they present the results to the customer for approval.

You can optimize the cost of game development and the tools for its creation, in particular, by choosing the optimal format of cooperation. Arionis Games develops game development products in the formats of outsourcing, outstaffing and provides services of a dedicated IT team. Which of these cooperation options will be optimal for the implementation of your project, we will tell you during the consultation after studying the details of the task.

1. Formalization of acceptance criteria

The tester, customer, and project manager discuss and record the criteria for assessing the game's readiness and the list of necessary tests. As a result, a list of specific metrics and indicators is formed, if they are met, the product is considered ready and meets the client's expectations, recorded and prescribed in the game's TechSpec.

1. Presentation of the final version of the general Terms of Reference for game development

After completing all the above stages, the project manager presents the customer with a final structured document in text form and a version with visualization, with the goals, requirements and stages of game development specified. It lists all specialists involved in the production, the periods and duration of their participation and the deadlines for the work: what, how and by whom will be done, as well as how and with what the result will be evaluated.

Visualization helps the client visually assess the functionality and style of the future game, make sure that all requirements, goals, and objectives are taken into account in the TechSpec and will be fully implemented in the project.

Photo and video visualization, prepared by Arionis Games specialists together with a text version of the technical task for game development, simplifies mutual understanding between all participants in the process, ensuring transparency of cooperation and clarity of tasks that need to be implemented at each stage.

What tools do we use to create and present the game's technical specifications?

One of the important criteria for the quality of a game's technical task is its clarity, consistency, and accessibility. Therefore, to create a TechSpec, we use a number of tools that allow us to achieve all three goals.

Tools for visual presentation of the technical task:

• Figma / Moqups – UX prototyping of game interfaces, creation of visual mockups and UI solutions, presentation of UX flows.
• Canva – quick assembly of slides with infographics, presentation of simplified design to demonstrate results.
• Unity / Unreal (for demos) – creating short interactive UX prototypes of the game or vertical slice, presenting basic mechanics and style.

Related tools:

• Google Docs / Microsoft Word – for a structured project description and joint product discussion.
• Google Sheets / Microsoft Excel – for budgeting, timelines, capturing a list of requirements, mechanics, prioritizing, and distributing tasks.
• Confluence / Notion – for storing game documentation and making updates quickly.
• Miro / Whimsical / FigJam – for organizing mind maps, flowcharts, screen maps, system diagrams, and user behavior scenarios.
• Lucidchart / Draw.io – design and architecture of computer games (preparation of architecture diagrams, class diagrams).
• Moqups + Figma Jam – displaying the structure of lore (the story of the world and characters), quests, or game levels.

This technology stack makes game design and architecture faster and more efficient.

Where to order technical specifications for a game

If you don't know how to write a TechSpec for programmers for a game, contact us, we will discuss the details of your project and prepare a technical task taking into account specific features. Also, if necessary, for clarity, we will offer an example of a TechSpec for a game, which will help simplify the process of setting the initial task.

But, based on many years of experience in game development, we do not recommend trying to rewrite your technical specifications according to a template - it is better to immediately seek specific advice. This is the only way to take into account the individual characteristics of the product, audience, platforms, project goals, and other key points.

Our project managers will advise on any issues - please contact us.

Arionis Games has been developing games and writing technical specifications for their creation for many years. A comprehensive approach to solving problems and extensive industry experience allow us to successfully implement game development projects for any devices and audiences.