Editing Video game development (section)

=== Publisher ===
{{Main|Video game publisher}}
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{{Expand section|date=April 2010}}<!-- Mention: funding (investors/risks), marketing, connection with producers over dev team, indie game no publisher -->
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by an external video game developer. As with book publishers or publishers of DVD movies, video game publishers are responsible for their product's manufacturing and marketing, including market research and all aspects of advertising.

They usually finance the development, sometimes by paying a video game developer (the publisher calls this external development) and sometimes by paying an internal staff of developers called a studio. Consequently, they also typically own the IP of the game.<ref name=MGA_SoA /> Large video game publishers also distribute the games they publish, while some smaller publishers instead hire distribution companies (or larger video game publishers) to distribute the games they publish.

Other functions usually performed by the publisher include deciding on and paying for any license that the game may utilize; paying for localization; layout, printing, and possibly the writing of the user manual; and the creation of graphic design elements such as the box design.

Large publishers may also attempt to boost efficiency across all internal and external development teams by providing services such as sound design and code packages for commonly needed functionality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-05 |title=Understanding video game developers as an occupational community |url=https://www.datasakura.com/works-games |website=Gamering}}</ref>

Because the publisher usually finances development, it usually tries to manage development risk with a staff of producers or project managers to monitor the progress of the developer, critique ongoing development, and assist as necessary. Most video games created by an external video game developer are paid for with periodic advances on royalties. These advances are paid when the developer reaches certain stages of development, called milestones.

[[Independent video game development|Independent video game developers]] create games without a publisher and may choose to digitally distribute their games.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}