7 Best Workflow Automation Tools For Mobile Gaming Studios

Introduction

The mobile gaming industry thrives on constant innovation and rapid turnaround times. For mobile gaming studios, workflow automation tools are essential to streamline development processes, manage tasks, facilitate team collaboration, and track project milestones. Automating these workflows allows studios to deliver high-quality gaming experiences efficiently. Here are seven leading tools that mobile gaming studios can leverage to enhance their workflow automation.

1. Bizway

• What is it? A comprehensive business management platform, Bizway integrates AI to deliver a broad management experience catered to the dynamic needs of mobile gaming studios.
• Key Features: AI Assistants, task automation, detailed project tracking, KPI dashboards, and insightful analytics.
• Pros: Custom AI features for tailored experiences, a wide array of operational tools, intuitive UI for ease of use.
• Cons: There might be a learning curve to fully grasp AI functionalities, mostly tailored to the needs of smaller businesses.
• Pricing: Starter plan at $49/mo, Scale at $99/mo, and Portfolio at $199/mo for more extensive solutions.
• Best For: Small to mid-sized mobile gaming studios looking for AI-enhanced automation tools for business and project management.

2. JIRA

• What is it? A project tracking tool widely used in software development, including mobile gaming, for agile project management, bug tracking, and issue resolution.
• Key Features: Agile reporting, customizable scrum and kanban boards, issue tracking, and numerous add-ons for extended functionalities.
• Pros: Robust integration with development tools, flexible for various workflow approaches, and detailed reporting features.
• Cons: Can be complex for first-time users, pricing may scale significantly with team size and extra features.
• Pricing: Free plan available for up to 10 users; Standard plans start at $7.50 per user per month.
• Best For: Mobile gaming studios that require sophisticated project management with a focus on agile methodologies.

3. Trello

• What is it? A collaborative project management application ideal for managing game development cycles using interactive boards, lists, and cards.
• Key Features: Visual project boards, drag-and-drop task cards, built-in automation with Butler, and power-ups for extra functionality.
• Pros: Intuitive and user-friendly interface, great for organizing tasks, and ideal for smaller teams or individual projects.
• Cons: Limited in-depth project management tools without plugins, may become cumbersome with an extensive number of tasks.
• Pricing: Free for basic use; Business Class starts at $9.99 per user/month.
• Best For: Gaming studios seeking a simple tool for task management and workflow visualization for their development projects.

4. Asana

• What is it? A task and project management software that helps gaming teams organize, track, and manage their workflows efficiently.
• Key Features: Task listings, project timelines, workload tracking, and seamless integration with third-party developer tools.
• Pros: Supports complex game development projects, promotes team communication, and offers flexibility in task management.
• Cons: The full suite of features requires premium plans, and the platform may take some training for new users.
• Pricing: Free basic version; Premium plan starts at $10.99 per user/month billed annually.
• Best For: Mobile gaming studios that need detailed visibility and control over their game development pipelines and tasks.

5. Slack

• What is it? A communication platform designed for team collaboration, providing real-time messaging, file sharing, and integrations with development tools.
• Key Features: Public and private channels, direct messaging, integration with tools like GitHub, and voice and video calls.
• Pros: Enables quick communication, reduces reliance on email, and supports easy integration with work tools for automated notifications.
• Cons: Can lead to distractions with non-work channels, may lack formal documentation features.
• Pricing: Free version available; pricing plans for extra features begin at $6.67 per user/month when billed annually.
• Best For: Game development teams needing an effective communication tool to collaborate and share updates throughout the game creation process.

6. GitHub

• What is it? A code hosting platform for version control and collaboration, allowing teams to collaborate on game code and track changes.
• Key Features: Git version control, issue tracking, pull requests, code review, and GitHub Actions for CI/CD automation.
• Pros: Centralized repository hosting, robust community and documentation, supports collaborative development workflows.
• Cons: May require a fundamental understanding of Git concepts, some advanced features are not free.
• Pricing: Free public repositories; Team plans for private repositories start at $4 per user/month.
• Best For: Gaming studios that prioritize collaborative coding, version control access, and want to automate their software deployment pipelines.

7. Airtable

• What is it? A cloud collaboration service that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the sophistication of a database, suited for various aspects of game development.
• Key Features: Grid view, calendar view, Kanban boards, gallery view, form builders, and comprehensive linking between tables for database functionality.
• Pros: Offers flexibility for asset management, maintains project details and timelines, custom forms for feedback collection.
• Cons: Can be pricier for larger teams, may require setup time to tailor databases for specific studio needs.
• Pricing: Free tier available; Plus plan at $10 per user/month.
• Best For: Mobile gaming studios seeking a versatile tool to manage game assets, project timelines, and track complex development progress.