Vertical Slice Development

A vertical slice is 10-15 minutes of your game at release quality. It's what publishers want to see before signing a deal. It's what crowdfunding backers need to believe in your vision. We build vertical slices that get projects funded.

What Makes a Vertical Slice Different

A prototype proves mechanics work. A vertical slice proves your game will be worth playing. Every element - visuals, audio, UI, pacing - needs to represent the final product quality, even if the content is limited.

This is the hardest thing to build well. You need to front-load polish into a narrow slice without creating technical debt that slows down later production. You need enough content to demonstrate variety without scope creep. You need to impress without over-promising.

What's Included

Complete Environment

One level or area built to final quality. Custom or heavily modified assets. Lighting, effects, and post-processing that represent your visual target. This is what players will see in screenshots and trailers.

Full Core Loop

Players should experience your complete gameplay loop at least once. For a shooter, that's engaging in combat, managing resources, and reaching an objective. For an extraction game, it's entering, looting, and escaping (or dying).

Polished UI

Menus, HUD, and feedback systems at or near final quality. UI is often what separates an amateur feel from a professional one. Publishers notice.

Audio Integration

Sound effects, music, and ambient audio that complete the experience. A silent vertical slice feels like a prototype no matter how good it looks.

Performance Optimization

The slice needs to run well. A beautiful demo that stutters tells publishers your team can't ship. We build vertical slices that hit target framerates on target hardware.

Timeline and Process

A vertical slice typically takes 3-5 months. The first month is pre-production: finalizing the scope, creating the design document, establishing the art direction, and building the technical foundation.

Months 2-3 are core production: building the environment, implementing systems, creating assets. Month 4 is integration and polish. If you're targeting a specific event or pitch date, we work backward from that deadline.

We recommend building an MVP first, then deciding whether to proceed to a vertical slice. The MVP validates mechanics; the vertical slice validates the full vision. Skipping the MVP means you might spend months polishing something that doesn't work.

What You Get

A playable build ready for presentation. Marketing materials (screenshots, a short gameplay clip) suitable for a Steam page or pitch deck. Documentation of the technical architecture and remaining production roadmap. Everything you need to seek funding or continue development.