The production of interactive multimedia applications is a complex one, involving multiple steps.

This process can be divided into the following phases:

Conceptualization

The process of making multimedia starts with an "idea" or better described as "the vision" which is the conceptual starting point. The starting point is ironically the visualization of the ending point - the multimedia experience that the targeted end-user will have. Conceptualization involves identifying a relevant theme for the multimedia title. We, at Magic, prefer choosing themes that are socially important and exciting to work on. Other criteria like availability of content, how amenable are the content to multimedia treatment and issues like copyright are also to be considered.

Development

Defining project goals and objectives

After a theme has been finalized for a multimedia project, specific goals, objectives and activities matrix must be laid down.

Goals: In multimedia production goals are general statements of anticipated project outcomes, usually more global in scope.

Objectives: Specific statements of anticipated project outcomes.

Activities: These are actions, things done in order to implement an objective. Specific people are responsible for their execution, a cost is related to their implementation and there is a time frame binding their development.

Defining the Target Audience

A very important element that needs to be defined at this stage is the potential target audience of the proposed title since, this will determine how the content needs to be presented.

Reproduction

It is the process of intelligently mapping out a cohesive strategy for the entire multimedia project, including content, technical execution and marketing. Based on the goals and objectives, the three pillars of multimedia viz. Hardware, software and user participation are defined.

At this stage the multimedia producer begins to assemble the resources and talent required for creating the multimedia application. The Production Manager undertakes the following activities.

• Development of the budget control system
• Hiring of all specialists involved in the multimedia application process
• Contracting video and audio production crews and recording studios
• Equipment rental, leasing and purchasing
• Software acquisition and installation
• Planning the research work of the content specialists
• Development of the multimedia application outline, logic flow, scripts and video and audio files production scripts and schedules
• Coordination of legal aspects of production

Production

Once all the preproduction activities have been completed, the multimedia application enters the production phase. Activities in this phase include: - Content Research - Interface Design - Graphics Development - Selection of musical background and sound recording - Development of computer animation - Production of digital video - Authoring

Defining the Target Audience

A very important element that needs to be defined at this stage is the potential target audience of the proposed title since, this will determine how the content needs to be presented.

Postproduction

In this phase, the multimedia application enters the alpha and beta testing process. Once the application is tested and revised, it enters the packaging stage. It could be burned into a CD-ROM or published on the internet as a website.

Developing documentation

User documentation is a very important feature of high-end multimedia titles. This includes instructions for installing, system requirements, developing acknowledgments, copyrights, technical support and other information important for the user.