Some tasks handled by tools include the conversion of assets (such as 3D models, textures, etc.)
While many COTS packages are used in the production of games—such as 3D packages like Maya and 3D Studio Max, graphic editors like Photoshop and IDEs like Microsoft Visual Studio—they are not considered solely game development tools since they have uses beyond game development.
As soon as the more technologically advanced use of sprites became common, game development tools began to emerge, custom programmed by the programmer.
Level editors are used to create environments and other tools may be used to view assets before they are incorporated in the game.
For tools that are to be shipped with the game, often debugging and user-friendly features are done near the end of the development process.