Being a former software tester for a minor telecommunications company, familiarity with the software development cycle may be helpful in understanding the process of developing software of many kinds. With gaming software I would not imagine it being very different, except there are more artists involved who create 3D models using special software such as 3D Studio Max, artists who specialize in textures using Photoshop, as well as developers who deal with the programming of how it all comes together and interacts. Also people who specialize in interface design, beta testers, system and regression testers, business and systems analysts who write the business case for what is expected the software will do.
Here is one place I found that has some descriptive texts on what's entailed:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/...rticleId=71151
Also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwar...opment_process
Hope that helps.
Perhaps someone closer to this process as it pertains to gaming will elaborate.
Cheers
Triad