Two proposals can use the same label, “one playable”, while describing different production jobs. Comparing the total first makes those differences easy to miss.
This is a practical checklist for a UA lead buying a first build or comparing a new production partner. It helps you identify unanswered questions before choosing a supplier.
Start with the unit you are buying
Ask each vendor to describe the finished deliverable in the same terms. A single orientation build and a portrait plus landscape package are different scopes. So are an export only delivery and a delivery that includes the editable project.
These are comparison examples, not statements about a particular vendor's offer. A smaller scope can be the right purchase when it covers your actual campaign.
Put these five answers beside each quote
Network and specification. Name the destination and the current requirement being used. “Network ready” alone leaves the acceptance criteria unclear.
Formats and constraints. Record orientations, dimensions where relevant, and the required file size limit. Ask which exported file will be checked against that limit.
Handoff. List editable project files, exports, dependencies and any licensed assets that cannot be transferred. “Source included” needs a definition.
Revisions. Describe what can change within the allowance and what would require a revised estimate. A copy correction and a different game mechanic are not equivalent requests.
Delivery clock. Write down which assets, decisions and approvals must arrive before the quoted turnaround begins.
Resolve the blanks without adding unnecessary scope
If a proposal leaves a row empty, ask the vendor. Do not treat silence as an automatic exclusion or assume every additional deliverable is necessary.
For example, if you need only portrait for the planned placement, there may be no reason to buy landscape now. If another team will maintain the build, the handoff requirements become more important. The right answer depends on the work you intend to do next.
A useful decision at the end of the call
You should be able to describe what each quote includes, what remains outside it, and which open decisions affect the estimate. That gives you a basis for choosing a supplier or asking for a narrower proposal.
Copy the five questions into your next brief and fill them in before comparing the totals.