~thinking about making a game

[Pseudo Enigma]

I have a very good idea for a game. But the first step is the most important step.

Before anyone suggests it, I'm not interested in using Game Maker, at all rofl. I'd rather learn to program the whole thing myself. It's just going to be a simple platformer/puzzle game I guess for now.

So anyway, FFR. I just thought I would get some opinions on where to start. Any good ideas for someone who's practically new at this?

[Ohaider]

Not sure, Unity Game Engine?

[krunkykai22]

Well, it really depends on what kind of a game you are making dude.

Is it going to be an Action/Adventure/RPG/Flash/Fighting/Strategy/etc. ?

[Pseudo Enigma]

as op said, Puzzle/Platformer. It's kinda hard to explain. Think like Zelda+Metroid I guess.

I have a plan, but the engine mostly will run off of a sort of platforming+item menu thing.

edit: I'll look into Unity.

[powerfull]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Enigma

Any good ideas for someone who's practically new at this?

I started with Flash games. Learning AS3 (ActionScript 3) isn't too bad. I started a few years ago by teaching myself some AS2, but over the summer, my friend and I began learning AS3 and got pretty comfortable with it (if you're interested in that, I suggest you don't look at AS2, just look at AS3). I'd be willing to teach you some stuff if you're up for it.

Basic Flash projects are easy to get started, and some things are pretty easily handled, in my opinion. Based on what you said, it sounds like you don't have coding experience. Feel free to message me if you'd like some basic/ beginner lessons with AS3 (I also know some Java and C#). Fyi, my major is Game Design and Development.

[fido123]

Step 1 should really be learning how to program. I can't vouch for this guide enough. IMO start with that guide, as it will give you a good foundation on how to program. Python probably isn't the language you want to learn how to do things with, but it's a language that's going to force you to learn some things every programmer should know how to do, and always be doing such as proper indentation.

http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/ - This guide is what I'd recommend next as it forces you to learn data types and know what's going on "under the hood" a little bit more. In all honesty though this step would be optional.

I suggest you probably build your game in something like Flash, as making a game all by yourself requires you to a) Know how to program like a boss and b) Have years of free time on your hands. You'll still need to learn how to program for Flash, which has it's own programming language but going through that Python book will give you the knowledge you need to get started.

http://sql.learncodethehardway.org/book/ - Learning SQL is important too. It'll teach you how to interact with databases which is essential in even making many basic applications.

[Reincarnate]

Hmmm, maybe we should round up a bunch of FFR guys and make a game

[Zageron]

Just 2 cents, while Unity is powerful and widely used, I hate Unity.

Haha, I'd be down.

[Reincarnate]

I'm actually kinda serious -- I'm never going to make a game on my own because it's tougher to criticize your own ideas with nobody to bounce stuff off of -- if anyone wants to get together and chat let me know

[Izzy]

First thing to do is have an idea for a game.

[Reincarnate]

The idea is easy
The devil is in the details

[sticklydude]

Lua is a pretty easy programming language to understand, and i've heard some pretty good things about the LÖVE 2d engine.

Lurk around the wiki page http://www.love2d.org/wiki/Main_Page


But I'd definitely go to some links that fido provided to get an understanding of programming concepts as some programming languages have similar syntax if you want to code the entire game yourself.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Reincarnate

The idea is easy
The devil is in the details

Doesn't mean it isn't the first step. =)

[Reincarnate]

Darn you, logic

[UserNameGoesHere]

I know you said you don't want to do it in Game Maker, but if you've never programmed before, and based on the simple requirements for your game, it's completely suited for it.

Once you got something simple working in something like that you could always work on rewriting it in some other language later.

Of course if you want to jump in to more "real world" languages, you'll probably have to start out with text-based programs and work your way up to making graphical programs, and then eventually you can make a game.


And also, I disagree with Reincarnate that "the [game] idea is easy". Maybe we have different ideas of what "idea" constitutes, but actually getting the whole game idea flushed out in a usable fashion, is much of the work. Controls, game mechanics, game rules, level design, character design, music choice/design, structuring, etc .... I include all in the term "idea". Once you have the idea flushed out and understand at least some programming environment, you can then begin to actually code it.

[Reincarnate]

Originally Posted by UserNameGoesHere

And also, I disagree with Reincarnate that "the [game] idea is easy". Maybe we have different ideas of what "idea" constitutes, but actually getting the whole game idea flushed out in a usable fashion, is much of the work. Controls, game mechanics, game rules, level design, character design, music choice/design, structuring, etc .... I include all in the term "idea". Once you have the idea flushed out and understand at least some programming environment, you can then begin to actually code it.

To be fair, what you describe I would consider details. When I say "idea," I mean "the general concept."

[UserNameGoesHere]

One more piece of advice I'd say.

When making your first game(s) start small. Try to make clones of very simple games. Old arcade games are perfect candidates for this (Space Invaders, Breakout, Frogger, etc...). Preferably something simple that takes place entirely on a single screen with simple controls and simple game mechanics.

They're simple games which are well-understood (everyone knows how Space Invaders is supposed to work, at least in their head, right?) so you already have the "game idea" part taken care of. And they're the simplest games to actually program, other than text-based games. And it'll serve as an excellent proof-of-concept -- that you know enough that you can actually make something.

Once you get a couple of those working to your satisfaction, then you can try to make a platformer, Zelda-like game, or SHMUP. SHMUP will be very easy to do wrong so if you make a SHMUP just remember don't put so much stuff on the screen at once that it slows to a crawl or controls become less responsive, and clean up objects as soon as they are no longer needed, if possible. This is true with the others as well but particularly I see it as a problem in independently-made SHMUPs.

Don't even start with a 3-D (for example FPS) game yet. You're not ready. When/if you ever do feel that you're ready, start small, again. Start out with something like Wolfenstein3D or the "maze" screensaver for Windows3.1 where all of the floor is completely flat as is the ceiling. You can then advance to more complex terrain (more complicated dungeons/castles, outside scenes, etc...) only once you've mastered the basics.

If you think about video game progression over the years and try to make games like the oldest games, then like older games, then like old games, then like newish games, then newer games, then new games ... in that order, it should be more "doable".

[Coolboyrulez0]

Oh god I would love to see a decent platformer get made.

[Reincarnate]

So who's in?

[Coolboyrulez0]

Uh I could help with UI design and Title screen etc. for sure if needed.
(designing, not coding that is)