Designing video games is not an easy job. But if you've got an idea that's a shame, there's no better time to start than now. With the widespread trend of independent development, building a game has never been easier or cheaper than it is today. Follow this guide to start designing and building the game of your dreams, then spread it around the world.
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Part 1 of 7: Making the Foundation
Step 1. Choose the genre
Although all successful games have their own uniqueness, almost all games fall into a certain genre. Decide what kind of game you want to make, and see what other games of the same genre have. Some common genres include:
- Arcade
- Shooter or shooting games
- Puzzle or puzzle game
- Platformers
- Racing or racing games
- Endless runner
- RPG
- First person shooter
- Story-oriented JRPG or RPG
- Tower defense
- Horror
- Fighter or fighting game
- Comedy
Step 2. Select the platform
The platform you choose to develop your game on will have a significant impact on the way it is developed. The platform you choose determines how the game will be controlled. For example, smartphone games are usually made on the basis of touch and movement, computer games usually use a keyboard and mouse, while console games usually use game controllers.
- There are some exceptions to all of these rules. But you'll usually find it easier to design games if you stick to certain control methods.
- If you want to make iPhone games, you need to submit them to the Apple Store from a Mac computer.
Step 3. Write down the initial design
This initial design should consist of several pages, but will form the core of the gameplay experience you will create. This design contains the main concept of your game, and will allow you to see if your idea can actually be realized as a video game.
Step 4. Start with the core philosophy
This statement will serve as the motivation behind the creation of your game. This statement is simple and goes straight to the point of what your game is about. Review this statement to make sure that your game is still serving its basic purpose. Here are some examples of core philosophies:
- This game is a space station economic simulation.
- This game lets you play as a living car.
- This game tests the player's reflexes.
Step 5. Write down the features
In-game features are what make your game different from other games of the same genre. Start by writing down your ideas and concepts. Then change the concept into action-based sentences. Try to create five to 15 features. For example:
- Concept: Space station construction.
- Features: Build and manage your personal space station.
- Concept: Damage from asteroids.
- Features: Try to stay safe from dangerous objects like asteroids, sparks from the sun, and comets.
- Writing your features from scratch allows you to build them one by one in a design document. This will also make your project more focused and prevent ideas from growing in the middle of the development process.
- Keep revising these features until you are satisfied and sure that all of these features represent the game you want to make.
Step 6. Take a break
Put this initial design in a drawer and try not to think about it for a week or two. You'll want to revisit that initial design with a fresh perspective to help determine if the project is really worth doing or maybe you need to revise or recreate the original design.
Part 2 of 7: Writing a Design Document
Step 1. Start working on the core details
Design documents are the backbone of your video game. This document contains detailed descriptions of the mechanics, plot, background, aesthetic design, and much more of your game. Fortunately, the format of this document is less important than its content and there is no need to worry about it.
- Design documents are very important especially if you are managing a team of programmers and artists. Make sure the documents you create are for them, not for the final consumer. Avoid being vague or unclear and explain the details of each game mechanism thoroughly.
- Not all games have design documents, and two design documents are unlikely to be similar to each other. Use the following steps as a guide, but make your document as independent as possible according to what your game requires.
Step 2. Formulate a table of contents
Every aspect of the game needs to be included in the table of contents. The only thing that doesn't need to be included is the story, unless it's closely related to the mechanics of your game.
- Create a table of contents using the same approach when creating game play instructions. Start by covering broad and general things like character creation, combat, and the main interface, then move on to the subsections of each of these sections.
- Think of this table of contents as a big picture of your game. You'll dive into the details of your game in greater depth as you keep writing the table of contents.
Step 3. Fill in each section in your document
Once the table of contents has been created, begin to explain the mechanics. Take the time to explain it in detail so there won't be any confusion when you start programming. Each mechanism should be thoroughly explained so that there will be no confusion when you implement it.
Step 4. Create with other people or your team
Depending on the approach, creating a game design is a collaborative process. Feedback from others can help keep your game focused and highlight areas that haven't been well considered.
Part 3 of 7: Start Programming
Step 1. Determine the engine you want to use
Engine is the main base of your game containing various development tools to make game creation easy. Creating a game using an existing engine is certainly much more time-saving and simpler than creating a new engine from scratch. There are many engines designed for indie developers.
- Engines usually make manipulation of graphics, sound, and AI easier.
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Each engine has advantages and disadvantages. Some engines are better suited for 2D graphics, while others are better suited for 3D graphics. Some engines require more programming knowledge than others. There are several game development tools that you can use without requiring any programming experience. Some of the popular development engines include:
- GameMaker: Studio - One of the most popular 2D engines.
- Unity - A popular 3D engine because it is easy to use and portable.
- RPG Maker VX - A scripting engine created for traditional 2D RPG or JRPG games.
- Unreal Development Kit - 3D Engine that can be adapted into various functions.
- Source - A very popular 3D engine that is constantly being updated and modified.
- Project Spark - Optimized 3D Engine aimed at casual users.
Step 2. Study your engine, or find someone who knows about it
Depending on what engine you choose, you may face significant programming challenges. Even the most basic engine takes time to understand how to manipulate it. If the programming required is beyond your capabilities, study it first or hire someone skilled.
- This will be the start of your team building phase. If you can't program, you'll need to hire a programmer first. You can think about the graphic and sound design later, as you'll need to build a prototype before you can move on with the project.
- There is a large community of independent developers or programmers you can contact. People will join a project for various reasons and compensation. This is where a solid game design document can help, because a solid document shows that you are committed to your idea.
Step 3. Create the prototype
Once you have mastered the chosen engine, prototype your game. This prototype serves as an initial test of the main functionality of your game. You don't need graphics or audio to prototype. Just create simple placeholders (like a cube or stick figure) and a small test area.
- Test and refine your prototype continuously to make sure your game is fun. Take note of anything that doesn't work well or feels lacking, and review all the mechanics involved. If the prototype isn't fun, the final game isn't going to be fun either.
- There will be features that seem easy and possible, but that don't work very well when built with the engine you choose. You have to be prepared for the fact that your prototype will change over and over again as you fix things that aren't working well.
Step 4. Fine-tune the controls
The most basic function in the game is the interaction of the player with the game through some control input. Use this prototype to ensure that your game controls are as perfect as possible.
Games with poor control will frustrate players. A game with perfect control will make the player's skills pay off
Part 4 of 7: Creating Assets
Step 1. Consider the needs of the project
Depending on the scope of the project, your graphic needs can vary widely. Some games are made using only simple shapes and colors, while other games have complex and expansive worlds created by a team of graphic and sound designers. Be realistic with the goals of your in-game assets, and recruit people according to your needs.
- Most independent games are made by small teams, and often even one person. If you are working on your project alone, be prepared to spend a lot of time, especially if you want to create all the assets yourself.
- There are many free assets available on the internet, especially in the developer or programmer community. Always make sure that anything you use does not violate copyright laws.
Step 2. Create a rough draft for some visual designs
To begin to feel the aesthetics of the game's graphics, you need to start implementing the graphics into the prototype and developing the prototype into an increasingly complete game.
- There are many styles you can use. Pixel art (intentionally retro style) is one of the most common styles used by independent developers. Pixel art is becoming commonplace because these graphics are the quickest and cheapest to create and still provide good games.
- If you have time and more members, you might consider making 3D graphics. While a basic 3D model can be created by just one person, the more complex details will take up a lot of time alone. 3D models need textures to complete the model.
Step 3. Design the game world or structure
Once you have the graphics ready to use, you can start building the game. Depending on your game style, you may need to create levels or play areas. If you are making a puzzle game, then you can start designing the puzzle.
Step 4. Develop the visual assets
Depending on the visual style you use, there are many programs you can use to create your visual assets. Some of the popular programs include:
- Blender - This open source program is the most popular 3D modeling solution. There are many tutorials available on the internet that show you how to get started quickly.
- Photoshop - This program is essential for the process of creating textures as well as most 2D graphics. This program is expensive, so if you are short on money, consider using GIMP, an open source alternative. GIMP has most of the same functionality.
- Paint.net - This program is an open source alternative to Paint Shop Pro, and it allows you to easily create 2D visuals for free. This program is very useful for creating 2D pixel graphics.
Step 5. Record the audio asset
Sound design has an important role to explore the game being played. Using music or not, when and how to use sound effects, and what dialogue is spoken can all affect how players connect with your game.
- You can find a variety of free and good audio recordings and music-making software on the internet. Consider using these free resources if you are short on money or working independently.
- Create your own sound effects with objects in your home.
Part 5 of 7: Putting It All Together
Step 1. Play your game as often as possible
While creating all aspects of your game, play the game to ensure that your game remains fun and cohesive. If there's an area or idea that feels lacking or bad, fix it or throw it out. Once all the levels or puzzles or areas have been created, try playing them and completing them to ensure that your game is enjoyable from start to finish.
Step 2. Stay focused on the core philosophy
During the development process, you should constantly check whether the game you are creating is still holding on to the philosophy that was defined from the start. Make sure you stick to the pre-built feature list and don't get swayed by the various additions.
Step 3. Polish, polish, and polish
Keep re-examining your graphic, sound, and game design to refine some of the areas that still need improvement and bring out the unique style of your game. Your ability to quickly polish your game will largely depend on the graphic style you choose and use.
Part 6 of 7: Testing the Game
Step 1. Start looking for bugs
After you've created the game from start to finish, it's time to figure out how to destroy it. Finding bugs in your game and then fixing them is important to ensure that this game can be played by as many people as possible.
Step 2. Perform actions you wouldn't normally try
Every possible way for a player to interact with your game is worth considering and trying. Make sure your in-game rules cannot be bypassed or violated by attacking them as much as possible.
Testing for bugs can take as much time as it takes to build the game itself. The more people who can help with testing, the more problems you can find and then fix
Step 3. Prioritize the bugs to be fixed
If you have a long list of bugs and only have a limited amount of time to fix them, make sure you tackle the serious bugs and damage the game first. For example, if there is a bug that allows a player to score infinity in a score-based game, then you should make sure that the bug is addressed immediately.
Step 4. Watch other people play
Ask some friends to try your game. Watch how they deal with the challenges in the game, and how they interact with your game world. Maybe they'll try something you've never thought of before.
Part 7 of 7: Releasing Your Game
Step 1. Check the program release rules listed on the engine you are using
Each engine supports a specific platform, and some engines require release licenses for different platforms. For example, with Game Studio, you can release the game on Windows and Mac OS X with the Standard version, but if you want to release the game in the mobile version, you have to pay more to upgrade to the Pro version.
Step 2. Build enthusiasm for your game
When your game is about to be released, start trying to attract attention. Release some screenshots and videos of your game on popular game forums. Contact a game news site and tell them your game will be released soon (make sure you include how to get the game, how much it costs, and a brief description of the game).
During the production process, create a company website so you can start gathering followers. Creating a forum about your game is also a great way to get fans to interact with each other, and updating your site can also attract more attention
Step 3. Define your distribution service
Some independent developers will provide their games on their own hosting, but you may find this to be quite expensive hosting, and some hosts just can't sustain the size required for a large and successful game. There are several popular places to release independent games for Windows and Mac OS X:
- Steam
- Desura
- Humble Store
- GOG
- Mobile games usually have to be released in their respective stores (Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and others). The same is true for console games (Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and others).
- Different services will take a different percentage of each sale of your game. Look into the details of this one in each service to determine which one is best for you. Most services have a sales representative you can contact directly.
Step 4. Manage and sustain your game
Once your game is released, sustain it as much as possible by fixing bugs and including new content. The age of digital distribution means games can be updated faster than ever before. Plus, there will be a bug or two every now and then as the population of players accessing your game grows. Do what you can to fix the bug as soon as possible.
Tips
- There is no absolute way to make a game. Think of this guide as an outline only, and use the process that is most effective for you.
- Don't expect to make a lot of money overnight. Making a game is a job based on hobbies and interests, and money is a bonus for that effort.
- There will be some people who don't believe you will be able to do it. But, as long as you stay serious about it, you'll be able to finish what you started.
