Technology has enabled people to do things that were unimaginable a few decades ago like to work remotely or have fun playing games online. Moreover, the technological development has brought new kinds of profitable hobbies or jobs. Making a video game is one of them. It can be a difficult task, but it is not something that can’t be done even if one lacks experience. One thing is certain – the video gaming industry is bustling, and the market is extremely profitable, so there is room for anyone.
It goes without saying that behind the most successful games entire studios stand, but you have probably heard of a lucky gamer who made a game out of hobby with his best friend and now has millions of dollars on his bank account. You need to be innovative and work hard, and with a little luck, maybe you will be responsible for the next hit game like WoW, Minecraft or Fortnite.
Here is a breakdown of the process of video game creation in four basic steps.
- Come up with a concept
This is definitely the most important part. Think about what kind of a game you want to make. Is it shooter? RPG? A platformer? Having a complete visual of the game is obviously necessary, but be mindful of your limitations as a developer/designer. One tip is to start simple, and you can always build from there. Is it going to be a long or a short game? Needless to say that consulting someone in the gaming industry is more than beneficial – you can get both helpful insights and feedback straight from the expert.
- Begin the development
First, you need to decide on the software you intend to use. You can always purchase a license for a game engine if you can afford it, but if you are just starting out, that probably isn’t a realistic option. There are many free and premium software options to choose from, but what they have in common is that they all have the necessary tools to help you in the game making process. They all come with very detailed tutorials to help you along the way. Here are a few to take into consideration: GameMaker, Flixel, RPG maker, Construct 2 and Stencyl.
If you want to play it safe, you can always hire one or two senior programmers and entrust them with the development process to make sure that this part of the process will be handled professionally.
- Build your unique characters and an interactive environment
This step is probably the most creative and the most exciting one. You need to have in mind that originality plays a vital role in this. Your game should have a distinguished look that makes it stand out from the competition, so take your pencil and start sketching. Decide whether you want 2D or 3D graphics (we recommend the former for beginners, of course). Either way, there is an abundance of programs to choose from, and all of them offer both free and premium features. Adobe Photoshop CC is the obvious choice, but there are plenty of free options as well, such as GraphicsGale and GIMP.
- Test it out and publish it
Trial-and-error is crucial for this step. Expect it to be a far cry from smooth sailing, but don’t get easily discouraged. The more testing you do, the better your final product will be. When you feel that your game can make its debut on the market publish it! Appreciate the feedback and the reviews because they will be the basis for all your gaming-making endeavors to come!