46: WGE MAG
Whether you are in high school, just graduated from college, or are already working in the game industry, you probably want to create your own game.
The good news is that tools are now available that allow individuals and very small teams create games. In fact, there has been a huge resurgence in the area of independent games over the last five years, and you should be taking advantage of this to create your own games.
Where to Begin There are three key areas you will need to consider before you can get started: the game design, the team, and the technology.
The Game Design
So you want to make a game? E
very kid who has ever played a video game has probably had this thought. For some, this idea falls to the wayside as other priorities take hold in life. For others, it becomes an obsession.
There is an interesting mystique that surrounds the video game industry. In some ways, the game industry is different from other professions and it seems like you have to pass some secret initiation rites to become a part of it. In other ways, the game industry is just like any other profession in that you get a degree, learn the appropriate skills, and apply for jobs.
Of course there are no secret initiation rites…really.
One thing that makes the game industry different than most professions is that there are people whose hopes
Without a good game design there is no game. You should seriously consider creating a game design document that puts your game idea into writing. A good game design document will spell out all of the details of the game including game elements, gameplay, and an idea of the technology that will be used to turn your idea into reality. It is also good to have information about the team and other resources as well as time and cost estimates.
and dreams are based on becoming a part of the game industry. These are people who, if given the opportunity, would actually work for free. These are people who actually make games on their own for no financial gain simply because they love to do it.
You probably don’t find very many budding accountants creating the latest spreadsheet and posting it on YouTube just because they love accounting. There may be some.
So, this series of articles is directed at those burgeoning game developers who are asking the question: “What is my next step?”
Regardless of where you are at in pursuing a career in games (or for that matter, whether you even intend to pursue a career in games), the heart of the matter is creating games.
“You probably don’t find very many budding accountants creating the latest spreadsheet and posting it on YouTube just because they love accounting. There may be some.”
There is no single correct way to create a game design document. Many examples can be found online at sites such as
Gamasutra.com and GameDev. net. If you are having a hard time finding one then feel free to email me and I’ll send you a template.
The Team Although it is still possible for a single individual to create a game, it is more likely that you will need a small team of people. It is also likely that each team member will wear several hats, and these are the hats:
• Producer – The team leader and project manager. It is his or her responsibility to assign tasks and track their progress and completion.
• Designer – Responsible for creating and maintaining the game design document, which means keeping it up to date as features are added or dropped. The game designer may also prototype the user interface, game levels, and other game elements.
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