A Guide to Video Game Development

Video games are an interactive form of entertainment enjoyed by many around the world. If you have ever played a bad video game you may have uttered the following: "I could make something better than this!" There could be a number of different things that stopped you from trying, perhaps not knowing where to start was one.

The following tips should assist you in the development process of video games. I am not going into detail with programing, This is just a basic overview of things to have in mind while creating games. The process may seem overwhelming at first, but these tips should help guide you to the end

Know your limits.
Just starting out as a developer? begin with a simple project and work your way up from there. With limited programing knowledge, a puzzle game would be a good start. Odds are you won't be able to execute all your goals at the beginning. As you become more comfortable with the programing language of your choice, your skills will grow.

If you do not know a programing language(C ++, Ruby, Visual Basic, etc.) There are game engines you can use. While some allow you to create different genres, other such programs are more specific only allowing Role Playing Games or Fighters. If you are learning a programing language, open source games may assist in the process.

Map out your concept.
The first step in the development process should do is write out ideas. Just go on and document everything you would like to have in the game. Are there going to be special control elements in certain parts of the game? write it down in detail so you don't forget. You want to have some bonus stages scattered about? Go ahead and jot it down.

Even if you are not that enthusiastic about some of the ideas you come up with, write them down anyway. You may feel differently later on in the development process. It would really suck to brainstorm at the beginning of development only to forget about a good feature or plot well into it.

Be unique, no knock offs!
If you are not willing to try anything new, Then don't bother releasing the game to the public. Nobody wants to play your version of *Add popular game franchise here*. No matter how cool you proclaim it to be, it will be seen as just a knock off or wannabe. Even if you want to create a fan game you should attempt to add your own flavor to it.

Can't think of anything? Why not try blending game genres. Two of the more popular genres are sports and first person shooters. A post apocalyptic football FPS is something that has yet to be released...That example may sound weird but could turn out good if done right.

make sure everything flows/fits.
There are many elements that can make or break a good game. Music is a very important part of games because they set the mood. Hip Hop is a poor music choice for a Role Playing Game set in the 1940's . If you are not sure what fits research if you have to.

Plan on selling your creation? If so it would be best to stay away from copyrighted music.With a simple Google search you can find freeware tunes to liven up your game. There are also free programs that allow you to create different music files(midi, wav, ogg, etc.)

no time limit, pace yourself.
Quality games take time to create. If you rush through development there will be a lot of problems. Just having the basic features is not enough, adding things for replay value should be key. If you take your time the game won't be a 5 minute desertion.

If boredom decides to rear its ugly head take a break. Why scrap the game if you can continue later? Start work on another game or just move away from your projects for a while. If you lack enjoyment for your project it may never be competed.

accept help when needed.
A one man development team won't always get the best results. If you are struggling get help via a game development community. Don't be ashamed to ask for directions while driving down the game development highway.

There are plenty of independent game communities on the internet. If you find a good one, Bookmark it and use its resources. Other would be game developers are always happy to assist those in need. That is unless you act like a noob in the community(bad grammar, bad attitude, impatience, etc.)

beta test till its glitch free.
Falling threw a floor due to poor programming isn't fun. Beta Testing ensures anomalies like that don't happen in the final product. fixing problems that could prevent the player from completing the game should always be one of the top priorities.

Not sure if you can locate all the glitches yourself? compile a team consisting of friends to help with the beta testing process. Have them document(by writing or recording video) any glitches that can be triggered during game play. Tell your team to try and exploit things in the game play for better results in finding glitches.

be prepared to receive criticism.
Gamers are a demanding bunch. They want the best of the best, no matter your experience level. Those who critique your game(praise or otherwise) do so for your benefit. It would be wise to take their input into consideration.

Everyone knows you can't please the world. You can however make a bad situation better. The tips provided by gamers may create interest amongst others. It wouldn't hurt to experiment just to see how useful the ideas turn out.

back up your work/protect files.
One faulty hard drive or a crash can ruin major progress. Make sure you save your work constantly. Many independent games get canceled due to lost programming. You don't want people to wonder what could have been, back up your work.

Save files to another hard drive or a disc. Making copies of your work is needed in case of system failure. If you lose interest in your project, you will have something to come back to later. If you are not organized, odds are you will not be able locate to said project later on.

That is your basic development blueprint. While you may have ideas or goals for your game, executing them can be difficult.With time and assistance from others, you can bring forth your own brand of video gaming bliss. Take help whenever needed, and value criticism from those who want your project to improve.