In the next year or so, probably by 2020, the video games industry will be worth more than US$90 billion. Also, over 2.4 billion people in the world, which represents roughly a third of the global population, love playing video games. With such stats backing you up, it would be great to start considering whether you should make your own game. After all, you already have the market and money is in plenty. What could be so hard? Presumably, nothing is impossible! Nevertheless, it’s great to educate yourself first before jumping into the river two-feet.
The two things you need for the success of the actual game are interactive environments and characters. Each character has to play a crucial role in the game. The environment has to make it possible for the characters to do what the game requires of them. For example, chess games with different themes and various gaming level option will attract more gamers.
The following six smart tips should guide anyone who wants to know how to make a game. Learn the essentials tips and tricks regarding how to make your own game.
Conceptualizing the game
The first step is always the hardest. If you get it right, you will have done more than what the majority of gaming enthusiasts never manage. Start by conceptualizing the game. Otherwise, you run the risk of ruining your reputation as a noteworthy game maker. Think about the game exhaustively until you are sure that it has the required substance. However, while at it, avoid second-guessing yourself, especially if you want to move forward with your plans. As you visualize the game, appreciate the fact that you are an amateur game developer.
In conceptualizing the game, you ought to focus on the following:
- Knowing the exact type of game you wish to develop
- Operating within budget, especially if funding is a huge problem
- Knowing how long the game should run
- Creating the right plot
- Appreciating your skill level
Selecting the Best Software for game creation
Do you have software for game programming? If not, then that should convince you to look for one. Fortunately, you will never be short of options in this regard. Experts in professional programming can license real game engines if they have some good money to back them. However, the ordinary Joes are unable to enjoy the same. For them, the best option remains working with software that is already in the market. If money is an issue, then let nothing dissuade you from using free software. That said, premium options offer advanced features.
A few examples of software worth using to create a game include:
- GameMaker (for Windows and Mac OS X)
- RPG Maker VX Ace (for Windows)
- IG Maker (for Windows)
- GG Maker (for Windows)
- Construct 2 (for Windows)
- Stencyl (for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows)
- Flixel (Open source)
- Unity (for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X)
- Unreal Engine 4 (for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X)
Building the Characters/Environments for game
You are now ready for the nitty gritty of making games. A good game creator worth his weight in game creation software will always put more effort into this segment. The two things you need for the success of the actual game are interactive environments and characters. Each character has to play a crucial role in the game. The environment has to make it possible for the characters to do what the game requires of them. Failure to accord this issue the attention it deserves could collapse your entire game development.
To build your cast of characters, you would need to:
- Sketch the concepts in simple forms
- Fleshing the sketches out more comprehensively
As a beginner, you should limit yourself to software that supports 2D graphics. Use it to learn and improve your skills. As you get better, you will be able to code your own game without the intervention of anyone else thus saving money. Despite all these benefits, tools that offer 2D graphics capabilities may lack some of the features you need to do an excellent job. In this regard, you can never go wrong with any of Adobe’s famed suite of editors. Photoshop is arguably the most important tool to use here.
Tinkering with and Testing the Game
Now that everything looks set, your next task should be testing the game. Otherwise, all the sacrifices you made trying to learn how to make a game app will have been a massive waste. Testing is essential in game programming. Create a game using these tips. Learn everything you can about Java game programming before testing yours. The worst mistake you could ever make is to release the product into the market before taking it for test-drive. Use the feedback you get from testing it to improve or eradicate all the issues.
For more information on how to make your own game using a unity game maker, you should check the free Unity game maker course. Remember, the more you practice the better you will become. Therefore, start right where you are with what you have. Move the mountains until you know how to make your own game. When doing all this, do not forget that you are making the game for your audience. Essentially, you are not making it for yourself. Additionally, do not forget to stipulate whether you are creating a free or premium game to charge accordingly.