Learn to design a game. Announcement followup.

[Tilex]

If you design a game in Elysium, or in some other premade game design system, you are technically not doing any of the work other than writing a story. Elysium does the work for you, as do most other game design systems. It's the truth, and you can't tell yourself after designing a game with said system that you 'know how it works', unless you yourself designed Elysium, or have studied the code long enough to know what goes on in the brain of this game machine. The facts are straight, and I'm here to deter you folks from using commercial and non-commercially produced engines or design systems, but to design your own. Be innovative!

From here, I want some feedback before I start releasing tutorials and documentation of a library I have been working with for a while called SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer), that is generally used in conjunction with C++. You have the ability to design your games, I just want to know what you expect from it.

What I expect in the form of feedback, is what you want to learn how to do. Not "I want to make a game", but "I want to design a 2-dimensional world, that uses sprites, models, and 2d images in conjunction with input", etc. You tell me what you expect, and I'll tell you how to do it.

I'll be posting basics on game design outside of the programming world first, then I'll get into the use of programming to make your dreams come true.

 

[Tilex]

The basics: Planning.

Step one: Know your limits.
Every indie game designer has limits, and every design team has limits. I'm sure you start out with the idea that you're going to design some epic game, that's going to be on the top of the 'gaming top 10' every week for a few months, but seriously; what do YOU have that can make this possible? If you're reading this, you probably have very little experience in game design, and minimal experience in programming (minimal to the extent of this tutorial). Every designer has to start somewhere, and this is where you will start.

Step two: Realizing your ides.
So you want to make a game? That's great. You can't just sort of, jump right into it. Game design is a VERY complicated field, and it takes most professional game designers 4-12 years to earn that title. You will not, by far, be a pro-game designer on your first attempt, and your first attempt might not be pretty. (No, this guide wasn't written to discourage you.). There are some things you need before you start designing your game, preferrably in this order:

• A general concept to your game.
• An idea of what type of game it will be.
• An idea as to what programming language you will use.
• A programmed (by you) game-engine based on the previous three bullets.

Now, you need to ask yourself some questions:

• How will you design graphics?
• How many dimensions will it have (2D, 3D; I suggest starting with 2D, as 3D rendering engines can take...FOREVER...to design.)
• Will you use a team?
• Will you have a dynamic storyline?
• What goals will you set (time goals, date goals, etc).
• How will you organize your code?
• Will it have cheat protection?
• Will it be online?
• Will cheats be allowed?
• Will there be some sort of a hack protection system?

I know it seems like a lot, but that isn't even scratching the surface of the cauldron that is video game design. That's just the basics, and you need to have ALL of them to be successful.

Closing statement:
If you ever hope to design a game, you must make sure you are prepared. All of the questions must be answered, and you must have everything ready. You cannot procrastinate, you cannot falter, everything must be executed flawlessly for this delicate process to work.

 

[Tilex]

Reserved (2).

 

[Tilex]

Reserved (3).

 

[Tilex]

Reserved (4).
The above reserved posts are for updates, tutorials, links, documentation, and organization of the previous.

 

[WoW Sucks]

So you have to know the basics of C++? lots of C++? Tons of C++?

Either way its good of you to do it

 

[Tilex]

If you know the basics of C++, I can help you get off the ground. Basics will only get you so far, though. The main purpose of this post is to see what people expect from game design, how to do it, etc. I want to show people how challenging solo game designing actually is.

 

[The End]

hmm id be interested in doing this sounds fun

 

[timk777]

Not a bad idea. I thought you were going to make a game =/ That'd been cool and you were recruiting people. But it sounds like a good idea to me. If you need help or anything lemme know.

 

[17th Alley]

Yeah, id like to make one. I do use one of those softwares Game Maker 7.0 Lite, it works pretty good. It even has its own language and you can script into it.

Im learning Vb6, thats why i still use this proggy, i dont have enough knowledge yet. I can show you some of the ones ive made using game maker, a couple are nice to play. That might bring you some ideas, and so help "idealess people". Just PM me if you want.

 

[boddah1]

Once I learn C++, I would try it. Till then it's way out of my range.

 

[Fate1]

Well this sounds very interesting and Im gonna say I am interested. Well Im close to the end of my school year but next year I am taking C++ classes and learning that langauge.. I really wanted to take it this year but my school does not allow freshmen to take it for some odd reason..

 

[viperdeck]

im agunna research on how 2 do C++ and to download it rite now

 

[cp]

Is SDL compatible with Python or PyGAME? If it is, then I'm in.

 

[WhoCares357]

What procedure allows you to load the game, and make it move on the form on "keys down"? I know that you change it's by changing it's property of position, but how do you load the image onto the form and then use the arrow keys to manipulate it?

I understand the basic concept of this, but I've never actually known how to do it. Could you post an example of something very simple that does just that?

If you can I'll <3 you forever! Thanks.

 

[cp]

It's just as simple as deleting the actual image and replacing it with the updated one. I don't know what language you're talking about,so I can't really help you any more.

 

[WhoCares357]

c++ or delphi.

 

[Legato]

im extreemly interested. ive learned some of the basics of c++ but im not as good as most other people are.. just wondering if you could help me

 

[Markizano]

Currently I'm making an RPG that's really similar to RuneScape in VB6 (nothing original, just trying to get the general idea down). The only major problem that I run into is the Artificial Intelligence. What code should I enter to make the opponent attack as if a human was playing the game? Should I put it in a function or sub/procedure? and How would I go about activating or calling that Function/Sub/Procedure when it is the opponent's turn to attack? My first idea was to make a Case Selection upon activation of the timer to detect which monster was active and call that monster's function when the timer was enabled. I do realize that AI's are generally consisted of "If...Then" statements as this is how the human brain works (some are more extensive/smarter than others).

These are the kinds of questions that I have in order to complete my game a little further. I hope that this was the kind of feedback that you were looking for.

Markizano

 

[WhoCares357]

What's the point of this thread if no one answers -.-