The focus of this guide is on computer game design and creation, as well as the resources to bring it about.
As with creating websites, some people may opt to code them from scratch, but most people use a web design editor or tool that facilitates at least a part of the job, so it is with game design and creation. While it is possible to create a computer game using C++, Java, HTML 5, CSS3, JavaScript, SQL, or another programming language, most of the games currently on the market were created using one game creation engine or another.
Carrying the analogy with websites further, while the designer is sometimes involved in the creation, that isn't necessarily the case. The design and creation are different tasks and, in the case of commercial video games, this often accomplished by a team of people working together. This might include mission designers, writers, and narrative designers, concept artists, 3D modelers, audio designers, programmers, AI specialists, and potentially several other professionals.
Video game programmers most often make up the entire game design team, although some publishers, like Coleco, strictly separated the functions of design and programming.
Generally speaking, the more complex the game, the larger the number of people involved in producing it. Larger video game companies may assign a separate producer, lead designer, and several general designers to each aspect of a single game.
A game designer is not necessarily a programmer, visual designer, or project manager, although he may fulfill all of these roles. Strictly speaking, the focus of the game designer is designing gameplay, including the construction of the rules and structures that result in the game experience for players.
Many commercially successful games began with one or two people creating an initial product that was later expanded upon, and a lot of computer games are created to be shared freely and without commercial aspirations.
Indie game design and development refers to games that are made by an individual or by a small team of game designers and creators, particularly those who are working without financial support from a game publisher. While some of these projects receive crowd-sourcing support, it is generally not enough to compete in the same marketplace with larger game development and publishing companies. However, many commercially successful games began with one or two people creating an initial product that was later expanded upon, and a lot of computer games are created to be shared freely and without commercial aspirations.
Indie games are sometimes released for free, or sold independently, many of them hope to attract the attention of a publisher.
While a text adventure game might be hand-coded by a single individual, most graphical video games are created by groups of people using tools. For that matter, authors of text adventures and interactive fiction will frequently use a tool so as to be able to focus on the story rather than the coding. For that matter, someone writing a game in C++ will still require a tool, known as a compiler, to create a playable game.
For the purposes of categorization, we have separated video games from text-based computer games. Although technically graphical when displayed on a computer monitor, games based on text data are significantly different from those using video graphics, both in their creation and in their play.
Categories
Text Game CreationVideo Game Creation |
Recommended Resources
Scirra Limited, a UK company, produces Construct, an extensible 2D game creation toolkit that runs in the browser, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as Android and Chromebook devices, and can export completed games to multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, Android, Web, Steam, and others. Licensing and pricing are set forth, along with a beginner's guide, full documentation, support resources, discussion forums, and community guidelines.
https://www.construct.net/en
GCS is a student-run organization at Carnegie Mellon University, dedicated to game development, assisting members, of all skill levels and backgrounds, who are interested in making games. Each semester game creation competitions are held. The history and a profile of the organization are presented, current members and alumni are highlighted, and games created during GCS competitions are featured online, and may be found through a variety of filters.
https://www.gamecreation.org/
Formed to help aspiring game designers, of all ages and levels, accomplish their goals, offering information to guide them along their game designing career. Included are tutorials on video game design, game development, game applications, and game art, as well as links to online resources and school recommendations. Popular articles include how to start designing a video game character, a review of game engines, and specific game engine tutorials.
https://www.gamedesigning.org/
The online game institute provides training in the field of video game design and development, enrolling students at all levels of experience. Founded in 2001 by game artists, programmers and teachers from the United States and the United Kingdom, the program allows students to study at their own pace online, studying an subjects in the catalog, online or through accredited education partners. Its training programs, projects, pricing, and reviews are put forth.
https://www.gameinstitute.com/
Written by Robert Nystrom, who was once employed by Electronic Arts, the book includes a collection of patterns that he found in games that make code cleaner, easier to understand, and faster, which was assembled in order to help game designers to write code that hangs together as a cohesive whole, and which can be more easily changed when necessary. The book is highlighted, and it can be purchased in print format from several online retailers, an e-book in several formats, or as a PDF file.
http://www.gameprogrammingpatterns.com/
The after school program was designed by game industry professionals, formed to teach children to design and build their own video games and robots, including all aspects of game development, such as level design, animation, coding, 3D printing, robotics, and other aspects of game creation. The skills taught include game design, programming, sound design, creative writing, teamwork, 3D modeling, illustration, animation, and public speaking. Its programs, locations, and events are included.
https://www.game-u.com/
Intended particularly for children, Gamefroot is an online platform to code, develop, test, and publish games. Its online courses are designed to be efficient, comprehensive, and straightforward enough for children and young people, schools, museums, and learning spaces. Its Game Development Club is a specialized after-school program developed and operated by people from the video games industry and may be run through the school. Each term, members learn to code a new game.
https://make.gamefroot.com/
Created by E-Line Media and the Institute of Play, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the organization and site is designed to teach game design principles to seven to fourteen year-olds, although it is open to anyone. Registration is free, although various game design resources are offered for sale, including an online game design course. Its registration policies, workshops, and gaming sharing resources are put forth, and technical questions are answered.
https://gamestarmechanic.com/
International Game Developers Association
The IGDA is a non-profit membership organization of individuals who create games, created to bring developers together at industry conferences, and through regional chapters and special interest groups. Several levels of membership are available, the benefits of which are described for each, along with the costs. Its bylaws, code of ethics, staff, board of directors, and contacts are set forth, along with its regional coordinators, global mentorship program, and an event calendar.
https://igda.org/
Roblox Studio is a game creation platform in which players can create their own games through a proprietary game engine. Games are coded under an object-oriented system based on the Lua programming language. Games can be released to smartphone, tablet, desktop, console, and virtual reality platforms. Roblox is free to join and free to download, but the purchase of optional Robux (virtual currency) can be used to buy in-game upgrades and accessories, as well as a "Builder's Club" membership.
https://www.roblox.com/create
Enrollment in the online game design program includes the game design software, Unity 3D, is free for all students to use, an GameSalad Basic or GameSalad Pro are available at a monthly charge. Discounts are available for Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, although these programs are not required for game design training, which include 2D and 3D game design, computer animation, graphic design, and digital painting. Student requirements and prices are stated, and a game art collection is available.
https://schoolofgamedesign.com/
Created and hosted by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a free block-based visual programming language and online community that may be used by anyone, but which is designed especially for children from eight to sixteen. Available in more than seventy languages, and is available through an online editor, as well as in Windows and macOS. The game editor may be used online or downloaded without cost. Its community guidelines are posted.
https://scratch.mit.edu/
Sploder allows people to make games online, and to share them. The online community is monitored by its membership, although the site's social features may be disabled if a member wants a more private experience. Completed games and comments are automatically made visible to members and non-members alike. There is no charge for membership, and the site includes creators for retro arcade-style games, platform games, physics puzzles, classic shooters, algorithms, and virtual cities.
http://www.sploder.com/
Unity Technologies is a video game software development company best known for its licensed game engine, Unity, which is used to create video games, text adventure games, and other applications. The Unity game platform can be used to create games for console devices, personal computers, and mobile devices, as well as augmented reality and virtual reality games, 2D and 3D games, used to create approximately half of the new mobile games on the market for the past couple of years.
https://unity.com/
Originally known as KC Camp, the organization adopted its current name in 2007 in order to acknowledge its increased presence outside of Kansas City. The non-profit computer camp offers week-long computer camp with an emphasis on game design. Its courses include web design, video game creation, multimedia adventure games, gaming and coding, arcade games, mobile game design, cartoon creation, and others. Its locations, programs, costs and registration policies are featured.
http://www.youthtechinc.com/
