Is your favorite pass of time playing video games, looking for new tactics to beat your virtual enemies or creating universes from the imaginative depth of your mind? There are many tools that allow you to create your own computer video game, giving you many more options to work with, without having to possess any special programming skills or knowledge. Grab your mouse and keyboard and start creating.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Finding the Tools
Step 1. Create a text-based video game
It is probably the simplest type of video game to create, even if not all users are interested in video games that do not have a substantial graphics sector. Most text-based video games are based on a storyline, puzzle or adventure that combines plot, exploration and puzzle solving together. Here are some free tools:
- Twine is a quick and easy tool to use via the internet browser.
- StoryNexus and Visionaire add more gameplay options and static images.
- Inform7 is a more powerful tool supported by a large community of users.
Step 2. Create a video game with 2D graphics
GameMaker and Stencyl are two great options that can be used to create games of all kinds. Both of these tools give you the ability to take advantage of programming without having to know the basics. Scratch! is another tool you can use to create video games that can be used via an internet browser.
Step 3. Try creating 3D video games
Creating these kinds of applications presents a much bigger challenge than creating a video game with 2D graphics. So get ready to work on a very long project that will require a lot of work to complete. Spark and Game Guru save you some effort by letting you create the game world without the need for programming. If you already have some programming knowledge or if you want to start learning how to code, try using Unity, a popular video game engine.
If you want to create the 3D models to use in your video game yourself, instead of using the predefined ones made available by the program, you need to use a special software, such as 3DS Max, Blender or Maya, which allows you to create models 3D starting from scratch
Step 4. Start with an approach that takes full advantage of programming
Even if you are not experienced as a programmer, for the creation of your first game, you may want to use one of the graphics engines described above. You shouldn't feel compelled to choose another type of approach just because this is much more difficult. Some people are very amused by the extreme level of control provided by creating a video game from scratch. Ideally, program the game using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), such as Eclipse, instead of using a simple text editor. This way you can manage all aspects of the game in one project.
Even if you can create the video game code using practically any programming language, by learning and using C ++ you will have a very powerful tool at your disposal, also accompanied by numerous tutorials and resources to facilitate the development of code available directly online
Part 2 of 2: Creating the Game
Step 1. Choose an idea
For your first project, the choice to develop a small example of the genre of video games you are passionate about could be a great starting point. Start from a platformer or role-playing game. Before you start, write down any ideas about what your video game should look like on paper and add answers to the following questions:
- What is the main component of the gameplay (the core of the game)? This could be fighting against hordes of enemies, solving puzzles or talking to other characters.
- What mechanics do you want your game's gameplay to be based on? For example, if you have chosen an action game where you have to fight against groups of enemies, how you want the fighting to happen: in real time using the controls or in turn based on tactical decisions that involve the use of a strategy. The dialogue-based video games allow the player to develop the plot through his decisions or to discover more details about the game world and the characters that populate it.
- What should be the mood aroused by the video game in the user? Fear, joy, mystery, excitement?
Step 2. Create simple game levels
The first use of a graphics engine or a development environment for creating video games, is an excellent opportunity to experiment a little, and deepen the knowledge of all the functions you have available. Learn how to create the settings that will be the background and objects and how to animate the characters. If possible, create objects with which the end user can interact. Alternatively, it examines the ready-made objects made available by the software to find out if they can interact with the user.
- If you don't know how to do something, search directly on the software manufacturer's website or use a search engine.
- Don't worry about particle effects, lighting and other advanced graphics for now.
Step 3. If necessary, design the system behind the gameplay management
This step may involve small changes within the software used to create the game, or the use of more complex systems that need to be created from scratch. Here are some examples:
- If you're creating a platformer, do you want the character to be able to double-jump or some other kind of "special" movement? Experiment based on the height of the jump that the character can perform and the response you want to get regarding the management of the controls: what must happen after a light pressure of the jump button or if the button in question is held down. You also choose whether to give the player the opportunity to perform multiple jumps or different types of jumps.
- If you are creating an action, role-playing or horror game, what kind of weapons does the player have at his disposal? Choose 2-3 weapons that the player will be able to develop during the game and try them out. Try to make it interesting to use all weapons throughout the game. For example, a weapon can inflict more damage, it can hit more than one enemy or it can weaken them. Try to make sure that a single weapon does not prove to be the best choice throughout the game, or make this eventuality difficult to achieve (for example by giving the weapon a very high cost in terms of money / energy or making it unusable after a certain time or after a certain number of hits).
- In a dialogue-based game, do you want the player to be able to interact by choosing from multiple text options on the screen, or do you simply want to listen to the dialogue between the characters and perform a certain action to access the next dialogue? Do you want the player to discover the whole storyline of the game simply by proceeding linearly or do you want multiple choices to affect the game's ending?
Step 4. Create a few game levels
Three to five simple levels of play can be a good goal when it comes to your first video game, although you always have the option to expand it later. Always keeping in mind the main mechanics of the game, create game levels that incorporate slightly different challenges from each other. You can design the various layers all together, in the order they will appear, or choose to create them separately and merge them only at the end. Choose the easiest method for you.
- A platformer, as you level up, usually introduces new aspects, such as moving platforms and / or faster enemies.
- An action game can feature larger groups of enemies, a single very powerful enemy, and types of opponents that can only be defeated through the use of certain weapons or tactics.
- A puzzle-game, normally, is based on a single type of puzzle to be solved, which however becomes more difficult or which introduces new tools or new obstacles as you level up, requiring more reasoning from the player.
Step 5. Enter medium and long term goals
These elements are often referred to as "secondary mechanics" or "secondary gameplay". Through the use of the main game mechanics, such as jumping, the player will have access to secondary game mechanics, such as eliminating enemies by jumping on their heads or collecting items. This can lead to the achievement of long-term game objectives, such as completing the level, accumulating money to be able to develop certain aspects of the character or weapons or reach the completion of the game itself.
As you can see from the examples, you may have already included all of these elements without realizing it. It simply tries to make the player immediately aware of the presence of objectives to be achieved throughout the game. If, while playing your video game for ten minutes, the user notices that the only objective present is to keep shooting at the enemies that appear, he may soon get bored. If, on the other hand, after eliminating the first opponent, he receives a coin in exchange, he will realize that he has a new objective (accumulating coins to buy a reward), which will be shown to him as he progresses in the game using the main dynamics of the game itself
Step 6. Test your work
Check every single level over and over again. Get help from friends or acquaintances. Try to test the game using different approaches, including a way of playing that you haven't thought of, such as ignoring the tasks to be done within the game world and proceeding directly to the final boss. Or trying to end the game by choosing sub-optimal weapons and improvements. This is a very long process that can be frustrating, but it is of paramount importance to identify and correct any errors and make sure that the game is worth playing and that it is enjoyable and enjoyable for all users.
- Give the players who will have to test the game only enough information to be able to start the job. Testers should only know that they need to test a game in development and know the basic controls of the character. They shouldn't be made aware of anything else.
- Give the testers a form for their comments, so you can keep track of all the information they give you and access it quickly and easily. This tool also allows you to ask specific questions regarding those sections of the game that worry you.
- The video game testers who are most useful for this purpose are people who don't know you, and who don't feel obligated to compliment you on the video game you created.
Step 7. Optimize the graphics and sound sector
While the availability of free games on the web is very wide, take the time you need to optimize your creation, tweaking anything that feels wrong or making any necessary corrections. If you want to optimize the 2D graphics of your game, learn pixel art or use programs like OpenGL if you are struggling with a very ambitious 3D project. Add lighting effects and particle effects to enhance the scenery and combat. Also add some animated backdrops to make everything look more realistic. Also deal with the sound effects of footsteps, fights, jumps and all actions that actually make a sound. Although the refinement and testing work could go on indefinitely, your masterpiece can be said to be ready for release as soon as the graphics and sound sector have reached your standards. Congratulations!
