How to get started making games?

[Stephen L (inactive)]

If you've any quick questions / want pointers as to how to go about making games (when you haven't before) post 'em here and people will (hopefully) give you some guidance : )

As we go on, maybe we can turn this into a FAQ -

( It's fine to set up a new thread if you have some more involved queries )

[Ed K]

Maybe a nice way to kick off this thread:
http://youcanmakevideogames.com/

[Perrin]

I actually never properly launched that site as I've been too busy with other stuff to finish it up. However since you've outed it I guess it's now officially open. Will have to sort out some of the missing content I wanted to add this week.

[Jasper]

I think I'd throw in on this topic, on the subject of code really, that I had no idea where to start until I started copying and modifying other games' code.

The first challenge is finding an environment and some code to use in it, that works and you can manage to build. From there I'm a fan of modifying example code from within, experimenting with different numbers, conditions, and so on. Let it build into its own game.

At least, this is how I got started as in the 80's there weren't many sources of information beyone games typed out in magazines - although choosing a language was easier as it was basically C64, BBC or Sinclair BASIC. When choosing a language, I usually go for the first one I can get some example code working in! If I can, it's a good sign I might get on with it.

[SoManyNinjaRobotMen]

I've only really made one "Game" in education, and that was more a graphical engine than anything.
I'd say don't start making the game until you know at least roughly what the finished product should be, don't make a generic engine as you wont have a goal to head toward. and Each game has it's own intricacies which may not always be apparent straight away, which may be a pain to implement into something already existing.

also, if there's any particular problem you can foresee with any aspect of the game, check out technical papers, soething like google scholar etc, to see how other people may have tackled the same problem

[AnthonyHJ]

Maybe a nice way to kick off this thread:
http://youcanmakevideogames.com/

Good list, but the bit of kit I would probably add is Stencyl, which is a bit like a free, cross-platform (Java-based) version of Game Maker that outputs flash games. (and Kongregate encourage people to send them games made in Stencyl, so at least one portal obviously rates the tools)

The other good thing about it is that it provides a good progression of difficulty with its scripting; you can start with downloading other people's scripts, then create new ones with a drag-and-drop scripting tool and then move on to editing the scripts as code.

[Ed K]

I actually never properly launched that site as I've been too busy with other stuff to finish it up. However since you've outed it I guess it's now officially open. Will have to sort out some of the missing content I wanted to add this week.

Arrgh sorry Perrin! Didn't realise it was not public. The video seemed perfect for this thread...

[Perrin]

Good list, but the bit of kit I would probably add is Stencyl, which is a bit like a free, cross-platform (Java-based) version of Game Maker that outputs flash games. (and Kongregate encourage people to send them games made in Stencyl, so at least one portal obviously rates the tools)

Yeah actually I'm a huge Stencyl fan. I made that video before it was actually released and I would like to update it to include it. The PDF version you can now download on the site does include Stencyl.

I actually never properly launched that site as I've been too busy with other stuff to finish it up. However since you've outed it I guess it's now officially open. Will have to sort out some of the missing content I wanted to add this week.

Arrgh sorry Perrin! Didn't realise it was not public. The video seemed perfect for this thread...

No worries, I've kind of let it just sit there doing nothing so it's a good kick to get me to do something with it.

[nyarla]

I think I'd throw in on this topic, on the subject of code really, that I had no idea where to start until I started copying and modifying other games' code.

The first challenge is finding an environment and some code to use in it, that works and you can manage to build. From there I'm a fan of modifying example code from within, experimenting with different numbers, conditions, and so on. Let it build into its own game.

Totally. This is how I started (and how I still start learning any new thing really). Tinkering with small bits of code in an already working program, re-building it and seeing what effect my changes had, I think can make a lot of things very clear... good way to see how everything fits together.

[AnthonyHJ]

I think I'd throw in on this topic, on the subject of code really, that I had no idea where to start until I started copying and modifying other games' code.

The first challenge is finding an environment and some code to use in it, that works and you can manage to build. From there I'm a fan of modifying example code from within, experimenting with different numbers, conditions, and so on. Let it build into its own game.

Totally. This is how I started (and how I still start learning any new thing really). Tinkering with small bits of code in an already working program, re-building it and seeing what effect my changes had, I think can make a lot of things very clear... good way to see how everything fits together.

Not just me then? I had a good grasp of BBC BASIC in the 80s and never really progressed until the Quake SDK came out and I tinkered with the QuakeC code, making mods and generally testing how it all worked.

I suppose going elbows-deep in the source SDK or even the actual source for some of the older (now open-source) Id games would be an interesting baptism by fire; it could get you started on the path or it could scare you off...

[Alistair Aitcheson]

Tinkering with existing code never really worked for me. I learnt programming in Blitz Basic, which I guess is along similar lines to FlashPunk today. I followed a simple beginner's tutorial, and with each lesson I tried to work out how to use it to do something one notch more interesting than what the tutorial did.

I eventally built up enough understanding to just try to throw something together and see if it worked, and saying "I wonder if I can do X with my existing knowledge". Sometimes I'd flick through the command list and see if there was anything that looked useful. And I built up from there.

I tend to approach most things a similar way. Follow a tutorial to get my feet wet, and then start experimenting when I think I've got the jist of it.

[TaintedFork]

Does anyone know of a good website/IRC dedicated to people helping others with game issues?

I'm very new to game making, and I always feel like I shouldn't "spam" places like this up with dumb beginner questions. Maybe I'm wrong; is this the right place to do stuff like that?

I feel kind of stuck, like I don't really know how to do something, and I'm not really sure how or where to ask for help. Is there a better resource for this that maybe I overlooked or missed?

I'm kind of trying to figure stuff out on my own, which has helped in a lot of ways. But there are some things that I'm simply clueless about. A website or forum made specifically to help beginners, in my opinion, could become an incredibly useful resource for the community.

[Ian Snyder]

You should feel free to ask questions here, TaintedFork. Make a new thread, post in this one, whatever it takes :)

As for resources, it depends a lot on what you're working in. You said in your introduction post that you're working in flash, so I'd point you to http://flashgamedojo.com/

Sometimes just googling stupid things ("how do I ______ in flash") will lead you to what you need to know as well.

But again, feel free to ask questions here, I'm sure we're happy to help.

[TaintedFork]

That's great! The snippets section should prove to be very useful. ;)

By "ask here," should I ask in this thread, or create a new one?

I also found this: http://www.gpwiki.org/

I haven't had a good chance to look at it much yet, so it could be entirely useless. I suspect not, though.

[Ian Snyder]

By "ask here," should I ask in this thread, or create a new one?

I'll direct you to the first post:

If you've any quick questions / want pointers as to how to go about making games (when you haven't before) post 'em here and people will (hopefully) give you some guidance : )

As we go on, maybe we can turn this into a FAQ -

( It's fine to set up a new thread if you have some more involved queries )

Wherever you think it fits :)