As title states, I’m creating this thread out of hopes that I can get some advice for an aspiring developer. I came to this forum cause I have been following SD for a very long time (years), and I always got the feeling that you guys are the type to look out for newbies.
I barely have one year of experience with software development (mostly web), but I would like to begin moving forward on my dream of making my own games (rpgs ftw). Problem is, I’m totally clueless as to the process of creating a game. e.g. code language, engines, how to do multi-platform, software for development both code and animation etc.
Any and all advice given will be infinitely appreciated on my part. As I said, I am completely clueless so the more information the better, and please talk to me like you are talking to a 5 year old
(Side note, I’m still waiting eagerly for that “unannounced project”. Seeing how rad soldiers was so much of a success that you guys moved into a new/huge building, I have super high hopes for the game)
Learning the basics to a coding language could go along way (C++ or C# is highly desired). Also messing around with a game engine couldn’t hurt (Look at UDK and other kinds for different engines). Googling all this stuff would help aswell.
Start off with something simple. You learn most by starting with basics and moving progressively. Program minesweeper, or snake, or pong in c++. Learn how to use something like SFML to add audio and graphics and everything. Then start learning OpenGL to do the graphics and learn how to make 3D stuff in it. Once you can start making something cool and have learned a bunch, try out some game engines.
[QUOTE=Shinigami;499717]As title states, I’m creating this thread out of hopes that I can get some advice for an aspiring developer. I came to this forum cause I have been following SD for a very long time (years), and I always got the feeling that you guys are the type to look out for newbies.
I barely have one year of experience with software development (mostly web), but I would like to begin moving forward on my dream of making my own games (rpgs ftw). Problem is, I’m totally clueless as to the process of creating a game. e.g. code language, engines, how to do multi-platform, software for development both code and animation etc.
Any and all advice given will be infinitely appreciated on my part. As I said, I am completely clueless so the more information the better, and please talk to me like you are talking to a 5 year old
(Side note, I’m still waiting eagerly for that “unannounced project”. Seeing how rad soldiers was so much of a success that you guys moved into a new/huge building, I have super high hopes for the game)
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You should know first that game development is no easy task. It’s not all fun (mostly headaches) and can quickly take a big part of your life. So before you head in make sure this is really what you want
If you are in, then read below for my advice.
I would actually do the reverse. Start with a game engine like Unity (free and very well documented) and start making games directly. Unless you aim for core tech development, you will never need to know all the details on how to code game engines or manually code in OpenGL / DirectX. The gaming industry is big and there are a lot of different tasks for programmers. With the current games, you never do core tech, GUI, gameplay, etc. programming in the same job. Those are separated because they are very complex on their own.
So take Unity, code in C# which will be way easier than C++ since you have no manual memory allocation and pointer arthritics to figure out. You can directly focus on the game and it will help you keep motivation all along this process. Believe me, there is nothing worse than spending the time you would require to create a small game just to solve a single bug in C++. Then do as Scarhand suggested: start with very basic things like creating menus and simple games (pong, bang bang, etc). During this process don’t simply copy these games: make them yours. Try to enrich the game by changing it a little bit (type of universe, options, modalities for user inputs, etc). This will help a lot when applying for a job as you will have content to show and it will highlight your creativity.
I would also suggest you start by reading a book or two on general programming (make sure you code all the examples and exercises yourself). Web is kind of far from what programming languages used for video games do, require and work like. Try to take a book that does not focus on game programming as they will alter your way to do programming. In video games you focus on performance and you often have to cheat to get there. So start with the regular way to do it (academic computer science). Focus on learning C#, then test it with Unity (they provide a lot of tutorials).
To give you some perspective when we started Splash Damage (back in 2001) none of us had any professional experience making games, so there’s always hope if your passion and determination is there!
As you may or may not know we got our start making a mode for quake 3 called quake 3 fortress.
Working on a project like this helped us self-teach the the skills we’d need to get started in making games, it also helped us form a team of the core disciplines we’d need. Theory is great, but nothing is better than the practical experience of working on a game project, as you’ll be pushing yourself to produce something rather than simply do tutorials.
It’s very hard to make a game on your own, so find an area that you’re good at and try and specialise in it, then recruit other people to work in the other areas that you’re not as good at :). In my case I started teaching myself to be a programmer but soon realised I was much better at art
http://www.moddb.com/ i a good website for the mod route website of making games, where you can join existing teams or advertise your own.
From the art perspective www.polycount.com was a great site when I was getting started and still is today, a lot of the artists the work at SD have been active on here at one point or another.
Also there are fantastic opportunities to learn quite a good deal by participating to on-going projects. You get an inside look at how big companies are working and how goes the whole game making process. The latest title doing this is the new Unreal Tournament 4. The development is completely opened and you can participate:
Also there are fantastic opportunities to learn quite a good deal by participating to on-going projects. You get an inside look at how big companies are working and how goes the whole game making process. The latest title doing this is the new Unreal Tournament 4. The development is completely opened and you can participate:
I didn’t get around to replying, but I hope you know I did in fact read your post. And I sincerely appreciate your advice. That goes for you as well, RasteRayzeR.
I think about this subject almost on a daily basis. And i have realized that I am further behind that I thought. And by that I mean that I am still not even sure the path I want to take. Video games are basically my life, so it would be a dream come true to make video games. But now with the release of the new Apple programming language, Swift, I am tempted to get into that market since Swift seems to be so similar to typescript, and for the last year i have been working with typescript so i know the language well. Plus, im a huge apple fanboy (iWatch and app store for ATV anyone?).
More over, I am not even sure I have the courage altogether to pursue a career in game (or OS X/iOS) development. Games seems to be such a risky market. I follow the news and I have seen how many development companies have closed down. And, for this last year, working for a company that develops legal software has not been ideal, but it sure has been stable and secure.
F***, what it is to be young and have to make these decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life…
I am happy for you guys that you all took the leap and started where you did and you got to where you all are today.
[QUOTE=Shinigami;506992]
F***, what it is to be young and have to make these decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life… :([/QUOTE]
I do understand as I am also in that situation. In 6 months I will graduate and get my MSc in Computer Science, and just like you I don’t know if the video game industry is my path. All I know is that I love games, I can spend days working on them and still play games the evening afterwards and enjoy them. Moreover, you gotta do it when you are young because it’s a demanding job, later on you might want to settle down.
With the evolution of the market, many games are now produced by indie studios which are basically a bunch of guys, each with their specific expertise, coming together for a project. It can be a hobby so you may not have to choose.
In any cases, take your time to make up your mind, but hey … not too much
