Making a video game may seem intimidating, but anyone can make a game with a planned approach and the right resources. From being an aspiring indie developer, someone who does it as a hobby, or if you are just curious about how your favourite games were created, this guide will walk you through every step in the game development process, hopefully giving you a strong starting point to begin making your own games.
Every game starts with an idea…
So get brainstorming! It doesn’t have to be extremely complex at first – think about P.T (Playable Teaser). A Silent Hill playable teaser that built the foundations of horror gaming, the entire gameplay loop is centred around a single hallway repeating itself. Now, it could be something as simple as running from zombies, or an easy platformer. Focus on something you are passionate about, it makes the development process much easier if you are excited to see the end result.
If you are struggling for ideas, take aspects of games you like and collage them together, using the key elements of each game to create your own idea. Pinterest is also a good place to spark inspiration!
It’s important to consider certain elements when brainstorming, such as:
- Target audience – is the game made for hardcore gamers, who’d like a challenge? Or children, who enjoy brighter colours and simple gameplay
- Mechanics – what key mechanics will really “make your game”? Think about combat, movement and puzzles.
- Genre – is it a shooter, horror, puzzle game or something else?
So you’ve got a video game idea. What’s next?
Now you’ve got your idea down, you need to document it in a games design document, GDD for short. It outlines the key concept for your game, and serves as a roadmap for development. Ever had an idea in your head, but once you’ve started making it, it’s turned out completely different? That’s why we use a GDD. You can find many templates online, but they can just be put into a Google doc.
A typical GDD includes:
- Story and narrative – a basic summary of the plot or premise, if you have one
- Gameplay mechanics – what can your character do? Jumping, sprinting etc
- Level design – how is each level structured, are they in chapters, stages etc?
- Assets – we will get to the ins and outs of asset-making later, but here you should put every object your game might need. Doors, tables, music and UI
- Target platforms – PC, Xbox, PlayStation. This can influence your decisions down the line.
Choosing your tools
There are many tools for game development, and the ones you choose are heavily dependent on the game you are making.
Game engines
- Unity – very popular in indie game development, and free until you earn £200,000 off the game. It primarily uses C# as its language.
- Unreal engine – well known for its beautiful visuals in 3D, completely free. It has a steeper learning curve, mainly using C++ as its language.
- Flax – a nice middle ground between Unity and Unreal Engine, and also free for non-commercial use. They will take 4% of your earnings after you earn £250,000 per year from the game, supporting C#, C++ and visual scripting.
If you are just starting, I recommend Flax due to its beginner-friendly design.
Graphic design software
- Blender (free) – extremely similar to Maya, an industry-standard design tool. There are many easy-to-follow tutorials online.
- GIMP (free) – similar to Photoshop, good for 2D art and textures.
Prototyping your game
You’ve got some planning down, now it’s time to open your chosen engine and start creating. A game prototype acts as a baseline for your game, usually consisting of basic shapes without texture or animation. Just put down some basic shapes of where you want things to be and the start of your code here.
Prototyping your game helps you spot bugs and refine your gameplay without worrying too much about how it looks. Polishing and looks come later. It’s also incredibly easy to get feedback from friends at this stage, and test individual mechanics of your game.
Building your game world
Once the prototype is sorted, you can start making it look pretty.
Level design
Level design is incredibly important, as you need to communicate clearly with your player where things are and how to navigate them intuitively. It’s also crucial to keep your player engaged. Here are some tips for building your level :
- Use modular design, and make sure you can reuse assets and textures to lower your workload. Most players won’t notice that you have reused the same cup used in level 2.
- Guide the player subtly, using visual queues or lighting to show people where they need to go. Resident Evil uses yellow or white tape to indicate an interactable. The lack of instructions allows the player to discover things organically, which can set the atmosphere.
Asset creation
If you are not an artist, or don’t enjoy modelling/drawing too much, you can download free assets from Unity Asset Store or TurboSquid, just make sure it isn’t too out of place.
- 3D models – create or find some 3D props, environments and characters
- Textures – apply textures to give your models a stylised or realistic look
- Animations – characters and objects should move fluidly, you can use Blender to animate them, or use premade animations.
Polishing your game
A good polished game is what distinguishes a good game from a great one, once everything works, go back in again and do some touch-ups. Refine every aspect.
- Graphics – add lighting, shadows and particle effects
- Audio – use sound effects and background music to create atmosphere
- Playtesting – get you and some friends to test the game thoroughly, some bugs can completely break the game and it’s important you comb those out before the launch
Launching your game
Now everything is working, it’s time to make it open to the public. Depending on your release platform, you might need to follow submission guidelines, so it’s important to look those over before you launch your game.
- PC platforms – Steam, itch.io and Epic Games are all popular platforms to release your game.
- Mobile platforms – You can submit your game to Google or Apple Play Store.
Prepare some marketing materials like screenshots and trailers to promote your game!
Post-launch support
Once you’ve launched your game, there’s a high chance players might find bugs or request new features. Be prepared to post issue patches and updates. If your game gains some traction, you might want to introduce some new levels and DLC.
Making a video game: Is it worth it?
Making a game is an interesting yet challenging process. From conceptualising your idea to programming, it’s a rocky road that requires creativity, dedication, and constant learning. But taking it one step at a time, breaking everything down into easy-to-understand steps means anyone can make a game – even if they are just starting.
It’s dangerous to go alone, take this guide with you and go forth into the wonderful industry that is games development!
If you want to learn more about how to develop a game, Access Creative College offers a Level 2 and Level 3 Games Development course. Get your career started and apply online today!