How to Make a Video Game

From LoveToKnow VideoGames

Making your own video game can be a time-consuming process. It requires lots of planning, creativity, unique ideas, testing and learning. There are some tools available that can help you get the job done. Take a look at our tips and links and learn how to make your own video game!

make a video game

Tips On How To Make A Video Game

  • Without a doubt, the most important aspect of game creation is the entertainment value. No one wants to play a boring game. Aspire to create the game you would want to play and you can't go wrong!
  • Grab a good book on game theory. This teaches you the basics of what makes a game a game, whether it's Tic Tac Toe or Halo 2.
  • Don't give up! Game creation requires time and patience. It can often take programmers months or even years to make the game they're passionate about. Stick with it, work diligently and you'll arrive at the end.
  • Some titles are created in mere days. Experienced programmers can often create small games quickly, proving that practice does indeed make perfect. On the other hand, remember that your favorite games probably had large development teams working on them for years.
  • Take inspiration from your personal favorite, but bring new ideas into the mix. Everyone's played Tetris, but have they played it with exploding sheep? Add new twists and puzzles to the mix.

Creation Tools

While learning a programming language such as C++, Visual Basic, Python or Perl will be the best way to make your own video game, you don't have to be a coding wizard to get started. There are many programs available, often for free, that allow you to make your own video games without prior knowledge of any programming languages!

  • Game Editor - Make 2D games for your PC or even cell phone!
  • Game Maker - One of the most popular game creation programs, Game Maker has a powerful set of tools to create any type of game.
  • Clean Game Library - Complete development environment for 2D side scrolling video games. Some small programming knowledge required.
  • Adventure Game Studio - Known as AGS, this popular tool allows you to create point-and-click games in the style of LucasArts' or Sierra Online's classic hits.

Game Maker Quick Overview

Game Maker 6.1 is currently available which includes better tools for precision special effects. Using the drag and drop icon interface, you can make any type of game in mere minutes. From 2D, to puzzle, to platform, and limited 3D First person shooters, Game Maker includes the programming for virtually any type of code and/or action you can think of. You can also package your game into an executable file that can be installed on any computer. The included tutorials help you understand how to make a scrolling shooter, a simple adventure game and even a platform game.

You can download and use and distribute games for free, but the free version contains an embedded company logo in the background. For $20, you can register the program. That's not a lot of money for a powerful game making program.

Text Authoring

Many game-makers begin their careers with simple but engaging text adventures. These games involve little or no graphics and are entirely story driven. This forces you to focus on the important aspects of the game and not get lost in graphics.

Read more about text adventures, then play a few to see what they're like.

There are a plethora of click-and-create programs for creating text adventure games. Text-World, Adventure Builder, AGT, Aiee!, Quest, and Scripted Adventure Game Engine (SAGE) are just a few. However, if you really want to dig your nails into game creation, it's highly recommended to learn a few of the basic text adventure authoring languages. They're simple, very easy to learn and highly adaptable. Use them as a springboard to a more complex language and more complex video game creation.

  • Inform - One of the more popular languages, Inform has been used to author many text adventure games. It rivals TADS in all areas and debates constantly flame as to which language is "better", Inform or TADS.
  • ALAN - ALAN is a far more natural programming language to learn. It isn't quite as flexible as TADS or Inform, but it's highly recommended if this is the first programming language you want to learn. ALAN uses speech-like commands rather than symbols and strange phrases, yet you can create excellent games with this tool.

The Power of Creativity

In the end, it doesn't matter which programming language you use or which piece of software did most of the coding work. Video games are about having fun, and creating a video game is about giving that experience to someone else. No matter how simple or complex your game is, make the focus on creating a rewarding experience for your audience. In the end, that's all anyone remembers anyway.

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Comments

Frank: As with any other trade, it takes a lot of learning and practice to make your own video game. Search on the Internet for any tutorials for your chosen program, but if you need further instruction, I'd recommend taking a course at a local (or online) school.

-- Contributed by: MichaelKwan

I'm trying to make a video game and I installed the program C++ or something like that. But I still can't figure out how to make it. can you help me.

-- Contributed by: Frank

Perla: If your daughter is interested in developing the game herself, she can try any number of different kinds of game development software. A lot of this will have to do with personal preference, so check the local library to see if they have copies available to borrow.

-- Contributed by: MichaelKwan
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