Getting Started with Game Design and Developement
Tags: github, gamedev, beginners
Published: 2023-02-23 09:00:32

So are you a gamer or do you just want to create fun puzzles for others to play and enjoy? 
No matter where your aspirations spawn from, getting started with Game Design/Developement is a very daunting task. Especially when you don't know what your next step is going to be.

**What is exactly 'Game Design'?**

Game Design in simple terms, involves what the components of a game would be. Would it be a boss battle that requires intelligence instead of power to defeat? Would it be a maze full of monsters where you just need to turn right to succeed? 

_The main brainstormers behind a game and its aesthetics are the game designers._

Now you might be wondering why I use the word 'design' in stead of say 'developer', and the reason is simple.

What you see on screen, your characters, and the obstacles, are 'designed' by the designers. Whereas the people coding the physics and the mechanics required to achieve the desired outcome is done by the 'developers'. 

**Getting Started**

Creating a game might seem like a really difficult task at first, and trust me, it is. There are many areas to look out for that brings a game together:
- Visuals
- Difficulty
- Sound Design
- Mechanics
- Story
- History
- Character Designs
- and so on.

But most importantly, a game has to be playable. You don't need fancy graphics or a Hans Zimmer orchestrated music to make a game good. A game can be a simple yet fascinating if its unique or playable enough.

A good place to get started with inspiration for game designs would be to take a look at games made at GMTK Jams or the Brackeys Challenges. These are small games made in 48 hours to a week using a simple prompt.

**How to Build a Game**

So you have an idea in mind, and you want to bring it to life, but you have no idea how- here's to get you started.

*1. Make a concept chart:*
As you move towards professional game developement, you'll find a GDP [Game Design Document]. This is basically a handbook of what the game is about, all the mechanics of a game, stating its genre, the game's goals, maps and storylines, and even the code snippets that can be used. 

No matter how small a game is, a GDP is the most useful resource to a game designer and to the entire team of developers. It helps to tie ideas together and bring everyone on the same page- literally.

*2. Research:*
Let's say your game is set in a certain time period in the past at a certain place. No one would want to find historical and geographical inaccuracies that's going to take away from the gaming experience. 

Hence, researching on where and when you want your game to be is of utmost importance. From studying about the culture of a place, to its weather, topography, festivals, these are all components that would make a game livelier.

Even if your  game is set in the future, you wouldn't want players finding loopholes in your story.

*3. Start Developing:*
So with your ideas collected, you can finally start working on the framework and prototype for the game. This is the part where you collect assets and script your game. However, making a small game wouldn't require advanced knowledge about programs for more hardware dependent games.

![Picture showing a medieval themed game asset collection.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0130bhajw1z753wns35a.jpg)
_Softwares like unity provide small game developers with a large library of assets._

*4. Testing and Debugging:*
Before launching your game, you need to make sure it has the minimum amount of errors or bugs. You can gather a group of QA testers (Quality Assurance), who can also be your friends, to play test the game and give feedback about the playability of the game. 

Professional QA teams play the game multiple times with a critical eye and submit detailed bug reports and take notes of any crashes. This is usually the longest process in the game developement process but is also the most important part as gamers will not play a game ridden with bugs and errors even if it is free.

*5. Marketing:*
Once your game is ready to be launched, you have to find the correct audience who would play the game. Promote the concept on social media and gather players for your game. Even if it is a small game, it is after all, a game you made. Be proud of it :)

**Game Design and Developement as a Career**
Game Developement is one of the more advanced applications of Computer Science. The minimum requirement for a developer is a degree in Computer Science or equivalent. 

Most video game designers have a bachelor's degree in graphic design, multimedia design or a related field. Some universities offer a degree specifically for video game design. Coursework usually includes software engineering, 2D and 3D animation, programming languages and computer design.
The basic programming languages a developer must know are C# and C++.

Game Developement is a highly competitive field and there is always something new to learn. Although it is a challenging profession to pursue, it is equally rewarding to see the end product on screen. The most important thing about developement is to never give up and to always experiment with new concepts.