Terrible graphics and dull gameplay are also keys, as are weak storylines. A great story is constantly evolving and looking for ways to connect with players and newer people. The art and graphics on the other hand are extremely important. They should capture the feeling of the individual and culturally cultural persona that the title is trying to represent. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Video games aren’t a chore for many like people have been imitating cartoons and cards for thousands of years. It takes all the elements and polishes them up with just enough of a goal to stay interesting and engaging. There are tons of games today that are great examples of this, try Metroid or Castlevania!
So that’s the key; it takes all of the huge elements that make up a video game and polishes them up enough so that even a casual gamer can see why they are so popular and feel like they can pick it up and spot something special that they might have otherwise overlooked. As with any medium, it’s great to enjoy yourself while you’re playing, but to present the best of your talents, invest in good hardware, and work hard on your craft. I’m not saying you should quit your job if you create great games! I’m saying you should always work on learning and honing your craft so you have a solid foundation on which to build on while creating your own work.
Want more tips for making games, including information on tips for solving problems in both game production and game design, and techniques for anticipating new challenges and tips to improve your craft? Here are several items from my Video Game Developer’s Kit II:
COOL SHOTS (210k)
This booklet features information that should be helpful to video game developers. It presents many ideas and techniques in a thought-provoking form. Pick up a copy here.
Video Game High School (367k)
This collection of detailed lessons that help developers know how to teach physics in a way that can draw players into the world makes a great even if like-selling point for the book. A great resource for beginners looking to learn more about many areas of video game development. Pick up a copy here.
Maker: The Book (187k)
This book helps developers learn how to manage their time effectively on a throne of coaches merely structuring a career with a career! A great reference that is meant to help start-up developers discover their niche in the industry. Pick up a copy here.
Design in Color (213k)
This book demonstrates how color and color as well as diverse typography can be incorporated into the making of a video game and it was created by a guy who first started with dot inspection test. It’s not a textbook and is meant to be read in order. Book is full of important information and concepts applicable to all areas of design. This book from First 2 Codes/SoundBible helps authorting artists not only learn the skills required to move from simple mockups to full projects, but also enrich their creative output with techniques ranging from color theory to graph paper. Pick up a copy here.
In addition to covering several topics from these books, this article includes a link to a very one-sided sources. I encourage you to research everything out against a more complete guide like the ones listed above. It’s much more beneficial to you if you practice application wherever possible to best practice what different developers are talking about.
Part 2: Marketing Your Video Game Design Work
Part 3: How To Interact With Journalists
Part 4: Using Social Media to Promote Your Work
Part 5: How To Find Investors
Part 6: How To Build PR
Back To Articles In This Series
Game Design Basics – Part 1
Discussing general game concepts, making good video game titles, and designing practices.
Lesson 1: Creating a Good Platform
Discussing how to create good leveling mechanics like fights, sub-goals, and confrontations.
Lesson 2: Contest and Competition
Discussing the basics of marketing by creating contest styles and negotiation.
