Learning how to make a video game from scratch can be a fun and rewarding experience. With the rise of mobile gaming, people worldwide are taking advantage of the massive market by creating and selling their games. As AI technology continues to revolutionize the industry, incorporating AI in mobile apps is becoming increasingly important.
To start your journey, you'll need to have a basic understanding of coding and creativity. Launching a video game is a long process, but with tools like software programs with pre-made materials, you can get started quickly. Video games require a compelling storyline and great design to become successful in their associated genre.
When it comes to making your own game, you'll need to learn how to code in at least one language before customizing the way it looks and works. Lucky for you, there are various coding courses available on renowned learning platforms like DataCamp, Udacity, or edX.
In this guide, we'll introduce you to the main principles of video game development. We'll show you the general steps that you need to follow when learning how to make your own game and introduce you to the different programming languages used to build games on various platforms.
Game Development vs Game Design
Before diving into the main steps, it's essential to understand the difference between video game development and game design. You'll need both skills if you want to learn how to make a game from scratch.
Video game design refers to the actual artistic design of a video game. Game designers spend their time conceptualizing new aspects of their games, working out what they need to include, how the game should react under certain conditions, and exactly what needs to be created to make the game as good as it can be. Some key points you need to consider are the game's concept, environment, characters, and storyline.
Conveying a compelling story is crucial for gathering attention and getting good reviews because players are likely to enjoy it more. There are some successful games like Flappy Bird without a detailed story or characters, but they have an addictive environment and easy mechanics to make up for it!
On the other hand, game developers – or game programmers – are the people who know best how to make a video game by writing the code, so the game would do what it's supposed to. In this guide, we'll focus on the development side of learning how to code a video game.
How to Make a Video Game: 5 Steps
At first, learning how to make your own game can appear very difficult. You might be tempted to back off and leave game development to the experts. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this! Instead, you should put in a bit of work to learn the basics of video game creation.
Here's a general step-by-step guide to help you understand how to make a video game:
Step 1: Do Some Research & Conceptualize Your Game
The first thing that you need to do when trying to create your first game is to think about exactly what sort of game you're planning on creating. Do some research and find out what skills you need to build this game, and what sort of features it should have.
Step 2: Work On A Design Document
Before learning how to create a video game, figure out its genre whether that's horror, runner, survival, RPG, or other. If you're serious about developing a game, then you should take a couple of introductory courses before moving any further.
Step 3: Decide Whether You Need Software
Some key points you need to consider are the game's concept, environment, characters, and storyline. Conveying a compelling story is crucial for gathering attention and getting good reviews because players are likely to enjoy it more.
Step 4: Start Programming
Now that you have your design document ready, it's time to start programming! You'll need to learn how to code in at least one language before customizing the way it looks and works. Lucky for you, there are various coding courses available on renowned learning platforms like DataCamp, Udacity, or edX.
Step 5: Test Your Game & Start Marketing!
Once you've finished programming your game, it's time to test it out! Make sure everything is working as expected, and then start marketing your game. You can use social media platforms, online forums, and gaming communities to get the word out about your new game.
What Languages Can I Use To Make A Video Game?
There are several programming languages you can use to make a video game, including JavaScript, Java, Swift, and C languages.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a popular language for building games that run in web browsers or on mobile devices. You can use libraries like Phaser or Pixi.js to create engaging games.
Java
Java is a widely used language for developing games on Android and iOS platforms. You can use the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to create games that run on multiple platforms.
Swift
Swift is a modern language developed by Apple for building apps on macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. You can use Swift to create games for these platforms.
The C Languages
C languages like C++, C#, and Objective-C are commonly used for developing games on Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
What Other Skills Do I Need To Learn?
In addition to programming skills, you'll need to learn some design skills to create a successful game. You'll also need to know how to use different types of software to create your game.
How To Use Different Types Of Software
You'll need to learn how to use different software tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, or Godot to create your game. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to choose the right one for your project.
Some Design Skills
Designing a game is just as important as coding it. You'll need to learn some design skills to create an engaging storyline, characters, environment, and gameplay mechanics.
Conclusions
Learning how to make a video game from scratch can be a fun and rewarding experience. With the rise of AI technology in mobile apps, incorporating AI in your games is becoming increasingly important. By following these steps and learning the right programming languages, you can create your own successful game.