Introduction

There are many reasons you might want to learn how to make a video game. Maybe you want to create the next great storyline and characters, or maybe you just want to see your name in lights (on the screen of someone’s iPad). Whatever your reason, you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to demystify how video games are made so you can get started with making one today! And I’ll even show you where to find free software, resources, and community support. So buckle up—it’s time to enter the exciting world of game design!

Why you should make a video game.

Making games is a great way to learn about the process of making video games. You’ll learn about game design, programming, art, and music. You can make a game that is fun to play and fun to make!

Making your first video game can be done with open source software and volunteer support!

Making the game.

Before you can make a video game, you need to understand what it is. A video game is a set of rules and mechanics that are used to create an interactive experience.

There are many ways to build these rules and mechanics into your own games, but one of the most popular methods is by using an engine. An engine is basically the central framework for your game that makes everything work together flawlessly.

Using the tools.

You’ll need to learn some tools, but not as many as you might think. There are several game making programs out there that will allow you to make the game from start to finish without having any programming knowledge whatsoever. You can also use old school coding languages like ZZT or BlitzMax if you want a more hardcore experience.

If you choose a program like GameMaker Studio 2 or Construct 2, your goal is simply to create a series of rooms filled with different objects and enemies which will collide in interesting ways when the player moves around them. In fact, most of these programs were designed so that someone with no video game development experience can still create great games without knowing how to code at all!

How the tools work.

• Unity is a game engine.

That’s right, it’s not just one game. It’s a tool that allows you to create many different kinds of games. You can use it to make 2D or 3D games, and it comes with an editor where you can build your game and see how it looks as you go along.

• A tool like Unity makes development easier because instead of having to code everything yourself (which takes time), the engine handles all that work for you so that all you have to do is focus on the parts of your game where your creativity matters most: the design and storytelling!

Releasing your game online.

Once you’re done with your game, you will want to share it with the world. In order to do that, you’ll need to upload it online. This can be done on the following websites:

• Kongregate – A site where users can create their own games and then share them with each other for points and prizes. It also has a place where people can play other user made games as well as professional ones like Tetris Attack or Pac-Man CE DX!
• Newgrounds – Another website much like Kongregate but without the points system or prizes; instead users just make games on their own time because they love doing so!
• Gamejolt – A third site that is similar yet again but this time features only those who have created their own flash games (which are programs meant for browsers). Flash games have been around since 1996 so there are plenty of them out there ready for you to play!

Getting feedback.

As you’re working on your game, it’s important to get feedback from others. You can do this by asking friends and family—and if they don’t have time or are not good at giving constructive criticism, you can also use a feedback form (like the one below).

• For players who have played your game: Did they like it? What was their favorite part? What was their least favorite part? Did anything make them frustrated or confused?
• For players who haven’t played your game yet: What do they think of it based on what you’ve shown them so far? Would they play it if it were available for purchase in an app store today (i.e., without having seen any more of the game)?

Here’s an example of a basic player survey form that might be useful when working on your early prototypes:

Tips and tricks for using Unity.

So, now that you’ve got the basics of Unity down, it’s time to get started building your game! Here are some tips and tricks:

• The built-in tutorials will walk you through all of the features of Unity that you’ll need. You can also search for any specific feature in the help menu (ctrl+F)
• Check out the Asset Store for free art assets that you can use in your game. There are also plenty of paid assets as well if necessary; just be sure to read reviews before purchasing anything! This is a great way to save money on development costs if needed as well – even though most art isn’t free, there are still plenty of good options available at reasonable prices in case funds run low later on during production.. . . . . . . .. . ..

Creating art assets and characters.

When you’re creating your game, you’ll want to make sure that the art assets are of a high quality. These are the things that will be seen by players and can potentially make or break your game.

Art assets include:

• Backgrounds or scenery
• Characters and enemies (the character design is also an art asset)
• Animations for characters, including walking, running, jumping, falling and shooting weapons etc.

You should pay close attention to the way they move so that they don’t look weird or unnatural. A good example would be Sonic Adventure 1&2 where all the characters animated smoothly without any hiccups or glitches like in other games where their movements were clunky or jerky when they walked around on screen.

You can make games with open source software and volunteer support!

You can use open source software to create your game. Open source software is free, and can be downloaded on the internet and used on your computer, phone or tablet. Open source software also comes with support available online from other people who want to help you make your games!

Open Source Software: You don’t have to pay for it once you get it. This means if you’re trying to make a video game but don’t have any money, this could work out well for you.

Conclusion

I hope that this blog post has inspired you to create your own video game. I have been working with Unity for over 10 years and it’s a great tool to learn how games work and what makes them fun. If you have any questions about this blog post, or want to talk about making games please email me at [email address] or leave a comment on the blog.