Video Game Designing
Video game design is an interesting career for people who enjoy working alone as well as those who enjoy working in groups. You're not just designing electronic entertainment; you're telling a story in a field that is still developing its conventions. With the improvements in technologies, the only real boundaries are those of your imagination. While video games were once primarily played by youngsters, they're now big business for kids of all ages. Here are some things you'll need to keep in mind to become a video game designer.
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Instructions
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Acquire the programming skills necessary to build your own game. You can learn with tutorial books or attend programs specifically geared toward game design. If this sounds too hard, hire a programmer or get part-time assistance from a student in computer programming.
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Learn about narratives and the ways people have told stories through history. This may sound strange, but video games require many of the same elements as a novel or short story. In fact, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, Link and innumerable other characters, was inspired by classic literature, including Shakespeare's Macbeth.
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Brainstorm about your game. This is the most fun you'll have, as no idea should be off limits. Come up with a consistent color palette appropriate to your game. If your game is about zombies and takes place at night, consider gothic typefaces and dark, muted colors. Draw lots of pictures of each element in your game and ask others which they think are best. Combine all of the best elements into character and element design.
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Program your game. This may take a long time, but it will be worth it. While the temptation may be to make the game look as good as possible, keep your focus on easy gameplay. Responsive controls are much more important to real gamers than bleeding-edge rendering. Send your game to trusted friends for testing. You should include people who aren't afraid to tell you what they really think. Feedback isn't worthwhile unless it's honest.
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Tweak your game before you send it out into the world. Get feedback from the testers who have played your game. What bugs need to be fixed? What parts of the game aren't as fun as they should be? Keep track of how challenging the game is. If great video game players are having too easy or too hard a time, your game needs to be changed accordingly.
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