How to Create a Game on Your Computer

Creating a computer game takes imagination and creativity more than than the computer skills to develop it. If you want to create your own computer games, you can even if you don't know anything about computer code or graphic design. There are plenty of design tools available that will create the game sprites and actions for you. All you need is the imagination then use a game tools program to bring the game to life on your computer.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil and paper Computer game design tools

Develop the Game

1. Choose the type of game, or genre, that you want. This depends entirely on what your favorite games are. Examples include fighting combat, adventure, shooting, puzzle or role playing games.

2. Design your entire game in your head, then transfer it to paper for a visual aid. Start with the game's theme and create the main characters. Write out the game's story, objective and actions and the world or setting it takes place in.

3. Download and install a game making program to your computer. These "Rapid Application Development" tools map out everything you need to bring the game to life. Some are free to download and some can specialize in your particular game genre. Study your program's tutorial thoroughly before beginning.

Creating the Game

4. Create the images you thought up for your game using the program. Use the program's menu and commands to create sprites and sounds to represent objects and noises in the game. The program should have "sprites" and "sounds" options, where you can select pre-designed sprites and sounds within the program or upload images and sounds to create your own.

5. Use the "objects" option to lay out all your game's moves and consequences within its storyline. Here you will create "events," which are things done in the game like the player pressing a key or objects interacting, then link them with "actions," which are what occur from the events like a character moving, a sound occurring or a confrontation taking place.

6. Develop the game's events in the "object properties" screen. Click on the "event" button and select from the choices of events you have. Your choice will appear in the "events" window.

7. Select from the list of actions that should be to one side on the "object properties" screen. Drag the one you want into the "actions" window to link it with the event you created.

8. Add "rooms" that your "objects" will appear and the "actions" and "events" will occur. Select the "rooms" option and you should bring up a window with a square grid on it. It also includes tabs that list all your objects and backgrounds. Place your object and sprites background within the grid to create the layout of your game.

9. Save your completed game into a file on your computer. Run the file to play the game.

Resources

• YoYo Games Game Maker