How to Design Online Games

Creating your own computers games is only limited by your creativity.

The only limitation to create an online game is your own creativity and imagination. Creating online games is accomplished by using a variety of software programs; primarily, Adobe Flash software. Flash can be downloaded and purchased online, and at local electronics stores. It is used to edit and create your own customized online games. Once you have created your game, uploading and saving them to a website is simple and only requires a bit of computer code.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Start with your Internet browser

1. Power on your computer and open your default Internet browser (such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Mozilla FireFox). Browse multiple gaming websites which feature the types of games you are interested in creating. Browse a website's gaming categories and use the search bar (if available) to look for specific types of games that interest you. Look for the type of design you are looking to accomplish.

2. Visit tutorial websites with hints, tricks, and full tutorials on designing games and websites in Flash and other programming languages. Many online games today are Flash-based, and many Flash programs are available completely free online for anyone who has Internet access and is able to download and install the software.

3. Purchase a flash editing software program or download a free Flash program. Reading the tutorials and researching how to use a certain program will take effort and time, so it's important to be patient during the learning process. Design and create the game of your choice after you are confident in your programming skills in the software program of your choice.

4. Save the game and Flash file (usually an ".swf" file) to your hard drive so you can later embed it into your website. Open your website's FTP program, or the HTML page you would like to edit, and embed the Flash game and file info. Embed and paste the Flash file into your webpage by pasting a simple code:

   "<object width="300" height="300">

   <param name="movie" value="FILE.swf">

   <embed src="FILE.swf" width="300" height="300">

   </embed>

   </object>".

5. Update and change "FILE" to the game and filename of your choice. Update the Flash file's "Width" and "Height" details to fit your game's specific height and width needs. Save the webpage and upload it to your website's server. Do not forget to upload the ".SWF" game file to your website's main directory (or gaming directory) to load the game for visitors.

References

• Flash Game Design: Make Flash Games
• Game Innovator: How to Make a Flash Game within Minutes

Resources

• Adobe: Flash
• Play Crafter: A Free Online Game Maker
• Addicting Games: Free Games Online