How to create a game on a laptop. What does the simplest computer game consist of? We create games ourselves: an overview of programs

The computer games industry is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the IT sphere. How difficult is it to learn how to create games, or at least some of their elements? Can a user handle such tasks alone? How do professionals create computer games?

What does it take to start making games?

First of all, you need to be involved in the industry as a player. Without knowledge of the game structure from the inside and the psychology of gamers, observing how computer graphics work in real use, and not in theory, it is very difficult to achieve success in releasing your own games. If a game is created with an eye to commercial sales (or at least for the purpose of promoting its developer's personal brand), then it must be competitive and reflect the current needs of the gaming community. To release a product without guessing with the "trend" is a waste of time. Therefore, it is important to be not just an amateur gamer, but also to study the market, be able to install new games on a computer, and test them. This means that the developer will also need a lot. And here we come to the second basic condition for success in the game industry. We are talking about hardware components - "hardware".

It is known that (among PCs, of course, we are not talking about industrial computers) - gaming. They include hardware components (processor, graphics card, memory, chipset) that are much more technologically advanced than a PC for office and home needs. Outwardly, of course, computers of different classes can hardly differ, but from the point of view of electronic "stuffing" the difference is significant. A gaming PC can cost 5-10 times more than an office or home PC. It is possible that even some of its separate components (for example, the same processor) will have a price higher than the entire ready-made office PC. By the way, powerful hardware is needed not only for testing gaming products. High-performance components are also required for specialized programs for games on a computer. Those with the help of which the masterpieces of the industry will be created.

The third component of success in releasing great games is, as the "gamers shop" say, a special kind of thinking. It should combine two seemingly completely different principles: logic and creativity. The first is necessary in order to be well oriented in the construction of scripts, scripts and various kinds of dependencies inherent in the product concept, to determine how to write a game in a structure that future users will understand and accept. The second is to give your product unique characteristics that distinguish it from similar or competing solutions.

Game creation methods

How are computer games created? Experts identify three main ways of developing gaming products: using constructors, using game engines, and writing from scratch. The first is the simplest, the third is the most difficult. Therefore, if we are new to the field of creating games, then it makes sense for us to pay attention precisely to the possibility of using constructors. However, it will be useful to consider the specifics of each of the tools.

Game constructors

A constructor is a collection of templates that have a programmed behavior pattern. The closest analogy that can be given, explaining how, with the help of such a solution, to create a game - "Lego" parts. Just as children construct, reading a manual or improvising, houses, cars and other interesting masterpieces made of plastic.

The user has a relatively large freedom in managing templates, setting scenarios for their work. It is unlikely, of course, that even an experienced game developer will be able to create a product that will make a splash in the global market with the help of the constructor. Such programs are rather educational in nature, allowing novice enthusiasts of the gaming industry to understand how to create games on a computer. However, even this kind of task assigned to the designers is important from the point of view of the development of the industry.

Game engines

Creating games using engines is a process in which the user gets at his disposal a incomparably wider set of tools than in the case of constructors. It is quite realistic to say that through the interfaces supplied by the manufacturers of such solutions, it is possible to create solutions that are competitive even at the world level - arcade games, 3D action games, simulation games. The engines can be installed on a computer without problems and are almost always accompanied by a convenient interface for using them. As a rule, also high-quality help and training systems.

What is an engine? This is, in fact, just a set of commands (albeit very complex, consisting of hundreds of thousands of algorithms) that allow you to launch individual game processes. The number of templates, like those in the constructors, is usually kept to a minimum. And those that exist are very easy to modify or replace with those that the user himself will develop. Engaging engines requires, of course, more skill than working with constructors. If we are talking about creating a serious game, then the user will most likely have to involve someone else to help (we will consider the structure of a typical development team later). But once having mastered the interfaces of the engine, subsequently a person will be able to adapt the existing knowledge and skills to create almost any game products.

Game from scratch

In the event that the user has outgrown the capabilities of game engines, not to mention the designers, learned several programming languages, studied the principles of creating 3D graphics in detail, then it’s high time for him to master the most difficult tool for creating games - writing a gamer masterpiece from scratch. The stages of the release of a new product will most likely include the development of their own engine - rarely a game can do without it, especially when it claims to be recognized in the community.

However, it should be noted that it is very difficult to cope with the release of a product from scratch alone (although the history of the gaming industry knows such precedents). But to go through some stages of game development (such as, for example, creating characters, drawing graphic elements) in order to then connect other people, putting together a team, it is quite possible for one user.

Professional developers

When it comes to game development as a separate market segment, the main role is played by professional studios with the financial and human resources to produce commercially competitive products.

Top-level games cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to create, and dozens of specialists in various fields are involved in their release. There are, of course, small and medium-sized development companies, whose budgets for the release of gaming products can fit in the amount of 8-10 thousand "green", but this is a very specific segment.

The structure of a professional game studio

Continuing the conversation about the professional, it will be useful to study the structure of the average developer company. Who should work for a company that claims to be the world's best-selling gaming book? How do those people who do it on a professional basis create games for the computer?

The development team must include designers and artists. Without their talent, computer graphics will not impress users. Graphics are, according to many experts, a key factor in the success of a game. In some cases, positions of this type are divided by function. For example, in the team of game creators there may be separate 2-D, 3D-designers, as well as the so-called concept artists, who propose sketches of future graphic elements to their colleagues and the company's management for approval.

The next group of specialists is "modelers". They, to match the naming of their position, create prototypes of the characters of the game, as well as the surrounding artifacts, equipment, buildings, "model" the future virtual world. In some cases, animators help specialists in this category (in cases where especially complex movements of characters are to be modeled).

In most cases, the programmers themselves are involved in the creation of games. This happens most often when the development company uses its own engine, but it is necessary to periodically coordinate the scripts written in it with the features of the game animation laid down by the artists. If the engine is supplied by a third-party developer, then, as a rule, changes in the program code are not required.

A serious gaming product cannot be made without an art director. This person is called upon to consolidate the efforts of artists and designers within a single concept. In addition, he will be responsible for the efficiency of work, organization of processes so that the game is released on time.

We create games ourselves: an overview of programs

How to create a game, having only general knowledge of the work of programs for the development of gaming products? There are so many tools that even an amateur can create their own game. Here are some examples of the types of solutions that we talked about above.

Game maker

This program makes it possible to create a game even for those users who do not speak programming languages. This, however, is not about the development of three-dimensional masterpieces. The program allows you to create only 2D games, but in a wide variety of genres. You can make very simple rpg games. The menu available to the user contains a large number of ready-made templates. All that, in essence, remains to be done is to come up with your own scenario of the game.

The program contains fairly detailed instructions, a good quality help system. Having mastered the possibilities of Game Maker at a basic level, the user can proceed to learning the built-in language of this program - Game Maker Language. Using its capabilities, you can go beyond the templates embedded in the software and create games practically from scratch.

Construct-2

The Construct-2 product is recognized by experts as one of the most functional solutions in the class for creating games by users who do not speak programming languages. A huge plus of this solution is that it can be used to release games for most platforms used today - Windows, iOS, Android, create them in HTML5 and applications for Facebook (having understood how to make programs to run on this social network, the user will learn how to create a game in VK, show it to friends). Construct-2 users note the simplicity and clarity of its interface. You can work mainly according to templates, but there are a lot of them, and therefore there is almost any that will fit into the scenario invented by the user. A nice aspect is that you can use Conustruct-2 for free.

Unity 3D

The above two programs are designed to create games in 2D mode. Unity lets you work with the power of 3D graphics. The possibilities offered by the program are huge. As in the case of Construct 2, there is a multiplatform (there is even support for consoles - Xbox, PlayStation, Wii).

The program includes one of the best in the world, according to experts, game engines (it is also called Unity). Therefore, this decision, without any exaggeration, allows you to create world-class gaming masterpieces (if, of course, we manage to assemble a team comparable in personnel to at least an average development studio). It will be possible to release very serious games on the computer. Shooting is definitely, strategy is also quite real, racing, simulations are easy.

Many of my friends who love to play online games and have learned to program quite well often think about whether to start creating computer games? They say that many who have already mastered computing technologies decide one day to learn how to make copyrighted games. Incidentally, this desire is not at all as unrealistic as it might seem. And many of my friends have tried to make this or that game.

Why do people make games

Once upon a time it was believed that creating games was not a very respectable occupation, it was much more prestigious to program banking systems and complex mathematical calculations. However, to think so is a big mistake. Just as children learn the world by playing, the coolest programmers started their career in the profession with the development of games. And some have remained in this industry, and, it seems to me, do not regret it at all. Do not assume that creating simple flash toys for children is not an occupation for adult programmers. And, although, of course, programming for transnational projects requires completely different skills than creating a flashy dress-up game, creating games is also an important and necessary job. And a good specialist in the gaming field will be able to earn money for a house by the sea.

Want to create a game? Options are possible

In this article I want to tell everyone about the options I have tried to create their own game programs, read about how I tried to create my game on a computer. It is possible that a lot has changed over the years since then, but the approach itself has remained the same. You have two options - use ready-made modules specially designed for creating games, or write all the code yourself, which is called "up to semicolon". As much as I would like to do everything myself, I would recommend using the "constructor" first. Remember how as a child you built houses from cubes, so play again with cubes, only now with cubes from bits and bytes.

What are the programs for creating games

The software market always offers you a number of ready-made modules for solving certain problems. Computer games are not spared from this either. Don't dismiss this opportunity! Such construction programs will allow anyone with even a little knowledge of the keyboard to simply create small games. And for this you do not even need to delve into programming languages! I personally started out with the Game maker program. I don't remember where I got it from, and even now, perhaps other programs have been invented - much better. And that - my first game designer clearly lacked functionality and user friendliness. BUT I am grateful to him. It became a way for me to test my desire to make games.

My second attempt took place on a completely different program. It was the Macromedia Flash package, which is not a gimmick these days and comes standard with Adobe Photoshop. For me, this program has become a real godsend. With its help, it was possible to learn how to create not only games for a computer, but also high-quality videos, funny and bright cartoons, advertising animated banners, etc. I still regret that I learned how to draw in due time. Possession of an electronic pen and the capabilities of this program allows you to work wonders.

Just look at the game Mirchar! What would it be without wonderful graphics!

The program is designed to create two-dimensional games without the use of programming languages. Instead of lines of code, ready-made actions of game characters are substituted. The user only has to create game objects, supply them with two-dimensional sprites or animation, create rules for interaction between objects, arrange objects on levels. You can draw graphics and animations directly in Game Maker without using third-party programs.

This program is great for top-down games and side-view platformers.

"Game Maker" will also be interesting for advanced programmers, the ability to add your own program code is also available here.

The free version of the program does not limit ordinary users in any way, compared to the paid version of "Game Maker Pro". The paid version provides access to complex software modules that are interesting only to real professional programmers.

A very simple 2D game constructor. Knowledge of programming languages ​​is not required.

Unlike Game Maker, Construct 2 can create games for iOS, Android, Facebook, Chrome Web Store, Desktop Windows, Windows 8 Apps, Web (HTML5), Kongregate, and many other platforms.

This is a higher quality program, but also more greedy for money. The program is free until the moment you want to sell your game. In this case, you will need to buy a licensed version. Also on the developer's site there is a special store where you can buy building resources for your game: sets of sounds, music, detailed instructions.

We recommend the "TDS from A to Z" Tutorial (creating a game in the "Top-down shooter" genre).

Programs for creating 3D games (Site site)

"3D Rad" is the cheapest option among 3D game engines. The program can be used for free at all, and by paying $ 5 you get the latest updates on the day they are released (updates appear in the free version only after three months). Most often this engine is used to create racing games.

The program has a simple and intuitive interface, not burdened with trifles.

"3D Rad" supports the installation of individual plugins, has pre-installed AI models, shadow maps and textures. There is the possibility of creating online games.

NeoAxis Game Engine SDK

An excellent game engine with a simple interface and high-quality graphics. Designed for creating games in almost any genre.

Created on the basis of the Ogre3D engine. C # and C ++ and the .NET platform are used as the programming language, but it is possible to do without programming thanks to special libraries of ready-made actions. For the engine, there are various add-ons and extensions developed by third-party users. Export is available for 3dsMax and Maya, Autodesk Softimage and Blender. PSSM (Parallel-Split Shadow Map) shaders, lighting and shadows are supported.

NeoAxis Engine is distributed under 4 types of license: Non-commercial - free for non-commercial projects; Indie license - $ 95/295 (one / team); Commercial - 395/995 $ (one / team); Source license - from $ 9,800.

The main advantage of this game engine is maximum convenience and simplicity. In addition, the engine was developed by domestic programmers, thanks to which it has Russian by default. When purchasing a licensed version, you receive high-quality technical support in your native language.

A comprehensive tool that contains everything you need to create a game. The "Unity 3D" package includes a graphics engine that fully uses the capabilities of DirectX and OpenGL, a built-in 3D model editor, separate programs for creating and processing shaders, shadows, landscapes, physics and sounds, as well as rich script libraries. With "Unity 3D" you can completely forget about third-party programs, or reduce their use to a minimum.

Unity 3D is suitable for creating games of any genre. Regular computers (Windows XP / Vista / 7, OSX), mobile devices (Android, iOS, Blackberry), game consoles (Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox), Internet browsers (Flash, Web Player) are supported as platforms.

There is a special system of joint development - Asset Server, which allows you to develop a game as part of a whole team directly over the Internet.

The only drawback - to use "Unity 3D" you need to know computer programming at least at an intermediate level. Despite the rich library of ready-made practical software solutions and a powerful scripting engine with instant compilation, some of the code will have to be written independently in JavaScript or C #.

Unreal Development Kit (UDK)

One of the most popular game engines in the professional game developer community. Such games as Unreal Tournament series, Mass Effect series, XCOM, Borderlands 2, DmC: Devil May Cry and tens and hundreds of smaller games have been created on the "Unreal Engine".

UDK supports the following platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Android.

This engine was originally designed for the creation of 3D shooters, but there are also opportunities for creating games of related genres: slashers, adventure, MMO games.

The game engine perfectly creates facial animations, complex architecture of buildings, and processes complex physical objects. The "UDK" contains all the necessary tools for creating animations, textures, sounds, levels, models, program scripts. There is a built-in library containing over 1000 structures, other 3D models, standard textures and sounds. There is a possibility of programming in a special language "Unreal Script" (based on C ++).

You can use "UDK" completely free of charge, until you decide to officially publish your game created on this engine. In this case, you will have to fork out for an expensive license.

CryENGINE 3 Free SDK

CryENGINE 3 is the pinnacle of modern game engines delivering photorealistic graphics with DirectX 11 support and third generation shaders. The third version of the engine was created in 2009. On this engine, the series of games "Far Cry" and "Crysis", the online game "Aion", as well as dozens of lesser-known computer games were created.

Crytek has decided to distribute this already popular game engine for free. But free of charge is valid exactly until the moment you want to officially release a game created on this engine. The licensed version costs more than all similar programs, but it costs the money.

CryENGINE 3 allows you to create games for platforms: PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

You can import textures from the graphics programs "3ds max", "Maya" as well as from previous versions of the engine.

The CryENGINE 3 engine turned out to be very popular, it has a whole Russian-speaking community, thanks to this you can easily find all kinds of training materials, as well as answers to specific questions.

Every person dreams of doing something in his life - for this he chooses the profession that will allow him to do what he loves and to contribute to the area that is important to him.

However, not everyone can just take and become a game developer, because this profession requires a lot, and in return may not start giving away right away. But how oh gamer didn’t dream of creating his own game someday? Now this opportunity has become much closer.

The main obstacle

In fact, creating games requires certain skills, but you can successfully get them on your own, in educational institutions by specialty and without going through special preparatory courses. Considering the fact that the Internet is now a huge source of a wide variety of information, you can get a guide to creating games from there. It is only when the average gamer comes up with the idea of ​​creating his own game that he starts looking for ways and faces the first and main obstacle. On search queries, he is given dozens and hundreds of results with tips and detailed guides, among which you can very quickly get lost, get confused and get lost. The user begins to read one thing, jumps to another, in the end he cannot put anything together and decides to continue playing those games that have already been developed by professionals, and not try to create his own creation. It follows from this that man is his own main enemy on the way to creating his own creations. And here is the question of motivation - if you want to create your own game, then you should not be stopped by the abundance of materials.

Try to systematize them, process them in small quantities, do not rush to cook up a finished project as soon as possible - better understand the theory properly, practice in practice, and then get down to business.

Game building availability

Today, it is out of the question that game development is the advantage of a select few who have incredible abilities, as it was ten or twenty years ago. Back then, the creation of a game was a complete miracle, while now it is a banal production process. And now any person who has the proper desire and has certain ideas in his piggy bank can join this process without having a specialized education. You just need to decide what you are ready to give in order to create your own game, because this process is time-consuming and requires perseverance and endurance. Therefore, first decide whether you are ready to take on such a project, then indicate all your ideas that you intend to implement, and only then you can proceed directly to the game development process.

The main components of the game-building process

To create your game, you need a clear understanding of what you need to be able to do.

The game-building process can be divided into two large parts - technical and creative. They are quite different, but if your plans do not include creating a multi-hour masterpiece with unique capabilities, then you can easily cope on your own. So, the technical part of the process of developing a computer game includes writing code, developing artificial intelligence, drawing graphics, designing three-dimensional models, and so on. This half of the process is suitable for those who have a mathematical mindset - knowledge of programming, mathematics and other exact sciences will come in handy. As for the second half of the process, it is no less necessary if you want to create your game on a computer and want it to be of high quality and unique. The creative process includes in the entire content of the game, that is, the game world, the characters of the characters, objects, locations, battle systems, development, finance, also this includes the voice acting of the characters and the creation of the soundtrack.

The easiest way to create games

There are various approaches to game development, but it is best to distinguish three main ones, among which the simplest one should be considered first. It is worth using if you are thinking about how to create your own game, but you have absolutely no knowledge of programming. To use this method, you need to download a special game constructor - a program that already includes the basic functions of creating games. One of the most famous builders is Game Maker, which is fairly easy to learn and has a decent set of features. As mentioned above, the main advantage of this method of creating games is its simplicity - you only need to bring your ideas to life through the capabilities provided by the program. But the main disadvantage here lies precisely in these very possibilities, or rather, in their limitations. In fact, with the help of the construction program, you can create a template game by selecting functions for it from the general list. If you want to bring a little personality into the game, add a zest, your own special chip, then you will not be able to do this.

Game development on a ready-made engine

You can implement much more impressive functions if you have a basic knowledge of programming languages, as well as you own graphic editors and understand what game scripts are. If you have a ready-made game engine, you can no longer create a template, but a full-fledged game with your own personality - it's just that its basis will be someone's, created by someone else.

But everything that you blind around the base - it already depends only on you. Naturally, this method of creating games is much more complicated than using a construction program, but the result is much more impressive. The chances are that to create a game like this, you will have to involve other people to share the responsibilities with them.

Creating a unique game

But there is also a third method, which is the most difficult, but gives the most impressive result. It differs from the second only in that you do not have a ready-made engine at your disposal, that is, the basis, the base of the game - you create this engine yourself. This means that in your game everything will happen and look exactly as you programmed - down to the smallest detail.

You will have to write a game literally from scratch, in which case you will definitely need a team of specialists so that everyone is responsible for their own area: graphics, physics, programming, plot, and so on.

A new branch of the industry - mobile games

If you want to try something simpler and less global, then the ideal option would be for you to try to create your own game for android, since mobile games have recently become no less popular than computer games, but at the same time they require much less time and resources. You just need to know the java language and understand the principles of applications.

Flash games

Another possibility to create simple games is Flash. Such games have long been called "flash drives", there are a lot of them on the Internet, and their distinguishing feature is their simplicity and unpretentiousness. You can create your own game for girls or for boys, you can try yourself in other genres, of which there are a lot for such games. The main thing is desire. You should not make games "create your character and forward to the unknown" - it is better to work out the whole game properly so that the gamer is satisfied as a result.

In this tutorial, you will learn in detail how to create a game: work out an idea, choose a toolkit, and organize the development process so that it flows easily and leads to a result.

Hi guys. In this article I will be extremely honest with you and tell you how to create a game yourself. I warn you in advance that making a video game is difficult and very time consuming. And if your goal is not another clone of a snake, Tetris or any other game from a step-by-step tutorial, you will have to put a lot of effort into it.

Too many people, trying to make their first game, plunged headlong into the engine and abandoned the idea, because it was "too difficult", "I'm tired", "I don't see any progress." In fact, this is just a set of stupid excuses that appear because of the "shot down sight", that is, the desire to immediately make games of a large caliber, like The Witcher or Final Fantasy.

These are projects that whole teams of specialists, teams of hundreds of people have worked on for several years, so even if you really want to and spend your whole life, you will not be able to make the same large-scale product.

Your first game is a workout, a draft, not a masterpiece. Even creating one level of the simplest pixel game can be an overwhelming task at first, and choosing something huge, you simply will not have an idea of ​​where the beginning is, so spend a lot of time on details that absolutely do not matter.

The main task is to create a product that you can play yourself. Don't give a damn if this is a linear platformer done in two colors and it takes 7 minutes to complete. You did it, you did not lose heart, did not decide to give up everything, which already makes you better, you are not one of those who despaired and gave up!

Let your mom, brother, friends, anyone else play it. They will criticize, because they are used to seeing games as massive projects. Do not pay attention, because, firstly: you yourself created your first game, secondly: next time you will make it faster and better, and, thirdly, you will soon achieve the level of skill that they will all ask for let them play with you.

Your game should reflect your skills. Everything needs to be done sequentially: an idea has appeared - you check the possibility of its implementation - if there is no opportunity, you try to learn - having acquired a skill, you implement the idea. And this should be done every time. Over time, take a look at the Asset Store, perhaps there is already a fragment over which you hump for several days.

Finally, something like a parting word: most likely, you are trying to do development in parallel with your studies or work. Sometimes it will take weeks before you can find the time, but if you really want to be successful in this area, find these hours and increase the number of your skills. Remember, everyone can give up, but not everyone can reach the end.

Today the Internet is full of various tutorials, instructional videos and free software. All this allows anyone who has a lot of free time and an idea to create their own computer game. However, you must also have a clear understanding of the process itself and its sequence.

What kind of game to make?

Most likely from a person who is interested in "How to make a game yourself?" already have an idea. Most often this is some kind of modification of one of the games that he played. Maybe your favorite game is missing something and you decided to add it (think about whether your game has modding capabilities: built-in editor or MOD-tool).

For example, the genre of MOBA games was created in the WarCraft 3 editor (the now popular Dota - appeared precisely due to the editor's wide capabilities).

In any case, the idea will be the starting point. It is with her that you should start.

Idea

But just in case you are thinking "What game to make?" - the article will help you find an idea.

The gameplay component of your game idea will determine the game genre and platform.

Genre and platform of the future game

When choosing a genre, keep in mind that you should start with something short and simple. The first pancake is often lumpy, but if you can bake this pancake, your development muscles will be strengthened and you can do something more next time.

Then decide on a platform. This is incredibly important, as gameplay capabilities depend on the platform. For example, making a dynamic shooter where the accuracy of the shot depends on the reaction and focusing on mobile devices with a touch screen is not a good idea.

Concept

After you have any thoughts, sit down and describe the concept of the game. At first, these can only be theses, which then turn into logically stated thoughts. If you failed to do this, reconsider your idea and get rid of contradictions.

Determine what should attract potential players, that is, its very philosophy. For example, offer to become the sole ruler of a small island country, or to lead a fighter directly from the cockpit, timely switching the necessary toggle switches.

Now to the specifics of your game. Most likely, a lot of experimenters have already tried themselves in your genre, but you still need to come up with something of your own, otherwise there will be no interest in the project. Here's a small example:

Example

Concept: small shop simulator.
Peculiarity: You personally negotiate with suppliers, attract new customers and desperately try to survive in the harsh realities.
Explain what factors affect success, and also talk about the key features of the game mechanics.
Don't try to add items that you don't want to implement. Your game should be something that you yourself would like to pay for.
The last step is to put all the drafts in the daddy, and then in the drawer. After a couple of weeks, return to them, since you may lose both desire and passion, and it is better to go through this stage before starting the project than to leave everything in a half-finished state.

Development plan

A clear development plan is a solid foundation for your project and a solid foundation for your growth as a game developer

This plan will be the skeleton of your game, so here you should mention every detail, every micro-moment, everything that you consider important. Those who make games alone can do without plans (subject to a lot of experience), but if you don't have a lot of team or experience under your leadership, then everything should be recorded.

A clear timetable for when to start programming or to draw the very first art can only be owned by you, so I am sharing with you general moments, the violation of which may set you aside a few weeks ago, or even make you abandon the idea of ​​creating your first game.

1. Your plan should be for a month, no more. So trust your intuition and start simple. It's better to finish early than not meet deadlines.
2. Once you realize that this product cannot teach you anything, put it on the shelf and forget. You can test your skills by starting a similar project from scratch.
3. Even the best developers strive to become even cooler, so every new game should start with the thought "I'll do better than last time."
4. Don't ignore planning. In the development of any project, small "force majeure" occurs, and it is almost impossible to predict them, therefore it is easier to simply take into account the time spent on their elimination in the schedule. Planned 8 hours? Feel free to turn them into 12.
5. Design is one of the last things a budding game developer should think about. Your job is to “build skills,” so spend your weekend introducing a few new mechanics (unfamiliar to you before) rather than drawing.
6. Break your plan into several pieces. Achieving these milestones does a good job of increasing motivation. If you can't keep up with the weekly requirements, simplify the overall plan.
7. Do not set yourself too abstract tasks. Instead of "Work out the character", write "introduce new shooting mechanics" or "change the appearance during the impact" - it is much easier to achieve clear goals.
8. Send yourself no email every Monday. They should contain all the actions taken over the past week. By comparing all emails for the month, you can clearly see the progress.
9. Spend at least an hour a week playing with your product. Ultimately, no one can make YOUR games better than you.
10. After spending two weeks without working on a project, you will be confused and lose the thread, which will force you to start all over again. It is at this point that most people give up and abandon the idea of ​​creating their own game.
11. Killing time for sound and creating an atmosphere in your very first game is incredibly pointless. The main thing is to develop gameplay, because there are masterpieces consisting of ordinary moving pixels.
12. If you have been doing something for more than an hour, and you still can't do it, get help. Why spend a week marking time because you were ashamed to create a topic on the forum?
13. Let others try your game. Yes, criticism will immediately pour in, but you should not pay attention to it. Even the projects of leading studios are often muddied, but this does not stop them from continuing to make masterpieces, right?
14. You do not have unlimited resources - therefore, you need to set realistic, achievable goals for yourself.
15. Once you've polished your first game, immediately find a few new ideas and take on a fresh project. Remember to apply what you have learned before.
16. Check out.

Let's move on to creating a table of contents. Oddly enough, the plot is almost completely ignored here. The main thing is to write down all aspects of the game mechanics and explain how they work. Basically, it is the table of contents that forms the basis of the manual for the game.

Now we supplement each thesis of the table of contents with a detailed description of every little thing, and we do it as clearly as possible, otherwise there may be problems with implementation.

Finally, you need to show your plan to everyone you intend to involve in the development. Perhaps, some ideas will not work out, or you will be offered more comfortable alternatives. Having received a clear idea of ​​their part of the work, an experienced specialist will immediately make a few comments.

Choice of development tools

The engine is the heart of your game, choose responsibly, read the article

It will be easier for a beginner to take a ready-made engine than to develop his own.
Each engine has its own characteristics. Some will force you to learn programming, and in some - you don't even need to distinguish a procedure from a function, they have visual programming tools.

If we give an extremely broad classification, then the engines can be divided into two types: for two-dimensional projects (GameMaker: Studio, RPG Maker XV) and for three-dimensional games (Unity, Unreal Development Kit and Source)

Check out some of the official video tutorials and try doing something in the engine yourself. If this task seemed too much to you, try to cooperate with a programmer, some guys may be inspired by your idea and help in finalizing it.

Prototype

The next stage is the test version. Sound and graphics do not matter here, the main thing is that all functions work exactly as you intended. By the way, please be patient, because you will have to make changes until you start enjoying the gameplay.

Also, be prepared for the need to create a finished prototype from scratch. Right there you calibrate the controls: it should be as convenient and intuitive as possible. Otherwise, the player will go to look for the exit button in frustration.

This phase is about refining your gameplay design. The phase of searching and trying different options.

Graphics and sound

Decide right away what color spectrum you want. If this is a simple 2D platformer where everything is teeming with pixels, then it makes sense to hire an orchestra and a whole team of graphic designers - a waste of time and money. At the same time, you should not skimp on resources if they are really necessary for the full expression of your idea. Feel free to combine other people's ideas. The only prohibition is copyright infringement.

Here you need to sketch out the rough art. By the way, it's not necessary to be able to draw, because most indie projects use pixel art due to its simplicity and popularity. If you nevertheless decide on a three-dimensional project, then you will have to hire professionals to create complex character models.

Finally, create some pieces of the game universe. These are concepts of what a level looks like, or how characters interact outside of gameplay. It's time to bring your ideas to life!

Blender is a simple and free editor for creating 3D models.
Photoshop is indispensable for processing 2D images, and also does an excellent job with textures.
net allows you to quickly create pixel art.
Sounds, along with graphics, create a sense of atmosphere in your game. At your service is a huge set of ready-made sound libraries for free programs, and the missing melodies can be recorded at home, the main thing is to get a microphone.

Refinement

Play what you've created as often as possible. This way you will be able to notice all the roughness. Learn one rule - either modify the element to perfect condition, or delete it. For example, if the gameplay of the level seems too monotonous to you, try making it more varied.
Constantly check the philosophy of the game to avoid the moment when the project turns into a pile of disconnected levels and characters.
Refine the graphics and sound - the process is very time consuming, but the atmosphere depends on it.

Testing phase

Having received the preliminary version of the game (do not confuse it with the prototype), proceed to the search for bugs and errors. It will be better if you find them, rather than potential players on the first day after the release.

Focus on points that are out of character with your style of play. For example, go to the parts of the map that are not involved during the main gameplay. Testing sometimes takes longer than the development itself, and its speed depends on the number and professionalism of testers.

If there are an incredible number of bugs, fix the biggest ones first. Therefore, start searching for them as early as possible - this will give you more time to make changes. Also, invite friends and acquaintances to play. A look from the outside will allow you to notice many nuances that you yourself would never have guessed. Moreover, it is absolutely free.

Release

Organize a promotional campaign: stir up interest on social networks, order reviews for game bloggers, don't forget about the site with a forum, because fans will need to gather somewhere!
Select your distribution platform. It is unlikely that you want to immediately invest in hosting or dedicated servers, so pay attention to popular sites like Steam, GOG, Humble, Play Market and the like. Remember that the owners charge a certain percentage of the cost, so this issue requires a detailed study.
Don't forget to support the game even after the release. Keep fixing bugs, releasing additional content, or jump straight into the sequel!

In the article, everything is presented in a very thesis, but at the same time it gives a general idea of ​​the full cycle of the game's release. You shouldn't count on millions of dollars in earnings, because games are, first of all, creativity.

Many may not believe in you. What is really there: for sure, there will be a couple of evenings when you want to abandon everything, but do not give up. Remember: a really good product takes a lot of time, money and your nerves.

P.S.

If you have any questions or need help - write to the forum section, I receive notifications - I will always answer and help in any way I can.