| There is plenty of free software and | | | | Something like you want your player to |
| resources out there that will enable you to | | | | explore a dungeon, kill all the creatures, |
| quickly make your own video game. All you | | | | and find a treasure chest is perfectly good. |
| need is a plan and some persistence. Here is | | | | Make it a small game with maybe ten to |
| the plan. | | | | fifteen rooms and some outdoor areas. Sketch |
| | | | out every room and place in all the doors and |
| Today's software for game making is fairly | | | | major items like stairs, furniture, treasure |
| complete and you don't need to be a | | | | chests and monsters. |
| programmer to learn how to use it. It is much | | | | |
| like an automobile; you don't need to know | | | | Day 4: Build the empty shell of your game |
| how to build one you just need to know how to | | | | world |
| drive. With a little bit of effort and some | | | | |
| practice you can use the freely available | | | | Crank up the computer and using the game |
| software to make games that will unleash your | | | | software build just the buildings, rooms and |
| creative potential. | | | | structures of your game world. Do not yet |
| | | | populate it with furniture, doors, monsters |
| Day 1: Gather up the necessary resources and | | | | or any other type of extra. Just build the |
| get familiar with it | | | | structures of the world. Apply only basic |
| | | | textures to the surfaces in the world. Do not |
| You will need a computer and if you are | | | | at this point worry about the colors, lights |
| reading this article you probably already | | | | or textures of anything. You want to just |
| have that! You should also download the | | | | build the grey shell of the world so you can |
| necessary game development software. There | | | | text it and see if it works properly and if |
| are two that I recommend. Either get the | | | | it is how you want it to be. After the world |
| Genesis 3D game engine or the Reality Factory | | | | is built insert a character into it and walk |
| Game development software. Of the two I | | | | around to see if it is as you planned it. |
| suggest the Reality Factory software but if | | | | |
| you have a really old computer and are | | | | Day 5: Add the details to your game and make |
| concerned about your ability to run software | | | | it look real |
| then get the Genesis 3d software. Both these | | | | |
| programs are readily available and easy to | | | | This is the day where you work on the look of |
| find on the web. Just do a search engine | | | | your game. Go over all the structures and add |
| check for keywords Genesis 3d or Reality | | | | textures, lighting, models, characters and |
| Factory. | | | | all of the other accessories that will make |
| | | | it look right. |
| Install this software and run it. Tinker with | | | | |
| it and get familiar with it. Experiment with | | | | Right about now you might be thinking: "How |
| all of the different screens and settings | | | | do I do all that?" But the great thing about |
| then go through the help files and tutorials. | | | | the software you are using is that models, |
| Get an initial understanding of what it will | | | | characters, tables, chairs, doors, and lights |
| be like to make a video game with the | | | | are all pre-built and come in a library with |
| software. | | | | the software. You can just click on them and |
| | | | place them right into the game. |
| Day 2: Begin learning the software | | | | |
| | | | Day 6: Have somebody play your game and give |
| Get a notebook and label it "My Video Game | | | | you feedback |
| Making Reference Book" Locate a tutorial on | | | | |
| the web for the software you have used. Don't | | | | Are your platers clear on the objectives of |
| rush through this process. There are plenty | | | | the game? Do they understand what it is all |
| of available tutorials for both of these | | | | about? Do they have to ask questions? If |
| programs. Take your time and go through the | | | | anything is unclear to the player of if |
| tutorials and take notes in your book. Keep a | | | | anything is difficult start up your software |
| page for tips, keystrokes, and routines for | | | | and modify the game. |
| getting things done. | | | | |
| | | | Day 7: Complete the game |
| Day 3: Take a break from the computer | | | | |
| | | | Add any extras like a splash screen that |
| Now that you have an idea of what the | | | | displays the name of your game or add sound |
| software is all about you can design your | | | | effects. If you are ambitious you can create |
| game on paper. First write down the concept | | | | your own models or textures to give your game |
| and goals of your game. For example: Your | | | | a unique look. |
| game will be a game about how the player has | | | | |
| been trapped in a dungeon and has to fight | | | | Making a video game is really not a hard |
| his or her way out to freedom. Or someone has | | | | process. If you have a plan and the |
| been captured in a dungeon and the player has | | | | discipline to put some time into learning the |
| to break in and rescue him. For your first | | | | software you can have a small but complete |
| game keep the concept relatively simple. | | | | game one week from today. |