1 reply to this topic

[Jecklen]

Im new to the whole process of game making and i guess i have a lot to ask, firstly where should I start? What language of programming should i learn first (keep in mind i dont know a single programming language). And I was thinking about getting Torque Engine Indie version, should i get that or Torque Builder? Whats the difference? And if I want to get my games out there what should I do? What should I start with first? Do I need a team of people to help me or is something i can work on, on my own? Anyhow i guess it just comes down to my first question of, where do i start, and how to I progress?

Mike

[unit102]

there are a lot to learn! seriously.
it might take you 1 to 2 years no question to master many stuff and be able to start actually creating a whole game.
I worked so hard myself learning tutorials made by the community and thats alone took me a while to figure out, you will ask a million of times for help (no one finish tutorials perfectly, you will be curious to know the depth part or might get stuck several times and thats totally natural, all of us been there)

my personal advice, learn basic & advanced C/C++ to build your foundations, it will help you understand scripts which follows a logic that relates mostly to C/C++ style, so better learn the master language. Script language are used to easy up the road for game developers, but knowing the original source will clear a lot of things you may want to ask in the future.

Learn Visual Basic.NET to know how to build in the future a GUI (Graphics User Interface) its simple process except if you dont know then you dont know and require a tutorial, so better you know it and have it as a strong background that will help you in the future, dont worry if people say its useless or not important, it truely helped me a lot, I am familair with it so when using Tourque engine and working in the GUI you will recognize what you learned (somehow it goes to knowing C/C++ and scripts, you know how the logic works)

thats only the scripting part and GUI (where you have "New Game", "Options", "Quit"....) , HUD (where you see the health bar, lives, inventory, weapons, ....)

the other part of game development is Artistic Side (how to create a nice repetitive pattern) like blocks of wall, ground surface, texture in general. object skins (wood, metal, cloths) so you got to build up an experince in 2D Art. I would recommend to Master a class of Photoshop (Digital Art) and be Advanced in Photoshop CS 2

3D modeling, you will need to know how to model, either objects (boxes, Pipes, Walls, Windows, building structure, and many more that you see in games..), then the difficult part which people who are new suffer the most, modeling a human figure! the best way is to use pic of people reference (head is the most difficult one to achive, if you mastered that then the rest is easier) so better to take a class in that from Pros, or ask a Pro to make a video tutorial custom made just for you to understand.


and the tools to make models is 3D studios Max, Maya, Lightwave, XSI, and many others, which ever you like.

Modeling could be a nightmare but its cool if you know it.

learn how to create a game storyline, levels, story tension, fun factor, cut scene if desired, animation! you will need to learn 3D animation and thats something else as well, oh man there is a lot waiting you.

unless in the end you decide to make very simple game and buy pre-made packages then you run away from most of that work but still you will need to know atleast how to put them togather and run them in a game engine!

troubleshooting and all kinds of mystery trouble awaits you when you try to put everything into any game engine, the process never been easy to beginers but smooth as crystal ice who managed to know everything so you can do it over and over with no problem.. its just the first step you will need to hold you breath and dive, everything will easier as soon you KNOW IT! you will realize how much you have achived puting all the work and thoughts of your resources and knowladge. Its a great achivement, but then... you will think about over and over, and learn that with somebody knowldgeable like you who can work with you in your game project will truly make your life easier! because... it takes 1-3 or more years for a single developer to create a complete game!!!! after 1 or 2 years you spent of your life learning all the things I mentioned... so.. that + 1-3 years more if you never slip, you can create a game but I have no idea if you are dead serious to create a 3d game for whatever type of game...

books to recommend (there are a lot, but I will only mention the ones I liked the most)

1- Creating the Art of the GAME (a great summary and resources to learn how to make a game world and what is out there in game engines to make a game! examples from real games)

2- Game Development Essentials (how game indestury works, all the infos about game storyline, game types, history, companies, roles, and more..)

3 - 3D GAME TEXTURES (learn cool techniques and advanced ways to make textures)

4- "Drawing THE HEAD & FIGURE by Jack HAMM" is a great book to me, taught me how to draw real human figures with great tutorials. which in turn helps you to create Concept Art (human figures).

these are great resources to me, I have other books but they are more specific to what I have (like 3D STUDIO MAX BIBLE, 3D GAME PROGRAMMING ALL IN ONE, several more...)

to tell you the truth, why not over 20 or 30 games come after people bought a game engine like tourque or any public avaliable engines?
because all of the stuff I mentioned in top, a knowledge of all of those is great to know, but you will feel how great it is if you have a partner or more than 1 person with you to build a whole game, unless you aim to make a very small and simple game then you avoid creating big things in screen and high details. Casual games is the best choice for single developer, but more than that you really will benefit and cut the time frame have someone working with you.

good luck!