any game makers??

i want to become a game designer but apparently i have no idea where to start off. I am currently self-studying flash action scripts. is flash a good way to start off??

For game ? No I don't think so. I started with some map editor, then scripting and so on. You should have a look on an open-source game's source code. Try Nexuiz or something like that game. You should start how to make own mods, and so on. Its not that easy once you start. :)

Go to college that has courses in game design

Start teaching yourself C#/C++. If you ever want to program games you will be required to be proficient in at least C. You should probably look into other languages too... but C would be my recommendation. Action Script/Flash I definitely don't recommend as a starting point.

Really, if you want to know what you should do is go look at game developer's career pages and they tell you what they require.

problem is: i dont think UNLV in nevada doesnt have a game design course as for some schools that has one. either they're 3hrs away or just ridicoulously expensive or both.

so after C i should probably move on to C#?? i went and search for those starting off tips and alot of people has different ways in going into the game designing buissness. I guess i should go with C.

im headed for the action/RPG genre. witch is simpler to start off?

Umm...you people know a game designer isn't a programmer, right?


A game designer is more of a writer who sets forth a series of documents that describe in detail what a finished game will be.

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I believe these are the required things you must study.


Physics
Math
Psychology
History
Drawing / Painting / Sculpture
Music Appreciation
Writing
Literature
Mythology
Foreign language
Computers
Acting
Playwriting / Screenwriting
Film Appreciation
Public Speaking / Debate
Marketing / Salesmanship
Management / Leadership

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If you wanted to do game programming...

C, Java, and C++ are the most common

Assembly is necessary in some consoles (I think...)

Fringe languages aren't used much...like C#(Used mostly in game development tools. It might change though, XNA uses C#), ada, and python

Actually, flash is good if u just want interactive with people. Flash do something more good if it's with mouse, not keyb.
Yes, it's not like programming. But indeed, it's feel the same. You must also think about "user friendly" thing in game design, just like programming.

I made a game with flash before, with keyboard as the input media. But it seems i have so much time end up at edit the animation, rather than edit the action script.

Also stupidly ever make a game with delphi, lol. It's just card game after all...

College doesn't really teach that much. I know it, because i can be a game designer, even i don't go to college with game design.

At least, if u try hard, anything is simple.

Flash is good for a hobby...


I totally disagree with tkhnoman about the whole college thing...

er... Actually i don't really know myself, because i never try... What they teach at game design course anyway?
(But i doubt the game design course at my stupid country can give something to us, that's my bad. I don't think about the foreign one..)

The stuff I listed above probably. Those were the required subjects to study.

You sure it's just that? Then i learn that all in Electrical Engineering. Just some of them are missing..

Req stuff:


Physics
Math
Psychology
History
Drawing / Painting / Sculpture
Music Appreciation
Writing
Literature
Mythology
Foreign language
Computers
Acting
Playwriting / Screenwriting
Film Appreciation
Public Speaking / Debate
Marketing / Salesmanship
Management / Leadership



It seems like alot...plus whatever minor you want to pick out.

Honestly, you'd have to talk to a counselor to find out the specfic courses though.

Don't touch C# with a ten foot pole.

Fucking Microshaft.

C, C++ and Python. Python is used by places like YouTube [refer: Wikipedia], so consider it fairly powerful. Plus, it's a great place to start due to its simplicity. Java used to be the most recommended lang for new programmers, but I've seen a few articles [Including the guide for new hackers, wherever it is...] moving towards Python.

Take for instance, the visual novel creator ren'py. That's written in Python, and uses some Py-like syntax in the simple game editor.

But really, is a hentai forum the place to ask this? Start diving into Freshmeat after taking a course in programming to see what programming on a larger scale is like. I'd recommend a real life tutor as compared to using books and online courses.

I stick by the firm belief that any good game designer will know things about every aspect of game development. That includes programming, writing, modeling, sound, etc. How can you design when you don't know anything about what the people you are designing for actually need to do?

Basically, if you want a good start in game design you should go for (at least) a Bachelors in Computer Science. That will give you the majority of classes you will need. However, you could go to a school like Digipen in Redmond, WA which is set up specifically for video games.

I've actually been there and they are in a prime location. They are across the street from Microsoft and just around the corner from Nintendo of America (I've been in there.). People who go to school at Digipen have a high chance of getting a job at Microsoft/NoA (so they say).

I suggest you to start with Visual Novels first. Although for some this considered as "not really a nice way to start things". But from creating visual novels you might find something for later use in the "real" game creations.

I presume you're trying to create an RPG? If you're trying to make one. First of all, make your story strong, try to make this as the main base of game creations. Ask your family and your friends for opinion.

When your story's good to go. Learn to "Code", "Program", "Render" and "Compose". These four are the basic of all kind of games, not just RPGs.

If you're trying to make a big game, and trying to make them alone. I'm afraid that is just not possible. You need more than one to recruit. But if you're trying to make flash games or visual novels---- that would depend on your patience.

True, true. But my point still stands, he's not a programmer.

It's rare to have the programmer and designer be the same guy...or so I've heard.

me! currently working to make my own Visual Novel/Eroge. it's still long way to go. if i had finished working on it,i'll put it in Fakku :wink:

When I was younger I wanted to go to the Games Academy in Berlin, but they did't take me cause there were lots of people who were way better than I am and they only take I think about 200 each year. So I gave up going to the games academy and went to a technical school, where I'm studing electrical engeneering.

Don't know if you can use it, but here's the homepage of the Games Academy:
[web]http://www.games-academy.de/index.php?id=66[/web]