Hey everyone, you sound like you know what your doing. I am new to this stuff, I wanna get into game designreal bad, and need some help in which direction to go. Where do i start? Where do i learn? anything? can someone help me out and gimmie some ideas on what you need to know? I am already a graphic expert, so i can do that side of things...but i wanna learn the rest. Thanks so much! emial me if u really wanna help! foam@web.com ------------------- foam dot ms www.foam.ms

1. Write down all your ideas... Every single one of them... Always take a note-pad into the toilet, and find a way of being able to write in a shower, I recommend permanent marker on the glass, but whoever has to clean it wont be happy

2. Be whacky, don''t forget that you are trying to be original and as such you need to be a bit eccentric at times...

3. Think about what you like and feel free to remove anything that you wouldn''t want in a game.

4. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Add us to the credits

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-Chris Bennett of Dwarfsoft
"The Philosophers' Stone of Programming Alchemy"
IOL (The list formerly known as NPCAI) - A GDNet production
Our Doc - The future of RPGs
Thanks to all the goblins over in our little Game Design Corner niche

I think it''s a good idea to try and do something different as dwarfsoft mentioned. You don''t have to, however; you can always sell out and do what everyone else does like 90% of commercial game companies.

I like being bitter



"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." --William Blake

"The road of excess also just ends up making me tired because I'm too lazy" --Nazrix

Well, I grow tired of the same-old-same-old. I was just trying to introduce some excitement into the industry, by converting people early Can''t really blame me... I don''t really care about the commercial side, I enjoy what I do, and I think that the more fun that games become, the better for everybodies minds (TV has already killed most of our minds )

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-Chris Bennett of Dwarfsoft
"The Philosophers' Stone of Programming Alchemy"
IOL (The list formerly known as NPCAI) - A GDNet production
Our Doc - The future of RPGs
Thanks to all the goblins over in our little Game Design Corner niche

Hey f0am. Are you looking to get into the industry, or do you want to make a game on your own (maybe with some pals).

It sort of matters. If you''re designing for corporate, you may need to follow a somewhat unconventional path to get there. Most of the designers I know started out in the industry in QA. They worked their way into positions for prototyping, level design, and submissions evaluation (designs from other people). For this route, I recommend that you:

* Learn to make friends and network; be friendly with the coders because they can help you pull together a prototype; be friendly with the producers, as they can be your champion with upper management when it comes to trying to get your idea approved

* Learn about the industry, and not just the artistic side. Remember, it''s not your $2 million dollars that you''re gambling, and you can better persuade the suits when you know this

* Improve your writing and communication skills. You could have the greatest idea in the world but be completely unable to express it.

* Be honest with yourself and open to criticism. Self-awareness can be one of your most valuable asset because it will help you cut the fat in your designs. Know that your ideas are going to be shot down. Design is like religion: No one is wrong, but no one can prove they are right.

* Be realistic about your expectations. Design work is tough to get. Unless you fill some other role, you''re often employed for only the first part of the game''s lifecycle. Expect a salary ranging from $30,000 to $40,000 to start.

* Learn about games. Play lots of different games, not just the ones you like. Study them. Realize that a puzzle game can give you inspiration for an RPG, or a fighting game could help with ideas for a real-time strategy game.

* Learn to be able to discuss design with others. Debate will sharpen your design skills and give you new ideas

* Don''t worry about giving away your secrets. Seriously. People are unnecessarily neurotic about this, and it limits their chance to refine and hone their ideas. Today''s games are big budget team affairs, and are 1% inspiration and 99% implementation. I promise you that, due to similar interests and human brain chemistry, someone else out there has your idea. But so what?! Execution is everything!

Now, if you''re wanting to go non-corporate, my advice would be different. But by "get into game design" it sounds like you want to be paid for it.

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Just waiting for the mothership...