Game Development, from idea to finished game. I need some help

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7 comments, last by SimonForsman 11 years, 10 months ago
I'm gonna openly admit it, i know next to nothing about how to make a game. Though i know some python programming, html, css, photoshop, music production etc, i have no idea how to get going about this game thing.

The thing is, i have this great idea for a game. I dont think its been done before, i think it will be fun, and i see a way of making money from it. I would like to establish a team of people and create this game, but im not sure if thats how things work around here.

Could anyway please guide me in terms of, how do i get started? How do i find the right people and how do i communicate with them etc.

Thanks a lot :)
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1. i see a way of making money from it. I would like to establish a team of people and create this game,
2. How do i find the right people and how do i communicate with them etc.


1. Then you're talking about a business venture. So I'll move this to the Business forum.
2. First, write a game treatment and a business plan. The treatment communicates the game idea, and the business plan communicates the money-making idea.
Then you can post a Classified ad (in this website's Classifieds section) to start discovering that hardly anybody will want to work with you. You should also start networking - go to local game industry events, national game industry events, and local business networking events.
Some pertinent reading for you:
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson16.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson13.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson54.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson29.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/article60.htm
Several pertinent articles can be found here:
http://www.igda.org/games-game-archives

-- Tom Sloper -- sloperama.com

Thanks a lot for the answer, though not a much optimistic one :P My motivation for doing this is not to make money though, it's to create something. I just see a way of making a profit from it if i was able to mash it all together to a game. Mostly, i just want to assemble a group of people and do this for fun, then see if we are able to make it into something great.
i see a way of making money from it.


My motivation for doing this is not to make money though, it's to create something. I just see a way of making a profit from it if i was able to mash it all together to a game. Mostly, i just want to assemble a group of people and do this for fun, then see if we are able to make it into something great.


I understand completely. It's not a business, but it could make money, so none of the stuff I said before applies.
You can't start it as just fun now, and have it turn into a business later -- that can only end badly. We've seen it too many times before.
You still have to write a design treatment, and you can still use the Classifieds here, and you still need to have a collaboration agreement with your team members before you start collectively creating anything.

-- Tom Sloper -- sloperama.com

Thanks :) I'm working on the Game Design Document right now.

But wow, the contracts thing is comprehensive. Im not sure if i will be able to get all that sorted out.. :/

But wow, the contracts thing is comprehensive. Im not sure if i will be able to get all that sorted out.. :/


So you're saying you're giving up on your idea. It's too hard. Got it.

-- Tom Sloper -- sloperama.com

Not exactly, just that i know nothing about who should own the IP and all the other details that should be clearified in the contract.

Not exactly, just that i know nothing about who should own the IP and all the other details that should be clearified in the contract.


You negotiate that with your team members, before anybody starts working on your game.

-- Tom Sloper -- sloperama.com


Not exactly, just that i know nothing about who should own the IP and all the other details that should be clearified in the contract.


There are easy and hard ways to do this.

If its just a hobby project the easiest thing is to just use an opensource license, then all you have to do is ask the teammembers to give you (and eachother) their contributions under a suitable license (GPL works fairly well for these things as it would prevent anyone from taking "unfair" advantage of anyone elses work) and everyone can keep owning all rights to their contributions.

If you intend to open up for commercialisation in the future things get a bit trickier, you really need to sort out compensation before you start, No sane developer will hand you commercial rights to his/her work without upfront payment or a contract that guarantees payment if the project makes money in the future and you really don't want to negotiate those things after the work has been done. (Its a really bad idea to negotiate with members of your team when your only options are to pay what they ask or throw out all their work and start over from scratch) (I'd highly recommend contacting a lawyer, its not that expensive)
[size="1"]I don't suffer from insanity, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

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