What to take in high school...what books to use?
Author
Right now I'm a junior and am taking Visual Basic programming. While I am positive I want a video game related job, at this point I really don't want programming. I think it's dull and design is where I truly want to be, but I'm not sure how to get into it. There are only programming classes at my school and an AP Computer Science class. I'm going to take the CS class but dunno what else.
Do I have to be a programmer before I can design? And if not what books are there that actually come with software to help design?
And what was that one website where you can design games or something...? Thanks in advance.
If you're dead set against programming, you can try something like Game Maker (http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker).
If you are capable of getting good grades in your programming classes, I'd recommend you keep taking them, even if you find them dull. Very few game designers are just "Idea" people... Lots of the designers I work with end up doing lots of coding/scripting to create their masterpiece levels. :-)
Finally, here's my main advice: If you want to be a game designer, design a game. Don't wait for a teacher, book, or web site to unlock the secrets of the universe for you, get out there and make stuff. Make mistakes, and learn from them. Don't be afraid to suck at it, because that's still better than sitting around dreaming about it. Make a board game. Invent a card game. Try doing some mods. Play them with your friends and get feedback. Find out what works and what doesn't. You'll be light-years ahead of your classmates by the time you get to college.
If you are capable of getting good grades in your programming classes, I'd recommend you keep taking them, even if you find them dull. Very few game designers are just "Idea" people... Lots of the designers I work with end up doing lots of coding/scripting to create their masterpiece levels. :-)
Finally, here's my main advice: If you want to be a game designer, design a game. Don't wait for a teacher, book, or web site to unlock the secrets of the universe for you, get out there and make stuff. Make mistakes, and learn from them. Don't be afraid to suck at it, because that's still better than sitting around dreaming about it. Make a board game. Invent a card game. Try doing some mods. Play them with your friends and get feedback. Find out what works and what doesn't. You'll be light-years ahead of your classmates by the time you get to college.
Game development is a huge field. If you build a game about mutations, it helps to know some biology. If you build a game that includes a lot of structures, you need some knowledge about architecture and structural design. If you intend on coming up with fictional creatures or buildings, practices in art will really help.
I think just about any type of knowledge can be put to use in game development. But specifically regarding game design, I would probably focus on art and psychology.
I think just about any type of knowledge can be put to use in game development. But specifically regarding game design, I would probably focus on art and psychology.
What to study -- http://www.sloperama.com/advice/designprep.htm
Books -- http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson8.htm
Books -- http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson8.htm
Author
Quote:Original post by sox
If you're dead set against programming, you can try something like Game Maker (http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker).
If you are capable of getting good grades in your programming classes, I'd recommend you keep taking them, even if you find them dull. Very few game designers are just "Idea" people... Lots of the designers I work with end up doing lots of coding/scripting to create their masterpiece levels. :-)
Finally, here's my main advice: If you want to be a game designer, design a game. Don't wait for a teacher, book, or web site to unlock the secrets of the universe for you, get out there and make stuff. Make mistakes, and learn from them. Don't be afraid to suck at it, because that's still better than sitting around dreaming about it. Make a board game. Invent a card game. Try doing some mods. Play them with your friends and get feedback. Find out what works and what doesn't. You'll be light-years ahead of your classmates by the time you get to college.
I wish I knew how to do mods, as I think that'd be best for me. Any links on how?
Also Tom, the books link is good but to me at least it doesn't seem to say whether the books come with software or not.
Quote:Original post by CrazyRonin
I wish I knew how to do mods, as I think that'd be best for me. Any links on how?
1. Buy a moddable game.
2. Start playing with the editing tools.
Quote:Also Tom, the books link is good but to me at least it doesn't seem to say whether the books come with software or not.
Those books are about game design. Not programming. And not modding. Something you said probably made me think you were interested in learning about game design.
Quote:Original post by Tom SloperQuote:Original post by CrazyRonin
I wish I knew how to do mods, as I think that'd be best for me. Any links on how?
1. Buy a moddable game.
2. Start playing with the editing tools.
3. Make your mod available to the public.
4. Tweak things to learn your way around the fragility of gameplay balance and exploits.
5. Tweak things to learn the difference between giving the audience what they want versus making the audience happy.
Quote:Original post by CrazyRoninQuote:Original post by sox
If you're dead set against programming, you can try something like Game Maker (http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker).
If you are capable of getting good grades in your programming classes, I'd recommend you keep taking them, even if you find them dull. Very few game designers are just "Idea" people... Lots of the designers I work with end up doing lots of coding/scripting to create their masterpiece levels. :-)
Finally, here's my main advice: If you want to be a game designer, design a game. Don't wait for a teacher, book, or web site to unlock the secrets of the universe for you, get out there and make stuff. Make mistakes, and learn from them. Don't be afraid to suck at it, because that's still better than sitting around dreaming about it. Make a board game. Invent a card game. Try doing some mods. Play them with your friends and get feedback. Find out what works and what doesn't. You'll be light-years ahead of your classmates by the time you get to college.
I wish I knew how to do mods, as I think that'd be best for me. Any links on how?
Also Tom, the books link is good but to me at least it doesn't seem to say whether the books come with software or not.
I recommend buying The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.
If you have the right comp for it.
Then download the construction set.
It's very easy to learn how to use it and it's fun to toy with.
The others are on the right track with the modding, and there are plenty of games - both indie and commercial - that are pretty easy to mod.
Oblivion, as mentioned by Daan, is a great one, because with the aid of the construction set you can become accustom to working with map design and layout. Converting files over to .nif's can be a bit challenging, but modeling for Oblivion has a great base as well.
Scorched3d is a good choice because it allows you to get used to working with Xml, and they are working in a scripting language in their latest alpha. Basic-level mods are quick, and they help you get used to seeing how your changes apply in-game.
Oblivion, as mentioned by Daan, is a great one, because with the aid of the construction set you can become accustom to working with map design and layout. Converting files over to .nif's can be a bit challenging, but modeling for Oblivion has a great base as well.
Scorched3d is a good choice because it allows you to get used to working with Xml, and they are working in a scripting language in their latest alpha. Basic-level mods are quick, and they help you get used to seeing how your changes apply in-game.
Author
Quote:Original post by Tom SloperQuote:Original post by CrazyRonin
I wish I knew how to do mods, as I think that'd be best for me. Any links on how?
1. Buy a moddable game.
2. Start playing with the editing tools.Quote:Also Tom, the books link is good but to me at least it doesn't seem to say whether the books come with software or not.
Those books are about game design. Not programming. And not modding. Something you said probably made me think you were interested in learning about game design.
Somehow I figured that there would be software that allowed you to do something similar to designing a game.
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