Who has not ever enjoyed a video game? Since its appearance at the end of the 20th century, it has become one of the best-known cultural and entertainment products and proof of this is the growing offer of existing titles . Most of them are the result of large teams working at maximum power for months or even years, but AAA is not all that glitters. Sometimes a single person, with effort and dedication, can do great things.
Apple , the giant of personal computers, was born in a garage by the hand of two friends who dedicated hours to what was their great passion . There are many examples of small projects that were born in precarious conditions and ended up becoming real balls that changed the lives of their creators and filled their portfolios . Others, beyond wanting to make a profit, sought to materialize their dreams driven by a creative passion.
Videogames have been democratized and there are currently enough tools for anyone, with basic knowledge, to be able to produce more than decent products . Do you want to play video games? We show you the beginning of the path.
What does it take to make a video game?
Although there are still those who see it as a way to spend dead hours in front of a screen, a video game is a cultural product that can be very complex . Like a book or movie, most video games tell a structured story with a beginning, middle, and end. The levels or screens are like chapters and the characters, although managed by the player, follow a script that advances the plot. The idea, the approach of the game and the story to be told are three key elements to start with.
From that first sketch, and depending on what genre of video game you want to play, a succession of missions will be built that will be the backbone of the title. Will it be an RPG that will make us embark on epic adventures or a world of platforms in which our only objective is to reach the end of the level without falling into the void? The possibilities are many and it is up to each one to explore them and find their tone and style.
From this first creative phase will also come the designs of characters, objects and settings . It is important that the video game has a clearly defined personality of its own, as this generates a feeling of solidity in the player. You don’t have to be a great artist to design the elements of the game any more than you have to be Agatha Christie to create the story. Minecraft does not exactly stand out for its visual complexity and yet it has conquered millions of players around the world . In addition, we must never forget that retro always works and the 8-bit style is quite affordable and even more so if programs aimed at Pixel Art are used . On the Internet there are good Samaritans who have already made these designs and make them available to the community in a disinterested way (or not), so that those who do not have an artistic vein or do not really want to take it out can get out of the way.
Depending on the complexity that you want to give the game, you will need a script, dialogues, more or less drawings for animations and music (because neither Tetris nor Super Mario would be the same without the soundtrack that we all remember and love). With these elements collected and organized, it is time to get into the real matter.
Let’s get technical
After the first creative phase, it’s time to get involved with game development as such. This part may be a bit confusing if you are not used to it , but luckily there are many programs designed so that noobs can get out of the way without having to complicate their lives much. Most of the programs that we have collected below will allow, through simple commands and drag modules , to achieve more than decent results.
Game Maker
This free program has become one of the most used tools, perhaps due to the success that titles such as Nuclear Throne or Hotline Miami had. With its own language based on GML and designed to offer as many more options to the user , Game Maker is a true all-rounder designed for 2D video games (but with the possibility of moving to 3D). If you arrive from scratch, all the options it offers can be overwhelming, but there are plenty of tutorials to learn how to handle it with relative ease.
M.U.G.E.N.
It is true that it has not been updated since 2013 and it may no longer be an alternative to take into account, but at the time it was a more than useful tool for creating 2D fighting games in the purest Street Fighter style. One of its strengths is that you could include the fighters that each one wanted (known or created from scratch) and grant them the desired skills, so the fun was guaranteed.
GB Studio
Developed by developer Chris Maltby , this simple program is an ode to the great Game Boy , Nintendo’s legendary portable console . Its great contribution is that it simplifies the process so that a person without any developing knowledge can use it and focus their efforts on storytelling. A single application includes all the necessary elements to design, test and export a true game worthy of the Game Boy.
Unreal
This graphics engine created by Epic Games (yes, Fortnite’s Epic Games ) can be used for free since 2015 and is one of the most powerful that can be found . This means that, although the possibilities and quality of the final product increase considerably, greater programming knowledge and touching code are necessary if you really want to take advantage of it.
Unity
Many of the great games of recent years bear the Unity signature. It has a free version perfect for, knowing what you are doing, squeeze the interface to the fullest. The paid version is on another level entirely , but that may already take a bit away from amateur video game development.
Dreams
This interesting project promoted by Playstation aims to bring the world of video game development and gamer creation closer to that bulk of players who do not have the necessary knowledge to do so. With Dreams you can carry out the entire process, from the design and modeling of the characters to the creation of levels or even the soundtrack. In this game, creation is the centerpiece of everything and the best thing is that it is not only limited to video games, but also illustrations or pieces of animation can be produced.
Games within videogames
The gamer community is increasingly curious and companies know it. It is becoming more and more common to find games that offer the possibility of designing custom levels and even complete games. While sandbox mode was common in many games, titles such as Super Mario Maker , Roblox or Assassin’s Creed Odyssey have elevated these types of functions to the nth degree and can be a more than considerable way to try your luck in video game design.
