Game design discussion thread...

[Zyphonee]

*If Gaming Discussion is the wrong forum to post this in, then please pardon me, it seemed the most appropriate*

Escapists; I've lately been thinking about the content of this site. The main reason why I see this site interesting is because of how it is dedicated not to games, but to the actual depth of game development and the possibilities of the medium, so I've been wondering, since there is such a huge reception to the ideal behind gaming, how many game developers or game designers are there in the site? Would it be OK if I created a thread to bring this portion of the community to discuss the topic altogether?
Now, normally, it would make sense to just place this in a group for people to join, but I want there to be actual feedback between devs, so we can talk about job opportunities, the industry, your own career, goals, ideas or any kind of argument with weight at relevance to the advance of the medium, so it seems perfectly fair to have a whole thread dedicated to the issue, so we can drop by and keep several conversations flowing and a few confrontations of independent creative ideals (Disagreement is the most fructuous conversation, in my opinion), just as mind exercisers to hopefully bring some inspiration or theory to those wishing to continue to explore design or express ideas that you also think could be achieved through games.

Even if you're not a game developer, feel more than free to drop by and pick up a few ideas or analyze a perspective, the whole point of this thread is not only to improve one's content and bring the community together, but to actually get to develop ideas on the potential of gaming, a once simple, juvenile entertainment that is now steadily advancing and reaching full maturity.

So now that all the "What's this thread all about" is out of the way, let's get an ice pick; what are your experiences with game development? Is it a future dream? have you been working on it for a while now? I, myself have worked on a few titles (Freelancing, though I have been considering it as a career), though due to several technical issues, I've never been able to produce a full product with the creative freedom I wanted until now.

 

[Savagezion]

Two thumbs up here. This is probably one of the best threads I have seen started here for a while. I personally am learning C++ and can make some minor programs with it but nothing fancy. As far as games go, I could make a text based game. I am currently looking into how to incorporate graphics and graphics engines. I haven't completed any projects yet and am only limiting to having modded about 10 games, and done some small campaigns in RPG makers.

I am currently thinking about learning flash as it seems pretty fast and easy to pick up and get the ball rolling. However, my ultimate goal is to get to where I know C++ really well and then maybe get some people together to start working on a project.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I've studied game design and digital art. While I still suck at 3D modelling and animation, I'm a capable concept artist, with a good eye for overall atmosphere.

I'd love to study further, but opportunities are limited in my hometown of Perth, and I need to work to live. However, I'd love to one day be able to contribute my skills in creating a game...

 

[InnerRebellion]

I used RPG Maker over the summer to design a few games myself.

Also, me and my friend from my Geometry class have been working on a story for a game. It's about a man who makes a contract with "The Almighty One" for the ability to never age. He goes through time, assassinating famous figures, who the One says will commit major sins against humanity.

We have a demo level all planned out. You start in the entrance of a theater, conversing with a woman. You get briefed by the One's voice, telling you that President Lincoln, while he preached abolishing slavery, actually has slaves kept in his house (which is just random bull we came up with for the story). You are to assassinate him during the play, and escape the theater. There are three "skill trees" you can choose: Skillful, Bravado and Invisible. The Skillful tree lets you run quickly, and use the map for a free-running escape. Bravado makes you a skilled fighter and you can just fight your way out. The Invisible tree gives you the powers to disguise yourself, and to use dialogue to hide your identity.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

I think the only real roadblock you're going to run into here is the potential for opening up the Escapist to a bunch of low-content posts promoting advertisements. There's nothing wrong with wanting to share your games, but there are better forums out there for this sort of thing [http://forums.tigsource.com].

Anyway, onto the actual discussion at hand. I've dabbled in RPG Maker and Game Maker for about a year and a half, but I really don't have anything completed or even worth showing off. It is a part of a future dream, but I just need to get off my ass and actual start working on something. I'm currently trying to teach myself C++ so I can build games up from scratch, but I'm also looking at using Flash to make them, as well, but right now my studies in Digital Media come first.

Two thumbs up here. This is probably one of the best threads I have seen started here for a while. I personally am learning C++ and can make some minor programs with it but nothing fancy. As far as games go, I could make a text based game. I am currently looking into how to incorporate graphics and graphics engines. I haven't completed any projects yet and am only limiting to having modded about 10 games, and done some small campaigns in RPG makers.

For C++, you might want to look into the Allegro [http://www.talula.demon.co.uk/allegro/] or SDL [http://www.libsdl.org/] graphics libraries. There are also a few tutorials floating around that'll help you learn to use them, too. Like Moosader [http://moosader.com/].

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I try in my spare time. My current focus has shifted to phone apps though, being both cheaper and easier quicker to make. I tend to focus more on mechanics and gameplay, as I found story-based design a very limited away to go about things.

I am mostly tied to the graphical end of things, but have a few programmer friends to tackle the more technological aspects.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

snip

I can't say I found TIG any good for getting feedback. It's one of those "if you don't first participate in the community before posting your games then you are a demon" places which just left me with a bad atmosphere.

Also I believe they discriminate against stuff like RPG Maker VX for being RPG Maker VX. Could of sworn they gave me crap about using it or something, year ago I was there so I don't remember.

The reason they want new forum members to actually participate in the forums is because they don't want it to become a hot-bed for pure advertising, much like the Escapist doesn't want to host free advertisements. I mean, there are close to 45,000 registered users on that site--imagine what it would be like if everyone just posted the links to their games and didn't do anything else. That's an unproductive site, and a great way to lose the serious people--the ones who would actually participate--in a sea of spam.

And, from what I've read, they weren't giving you flak for using RPG Maker. They were giving you flak for being needlessly defensive and sarcastic in your responses to their criticism, as well as in your responses to them trying to steer you away from using stolen assets.

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

Game design is the only job I can see myself going into everyday and enjoying. My earliest memories are CTR: crash team racing, final fantasy 9 (up until the unbeatable plant monster in the forest...what? I was four!) and the original tomb raider so it makes sense that I should go into the games industry.

It's a future dream right now but I have both game maker (can't find any good tutorials) and I downloaded the UDK (haven't got the bloody thing working though) and I have a few ideas being thrown around in my head both for UDK games and AAA games when I get into the industry.

If anyone could link me some good tutorial sites for game maker that would be awesome!