Project “Creating a computer game using Game Maker”. Creation of games, description of game and graphics engines

BOU OO SPO "Bolkhov Pedagogical College"

Project

"Creation computer game

using Game Maker"

Prepared

3rd year student of group "G"

Izotov Alexey

Head: Charkina E.N.

computer science teacher

Bolkhov, 2014

IN Lately programming has become relevant, especially among young people. Moreover, computer games are written on them. Now there are many programs that allow you to create high-quality games using 2- and 3-dimensional graphics.

A small but very interesting program Game Maker, in our opinion, is ideal for creating a computer game, since it includes an internal programming language similar to Delphi and has a user-friendly interface. Creating an application using this program allows you not only to program, but also to clearly see the result of your work.

Object of study: programs for creating a computer game

Subject of study: creating a computer game using Game Maker.

Target: consider the features of creating a computer game using Game Maker, get acquainted with the built-in programming language, and create a simple educational computer game.

Research objectives:

Study and analyze specialized literature on the research topic.

Review the basics of programming in Game Maker.

Study the requirements for educational games.

Develop a computer game layout and character system.

Think through the game scene.

Create a simple educational computer game using Game Maker.

Research methods: literature study, analysis and synthesis, classification and synthesis.

Creating a computer game using Game Maker

Nowadays there are many computer games in the world. Many of them are aimed at developing memory, attention, and helping to develop the skill of working with a mouse and keyboard.

But how are computer games created? Are there special programs? Allowing a user who knows a programming language to independently create a computer game?

We looked at several program options and settled on Game Maker.

Game Maker is one of the most famous game designers, focused on creating two-dimensional games of almost any genre and difficulty level.

The program has built-in editors for sprites, objects, scenarios and rooms, and also allows you to set a sequence of actions based on time and route. This greatly simplifies writing program code, and the user-friendly interface allows you to view both the structure of the game and the result.

Key features of Game Maker:

- Simple and intuitive program interface.
- Built-in lessons on creating your first games.
- Programming using drag-n-drop.
- Free collection of free images and sounds for games.
- Ability to create simple 3D games.
- Built-in Game Maker Language (GML) programming language, allowing you to develop more functional and interesting games.

We decided to create a small game, similar to Mario, that would help develop attention and keyboard skills.

First, it was necessary to think through the script and layout of the game. We simplified the task of drawing images and took them from an electronic source, and depicted the layout of the playing area with the designation of the coordinates of the points in a graphics editor.

The next step The development of the game was a search for sound effects and textures. To simplify the task, we also took them from an electronic source.

The preparatory steps are done. Therefore, you can start developing the game. We placed all the images in the Sprites package, the textures in Fonts, and the music in Sounds.

The preparations are complete. In order for our objects to appear on the game field, it is necessary to establish a connection between them and the Objects package; for this we created a number of commands, represented by codes, and placed them in the Scripts package.

To make the game area look like the background we needed, we created a number of commands that set the texture and placed them in the Rooms package.

So, the objects are placed on the site, the room has acquired the background we need. All that remains is to make our character move. To do this, open the package Scripts and write new code. New code that allows you to bind an object to a command key. We used three forward keys ed - right arrow, back - left arrow, jump - keyZ.

The last step in creating the game was to set the movement of the room itself; for this we copy the object’s movement code, but we register the movement of the scene itself by changing the coordinates on the movement line and linking them to our character.

Working in programming languages ​​ensures a solid understanding of basic programming concepts, easily introduces algorithmic culture and computer literacy, and develops mathematical culture, because To obtain solutions to problems, it is necessary to perform various calculations and operations.

During the study, the goal set in the work was achieved, all the assigned tasks were completed.

When studying and analyzing the literature, various information technology and programming publications were used.

The basics of programming in Game Maker are covered. The main algorithmic structures of the built-in language are considered, and attention is paid to graphics.

The requirements for educational games were studied.

When designing the future game, its layout was made and the character system was thought out.

The game scene was thought out.

A simple educational computer game was created using Game Maker.

Thus, during the design and creation of the game, the skill of working with the built-in programming language was acquired, the skill was formed step-by-step compilation algorithm.

The developed game promotes interest in computer science and programming lessons, and will also help develop attention and keyboard skills.

List of used literature

Istomina I. G. Informatics. Technical graphics. – Moscow – Rostov – on – Don, 2005. – 368 p.

Levin A.V. Self-instruction manual for computer graphics and sound - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2003.- 258 p.

Murakhovsky V.I. Computer graphics / ed. S. V. Simanovich. – M.: “AST – PRESS SKD”, 2002. – 640 p.

http:\\www.erudit.ru

http:\\www.gamemaker.ru

http:\\www.game_maker.com

Greetings. Do you want to know how to create a game yourself and what are the stages of creating a game? Nowadays, in order to create a simple game on a PC or phone, you do not need to be a great specialist in this; there are special programs that allow you to create games from scratch alone.

This article contains all my personal experience.

Of course, the quality of such a game, if you do not have experience and knowledge, can be very low, but everyone starts somewhere. In this article you will learn what you need to create a game and what the main stages of creating a game are.

Where more materials you can find on a special page in this blog:

I have identified 7 main stages of creating a game.

How to create a game yourself?

To create a game you need to know a programming language, but now they are all in English, and they are complex, they have their own so-called syntax, which you also need to know. This is how you imagine creating a game, right?

Not really.

Of course, almost all high-budget games are made using one of the key languages, but for a beginner, even this is not necessary to know.

There are special programs for creating games, one of which is Game Maker. They were created specifically for creating games (the program is called a game creator). Personally, I work in Game Maker and it allows you to make high-quality games for any platform, from Android to iOS.

You can also recommend Unity or Construct 2, as good alternatives.

In my personal opinion, Game Maker is one of the most convenient programs for creating games specifically for beginners, while mastering Unity from scratch can take much more time.

If you choose Game Maker, then my blog and channel will significantly help you in mastering it, but if your choice is Unity or something else, there is also a huge amount of free high-quality training materials in Russian.

In any case, the first (zero:) stage is choosing a program for creating games.

The first stage is the design document

Next, you need to create a design document for the new game. In other words, you need a game idea. What will the game be about? What will happen there? What genre will it be? How much time and money will development take? There are a lot of such questions, and before starting to create a game it is very useful to draw up some kind of rough plan.

You can find basic things about how to write a design document for a game here:

Well, it’s not really scary, right? It’s bad, of course, but not really?

Well, I drew with a computer mouse in a very simple graphics editor, and I learned to draw for 1-2 months, drawing 1 picture a week, maximum.

I think in a year you can reach a very good level if you devote 1-3 hours a day to drawing and studying the theoretical basis.

I have a video (16 minutes):

There I tell my thoughts about how to learn to draw and why it is needed.

The fourth stage is sound

Sound and soundtrack in games is a very important part, which, however, is very often ignored by novice developers. Think about it, the player, like any person, has only a few basic senses, and the more senses a game uses, the better the player's immersion in the process.

How many senses does the player have?

Smell? No. Touch? Sometimes, due to some control systems in games. Vision? Everything is built on vision, this is the basis.

That's why graphics are so important and visual elements. And in fact, in addition to vision, in games you can use only one more sense - hearing.

If you have played computer games before, then you probably have your favorite ones, and you also have some favorite OST (Music from games). And you might remember the game precisely because of the music. I wrote about my favorite OST here:

Sounds are another blow to the senses; the sound accompanying an action can somehow enhance the effect of this action. Just a shot and a bullet flying out is boring. Correct sound of reloading, firing, collision of a bullet with a surface (different for different surfaces), the dropping of a cartridge case on the floor, etc. significantly enhance the player’s immersion in the process.

You know about all sorts of special sounds and phrases in games like Unreal Tournament and how much they increase the fun of the game.

In other words, the right sounds and music make the game atmospheric, emotional, humane and much more interesting.

I had a little experience when I made the game Lonely Dude.

Then a friend of mine wrote a unique OST for this game, and I simply took the rest of the sounds from free sources.

What do I want to say? For a simple game, it is absolutely not necessary to bother much with sound; it is enough to simply put sounds in the game for basic actions (shooting, taking a bonus, completing a level, jumping, etc.) and this will significantly enhance general impression from the game. Of course, writing music is much more difficult, but sometimes you can buy a track for some $1-5, or use programs like FL Studio to write a couple of simple tracks for your game.

The more you test (you and your friends if you're an indie developer), the more better game will happen at the time of release. Just one bug somewhere at the beginning of the gameplay can ruin the entire impression of the game, forcing players to write negative reviews.

Therefore, the game needs to be finished with a file as carefully as possible, and this needs to be done before release. How should the game be tested?

Just play it as much as you can and try different options. Think as a player would think, and not as a developer who knows everything thinks. Have your girlfriend play and let her play, write down what problems she has and how she solves them, if at all. Where are the gaps, where is the imbalance and where are the bugs. Everything needs to be fixed.

Stage seven - game sales and distribution

In any case, sooner or later, you will finish your game if you have enough strength and perseverance. Well, then you sell it, or distribute it for free, in any case, do you want people to play it?

I already wrote how this can be done in my old article:

The general principles apply to almost any game.

VK public pages, your own YouTube channel, trailer, basic understanding of promotion and search engine optimization and all that stuff.

All this (like every stage here)- a completely separate and large topic, but the purpose of this article is to familiarize yourself with the process of creating games, nothing more.

That's all. I hope I answered your question - how to create a game yourself and covered the main stages of creating a game. Making games is a very exciting job (or hobby), as well as a real opportunity to make money.

Good luck to you in this difficult task!

To begin with, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several programs that will help answer this question.

Currently on the Internet there are many programs, paid and free, with which you can create a game of any genre and any complexity. This article describes the most common free game creation programs and their capabilities that you can download and start creating games. I suggest you familiarize yourself with them.

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Defold Game Engine

In this article I want to introduce you to a very young and free game engine for creating AAA games - Defold Game Engine. This engine was developed by Ragnar Svensson and Christian Murray in 2014 and there are already more than 20 thousand users and more than 30 thousand projects on this engine.

Defold runs on MacOS/OS x, Windows and Linux (32 bit and 64 bit). With its help, you can create a game for 6 well-known platforms: iOS, Android, HTML5, as well as for MacOS/OS x, Windows and Linux.

Defold is a full-fledged 3D engine, but the toolkit is built for 2D, so you'll have to do a lot of the heavy lifting yourself to create 3D games. The developers plan to improve the tools for creating 3D in the near future. All applications and game logic in Defold are implemented using scripts in the lua language. Lua is a lightweight, dynamic language that is fast and very powerful.

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Amazon Lumberyard

The lumberyard game engine can be used to create high-quality AAA games for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, support for iOS and Android devices has been announced in the near future, with deep integration into Amazon Web Services and fan engagement on Twitch, and the Lumberyard engine can also be used and in creating multi-platform games, as it now has its own online engine.

Lumberyard was not created “from scratch”; it is based on the code of the CryEngine engine; in mid-summer 2015, Amazon acquired a broad license for the CryEngine engine, but according to the developers, the system included many innovations and capabilities, such as: a tool for creating plants, a tool for creating skeletal animation, a particle editor, physics-based shaders, modular gems that make it easier to work with natural effects and much more.

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CryEngine 5

CryEngine- game engine created by the German private company Crytek in 2002 and originally used in a first-person shooter Far Cry. In mid-March, the company provided the world with a new, fifth CryEngine. The engine is absolutely free and anyone can use it, with which they can create games of various genres and varying complexity.

1. CryEngine Sandbox: A real-time game editor offering "What You See Is What You PLAY" feedback.
2. Renderer: integrated open outdoor) and closed (eng. indoor) locations without seams. The renderer also supports OpenGL and DirectX 8/9, Xbox using the latest hardware features, PS2 and GameCube, as well as Xbox 360.
3. Physics System: Supports inverse kinematics for characters, vehicles, solids, liquids, rag dolls. rag doll), fabric simulation and soft body effects. The system is integrated with the game and tools.
4. Inverse Character Kinematics and Mixed Animation: Allows the model to have multiple animations for better realism.
5. Game Artificial Intelligence System: Includes team intelligence and script-driven intelligence. Ability to create custom enemies and their behavior without touching C++ code.
6. Interactive Dynamic Music System: Music tracks respond to player actions and situations and offer CD quality with full 5.1 surround sound.

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Construct Classic

Construct Classic is a small program whose main function is to create games, 2D animation videos and cartoons. This designer is created according to the WYSIWYG principle. This means that you don’t have to spend a long time studying programming textbooks to create your own animated video. Everything is much simpler - we added some object, turned on animation for it and it starts moving.

The Construct Classic app is free. Moreover, it is open source, so developers and programming specialists can customize it exactly as they wish.

Key features of Construct Classic:

• A system for editing events and reacting to them using drag-n-drop.
• Ability to use a huge number of plugins.
• The program was created in python, but it can be modified in C++.
• It is possible to connect pixel shaders to HLSL.
• You can connect ready-made source codes for games and applications in CAP format to the program.

Changes in the latest version

• Physics: Fixed a bug in version r1, when physical objects created after the start could fly off the screen at high speed.
• Behavior: Bug fixed. when you couldn't jump off the platform. Caused by a fix for the "landing in the air" bug in version r1. Both fixes now work.
• Installer: Fixed installation problem in version r1.

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GameMaker:Studio

GameMaker: Studio - free version popular professional recruitment tools for creating small mobile multiplatform games. Thanks to the program's user-friendly, intuitive interface, game developers can develop their creations more quickly and efficiently. This is because they don’t have to do manual coding, which takes a lot of time.

The GameMaker: Studio distribution contains ready-made templates for sprites, rooms and individual objects. All of them can be dragged with a few mouse movements onto the future playing field, while indicating the conditions for their interaction with each other.

Key features of GameMaker: Studio:

• Cross-platform. You can create games for Windows, Android, and Linux without much difficulty.
• Convenient working window of the program, where there is nothing superfluous.
• The ability to create small 2D games in a matter of hours.
• Ready-made applications can be integrated with Steam.
• You can connect ready-made templates to the application, step by step change paths, objects, sounds, backgrounds, scripts and make interesting and unusual games out of it all.
• GameMaker is great for developing games and applications on mobile platforms.

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Game Editor

Game Editor is a free designer for creating simple two-dimensional games for operating systems Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android. Games being created is a set of game objects, each of which is given a reaction to a specific event, which determines their behavior in the game.

Behind appearance objects are provided with built-in sets of animations. It is possible to use your own graphic and audio elements. In addition to standard object reactions, you can also use your own, written in the special scripting language Game Editor.

Key features of Game Editor:

• Simple and easy to understand interface.
• The finished application can be exported to Windows, Linux, Android, IOS.
• The created game can be immediately tested, stopped at any time and started editing again.
• Ability to use graphic files in JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PCX, TGA, XPM, XCF and TIF formats.
• Ability to use audio files in Ogg Vordis, MID, MOD, S3M, IT and XM formats.

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3D Rad

3D Rad - free program For easy creation(without using code) various 3D games, interactive applications and physics simulations. Creating applications in 3D Rad is based on a combination of various combinations components (objects) and settings for interaction between them. Physics is based on taking into account the interaction between objects.

3D Rad has a function for importing models into the created project, a large number of examples and samples of 3D objects, as well as the ability to add sound effects in WAV or OGG format. Works made with 3D Rad can be distributed as separate programs or web applications.

Key features of 3D Rad:

• Creation of high-quality 3D games.
• Realistic physics of object interaction.
• Ability to import models.
• High-quality graphics processing.
• Possibility of using artificial intelligence.
• Possibility of using multiplayer.
• High quality audio effects and music
• Possibility of embedding games on web pages.

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Unreal Development Kit

Unreal Development Kit (UDK) - powerful free engine and a development environment with enormous capabilities for creating games for a large number of platforms and operating systems. It contains all the tools for creating 3D games, advanced visualizations and detailed simulations.

The Unreal Development Kit includes a fully integrated Unreal Editor editing environment, as well as a set of ready-made scripts, sprites, textures and sounds. They can be combined with each other, prescribe the conditions for their interaction, thereby creating new games.

Key features of the Unreal Development Kit:

• Ability to create games for Windows, Mac OS, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Wii, Android.
• A simple and convenient high-level programming language called UnrealScript.
• Realistic light, shadows and effects.
• Advanced physics of behavior and interaction of objects.
• Support LAN and direct IP connection.
• Possibility of testing the created application at any stage of its design.
• Multi-threaded rendering of created games.
• Ready-made game templates.

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NeoAxis 3D Engine

NeoAxis 3D Engine Non-Commercial SDK is a free version of a powerful, high-quality application for creating 3D games. Essentially, it is a ready-made engine with its own models, physics, graphics and templates. Based on NeoAxis, you can make various 3D single models, complex software visualizations, or even create full-featured 3D games. It all depends on the talent and goals of the developer.

NeoAxis 3D Engine consists of a whole set necessary tools to implement any developer's idea. It already contains 24 full-fledged maps, some of which are already good shooters, where you need to shoot at aliens, run around dark corridors looking for a way out and fighting monsters in the village.

Main features of NeoAxis 3D Engine:

• The installed program consists of a number of separate applications - a configurator, demo capabilities of the program, a map editor and a main code editor.
• Applications developed using the NeoAxis environment can be run on Windows and Mac OS X
• The full range of capabilities of built-in NVIDIA PhysX. Ragdoll and vehicle support.
• Built-in support for synchronization over LAN and Internet.
• The application supports a huge list of languages, English, Ukrainian, Russian are available.
• The editor is built very conveniently - all program resources are clearly structured into separate thematic folders.
• The program consists of ready-made sets of objects, maps and models, so any student can understand it.

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Game Maker Lite

Game Maker is one of the most famous game designers, focused on creating two-dimensional games of almost any genre and difficulty level. The program has built-in editors for sprites, objects, scenarios and rooms, and also allows you to set a sequence of actions based on time and route.

Game Maker is different in that to create games it does not require knowledge of any programming languages, although the ability to use scripts is also present.

Key features of Game Maker:

• Simple and intuitive program interface.
• Built-in lessons on creating your first games.
• Programming using drag-n-drop.
• Free collection of free images and sounds for games.
• Ability to create simple 3D games.
• Built-in Game Maker Language (GML) programming language, allowing you to develop more functional and interesting games.

Attention:

The free version of Game Maker is limited in functionality, and when you launch games created in it, the program logo is shown.

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Unity 3D

Unity 3D is a powerful development environment that makes it easy to create a game. Games and applications created with Unity 3D work in operating systems Windows, OS X, Android. iOS, Linux, Blackberry and also on game consoles Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Applications created with Unity support DirectX and OpenGL.

With Unity 3D you can create video games of any genre. The developer can easily import textures, models and sounds. All popular image formats are supported for textures. Scripting is done primarily using JavaScript, although code can also be written in C#.

Key features of Unity 3D:

• Wide range of customization options.
• Accessible and intuitive interface.
• Scripts in C#. JavaScript and Boo.
• Full integration game engine with the development environment.
• Support for dragging objects in the editor.
• Support for importing a large number of formats.
• Built-in network support.
• Cloth physics support (PhysX Cloth).
• Possibility of adding functionality.
• Tools for collaborative development.

Blender is a free three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics package that includes modeling, animation, rendering, video post-processing, and game creation tools. Blender's functions are quite sufficient for both ordinary users and professionals. The program has all the basic tools used in professional 3D editors.

In a relatively small volume, Blender contains a full-fledged editor with all the main functions and a set of textures, models and event handlers. Additional features in Blender are implemented by connecting plugins - both official ones created by the editor’s authors and those developed by users.

Key features of Blender:

• Support for a variety of geometric primitives (including polygon models, SubSurf fast modeling, Bezier curves, NURBS surfaces, metaspheres, sculpting and vector fonts).
• Universal built-in rendering engines and integration with the external YafRay renderer.
• Animation tools, including inverse kinematics, skeletal animation and mesh deformation, keyframe animation, nonlinear animation, editing vertex weights, limiters, soft body dynamics, dynamics solids, particle-based hair system and collision-enabled particle system
• Python is used as a tool for creating tools and prototypes, logic systems in games, as a means of importing and exporting files, and automating tasks.
• Basic functions of non-linear video editing and combining.
• Game Blender is a subproject of Blender that provides interactive features such as collision detection, a dynamics engine, and programmable logic.

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Stencyl

Another environment for developing simple computer games, which does not require the user to know codes and programming languages. You will have to work with diagrams and scenarios presented in the form of blocks. In this case, you are allowed to drag objects and characteristics with the mouse. Despite the fact that the blocks provide dozens of options, the authors of Stencyl also took care of those who may not have enough of this. Thus, you are allowed to write your own code in blocks. True, for this you will need to understand programming.

Users who have worked in Photoshop will enjoy Scene Designer, a graphic editor designed for drawing game worlds. Its tools are strikingly reminiscent of the menu of a popular photo editor.



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CraftStudio

Add and change objects in 3D space, write scripts and rules, draw animations and effects. The authors of CraftStudio have thought of everything to make creating games on a PC from scratch in real time clear and fun. Moreover, all tools for modeling and animation are built into the program and are clearly labeled. The same can be said about the visual script editor. What's most interesting is that you won't find any problems with format compatibility or conversion. For more advanced users there is text editor Lua Scripting.

Developing a video game is not easy. However, if you have a million-dollar idea, it's best to start as soon as possible! There are more and more independent developers lately, and creating a game has never been cheaper or easier. This article will tell you about the main milestones of creating a video game.

Steps

Basics

Select a genre. Yes, all successful games are unique. However, they can be classified into one genre or another. Decide on the genre first! And the genres are as follows:

• Arcade
• Shooter
• Platformer
• Race
• Quest
• Endless Run
• First Person Shooter
• Manga
• Tower defense
• Horror
• Fighting
• Comedy
• Survival

1. Choose a platform. The chosen platform will significantly affect the further development process, not to mention how the game will be controlled - from a keyboard, joystick or tablet screen.

   • The general rule is that it’s easier to develop a game by immediately imagining how and on what it will be played. There are exceptions, of course, but there are exceptions to all rules.
   • Want to make a game for iPhone? It will need to be sent to the AppStore from a Mac computer.

2. Write a draft game concept. On a couple of pages general outline write how to play your game. This alone can give you an idea of ​​whether such a game will be successful.

   Create a core philosophy for the game. This is a kind of motivation that will make the player play and play, this is the very essence of the game. Feel free to check whether you have deviated from the philosophy during the development process. Examples of the philosophy of the game include:

   • ability to drive a car;
   • the ability to test the player’s reflexes;
   • the ability to simulate the economy of a space power.

3. Write down all the features of your game. Features are what will distinguish your game from thousands of others. Start by listing ideas and concepts, then rewrite it all into meaningful sentences. Prepare 5–15 features. For example:

   • Concept: construction of a space station.
   • Feature: You can build and control your own space station.
   • Concept: damage from meteorites.
   • Feature: the player tries to survive in conditions of meteor showers, solar flares, and so on.
   • List the features now, and then it will be easier for you to insert them into the development plan for the game. It is better to lay down all the features at the very beginning than to “sculpt” everything later on one another.
   • Rewrite the list of features until you understand: “This is exactly the game I want to create.”

4. Take a break. Hide your drafts in your desk for a week or two. Then take them out and look at them with fresh eyes. It won't hurt.

   We draw up a development plan

   1. Write everything down to the smallest detail. The development plan is the backbone of your game. Everything is in it. Even so: everything is in it. Mechanics, plot, location, design and everything else. Moreover, the format is not important, the essence is important, the content of this document is important.

      • Development plans become especially important when you have a team under your leadership. The game development plan in this case is a desktop... team file. Be precise, specific and clear in your language describing certain aspects of the game.
      • Not every game has a development plan, and no two plans are the same. This article is just a general guide, but you have the right to make your own changes.

   2. Create a table of contents. The table of contents should list every aspect of the game. The only thing that should not be mentioned there is the plot, unless the plot is closely related to the mechanics of the game.

      • The table of contents is almost like a manual for the game. Start with general sections, then divide them into subsections.
      • The table of contents is like a rough model of the game. But each point must contain details, a lot of details!

   3. Complete each item in the table of contents. Describe everything in such detail and clearly that when you start coding and drawing, you will understand everything and everyone, and right away. Every mechanic, every feature - everything must be explained at 5+!

      Show your game development plan to other people. Depending on your approach, creating a game can also be a collaborative endeavor. Other people's opinions about the game can make it better.

      • Tell the person you are going to release the game. If a person thinks it is just an idea, the criticism may be superficial.
      • If you decide to show the game development plan to your loved ones (usually your parents), keep in mind that their assessment may be too lenient than if the game was criticized by an avid gamer. No, this does not mean that you cannot show the plan to your parents. You can, but don’t forget to show it to those who have experience in this area.

   Let's start programming

   1. Select an engine. The engine is the basis of the game, it is a set of tools necessary to create it. Of course, it’s much easier to take a ready-made engine than to start developing your own. For individual developers, the choice of engines is large and varied.

      • With the help of engines, it is easier to work with graphics, sounds and artificial intelligence.
      • Different engines - different advantages and cons. Some are better suited for 2D games, others for 3D. Somewhere you need to better understand programming, somewhere you can start working without distinguishing a function from a procedure. The following engines are popular:
        • GameMaker: Studio is one of the most popular engines for 2D games.
        • Unity is an easy-to-use engine for creating 3D games.
        • RPG Maker XV - scripting engine for creating two-dimensional role playing games in JRPG style.
        • Unreal Development Kit is a multi-purpose 3D engine.
        • Source is a very popular and frequently updated engine for creating 3D games.
        • Project Shark is a 3D engine for beginners and advanced users.

   2. Study the features of the engine or hire a specialist in it. Depending on your choice, you may need to do a lot of programming. However, even the simplest engines are not so easy to understand. Therefore, if the task seems beyond your strength, find a professional.

      • This could be the start of teamwork on the game. First - a programmer, then a sound specialist and designer, then a tester...
      • There is a huge community of independent developers that are worth collaborating with. If people like your idea, they will be inspired and help you bring it to life!

   3. Make a prototype of the game. After studying the engine, make a prototype of the game. This is essentially a test of the game's basic functionality. No graphics or sound are needed yet, just placeholders and a test area.

      • You need to test and rework the prototype until it becomes fun to play. During inspections, you need to identify anything that is not working correctly and make appropriate changes. If the prototype doesn't excite people, then the game itself is unlikely to amaze them.
      • The prototype will change more than once or twice. This is normal, because you never know in advance how this or that mechanic will behave.

   4. Work on your management. Player control is the base level of the game's functionality. At the prototype stage, it is important to make the controls as convenient as possible.

      • Poor, complex, incomprehensible controls - a disappointed player. Good, high-quality, precise control - a happy player.

   Working on graphics and sound

   1. Think about what the project needs. Maybe your game will be strict enough geometric shapes and 16 colors? Or do you need complex drawings created by a whole team of designers? What about the sounds? Be realistic in your assessments and hire accordingly.

      • Most individual games are created by a small team or even one person. Please note that creating a game alone will take much longer.
      • There are many free resources available to everyone. The main thing in this matter is not to violate copyright.

   2. Draw rough art. Start working on the visual component of the game so that the game acquires the atmosphere that you saw in your dreams.

      Design the game world. Are there any arts for the game? You can begin to move on to creating a game and, taking into account the style, begin to draw levels or game areas. If your game is in the “puzzle” style, then, accordingly, come up with puzzles.

   3. Improve graphics. Depending on the chosen graphic style, different programs can come to your aid, for example:

      • Blender is one of the most popular 3D editors (and it's free). The Internet is full of guides on it, so it won’t be a problem to figure it out and get started quickly.
      • Photoshop is very useful at the stage of creating textures, as well as for rendering 2D art in general. Yes, it's paid. If you want a free analogue, take Gimp, it has almost the same functionality.
      • Paint.net is a free alternative to software like Paint Shop Pro that makes creating 2D art easy and simple. This program is especially useful when working on two-dimensional pixel art.
      • Use Adobe Illustrator. This program is great for vector graphics. It's not cheap, so if you're short on money, use Inkscape, a free and open-source alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

   4. Record the sound. Sound is a very important component of the atmosphere of any game. Do you have music, do you not have it, what kind? sound effects played and when, whether dialogue is voiced will all have a significant impact on the player's experience of the game.

      • There are free and functional audio programs available online. If you're on a budget, they're a great choice.
      • You can record sound from home, using improvised means.

The computer games industry is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the IT sector. How difficult is it to learn how to create games or at least individual elements of them? Can the user cope with such tasks alone? How do professionals create computer games?

What do you need to start creating games?

First of all, you need to be involved in the industry as a player. Without knowing how games work from the inside and the psychology of gamers, observing how computer graphics work in real use, and not in theory, it is very difficult to achieve success in releasing your own games. If a game is created with an eye toward commercial sales (or at least with the goal of promoting the personal brand of its developer), then it must be competitive and reflect the current demands of the gaming community. To release a product without following the “trend” is to waste time. Therefore, it is important to be not just an amateur gamer, but also to study the market, be able to install new games on your computer, and test them. And this means that the developer will also need very And here we move on to the second main condition for success in the gaming industry. We are talking about hardware components - hardware.

It is known that (from among PCs, of course, we are not talking about industrial computers) - gaming ones. They include hardware components (processor, video card, memory, chipset) that are much more technologically advanced than PCs for office and home needs. Externally, of course, computers of different classes may hardly differ, but from the point of view of electronic “stuffing” the difference is significant. A gaming PC can cost 5-10 times more than an office or home PC. It is possible that even some individual component (for example, the same processor) will have a price higher than the entire finished PC for the office. By the way, powerful hardware will be needed not only for testing gaming products. High-performance components are also required specialized programs for playing games on a computer. Those with the help of which masterpieces of the industry will be created.

The third component of success in releasing great games is, as experts in the “gaming workshop” say, a special type of thinking. It must combine two seemingly completely different principles: logic and creativity. The first is necessary in order to have a good understanding of the construction of scripts, scenarios and various kinds of dependencies embedded in the product concept, to decide how to write a game in a structure that future users will understand and accept. The second is to give your product unique features that distinguish it from similar or competing solutions.

Game Creation Methods

How are games created for a computer? Experts identify three main ways to develop gaming products: using construction kits, using game engines, and writing from scratch. The first is the simplest, the third is the most difficult. Therefore, if we are new to the field of creating games, then it makes sense for us to pay attention to the possibility of using construction sets. However, it will be useful to consider the features of each of the tools.

Game constructors

A constructor is a set of templates that have a programmed behavior model. The closest analogy that can be given to explain how to create a game using such a solution is “Lego” parts. Just as children construct, by reading a manual or improvising, houses, cars and other interesting masterpieces made of plastic.

The user has relatively great freedom in managing templates and setting scenarios for their operation. It is unlikely, of course, that with the help of a designer, even an experienced game developer will be able to produce a product that will create a sensation on the world market. Such programs are, rather, educational in nature, allowing novice gaming industry enthusiasts to understand how games are created on a computer. However, even this kind of task assigned to designers is important from the point of view of industry development.

Game engines

Creating games using engines is a process in which the user has at his disposal a disproportionately wider range of tools than in the case of designers. It is quite realistic to say that through the interfaces supplied by the manufacturers of such solutions, it is possible to create solutions that are competitive even at the global level - arcades, 3D action games, simulation games. Engines can be installed on a computer without problems and are almost always accompanied by a convenient interface for using them. As a rule, also high-quality help and training systems.

What is an engine? This is, in fact, just a set of commands (albeit a very complex one, consisting of hundreds of thousands of algorithms) that allow you to launch individual game processes. Number of templates similar topics, which are available in designers, as a rule, is kept to a minimum. And those that exist are very easy to modify or replace with those developed by the user himself. Using engines requires, of course, more qualifications than working with designers. If we are talking about creating a serious game, then the user will most likely have to involve someone else to help (we will look at the structure of a typical development team below). But once a person has mastered the engine interfaces, he will subsequently be able to adapt his existing knowledge and skills to create almost any gaming product.

Game from scratch

If a user has outgrown the capabilities of game engines, not to mention designers, has learned several programming languages, and studied in detail the principles of creating 3D graphics, then it’s time for him to master the most complex tool for creating games - writing a gaming masterpiece from scratch. The stages of releasing a new product will most likely include the development of its own engine - it is rare for a game to do without it, especially one that claims to be recognized in the community.

It is worth noting, however, that it is very difficult to cope with the release of a product from scratch alone (although the history of the gaming industry knows such precedents). But it is quite possible for one user to go through some stages of game development (such as, for example, creating characters, drawing graphic elements) in order to then involve other people by assembling a team.

Professional developers

If we talk about game development as a separate market segment, then the main role here is played by professional studios that have the financial and human resources to release commercially competitive products.

Creating top-level games costs hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, and dozens of specialists from various fields are involved in their release. There are, of course, small and medium-sized development companies whose budgets for the release of gaming products can fit into the amount of 8-10 thousand “green”, but this is a very specific segment.

Structure of a professional game studio

Continuing the conversation about professional development, it will be useful to study the structure of the average development company. Who should work for a company that claims to create a global gaming bestseller? How do people who do this on a professional basis create games on a computer?

The development team must include designers and artists. Without their talent, computer graphics will not impress users. Graphics are, according to many experts, a key factor in the success of a game. In some cases, positions of this type are divided by function. For example, a team of game creators may have separate 2-D and 3D designers, as well as so-called concept artists who offer their colleagues and company management sketches of future graphic elements for approval.

The next group of specialists are “modelers”. Befitting the name of their position, they create prototypes of the game characters, as well as the artifacts, equipment, and buildings surrounding them, and “model” the future virtual world. In a number of cases, specialists in this category are assisted by animators (in cases where special modeling needs to be done) complex movements characters).

In most cases, programmers themselves are involved in creating games. This happens most often when the development company uses its own engine, but it is necessary to periodically coordinate the scripts written in it with the features of the game animation laid down by the artists. If the engine is supplied by a third-party developer, then, as a rule, no changes to the program code are required.

A serious gaming product cannot be made without an art director. This person is called upon to consolidate the efforts of artists and designers within a single concept. He will also be responsible for the efficiency of work, organizing processes so that the game is released on time.

We create games ourselves: a review of programs

How to create a game with only general knowledge of how programs for developing gaming products work? There are many tools that allow even an amateur to create his own game. Let us give examples of the types of solutions that we discussed above.

Game Maker

This program makes it possible to create a game even for those users who do not speak programming languages. This, however, is not about developing three-dimensional masterpieces. The program allows you to create only 2D games, but in a wide variety of genres. You can make very simple action games. The menu available to the user contains a large number ready-made templates. All that essentially remains to be done is to come up with your own game scenario.

The program contains enough detailed instructions, good quality help system. Having mastered the capabilities of Game Maker at a basic level, the user can move on to learning the built-in language of this program - Game Maker Language. Using its capabilities, you can go beyond the templates built into the software and create games almost from scratch.

Construct-2

The Construct-2 product is recognized by experts as one of the most functional solutions in its class for creating games by users who do not speak programming languages. The huge advantage of this solution is that with its help you can release games for most platforms used today - Windows, iOS, Android, create them in HTML5 and applications for Facebook (after understanding how to make programs to run in this social network, the user will learn how to create a game on VK and show it to friends). Users of Construct-2 note the simplicity and clarity of its interface. You can work mainly according to templates, but there are a lot of them, and therefore there is almost anyone that will fit into the scenario invented by the user. The nice thing is that Conustruct-2 is free.

Unity 3D

The two programs listed above are designed for creating games in 2D mode. Unity allows you to work using 3D graphics capabilities. The opportunities that the program provides are huge. Just as in the case of Construct 2, there is multiplatform (there is even support for consoles - Xbox, PlayStation, Wii).

The program includes one of the best game engines in the world, according to experts (it is also called Unity). Therefore, this solution, without any exaggeration, allows us to create world-class gaming masterpieces (if, of course, we manage to assemble a team comparable in personnel to at least the average development studio). It will be possible to release very serious games on the computer. Shooting games - definitely, strategies - also quite realistic, racing, simulators - easy.

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