Looking to get into programming/game design

[Barn the Bear]

As a writer and musician, I kind of realized that... Hey, there's not much you can do with those skills. Sure, you can write fairly epic compositions and tell interesting stories, but no one's going to really care. Not if it's not in a format that no one cares much for in the first place, anyway.

So, after sitting on my ass and doing these artsy fartsy things for years, I decided, "Fuck it, I wanted to make video games since I was a wee baby, so I should!" But the thing is, I really don't know where to start. I've been thinking about getting Game Maker and trying my hand at small projects with that, because, despite most things made in that program being fairly casual and inconsequential, there have been some really decent things made with it too.

For example, Spelunky, Sandbox of God, The Oil Blue, etc...

So, uh okay. I'll get the program, but how the hell and where the hell do I start before I get delusions of grandeur and attempt to make and hype up some epic game that will inevitably turn out to become an epic mess? Again, it's not as if I've never thought about game design, because all I did was a kid was think up of all the wonderful games there could and should be... But I'm absolutely, 95% new to this (I used to make dumb, simple GM games when I was, like, 10), and so I need a little direction.

 

[Maldrantus]

Best bet I can give is volunteer for projects. It's tough to find sometimes, but small organizations are much more likely and able to take on volunteers for obvious reasons. Once you're there, you'll not only get a lot of good experience (which you can put on resumes!) but you'll see how things go on behind the scenes. For most people, this is a real eye-opener.

From there, it's usually more volunteering followed by more volunteering. Eventually, if you're lucky and you've met the right people or found the right project at the right time, you'll be brought on or promoted up into a paid position and get higher level experience.

From there, if your goal is to create (ie become the head producer of a project of your own), hopefully you've made the right contacts, garnered the right skills, and have the financial capability to create it.

In short, it's tough, and it starts from the bottom. But I wish you luck!

 

[Tony]

If you want to learn programming there are many decent books you can read which would be a good start. Learning C and C++ are two languages used quite frequently. Also, I'm not sure if you're familiar with Linux, but I'd also recommend installing one of the free distributions of that as well. Linux has many free compilers for programming. Learning basic scripting will also help you a ton (again, Linux is a great environment for learning to write scripts and there are many books on scripting and Linux). Buy some books, install Linux and then practice writing programs. Most books start out teaching you basic functions and then progressively get more complex.

 

[hredthel]

I cannot seem to grasp the concepts of programming, so I study in 3d art and photoshop. Tony do you have any recommendations for programming literature?
My advice Barn, is find which section of video game production you like the best and build outward from that. Maldrantus has it on the nose: go out and volunteer.

 

[Tony]

I agree that volunteering would be a good way to get some hands-on experience and a reputation for yourself. But in the thread title you specifically stated programming, which is hard to volunteer for if you can't write programs However, if you were to volunteer your skills in writing or music composition that might be something that is easier to learn on the job.

@hredthel: The books I bought to learn programming and Linux are probably quite outdated by now (bought them about 12 years ago). Also, I didn't buy books with a focus on gaming. In fact, one of the first books I bought on programming is The C Programming Language (published in 1988 and it is sometimes referred to as "the C bible"). C is a lower-level language than C++ (which is usually used when writing a game).

If someone had no previous experience programming I'd recommend a book such as this one:

Beginning C++ Through Game Programming

That would be a great introductory book to programming in C++ for someone who has never written a single line of code before. However, something to understand is: you're not going to go from reading a single book to designing complex 2d/3d games. What this book will do is give a basic understanding of C++ so you can start to learn more advanced programming.

 

[hredthel]

@Tony:
Thanks man, I appreciate the help. (and the link!)

 

[The Hedge Knight]

I am a writer too, but I have been trying to get into 3D modelling instead. Good luck!

 

[hredthel]

I am a writer too, but I have been trying to get into 3D modelling instead. Good luck!

What software are you currently using?

 

[The Hedge Knight]

What software are you currently using?

I have been trying my hand at blender, though I am amazingly bad and confused. Been trying for a few months too, so I have a feeling I am just naturally bad.

 

[hredthel]

If you can get a hold of an older copy of 3ds Max or Maya I think you will find it easier. The tools and interface are very similar to Blender but much more powerful. I suggest mixing up some time in Photoshop as well. Textures are an equally important aspect and for me: it's a good break for my creative side to bounce back and forth between 3d modeling and texture work.

 

[The Hedge Knight]

Alright, you have any tutorials to recommend?

 

[hredthel]

Here is a link to the site 3DTotal (great place to browse for tutorials)
http://www.3dtotal.com/index_tutorial.php?catDisplay=1&p=1&sort=date&order=1&detailsoff=0&roPos=1

Also a good chunk of free textures: (You see many of these in newer games haha)
http://freetextures.3dtotal.com/

I would also suggest roaming around on Polycount. its a great site for advice and you can find many tricks and techniques that would change the way you go about things. You can also start your own thread and get some serious feedback no matter what your skill level.
http://www.polycount.com/forum/

Hope some of this inspires and/or helps you!

 

[Stephen]

Before you can program games you need to be able to program, you really need to be going into this without thinking of games. Programming games is an incredibly difficult task, not only do you need to have above average programming skills, you need to think logically and have really good problem solving skills. So you really need to learn to just program applications first before starting game development.

A good start would be C++, it gives you the knowledge needed to branch off into other languages, Java, Lua, C# etc are all very similar. But if you really have to, starting with any of them should be ok. Youtube is your friend for learning to program. And here are some GDK's I have used over the years.

• C++ - Dark GDK > Free, you need to buy a licence to sell your stuff though
• Lua - Love2D > Fully ficence-free as far as im aware, and this is probably the best if your starting small, really easy to pick, you can pretty much reinvent any NES/SNES game in a few weeks if you put your mind to it
• Java - There are plenty of kits for this, and its very widely used, just have a look around
• C# - Look into Xbox live game development

 

[MegaFarinato]

Wow so many people like me =D.

I have a question, if anyone can help me wiht this, please. Ive done some 3D art studies, I can do basically any part of the artistic pipeline but just with XSI softimage, and ofcourse Photoshop and Zbrush. So I know pretty much all the shortcuts, but i want to expand my Knawleage to more game focused softweare; or if I even need to if that would make me easyer to find a job.

Sorry if my memenglish is not so good.

 

[Roshawn Terrell]

Download unity, and learn how to use it. Its possible to make an entire game without programming a single thing, because a lot assets have already been made.

But if you do want to program, there are a lot unity tutorial videos, not to mention a forum where you can ask questions.

I recommend not learning programming the boring way where your just spoon fed information that may or may not be useful. Its best to learn it when trying to solve a specific problem you have.