Ever wanted to make your own video game (or just know how to create a game) but didn’t know where to start?
You’re in the right place!
Creating a video game might seem hard, but it’s actually a fun and rewarding process when you break it down into simple steps. This guide will show you how to turn your game idea into reality, even if you’re a complete beginner.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about how to create a game, from coming up with a cool concept to designing and coding your game. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech genius to follow along. We’ll keep things easy and straightforward so you can focus on the fun parts.
Just remember: there’s no right or wrong way to start your own gaming project. Everyone has their own style and approach to reaching their goals. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind to increase your chances of success and make your game awesome.
So, grab a snack, get comfy, and let’s get started on making your very own video game.
1. Dream up your game idea
Before you dive into making your game, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to create. Here’s a simple way to get started.
First, start with a brainstorm session. Jot down any ideas that come to mind. Think about what kind of game you’d love to play. Is it an adventure game, a puzzle game, or maybe a racing game?
Don’t worry about details yet—just get your creative juices flowing.
Once you have a few ideas, choose a genre that excites you. Picking a genre will help narrow down your ideas and give your project some direction. It’s easier to focus on developing a specific type of game than trying to create something without a clear path.
Next, define the basics of your game.
Outline the main elements, such as the storyline, characters, and gameplay. What’s the game about? Even simple games can have a fun backstory. Who are the main players or characters in your game? And how will players interact with your game? What are the main objectives and challenges? Answering these questions will give you a solid foundation to build on.
After you’ve outlined the basics, take some time to research. Look at similar games for inspiration. See what works well and what doesn’t. This can give you a better idea of what you want to include in your own game and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Finally, write it all down. Put your ideas on paper (or a digital document; just try not to forget everything). This will be your game plan and will help keep you on track as you move forward. Having a solid game idea is the first step in making your dream game a reality.
Keep it simple and fun, and you’ll be off to a great start!
2. Build your dream team
Creating a successful game all by yourself is pretty rare these days. Most developers benefit from having a team, which helps make the game better, faster, and with higher quality.
Getting a team together can make a huge difference. The right people bring different skills and ideas that can really improve your project.
Here, we’ll talk about the kinds of people you want on your team and why they’re important.
And remember: one person can handle more than one role if needed.
Designer
The first person that comes to mind when developing a game is the game designer. This creative individual drives the game’s direction and crafts the player’s experience.
Interestingly, game design is one of the youngest disciplines in game development. In the past, designers needed other skills to be part of the team. Nowadays, there’s a dedicated focus on game design, with people specializing in delivering a great player experience.
The game designer is responsible for creating prototypes and quickly iterating on concepts. They understand that much of their work will be revised or discarded to achieve the best results.
A game designer blends player interaction, narrative, sound, visuals, and overall feel of the game world. They need to be open to feedback and have a thick skin to handle criticism, always aiming to improve the game.
Programmer
If the game designer is one of the newest roles, the programmer is definitely one of the oldest. Back in the day, games were developed in just a few months by a single programmer. Think of the old stories of Steve Jobs with Space Invaders or Howard Warshaw with Yars’ Revenge and the infamous ET video game.
The programmer focuses on the game’s overall stability and performance. They turn the game designer’s ideas into reality, making sure everything works smoothly. Programmers also create the tools and systems that allow other team members to add their work into the game, like pipelines and triggers.
Artist
On the other side of the spectrum, we have the artist. This person is all about the visual aspects and aesthetics of the game. They see the world in a spectrum of colors and know how to combine them to create a stunning visual experience. The Artist determines how the game should look and feel.
Artists design the characters, the world, and the overall visual style. They think about how everything looks and the story behind why it looks that way.
Their work brings the game to life and makes it visually engaging for players.
Music and Sound
Another critical talent is the composer (or sound designer), the person responsible for music and sound effects.
They create the acoustic atmosphere of the game, ensuring that sounds blend seamlessly with the game world. The composer’s job is to enhance the player’s experience through sound, making sure it fits the mood and feeling of the game.
A skilled composer will know how to make sounds that match the game’s environment and emotions. They can answer questions like whether the sound effects and music enhance the player’s experience or if they feel out of place.
Producer
Now, let’s talk about the producer. This person brings all the team members together.
They’re a master communicator who makes sure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. The producer (or you can call them video game project managers) ensures the project is moving forward, keeping everything on track and on schedule.
They set project timelines and milestones, keeping everything on track and on schedule. If there are any issues or delays, the producer steps in to find solutions and keep the project moving forward.
Producers also manage resources and budgets, ensuring that the team has what they need to do their best work without overspending.
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By keeping the team organized and focused, producers help ensure the game development process runs smoothly from start to finish.
Quality assurance or QA
QA is all about making sure the game is ready to go. QA testers make sure players don’t get a buggy, unusable game.
They find and fix the most important issues so players have the best experience possible. QA testers play the game over and over, trying out every feature, level, and character. They look for bugs, glitches, and anything that doesn’t work as it should. This includes checking for things like crashes, graphics issues, and problems with game mechanics.
Once they find a bug, they document it with detailed notes and sometimes screenshots or videos. This helps the programmers understand and fix the issue. QA testers also re-test the game after fixes are made to make sure everything is truly resolved.
They also focus on the overall player experience, ensuring the game is fun and engaging.
3. Plan your game
Now that you have your team together, it’s time to plan your game. This step is crucial to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Here’s how to get started.
First, outline your game’s core concept. What’s the main idea? What’s the goal for the player? Make sure everyone on the team understands and agrees on this vision.
Set milestones and deadlines.
Planning out when you want to complete each part of the game keeps the project on track. Make sure these goals are realistic and give your team enough time to do their best work.
Regular check-ins and updates with your team ensure everyone is on the same page and any issues are addressed quickly. Use tools like project management software to keep everything organized.
Next, break down the current milestone and if possible the next one into smaller, manageable tasks.
Create a list of features, levels, characters, and other elements that need to be developed. This will help you keep track of what needs to be done and who is responsible for each part.
Remember to be flexible. Game development can be unpredictable, and things might not always go as planned. Be ready to adjust your plans and make changes as needed.
With a solid plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to creating an amazing game, but start with the art bible.
4. Define the high concept
Creating a high concept is the fastest and cheapest way to get your team aligned before diving into development. Spending time on this now will save you a lot of time and money later. Here’s what you need to know:
First, understand that the high concept defines the scope of your game. It’s like project planning in other industries, but often skipped in game development in the rush to start creating. Don’t make that mistake!
A good high concept helps each discipline understand their role and how their work fits into the bigger picture. It outlines the game’s core idea, key features, and overall vision.
By creating a clear high concept, you ensure everyone is moving in the same direction from the start. This leads to a more focused and efficient development process.
5. Craft the art bible
For the artists, creating an Art Bible is essential. This is a collection of documents that outline everything needed to make the game’s visual elements come to life. Here’s what you should include:
First, detail what the characters look like. Include sketches, color schemes, and descriptions of how they move and react. This ensures consistency across all character designs.
Next, describe the game world. What does it look like? What’s its history? Why does it look the way it does? This helps everyone understand the setting and its unique characteristics.
The Art Bible should be a living document, meaning it’s regularly updated as the game develops. Artists and designers will refer to it often to ensure they’re all working towards the same visual goals.
Having an Art Bible keeps your team aligned and helps maintain a cohesive look and feel throughout the game.
6. Build the prototype
As promised, building the prototype is where the game designer shines.
This is where most of their initial work pays off. The prototype phase is all about experimenting with ideas, concepts, gameplay mechanics, and making rapid adjustments and iterations.
During this phase, designers try out all sorts of ideas to see what works and what doesn’t. They create rough versions of the game and put them in the hands of as many players as possible.
The feedback from these playtests is invaluable. It helps the designer understand what’s fun, what’s confusing, and what needs to be improved.
A big part of prototyping is being willing to throw out hard work if it’s not delivering the desired results. It’s a process of trial and error, but it’s crucial for refining the game. The goal is to find the core mechanics and gameplay elements that will make the game engaging and enjoyable.
Prototyping is also a great way to test the technical feasibility of your ideas. It helps identify any potential issues early on, saving time and resources in the long run.
7. Choose your engine
Talking about game engines can be tricky, especially for someone like me, a programmer who’s passionate about entertainment and coding.
We’re lucky to live in a time where we don’t need to build game engines from scratch. There are amazing options like Godot, Unreal and Unity that make game development accessible to everyone, even teenagers and kids.
But there’s still a need for custom engine development.
While engines like Godot, Unreal and Unity offer a lot out of the box, there’s no guarantee they won’t change their policies. Plus, you might need your engine to do something unique that these engines can’t handle. Choosing the right engine, or deciding to build one from scratch, is a big decision. It affects the entire development process and can save or cost you a lot of time and money.
Take your time to weigh the pros and cons of each engine. Think about the costs, time saved, and whether it can do what you need it to do. This decision will impact your project until it’s done and shipped.
Engine proof and prototyping are crucial steps. They answer the big questions: What do we want to do, and is it possible with today’s technology? Can we make it work the way we envision?
These answers will guide your development process.
8. Create awesome sounds
Now let’s talk about the musicians and sound designers.
These talented folks play a crucial role in bringing your game to life. Their job is to create sounds and music that match the theme and feel of your game, complementing the visual and gameplay elements perfectly.
At first, you might use placeholder sounds to get started. But the goal is to develop the right sound and music that blend seamlessly with the world and characters you’re building. Sound designers and musicians experiment with different audio elements to see what fits best, enhancing the player’s overall experience.
Great sound design can make a huge difference, adding depth and immersion to your game. Whether it’s the background music, sound effects, or character voices, every audio element contributes to making your game more engaging and enjoyable.
9. Chase the capital
In the game development world, passion is key, but we all need to make sure we can cover our bills and enjoy some downtime.
Funding is a big part of making a game happen.
We’ve gone over the earlier steps because nailing those will help you get the money you need to bring your game to life. Here are a few ways to get funded:
- Self-funding → you can use your own money, but it’s risky. You might burn through your savings on a project that might not take off. But if it does, all the profits are yours.
- Crowdfunding → if your game doesn’t need tons of resources, crowdfunding could work. Plus, it doubles as marketing. Try selling some merch to get people excited before the game launches.
- Investors → you can try to get investors to back your game in exchange for a cut of the profits. This could be through production companies or venture capitalists. Each has its own rules, and there’s a lot of competition, so make sure your pitch is strong.
Finding the right funding method can make all the difference in getting your game out there. Pick the option that feels right for you and your team.
10. Code, test, tweak, and repeat
Once you have your prototype and sounds in place, it’s time to dive into the heart of game development: programming, testing, and iterating. Here’s how to tackle this crucial phase:
- Programming → this is where your programmers take the lead, turning all the designs and concepts into playable code. They build the game’s systems, mechanics, and features, making sure everything runs smoothly. Keep the communication flowing between programmers and designers to ensure the vision is coming to life.
- Testing → after programming a feature, it’s time to test it. Testing helps catch bugs, identify issues, and see how well the game elements work together. Involve QA testers and even some players to get fresh perspectives. The goal is to find any problems early and fix them before they become bigger headaches.
- Iterating → game development is all about iterating. Based on the feedback from testing, you’ll need to make adjustments and improvements. This might mean tweaking gameplay mechanics, fixing bugs, or refining visuals and sounds. Don’t be afraid to make changes—even big ones—if it means making a better game.
This cycle of programming, testing, and iterating continues throughout the development process. It’s all about refining your game step by step, making sure each element works perfectly and adds to the overall experience.
11. Market your game
As you approach the finish line of the guide (and the process of how to create a game), it’s time to think about marketing. Creating a great game is only part of the battle—you also need to get it into the hands of players. Here’s how to get started:
First, build a marketing plan.
This should include your target audience, key selling points, and the best channels to reach potential players. Social media, gaming forums, and websites are great places to start spreading the word.
Next, create a buzz. Share teasers, trailers, and sneak peeks of your game to generate excitement. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and building a community around your game.
The more people talk about your game, the better.
Consider reaching out to influencers and reviewers. Having your game featured by popular streamers or gaming websites can give it a significant boost. Offer them early access or exclusive content to encourage them to share your game with their followers.
Don’t forget to set up a website or a landing page where players can learn more about your game, sign up for updates, or pre-order.
Make it easy for them to stay connected and excited about your game’s release.
Finally, be prepared for launch day.
Coordinate your marketing efforts to ensure maximum visibility when your game goes live. Keep engaging with your audience, and be ready to address any feedback or issues that arise.
Marketing your game effectively will help ensure all your hard work pays off and that players around the world get to enjoy your creation.
Ready to share your game with the world? Let’s get marketing; no other options available!
Wrapping it up
With this guide, you now have a roadmap for creating your own video game. From defining your game idea to assembling a team, planning, prototyping, and finally marketing your game, each step brings you closer to making your dream game a reality.
The only thing we have to say here—good luck, and happy game developing!
And if you ever find yourself stuck with game development project management, remember that Toño Games Consultants is here to help. Reach out to us and let’s get your project back on track!
