140 likes | 287 Views
Dive into the exciting world of game development with this comprehensive introduction. Learn valuable insights from experienced developers, including the importance of setting short-term goals, finding the right resources, and taking actionable steps toward completing your project. Whether you want to create simple arcade games or venture into 3D graphics, this guide provides practical suggestions and resource links to help you succeed. Connect with the game development community and turn your ideas into reality!
E N D
Introduction • These slides will be posted online • The idea of this • Feel free to interrupt • Pete: “Starting ambitious games and failing miserably about 25% in probably helped the most, as well as reading a ton of books.”
3 Steps to Starting a Project • 1) Set a short term goal • 2) Finding resources • 3) Work on the project
Set a Short Term Goal • No longer than 6-8 months. I prefer 3-4. • Too long of a project has a bigger chance of boring you eventually • Try to make sure your goal is feasible enough to accomplish for the time frame you gave it • Some goal suggestions…
Goal Suggestions • Learn a programming language • Easier graphics package (DXFramework, SDL, Allegro, PyGame) • Couple arcade style games • Tougher graphics package (DirectX, OpenGL) • Make a scroller game (top or side scroller) • Learn 3D graphics • Make a small 3D game • Make a bigger 3D games (using pre-made engines is nothing to be ashamed of)
Finding Resources • Game Development is huge now – tons of resources out there. • The toughest part is knowing what it is that you’re looking for. “Community” can help with this part
Internet Resources • Google • freeprogrammingresources.com • cplusplus.com • sgi.com/tech/stl • gamedev.net (GDNet) - Articles Section - Forum FAQ • 3dbuzz.com • entity.ummu.umich.edu/~wsoft/library/links.shtml
Workshops • Wolverine Soft - Xbox Development - DXFramework • SIGGRAPH - Maya, 3DSMax - Photoshop? • IGDA Presentations
Classes • Art - • Music - • Film -
More Classes • Communications - • Business - • Math -
More Classes • Programming -
Community • GDNet Forums • WSoft Mailing List • IGDA
Working on Project • Avoid “feature creep” • Outline your projects before hand • Save it for the sequel! • Debugging the project • Logs • Remote debug if possible • Profile your code (VTune is a profiling tool) • Finish It! • Inspire yourself by talking to other GD’ers and by seeing their projects