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How do solo devs make an entire game themselves? M (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 1 month ago by dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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So, the question seems vague but I will elaborate.

I’m a software developer, but I don’t do games; yet I have an urge to try and make something.

It just seems so overwhelming, I know I want to make a game where the main character is a cat and you have to complete missions, but where do you even begin. Where does the art come from? How do you refine your idea, if all you know is you want a cat game? How do you choose an engine? Do you just start with the basics and get a cat walking around and see what comes next? If you can’t hash out the idea then so you have a right to even try and make a game? Is it best to follow tutorials to get used to making games? I feel the answer to that is no as before I become a software developer, tutorial hell was a thing and I realised I needed to make things for me to actually learn.

Sorry for all the questions, this was just a stream of thought.

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[–] mipadaitu@lemmy.world 33 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Just like anything else, one chunk at a time.

You can start with a story and build the game off of that, or you can start with the gameplay and build up from there.

Sometimes you just have to start, and see where it goes. Pick an engine and start building something, don't be afraid to throw it all out and start over from what you've learned so far. Make a game that has some of the elements you want to use and try it out, then throw it out and make a different game with other bits. Start small and work up.

The biggest problem is thinking it has to be perfect to move on to the next part.

You can commission art, or you can buy some models and just use those.

You can also just build everything from the ground up, but it would be hard to do that for your first project.

[–] dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Thanks for the reply.

This makes a lot of sense, particularly I am drawn to the “start building something” and the way I interpret this could be making some basic platforms at different Z Axis’s and work on the movement for the cat, then throw it out (well keep it saved somewhere to look back to) and work on something else, like the environment or whatever. Then hopefully this will inspire other ideas and the game will grow from there.

I am going to start and see how we progress. Thanks again.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If you need inspiration PirateSoftware has some good pieces on getting started with game programming and regularly runs game jams.

[–] dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks. I’ll check that resource out.

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