Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
A good rule of design is to take the action the player will do most often and prototype
it. If your testers enjoy it, perfect it and set it aside. Then define the second most fre-
quent action the player will do, find how it will complement action #1, implement and
test it. Continue on to action #3, repeat the process. For a first time project, it's prob-
ably best to lock down the design at action 3-5. Every action added will significantly
increase the complexity of testing and debugging.
A designer must be open to criticism coming from other team members and testers.
Ideas come and go and it is very important for a designer to never feel too attached
to any of them.
Finally, if you want to be a designer, you need to have a life. Go out and get a liberal
arts degree, take up a sport, make lots of friends, and have adventures. All of these
things will enrich your life and give you the material to make great games.
Most videogame designers have a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Arts,
Computer Engineering, or Experimental Psychology.
Though not strictly required, a strong University background can help you develop
those skills that can get your first step into the gaming industry.
More important, a University background can help you develop that specific forma
mentis that makes you willing to keep learning as you progress in your career. That
is really important when your line of work has to do with technologies and habits that
change so fast, as in the world of game development.
In the last few years, several universities and private schools worldwide have started
offering various courses in game design that teach the basics of this extraordinary
discipline.
No game is ever done!
You will always find things you want to change. It is the nature of the beast. Usually
you just run out of resources and say, "it's good enough". If you have ideas on how
to improve the game, file them away and save them for the sequel.
More about the role of game designer and his/her tasks can be found at the following
links:
