Thread: How hard is it to create video games?

Originally Posted by donkeypuncher76

if you dont have the skills it will be hard to do

What are the skills needed?

If you're planning to make a game yourself, it's not easy at all. You have to know what language you're going to code your game with firstly. Learning a programming language can take years. There are engines out there that can help you to make a game but the good ones are usually expensive and you still need some programming knowledge.

Game development involves a lot of core aspects and jobs that not everyone can just do nor one person can do all of them and make a triple A title.

Writing: All great games require a good idea and good writers to back up that idea. Gaming is an art, no matter what Congress says. Don't ever forget that what the writers do, the game becomes. All great games, in my opinion, start from great writers with a bright idea and a passion to create a legacy. The writers are restricted though, they can't just write and expect for the game to be made magically.

Art: Not everyone can just read text on a script and understand it all, sometimes you need art to give a basis to start with. First there is concept art to further expand the project and give ideas that can come together to make a visually appealing game. Next with the art, you have to have 3-D models to work with the game and design for levels for the player to work with.

Programming: See it's best to understand that computers don't speak English but they do understand things called a programming language. Programming languages, or code, ranges from Java to the C series of communication. Learning code is like learning a foreign language, it will take some time to work at and it's not something you just learn on the spot. Programmers code to make the mechanics of the core game function the way it's supposed to. Even the programmers have engines they work with to make the job easier but still difficult. I do have to admit I think this is the hardest part of game development right here.

Testing: Game testing isn't just getting to play the game before it comes out and you don't just play and play over and over again for the sake of fun. To test a game means it is your duty to find bugs in the game that shouldn't be in there and you have to describe the bug in full detail within a work document and analysis spreadsheet. If you don't do your job and find those bugs, the game becomes crap immediately without hesitation.

Producing and Designing: Unlike what the names might suggest. Being a producer and being a Designer means that you are restraining the game. Not all developers believe that their game is 100% complete when shipped out and it's because of the Producers. They make sure that the game stays within reality and doesn't fall into another Duke Nukem Forever. Yes before it seems like a bad idea to have Producers and Designers, just remember Duke Nukem Forever and the fact that it took them thirteen years to finish the game. Why? Because they didn't have producers.

The Player: It seems kind of crazy but I am going to quote James Portnow on this case. "The player is half of the experience." You are the player and it's your duty to play the games you enjoy the way you want to do so. To limit the player is the game developer's worst nightmare...unless you are Square Enix then you just love to have it more of a movie than a game.

All in all, is it hard to create a video game? Yes! Is it impossible? No! You just need the right people who know what they are doing to come together and follow under the right dedication to complete a legacy and create art. Gaming is an art and any game developer out there doesn't want your money. They want you to be happy and they want to enjoy what they do. I have always wanted to write for a developer but I am restricted by both my age and my limits of when it comes to finding someone who would love to take me up from their wing. Ohh well I can dream.

It depends entirely on what game you are building. You could make a game entirely by yourself in about a week if it was simple.

The amount of labor it takes to make a game all depends on how ambitious it is; much like music and movies.

A blockbuster game like Skyrim can take teams of people working around the clock for years to finish. Same goes for games like Starcraft II. Blizzard spends many years on their games and that's why they tend to be very good.

Originally Posted by ladygoomba

You have to know what language you're going to code your game with.

What are the languages used on games?