There is more than one type of game developer
I have worked with computer games for several years but in widely different ways. Some were commercially released. In my years at university they were student projects. I have also made games as a hobby with no other purpose than to please my desire to create them and learn from the experience. A few have even been made in small contest-like game jams where they competed against other game designs for the first prize.
It is always a good idea to consider who you are developing your current game for. A professional developer needs to think differently about a target market than a hobbyist because a hobbyist can live with a game that does not sell a lot of copies, or any copies at all in fact.
Here is a short list of the different types of game developers we see today and what generally defines them.
Beginner: often someone who wants to create new versions of classic games like Pacman or Space Invaders. Many beginners want to move on to bigger projects after a few small games.
Hobbyist developer: a trained game developer who uses spare time to create small and interesting games. A lot of these games are created for personal enjoyment rather than to please others and the hobbyist developer does not create games to make money from them.
Student developer: Often these are young developers working in small teams with a dream of making the next trendy hit game. Some students, like the team behind Portal, succeed in this.
Independent developer: Usually referred to as an indie-developer and often one who works alone and tries to develop games for a living. Many indies focus on niche markets. The pay from this line of work is not always enough to pay the bills so game development is supplied with a second job that brings home a steady pay check.
Professional developer: Full time game developer working at a company in a specialized position. Knows how important it is to create games that appeal to mainstream markets since this is where the games needs to be sold to keep the company alive.
It is important to note that this list is a simplified version of reality. Indie developers also are professional and hobbyists sometimes make money on their games so use this list as a guide to the different types of developers, not a definitive list.
The many roles of a hobbyist game developer
To make your own computer games you will need to train and use a wide set of skills. While some game engines like Game Maker and FPS Creator allow you to drag-and-drop elements into the game you will sooner or later need to work in an area outside of your normal expertise.
What type of game developer are you?
Which role do you prefer? While there are nearly countless roles a computer game developer can have there are certain archetypes that are commonly seen.
Game Designer
When you are planning the overall layout of the game, its story, how it feels, strength of weapons and bosses you are a game designer. Ideas are flying in your head and what actually goes into your game (and what does not) is what being a game designer is all about.
Graphic Artist
One of the ways we experience games is through the graphics on the computer monitor. Game reviewers sometimes focus a lot on this when they write their articles on the latest games. Graphics are created by artists who spend a lot of time on image editing software. They often specialize in either 2D or 3D graphics since mastering even one of these is time consuming.
Programmer
Do you immediately check which type of scripting language a new game engine uses and do you prefer game engines that uses coding rather than a graphical drag-and-drop editor then you are probably a game programmer with a good sense of logics and math.
Audio Designer
Does the word Twitter remind you of bird singing rather than an internet text message service or do you love mixing new and cool sound in audio editing software then you are probably destined to be an audio designer. If you also like to compose your own music then it’s a sure thing.
Level Designer
Did you play with LEGO’s as a kid and still think back on this as the best days of your life then level design might be just the thing for you. Level designers are excellent at putting together all the small bits and pieces from the other departments. They can create meaning and fun out of whatever they are handed and they know how to structure levels so that they are gradually harder and when the player progresses.
Chances are that you are probably strong in one or two of these areas but not all of them. Luckily there are ways to make games even if you are not a programmer and for those who don’t want to spend time making graphics or sound it is possible to find free resources online or team up with someone who is willing help you.
The Hobbyist Game Developer Manifesto
A manifesto: Ten basic rules for the Hobbyist Game Developer to remember before starting a new game project.
1. Make a small game
Don't aim to make the next World of WarCraft. At least complete some small games before moving on to some of your grand ideas.
2. Be open about your game
Don't be shy about developing games as a hobby. Upload your game to a website as soon as the first playable version is ready and share the link with friends. If you have concept art then share that even earlier in the process. Create videos, take screenshots and release early demos for the world to see.
3. Let your game evolve
Your game will never end up quite as you expected. If something does not work or feels annoying then change or remove it and maybe add something else to the game if it needs to be improved.
4. It is YOUR game
While input from friends can be useful don't forget that it is your time being spent developing it. If you love space themed games then set it in space. The target audience is probably you and it is really just a bonus if other people happen to like it.
5. Find help when you are stuck
Join communities and forums to find people who can help you when things get over your head. This can also lead you to a possible collaboration with someone who is talented in areas you are not.
6. Learn when creating your game
Game development allows you to learn a lot of things. Improve your skills in design, programming, graphics, sound, music and even creativity. Game development will naturally make you more creative.
7. Learn from other games
Play games that are comparable to what you are creating and draw inspiration from them without simply copying them. Even board games can be an inspiration. Improve their formula if possible or create something entirely new the world has never seen before.
8. Finish your game
Ten unfinished games will not make you half as proud as actually completing one game. Always strive to finish the game you are working on.
9. Give your game away
Free is the keyword here. Don't charge people for wanting to play your game and make it easy for them to share the game with their friends. You can try inserting ads if you need to make money from your game.
10. Have fun
Do it because you love it, you want to do it and because you have fun doing it.
Some of the rules might not be perfectly suited for your project. Go ahead and change the rules once you learn what works best for you.
Sell your game or give it away free?
As I also briefly mentioned in the hobbyist game developer manifesto one thing to consider seriously before even starting a new game project is the price tag of the completed game. Earning a dime or two doesn’t sound bad, does it?
Since anyone can publish their work online and setup payment processing with services like Paypal it is not a technical problem. It is easy to ask for money – the real problem is: will people buy your game?
Having followed the independent game development scene for a few years I know that very few small game development companies earn decent money and many don’t earn any money at all. The problem is that as soon as you ask for people’s money your game has to be really extraordinary for them to consider buying it. The internet is flooded with games, many are of these are free, so when people see a payment button 99% of your audience will go elsewhere and find another game. Lowering the price wont always help since that will make your game look ‘cheap’ in the players eyes. A game might sell better if priced at 20$ rather than 10$ and it will without a doubt make more money since you need to sell twice as many games at half the price which is a lot harder than having fewer people pay more.
But what if just 1% of players buy the game then? Well, let us say that you after releasing the game have 100 daily downloads of the demo (not impossible for a good game demo but not easy to reach either) then that converts to only 1 daily sale. If you have a really good game then you might be able to sell it for 20$ but if you try to compete on price (like most seem to do these days) then selling for 5-10$ might be your choice. Now for how long will you be able to keep people flocking to your game demo? New games are released every day and most likely your game will be down to a few daily downloads after a month or two. Old games rarely attract many new gamers.
So don’t sell the game? Only if it is really good and a lot of people other than your friends and family think that it has real quality.
The other option is to give your game away for free. Why do this? Because this will make you able to let anyone play your game and experience all the fun and excitement you created. No one will ever be forced to stop because the demo ended and they didn’t want to pay for the full game. Instead everyone will have the possibility to play your game to end and see the full story and fight the final boss. They might become fans of your game and over time you might even create new games that they want to play. Then you might consider asking a price. But consider it well and don’t be surprised if the price tag scares a lot of them away. If you really need to make some money from your games you could try inserting ads into them before putting up a payment button. This will keep the game free for the players.
Set realistic goals for your games
Reaching your goals requires you to be realistic.
Yesterday I asked why not just make your own games and noted that you should set realistic goals for your first game projects. Rome wasn’t built in a day and it’s easy to aim too high if you want to create the next big hit game. Instead it is usually better to start with a simple concept and make a small and funny or interesting game out of it.
Even a small game will take quite some time to finish since adjustments always have to be made once you get started and it takes time and a lot of testing to figure out what really works. Later the game needs to be polished so that it presents itself in the finest way to the player. This includes adding the best possible graphics, sounds and music and also testing it on a range of computers to see if it runs acceptable on other machines than your own. If you plan too much at the start of the project then you risk spending forever trying to add new features that often create new unintended problems for the game – or you might simply grow tired of your game since you never reach a point where it feels right. Many refer to this as ‘feature creep’ – an endless cycle of adding new cool features but failing to make a complete game that simply works.
Think about many classic arcade games like Pac Man and Space Invaders or many popular board games. They work quite well even with their simple game mechanics and sparse graphics or abstract board pieces made out of plastic or wood. People like such games because they are easy to learn and fun to play, not because they have a lot of rules or features that you need to learn before playing.
I learned a lot by just making my own versions of classic games like Pong and Breakout. Once I had the basics running I could add a few twists to the game that made them more my own games. You could try that out as well if you don’t have an idea to begin with.
Why not make your own games?
Do you know the feeling?
Running down a corridor, crawling through the vent-system, standing face to face with the end level boss only to get blown to pieces for the twentieth time. Or the racing game where your car is simply too slow to compete with the best racers who constantly outrun you. What about that game where the timer runs out every time you have the solution. Games that used to be fun sometimes turn into frustrating experiences.
You think for yourself that you could make a much better game. So why not just do that?
Years ago games had to be coded by specialist programmers and professional game companies guarded their development tools from outsiders. Beginners who wanted to make their own game creations had to work really hard in order to get just a few pixels to move or blink on a monitor. A simple moving object could take days to make.
Today things have changed. User friendly game development tools are freely available and most of these tools have big online communities that are ready to help you if needed. Many modern tools have a graphical drag-and-drop approach to game development. Perfect for non-coders, like myself. If you have ever dreamed of making a computer game there is really no excuse not to give it a try.
But where do you start? Well, here on Your Game Design there are already tutorials for Game Maker. In thirty minutes you could have your first complete game running! You can also have a look at FPS Creator or the Platinum Arts Sandbox Game Maker. I made my first game in Adventure Game Studio together with a small team but this tool requires a bit more programming during development.
So take a look at the tools and see if they fit your ideas. Remember that Rome was not build in a day so don't aim to make the next Quake game before the week has ended. Set small realistic goals and build from there.
I wish you the best of luck on your new journey!
