Your Game Design Starting point for beginner and hobbyist game developers

Quick Start Guides

Get into the action quickly with this overview of available tutorials and articles. This page is recommended for new users on this site.

The tutorials under each game engine are presented in the recommended order for beginners.

Tutorials

Game Maker 8
Easy to use drag-and-drop 2D game engine. Especially good for arcade and casual style games like platformers, top-down shooters and puzzles. 3D games can be made but requires technical insight.

  1. Download and install Game Maker 8
  2. Pong in Game Maker 8 video, written post or e-book printable pdf tutorial
  3. Breakout in Game Maker 8
  4. Adding sound and music
  5. Animating sprites
  6. Animated menus

 

Game Maker 7
Easy to use drag-and-drop 2D game engine. Especially good for arcade and casual style games like platformers, top-down shooters and puzzles. 3D games can be made but requires technical insight.

  1. Download and install Game Maker 7
  2. Your first game in Game Maker
  3. Pong in Game Maker 7 video, written post or e-book printable pdf tutorial
  4. Breakout in Game Maker 7 video tutorial
  5. Adding game menus

 

FPS Creator
Make your own 3D first person shooter games in no time. Very easy to learn drag-and-drop editor with no coding required.

  1. Download and install FPS Creator
  2. Find new models for FPS Creator
  3. FPS Creator video tutorial collection
  4. Creating sunlight in outdoor levels
  5. HoleZ - a free cutter tool

 

RPG Maker
Make your own 2D roleplaying games. No coding required and loads of content included to get you started quickly.

  1. Download and install RPG Maker VX

 

Cool tools
A collection of higly useful tools for game developers.

  1. Paint.net - image editor
  2. Blender - 3D modeling
  3. Cartography Shop - 3D modeling
  4. Audacity - audio editor
  5. CamStudio and Fraps - screen recording
  6. Shockwave-Sound - license music or sound
  7. Create games directly in your web browser

 

Articles

  1. Why not make your own games?
  2. How do you get your game ideas?
  3. Set realistic goals for your games
  4. Even the simplest game idea can be a hit
  5. Board games are good for game designers
  6. The hobbyist game developer manifesto
  7. Ten don't do's for hobby game developers
  8. There is more than one type of game developer
  9. The many roles of a hobbyist game developer
  10. Test your game everywhere
  11. Share your game on ModDB
  12. Sell your game or give it away free?

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