If You Can't Make Games After This Video, Give Up

Summary

This video offers a candid guide to aspiring game developers, emphasizing the importance of letting go of initial ideas, understanding the necessity of programming, and planning before diving into game engines. It advises creating simple, diverse projects to learn the basics and warns against becoming dependent on tutorials. The speaker encourages exploring different engines to broaden skills and stresses the importance of focusing on the development process rather than immediate success, advocating for continuous learning and improvement.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Initial Game Ideas May Be Flawed: Let go of your first game idea quickly as it's likely not the best.
• 💻 Inevitability of Programming: Games are computer programs; understanding programming is crucial, even with visual tools.
• 📝 Plan Before Starting: Have a simple game idea in mind before opening a game engine to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• 🎮 Start with Simple Projects: Create at least three simple, different games to learn the basics without aiming for perfection.
• 📚 Learn Through Difficulties: Embrace challenges and use tutorials for specific issues rather than relying on them entirely.
• 🔍 Avoid Tutorial Dependency: After initial learning, be cautious of tutorials that teach entire systems to prevent becoming overly dependent.
• 🛠️ Experiment with Different Engines: Learning multiple engines, like transitioning from Unity to Godot, broadens your skillset.
• 📚 Value Documentation: Understanding the concepts and history behind game development can significantly improve your skills.
• 🎯 Focus on the Process: Game development is a craft; focus on improving and learning rather than solely on the end product.
• 🚀 Embrace Failure: Accept that early games may not be financially successful but are valuable for learning and personal growth.
• 💡 Be a Fountain of Ideas: Continuously generate new game ideas and don't become too attached to a single concept.

Q & A

What is the first lesson the video suggests for aspiring game developers?

The first lesson is to let go of your initial game idea quickly, as it likely isn't as good as you think it is, and to be open to learning and improving.

Why does the video emphasize that game development involves programming?

The video emphasizes programming because games are computer programs, and understanding programming is essential to creating them, even if using visual programming languages.

What is the recommended approach when first opening a game engine according to the video?

The recommended approach is to have a simple game idea in mind before opening a game engine, to avoid being overwhelmed by the options and information.

How many simple projects should beginners make to learn the basics of game development?

Beginners should make at least three simple projects that are different from each other to learn the basics of game development.

What is the purpose of making the first three simple projects in game development?

The purpose is to learn and understand the basics of game development without the pressure of releasing or showing the projects to others.

Why is it important for beginners to understand that their initial games will likely be bad?

Understanding that initial games will be bad helps set realistic expectations, allowing developers to focus on learning from their mistakes and improving their skills.

What is 'tutorial hell' and how should beginners avoid it?

'Tutorial hell' is becoming overly dependent on tutorials that teach entire game mechanics or types of games. Beginners should avoid it by watching specific tutorials that focus on particular components or nodes, not entire systems.

Why does the video suggest making a fourth game without relying on tutorials for the whole project?

The fourth game is meant to be a more polished project that can be shown to others for feedback. It helps developers to apply their learning in a more independent way and to start creating their own systems.

What does the video suggest about learning different game engines like Unity and Godot?

The video suggests that learning different game engines can help developers become more versatile and understand the overall concepts of game development better.

What is the importance of focusing on the process rather than the reward in game development?

Focusing on the process helps developers to improve their craft, withstand failure, and eventually achieve success by making better games over time.

What advice does the video give about becoming attached to a single game idea?

The video advises against becoming too attached to a single game idea, as it's important to be a 'fountain for good games' and to understand that failure is part of the learning process.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Embracing Game Development Realities

The speaker candidly addresses the harsh truth that initial game ideas are often flawed and encourages letting go of grand visions to start learning. They emphasize the inevitability of programming in game development, suggesting that one should not shy away from it but embrace it as an integral part of the process. The first lesson is to have a simple game idea in mind before diving into a game engine to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the options and information.

Keywords

💡Game Development

Game Development refers to the process of creating a video game, which includes designing game mechanics, programming, and producing artwork. In the video's theme, it is the central activity the speaker is teaching about. The script emphasizes that games are computer programs, highlighting the importance of programming in game development.

💡Game Idea

A Game Idea is the initial concept or vision for a video game, which can include gameplay, story, characters, and the game's world. The video suggests that beginners' initial game ideas might not be as good as they think, encouraging them to let go of their first ideas and learn through the process.

💡Programming

Programming is the process of writing code to create software, including video games. The speaker asserts that one cannot escape programming when developing games, even if using visual programming languages, and that programming is a fundamental and enjoyable part of game development.

💡Game Engine

A Game Engine is a software framework designed to facilitate the creation and development of video games. The script mentions that one should not open a game engine without a clear plan or goal, as it can be overwhelming due to the multitude of options and information available.

💡Plan

In the context of the video, a Plan refers to having a clear idea or goal before starting to work with a game engine. The speaker advises beginners to have a simple game idea in mind, such as a Mario or Pong clone, to guide their initial learning process.

💡Tutorial Hell

Tutorial Hell is a term used to describe the potential pitfall of relying too heavily on tutorials, which can lead to a lack of independent learning and creativity. The video warns against becoming dependent on tutorials that teach entire game mechanics, suggesting that it's better to learn specific components or nodes within a game engine.

💡Feedback

Feedback in this context refers to the process of receiving comments or critiques from others about one's work, which can be used for improvement. The speaker recommends making a fourth game and seeking feedback from others, emphasizing the importance of learning from the process rather than just the outcome.

💡Concepts

Concepts in game development refer to the underlying principles and ideas that form the foundation of game creation. The video suggests that learning different game engines, like Unity and Godot, can help deepen one's understanding of these concepts and improve overall game development skills.

💡Craft

Craft, in the context of the video, represents the skill, art, and process of creating something, in this case, video games. The speaker advises focusing on the craft of game development rather than just the end product or financial success, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and improvement.

💡Dream Games

Dream Games are the ideal or aspirational video games that developers envision creating. The script encourages developers not to become too attached to a single game idea, as the process of creating multiple games can lead to growth and the eventual creation of even better games.

💡Overwhelm

Overwhelm refers to the feeling of being excessively burdened or unable to cope with a situation, often due to the complexity or volume of information. The video mentions that beginners can feel overwhelmed when first opening a game engine, which is why having a plan and starting with simple projects is advised.

Highlights

The importance of letting go of your initial game idea as it might not be as good as you think.

Games are computer programs, and understanding programming is essential for game development.

Embracing programming as a key part of game development rather than avoiding it.

Having a game plan before opening a game engine to avoid being overwhelmed.

Starting with simple game projects like a Mario or Pong clone to learn the basics.

The necessity of creating at least three different simple projects to gain experience.

Accepting that early games will likely be of poor quality and facing many difficulties.

Balancing self-learning with watching tutorials to avoid stress and learn effectively.

Avoiding 'tutorial hell' by not relying solely on comprehensive tutorials for entire game mechanics.

Recommendation to watch specific tutorials for understanding particular components or nodes.

Creating a fourth game to showcase and seek feedback without relying on full tutorials.

The value of learning multiple game engines to avoid dependency and enhance understanding.

The benefits of learning Godot after Unity to appreciate game development concepts more.

Focusing on the process of game development rather than the financial reward.

Understanding that the first game might not be a financial success but can be personally rewarding.

The importance of making good games consistently to be appreciated by others.

Encouragement to start making dream games despite the fear of failure.

Advice on not becoming too attached to a single game idea and being open to creating more.

The realization that you are ready to make your dream game, and the value of learning from failures.

Transcripts

I'm gonna teach you how to make your own

games after this video you will be a pro

the number one lesson is your game idea

probably sucks the faster you let go of

the GTA 6 in your mind the faster you

will learn this will probably sound

really harsh but no matter how good you

think your game idea is it's probably

bad and listen I'm not trashing on you

I'm just telling you how it is I'm not

gonna serve you lesson number

two is you cannot Escape programming

games are literally computer programs

you can use visual programming languages

but you cannot Escape programming itself

and for me programming is the best part

anyway so why would you run from it

lesson number three is always go in with

a plan never make the mistake of opening

a game engine and trying to learn it

without a goal you're just gonna be

overwhelmed by the amount of options and

information that you need to take in the

first time you open a game engine you

should already have a game idea in mind

something very simple like a Mario clone

or a pong clone before we move on to

lesson number four I want to give you a

few tips for your first games you need

to make at least three very simple

projects you're only supposed to learn

from them these are not things you're

going to release or show anybody just

learn they all have to be very different

from each other for example you can make

a pong clone and then a Super Mario

clone because they are really different

in gameplay terms as a third option you

could probably make a top-down shooter

or something you want to make here it's

important to understand that your games

are going to be really bad and that

you're gonna have a ton of difficulties

you can try to do things on your own but

if you feel too stressed watch tutorials

man don't let your Eagle control you

allow yourself to do hard things just

not in the hardest possible way you know

lesson number four avoid tutorial hell

please you shouldn't really worry about

this in the first three games that we

were talking about earlier because you

were just learning the very Basics but

after that it's time to be careful with

tutorials that teach you an entire thing

like an entire game type or an entire

game mechanic because you could become

dependent on those tutorials and never

really learn how to make your own

systems in your own types of games as I

said you don't have to do things in the

hardest possible way so I still

recommend you watch tutorials but very

specific tutorials like how a specific

component Works in unity or a node in

Godot this way you can still avoid the

stress of something that is Way Beyond

Your Capacity but still learn how to do

things your own way so to definitely

Escape tutorial hell I recommend you

make a fourth game this time you can

even show people and ask for feedback

but the most important thing is being

something new and that you don't watch

tutorials for the whole thing just for

specific things as I said lesson number

five is explore new territory always

when I was starting I spent months

learning unity and I would never try

anything else I was making progress but

I felt like I was too dependent on Unity

itself as a tool and so I decided to

learn in the dough it was very stressful

at first but once I understood the

engine and the differences between the

two I realized that I was way better

after this learning Godot made me value

more the overall concepts of game

development and programming Kudos

documentation even focuses a lot on the

history of game development and why

things are done and that helped me a ton

this experience made me a better game

developer all around lesson number six

is focus on the process I know this

sounds cliche but game development is a

craft and you have to focus on the craft

not on the reward for the craft I know

you want to do this for a living but

your first game is probably gonna flop

financially but it's not gonna flop in

your eyes if it's good and if you learn

something from it focusing on making

better games is the only way to

withstand failure and eventually achieve

success and I promise you if you make

good games they will be appreciated

after you follow all the steps in this

video you can probably start making your

dream games but don't allow yourself to

become too attached to a single game

idea remember you have to become a

fountain for good games only one is not

going to get you anywhere in the

beginning you're gonna feel like you are

not ready to make that one game that you

always wanted to make but you are it's

just that you don't want that game to

flop so that's why you'll never make it

if you flop with that one you can always

make a better one and then people will

appreciate your first one because of who

you are alright this is your journey go

ahead leave a like in this video if you

want more