How I Would Start Game Development (If I Started Over)

Summary

In this video, the creator shares 10 game development tips based on their experience with indie games, especially their project 'Twisted Tower'. They emphasize the importance of defining your game's 'hook' (visual, mechanical, and story elements), creating a solid gameplay loop, and learning from games of similar scope. Other key points include building a prototype that feels great but looks simple, using project management tools like ClickUp, and developing a visual Bible for consistency. Additionally, they stress the value of creating a polished 10-minute demo to attract investment, build a team, and leverage platforms like YouTube for passive income and game promotion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Figure out your hook: A hook is what captures your audience's attention and drives them to buy your game. Focus on visual, mechanical, and story hooks.
• 😀 Develop your gameplay loop: Your loop is the repetitive action that keeps players engaged. Ensure it correlates with your hook for a seamless experience.
• 😀 Play games with similar scope: When developing your game, play others with a similar budget and time constraints to understand what makes them successful.
• 😀 Prototype first, polish later: Build a prototype that feels great, even if it looks simple. Don’t worry about visuals at this stage, focus on gameplay mechanics.
• 😀 Plan the scale of your game: Pay attention to measurements like jump height, movement speed, and attack ranges early in development to avoid future complications.
• 😀 Create a visual Bible: Develop a visual guide early on, including mockups, color schemes, and fonts, to ensure your game's aesthetic stays consistent.
• 😀 Build a 10-minute demo: Instead of creating a long, unpolished game, focus on a short, well-polished demo that can attract attention from publishers or investors.
• 😀 Assemble a team after your demo: Once your demo is complete, build a team to expand and refine the game, using the demo as a reference for development.
• 😀 Use project management tools: Tools like ClickUp or Trello can help you manage tasks, deadlines, and team collaboration, making the development process smoother.
• 😀 Start a YouTube channel: Building a YouTube presence can help generate passive income, grow a fanbase, and provide funding opportunities for your game.

Q & A

What is the concept of a 'hook' in game development?

A 'hook' is the element that captures the audience's attention and convinces them to buy your game. It is what makes your game stand out and can include a visual, mechanical, or story-based element that makes players want to engage with it. The 'Trinity Hook' includes visual, mechanical, and story hooks, which all need to be well-defined and tested with your audience.

Why is it important to correlate your gameplay loop with the hook?

The gameplay loop should be designed to complement and enhance the hook. A loop is the repetitive action players perform in your game, and it must tie back to the hook to ensure a cohesive and engaging experience. For example, in Minecraft, the loop of digging, exploring, and surviving ties perfectly with its hook of procedural world generation and the danger of monsters.

What is a 'game design bible' (GDD), and why is it important?

A Game Design Document (GDD), or 'game design bible,' is a detailed document that outlines every aspect of your game. It includes the hook, gameplay loop, measurements, visuals, and any other critical components. It's crucial because it serves as the foundation of your game's development, helping to keep your team aligned and ensuring all decisions are made with the game's core elements in mind.

How does playing games similar to your own help in the development process?

Playing games that share similar scope, genre, and resources helps you understand what made those games successful. It provides insight into what works within your game's scope and can inspire improvements or avoidable pitfalls. It's essential for indie developers with limited budgets and time to focus on games made under similar constraints.

Why should you focus on building a prototype that feels good rather than looking good?

The goal of a prototype is to focus on gameplay mechanics, ensuring that the core feel of the game is fun and engaging. A simple, unpolished prototype can help you focus on the most important aspects of your game before investing in visual quality. A good feel will ensure that the game is enjoyable even in its early stages, saving time and resources.

How can thinking about scale early on help during development?

Thinking about scale involves considering the game's mechanics and measurements, such as jump height, enemy speed, or sword swing distance. If you establish these values early, you can avoid problems later in development, ensuring that everything works harmoniously and avoiding costly adjustments close to launch.

What is a visual Bible, and how does it help in the game development process?

A visual Bible is a collection of visual assets like mockups, color schemes, logos, fonts, and concept art that define the visual direction of the game. Having a visual Bible helps prevent mistakes and design changes later in development, ensuring consistency and a clear vision from the outset.

What is the benefit of creating a 10-minute demo early in the game development process?

A 10-minute demo serves as a polished, focused representation of the game. It allows you to showcase your game's potential to publishers, investors, or players. A high-quality demo can be used to secure funding through publishers, Kickstarter, or to attract attention during Steam events like NextFest, increasing the chances of success.

Why is it important to start building a team after creating the demo?

Once you have a polished prototype or demo, you can build a team to help expand your game. By focusing on the key mechanics and systems in the demo, you can guide your team more efficiently. This avoids the overwhelming task of building a game alone and ensures the game expands with the right resources.

How can using project management tools like ClickUp improve game development?

Project management tools like ClickUp help organize tasks, set deadlines, and streamline communication between team members. They can provide clear directions through videos, descriptions, and tutorials, which significantly reduces the stress of managing a project alone. It also allows you to scale your team and track progress efficiently.