Let’s address some of the common misconceptions about what a game designer is, and the skills/knowledge you’ll need to be successful. The best way to get practice is to start making games on your own, today!
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(Original air date: November 10, 2010)
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I remember my dream of wanting to design video games. It died when I couldn't wrap my head around Java for my one college class, and mostly failed my spring semester that I left college altogether. It kind of came back but turned into wanting to design board games instead; I'd still like to try making a visual novel or adventure type game for PC someday.
Hard to say it's my dream anymore. Analyze and break down are my weak points, I play games in years, but never think about it. Math is also another big big problem for me since I'm very dumb with it.
I couldn't help but pause the video when you said artists and programmers approach solving problems completely differently, I am both an artist and programmer.
As a UX designer who's interested in dabbling in game design I am laughing because the preconceptions I come to the field with are flipped from a lot of peoples. Like, it's an ingrained expectation to toss and adjust ideas based on how users (players) respond, down to it's very direction and fundamentals. Plus the whole negotiating between designers and developers thing. What I currently lack is a foundation in the actual construction of games, etc. Most would be designers I know have that flipped.
i feel like i could be a pretty good part of a team in terms of programming and logic. due to my Asperger's syndrome, im not very versed in story, flow, or writing, but i can excel at logical thinking and on-task focus. just give me a task, instructions, and a path to follow, and i can exceed expectations. the only problem is that i still have a few more years of schooling to do in programming and networking, and i'm still somewhat out of the loop in terms of actually finding a job in the game development industry. the most i know about it is that most companies and studios actually formed out of a group of modders that built mods and stayed together afterwards to make their own games.
also, because of my autism, im ironically good when it comes to knowing how players think, group together, and act. im actually doing a minor personal study of a game called foxhole where every player is grouped into one of to teams. surprisingly, each team actually turned into micro-communities, like in eve online. im gonna be taking some minor psychology classes soon, and i might even try to incorporate it into my classwork.
sorry if it looks like im ranting, its just easier to say everything on the internet. i could just use a little help with what i said earlier about actually finding and contacting studios. most of the positions I've glanced at on the sites of studios i know of still said they need 3-5+ years of experience. but how are you suppose to get experience if you cant get the job, it doesn't make logical sense.
why does this video discourage so many people? if anything, it encouraged me that if I want to make a game, I'll have a lot more stuff to learn. It means that not just anyone with an idea can make a game, but people have to work for it. people who just found out that everyone has ideas and there is no such thing as an idea guy in a game company, and are discouraged by that, keep in mind that it's still YOUR idea, even though everyone has ideas, you have the power to convert that idea into a game, with time and effort. if making a game was as easy as coming up with an idea, every game would just get lost in the void, it's the appreciation of a good story in a game, a good soundtrack, good graphics, good gameplay, etc etc, that make a game great. at least it is to me, I spend hours just listening to a games soundtrack and trying to figure out what makes it great, or what makes it not great, or what it contributes to the game, or I can watch the details in games like rayman or fez, from the tiny little spiders that make the background dynamic, to the story the design of the characters and architecture tell, that's all much more facinating to me than the idea itself.
Just to those people discouraged by this video: 4/5 designers in the industry either don't have the math skills, or don't have the programming skills. It's a very difficult industry to break into, but definitely focus on three things: Communication, understanding the market, and forgetting your own ego. Get those things down and all you need to focus on is problem solving/logic to be a successful game designer.
I have most of the requirements that come with being a designer, I just need to learn how to code a bit, and be able to understand what goes into coding various things, does anyone have any suggestions for learning how to code, or tutorials they would suggest I check out? I would greatly appreciate it :>
I honestly thought I’d be discouraged by this video. I was wrong! To take time to learning all that kinda sounds interesting! I think I’ll consider this in the future!
This video seemingly crushed many peoples (including mine) dreams while vitalizing others. Such different reactions it shocks me.
(Edit : When reading the comments, there is both belittlement and encouragement. Either way, I got a lot of work/“exp harvesting” cut out for me. I’ll pursue the things I love/curious about while I still can and then consolidate.)
I mean honestly for most of you this really should have been clear from the start. Your achieving to become a game designer, the common for game designers who take there games seriously is master's degree.
31 comments
Hi, name of final song at 7:05? Thanks
How does religion knowledge fit into this?
0:35 They predicted the Goose game 8 years ago.
5:09 im sure that this isnt a problem fo most of you but,
A L L Y O U R B A S E A R E B E L O N G T O U S
I remember my dream of wanting to design video games. It died when I couldn't wrap my head around Java for my one college class, and mostly failed my spring semester that I left college altogether. It kind of came back but turned into wanting to design board games instead; I'd still like to try making a visual novel or adventure type game for PC someday.
Hard to say it's my dream anymore. Analyze and break down are my weak points, I play games in years, but never think about it.
Math is also another big big problem for me since I'm very dumb with it.
I couldn't help but pause the video when you said artists and programmers approach solving problems completely differently, I am both an artist and programmer.
A lot of this stuff is just as useful advice for anyone wanting to be creative FYI, authors, poets, musicians, artists etc.
two of my top three fav games were released fully thought-out and planned.
Hi, I'm a guy who loves programming and I enjoy drawing things.
"Programmers and artists have a different way of viewing things."
Yes.
What did you think I was gonna say no?
I'm just fucking weird, that's all lol.
As a UX designer who's interested in dabbling in game design I am laughing because the preconceptions I come to the field with are flipped from a lot of peoples. Like, it's an ingrained expectation to toss and adjust ideas based on how users (players) respond, down to it's very direction and fundamentals. Plus the whole negotiating between designers and developers thing. What I currently lack is a foundation in the actual construction of games, etc. Most would be designers I know have that flipped.
Games are like 70% of my knowledge and I don’t know what else to do with my life
Ps: I love video games
I am convinced that the top left of 0:35 inspired untitled goose game
You cant work on your game forever. laughs in dwarf fortress
i feel like i could be a pretty good part of a team in terms of programming and logic. due to my Asperger's syndrome, im not very versed in story, flow, or writing, but i can excel at logical thinking and on-task focus. just give me a task, instructions, and a path to follow, and i can exceed expectations. the only problem is that i still have a few more years of schooling to do in programming and networking, and i'm still somewhat out of the loop in terms of actually finding a job in the game development industry. the most i know about it is that most companies and studios actually formed out of a group of modders that built mods and stayed together afterwards to make their own games.
also, because of my autism, im ironically good when it comes to knowing how players think, group together, and act. im actually doing a minor personal study of a game called foxhole where every player is grouped into one of to teams. surprisingly, each team actually turned into micro-communities, like in eve online. im gonna be taking some minor psychology classes soon, and i might even try to incorporate it into my classwork.
sorry if it looks like im ranting, its just easier to say everything on the internet. i could just use a little help with what i said earlier about actually finding and contacting studios. most of the positions I've glanced at on the sites of studios i know of still said they need 3-5+ years of experience. but how are you suppose to get experience if you cant get the job, it doesn't make logical sense.
why does this video discourage so many people? if anything, it encouraged me that if I want to make a game, I'll have a lot more stuff to learn. It means that not just anyone with an idea can make a game, but people have to work for it. people who just found out that everyone has ideas and there is no such thing as an idea guy in a game company, and are discouraged by that, keep in mind that it's still YOUR idea, even though everyone has ideas, you have the power to convert that idea into a game, with time and effort. if making a game was as easy as coming up with an idea, every game would just get lost in the void, it's the appreciation of a good story in a game, a good soundtrack, good graphics, good gameplay, etc etc, that make a game great. at least it is to me, I spend hours just listening to a games soundtrack and trying to figure out what makes it great, or what makes it not great, or what it contributes to the game, or I can watch the details in games like rayman or fez, from the tiny little spiders that make the background dynamic, to the story the design of the characters and architecture tell, that's all much more facinating to me than the idea itself.
0:35 untitled goose game prequel
I want to be a game designer. That is the thing I repeat myself few times everytime I have to write some code.
0:36 looks like an untitled goose game (2019) premonition.
0:34 look! Extra credits predicted untitled goose game!
WAIT.. I THOUGHT I WANTED TO ME A 3D ARTIST.. MAKES FIGURES IN A GAME.. BUT THAT IS CALLED A PROGRAMMER??? o.o
Sorry folks, game salad is not free anymore
Just to those people discouraged by this video: 4/5 designers in the industry either don't have the math skills, or don't have the programming skills. It's a very difficult industry to break into, but definitely focus on three things: Communication, understanding the market, and forgetting your own ego. Get those things down and all you need to focus on is problem solving/logic to be a successful game designer.
My dream is to work at rockstar north, scotland.
“Go live.”….I-
i need to be good at math? well there goes another career idea down the toilet
This would help me in the future
I have most of the requirements that come with being a designer, I just need to learn how to code a bit, and be able to understand what goes into coding various things, does anyone have any suggestions for learning how to code, or tutorials they would suggest I check out? I would greatly appreciate it :>
I honestly thought I’d be discouraged by this video. I was wrong! To take time to learning all that kinda sounds interesting! I think I’ll consider this in the future!
This video seemingly crushed many peoples (including mine) dreams while vitalizing others. Such different reactions it shocks me.
(Edit : When reading the comments, there is both belittlement and encouragement. Either way, I got a lot of work/“exp harvesting” cut out for me. I’ll pursue the things I love/curious about while I still can and then consolidate.)
Edit 2 : really weird turn around. Massive depression. Then massive inspiration.
I mean honestly for most of you this really should have been clear from the start. Your achieving to become a game designer, the common for game designers who take there games seriously is master's degree.