How to Start/Build a Game

[Polraudio 122]

 

Step 1: Story

 

Before you even try to make a game come up with a good story. Try to make it original. Original stories grab the most attention and look way better.

 

Step 2: Resources

 

Before you can start building your game you need to find/make the resources you think your going to need. When gathering resources make sure you know who the author is. If you dont know who the author is leave the resource alone or ask around. No one wants their work used and not being credited for it.

 

Step 3: Planning

 

Before you even try building maps and stuff plan out how its all going to be. Draw on paper or something how maps are going to come together. Its usually a good idea to start with drawing a world map so you can have an idea how big to make your maps and how your story is going to progress through these maps.

 

Step 4: Building

 

Now its time to start building your game.

Step 4A:

Build the intro area. The intro area is like a cutscene that introduces the game

to the players. Theres many ways you can do this. It all depends on your story.

 

Examples:

-What happened in the past

-What happened last EX: some games show the end before the beginning

-Show landscapes

-Show whats happening now

-Show a picture of polraudio(Joke)

 

Step 4B:

Build the starting area. This is where your whole game is going to start.

 

Step 4C:

Build most of the starting area. EX: Build the first 2 towns, all caves. etc.

in that area.

 

Step 5: Setting up Database

 

Now is where you create everything your going to need for your game. Your going to want to work your way from left to right when making the database. When you create your character its a good idea to start with low stats and the same goes with enemies.

 

Step 6: Enjoy Making

 

Enjoy making your game. If its fun for you its most likely going to be fun for others.

 

Step N/A: Tips

 

-Don't make your game to linear. People like freedom.

-Try adding some choices that might effect the story.

-Don't spend 1-20min on a map. Spend at least an hour.

-Maps are almost everything in a game. Bad Maps = Bad Game

-Don't cram every little script in your game. Only use whats needed.

-REMEMBER CREDITS!!!

-Backup your game daily or weekely

-Don't make beginning enemies to strong. 2 Hits to kill is ideal.

-Don't make cutscenes to long. People don't want to sit there for 30min reading text. Thats what a book is for.

-Have testers. Testers are always good to have before releasing a demo to the public.

-Don't rush your game. You want everything to look good and function as expected. EX: Took me a few months for a 1 hour game.

-Once again. Enjoy playing your game because others will enjoy it if you do.

[laansolo 3]

sorry to point this out, but thee is no step 4. I probably should follow this on my game.

Step 1: Build the intro area. The intro area is like a cutscene that introduces the game to the players. Theres many ways you can do this. It all depends on your story. Examples: -What happened in the past -What happened last EX: some games show the end before the beginning -Show landscapes -Show whats happening now -Show a picture of polraudio(Joke)

 

Step 2: Build the starting area. This is where your whole game is going to start.

 

Step 3: Build most of the starting area. EX: Build the first 2 towns, all caves. etc. in that area.

 

Step 5: Setting up Database Now is where you create everything your going to need for your game. Your going to want to work your way from left to right when making the database. When you create your character its a good idea to start with low stats and the same goes with enemies.

 

Step 6: Enjoy Making Enjoy making your game. If its fun for you its most likely going to be fun for others.

Edited April 19, 2011 by laansolo

[Polraudio 122]

sorry to point this out, but thee is no step 4. I probably should follow this on my game.

Step 1: Build the intro area. The intro area is like a cutscene that introduces the game to the players. Theres many ways you can do this. It all depends on your story. Examples: -What happened in the past -What happened last EX: some games show the end before the beginning -Show landscapes -Show whats happening now -Show a picture of polraudio(Joke)

 

Step 2: Build the starting area. This is where your whole game is going to start.

 

Step 3: Build most of the starting area. EX: Build the first 2 towns, all caves. etc. in that area.

 

Step 5: Setting up Database Now is where you create everything your going to need for your game. Your going to want to work your way from left to right when making the database. When you create your character its a good idea to start with low stats and the same goes with enemies.

 

Step 6: Enjoy Making Enjoy making your game. If its fun for you its most likely going to be fun for others.

Those are other steps apart of step 4. Changed it.

[Broken Messiah 20]

You would think that more tutorials along these lines would exist, I have always wanted to read one :alright:

 

 

 

 

 

[rgangsta 43]

-Don't spend 1-20min on a map. Spend at least an hour.

-Maps are almost everything in a game. Bad Maps = Bad Game

-Don't make cutscenes to long. People don't want to sit there for 30min reading text. Thats what a book is for.

-Have testers. Testers are always good to have before releasing a demo to the public.

-Don't rush your game. You want everything to look good and function as expected. EX: Took me a few months for a 1 hour game.

-Once again. Enjoy playing your game because others will enjoy it if you do.

 

I couldn't agree more to these. I can't tell you how many times terrible maps turned me off towards a game.

Long cutscenes is another issue. My cutscenes are short and interactive. So it's not just staying and reading text the whole time.

Edited April 19, 2011 by rgangsta

[kellessdee 48]

Very nice, I would focus more on planning, the key to a successful game is successful planning (items, skills, characters, etc.) Good game design is key to a good game. However, one could easily create an entire tutorial in itself on game design.

 

But very good tutorial! Hopefully a lot of people will read this and we will see an influx of rpg maker games :D

[Bob423 52]

i need to read this. very good advise.

[kellessdee 48]

Oh yea, I forgot, I am going to place polraudio's picture in my intro and make the best game evar. Do i need your real life photo or is your avatar just as effective :)

[Polraudio 122]

i need to read this. very good advise.

 

Thanks bob :biggrin_002:

 

Oh yea, I forgot, I am going to place polraudio's picture in my intro and make the best game evar. Do i need your real life photo or is your avatar just as effective :)

 

Either is fine LOL.

[kellessdee 48]

You think it's funny, but just you wait until I finally get enough done to release something. Your face will be there.

 

 

 

 

I was gonna make it a surprise but it will be like CREDITS: polraudio...for his FACE. and then it will show your face with epic music playing

[Razor 0]

One thing people rarely put much thought into is game mechanics.

 

Is your game going to be turn-based or real-time?

 

Is there magic in your game? How does it work?

 

What kind of stats do characters in your game have? Health? Strength? Mana?

 

Are all battles one on one? Or are team battles possible?

 

That's just scratching the surface. RPGs can be quite complicated. Especially MMOs.

[Polraudio 122]

One thing people rarely put much thought into is game mechanics.

 

Is your game going to be turn-based or real-time?

 

Is there magic in your game? How does it work?

 

What kind of stats do characters in your game have? Health? Strength? Mana?

 

Are all battles one on one? Or are team battles possible?

 

That's just scratching the surface. RPGs can be quite complicated. Especially MMOs.

Those are very good tips.

[FranklinX 37]

This is great advice! I hope developers will take your advice seriously.

 

The time for maps depends on the size of the map. A small house's interior should only take a few minutes.

[Polraudio 122]

This is great advice! I hope developers will take your advice seriously.

 

The time for maps depends on the size of the map. A small house's interior should only take a few minutes.

Yea it does depend on the size. I usually spend a minnimum of 1 hour on each map even small houses.

[rgangsta 43]

One hour? Now that's thorough. I spend about 30 minutes on a small map. But an hour would help me make sure everything's in top shape.

[FranklinX 37]

Yea it does depend on the size. I usually spend a minnimum of 1 hour on each map even small houses.

 

I'm assuming you mean this completely based on XP's layer system which takes more time and space. In VX small houses are much smaller than in XP.

[Polraudio 122]

I'm assuming you mean this completely based on XP's layer system which takes more time and space. In VX small houses are much smaller than in XP.

Yea. I like to make sure everything is perfect. I have OCD when it comes to that kind of stuff.

[Razor 0]

One thing I've never done in regards to game design is mapping, since I'm terrible at it. That's one thing I'm going to have to learn how to do if I plan on making any games with RMXP.

 

For the MMO I've been working on for the past few years, a friend of mine has done all the mapping. He's quite good at it.