So You Wann Be a Game Designer

[Liquidize105]

"I got a great idea for a game. Wanted: coder, modeler, artist, sound guy..."

"A great idea is meaningless. A great idea that leverages your existing technology, gets the team excited, is feasible to do on time and budget, is commericially competitive, and, last but not least, floats the boat of a major publisher... Now you have something."

-- Ken Levine
Read on. (http://www.gamespot.com/features/6129276/index.html?tag=boxcar_all_features_headline)

Otherwise take the blue pill, avert your eyes from reality, and believe whatever you want to believe.

I'm definitely in the mood to watch matrix again qxD

[Draft]

Otherwise take the blue pill, avert your eyes from reality, and believe whatever you want to believe.say what now

[Liquidize105]

Just see 'em about the net. ;)

[LilEvilFish]

Ideally to produce a game you first need to invest from your own pocket, or private investors in making a demo of said game and then showing it to a publisher.

The publisher will then want to add a lot of mature content, violence and then will possibly agree to publish it. You'll receive some money, the idea will change from the initial conception into something that you don't know anymore, you'll leave the company, sign on the dole and become depressed as the publisher rehashes your game every year and makes a shed load of cash from mindless marketing driven zombies.

[Orz]

Or make what you want by your own damn self, or with a few other people... perhaps as a mod or a standalone product. Hard, sure. Will it be successful? Hell no. So what?

[LilEvilFish]

Exactly! Bravo and all that crap!

Make what you want, if you enjoy it, good!

[KamaItachi]

Who needs a good idea?

It starts with the graphics (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/634/634928p1.html)

[bapenguin]

Just this morning on the car ride into work I was brainstorming about a new game. It's been a while since I've done one, a few small arcade games in college, and Massacre of the Fairies (http://www.happyapplefarm.net/mof.php) back in High School.

this was good read btw.

[Varsity]

But I want to be an astronaut! :(

[Justin_McElroy]

Why the hell do you need to get anyone excited about it? If I've learned anything from John Romero, it's that you only need to dream about a game, and as you sleep, your millions of strands of beautiful silken hair will construct the game for you.

[Roc Ingersol]

Ideas are a dime a dozen, and worth what they cost.

[TrackZero]

But I want to be an astronaut! :(

I think you mean you "wann be a astronaut!". ;)

[Kefkataran]

That's one of the things I see in the games industry that I hope becomes "fixed" or more feasible as it grows -- it's extremely hard, at least in comparison to the movie, music, or books mediums, to have "independent" developers and games that have big releases. Do they exist? Yes. And sometimes they create some great stuff. But it's a lot harder for them to get their stuff out there.

Evil Avatar supports these indie developers pretty well since a lot of indie stuff tends to get posted here. It's one of the reasons I was drawn to the site.

[Mr.Green]

Ideas are a dime a dozen
Hey I wanted to post that!

"I got a great idea for a game. Wanted: coder, modeler, artist, sound guy..."
Oh god... I've worked in the "mod community" as a programmer/level designer for years so that made me smile, and 99.9% of the time that "great idea" is nothing more than a theme. I wanna make me some [insert latest blockbuster crap movie the kid has seen here] mod! Anyone interested in doing everything while I sign autographs!?

[LilEvilFish]

doesn't Gamershell host demos made by independent companies so they can get some coverage? I like that idea.

[mister_slim]

Hey, I've got a great idea... how about a game where you fight off EvAv's jaded vets and cynical bastards? Art would be easy, we just steal the models from other games and scribble graffiti all over them.

Anyway, I think I'll stick to playing and criticising games.

[Kefkataran]

doesn't Gamershell host demos made by independent companies so they can get some coverage? I like that idea.

Yeah, it's definitely a great idea. Lots of smaller game websites are doing things like this, and I for one really like it.

Hey, I've got a great idea... how about a game where you fight off EvAv's jaded vets and cynical bastards? Art would be easy, we just steal the models from other games and scribble graffiti all over them.

I'd add it to my pull list. Er... buy it.

[Royal Fool]

Do not despair, Steam is here!