4 ms·

Games. More specifically: 3rd person RPG games for the iPad. Games are the reason I started programming, but somehow ended up being a web developer.

lionhearted 15y ago
Do a proof of concept, and do a Kickstarter, and make one. There's really no reason not to do cool projects that people would enjoy in 2012.
rkalla 15y ago
I specifically see "games" a lot from developers and I always wonder if they have all 5 or 6 talents necessary to pull it off. I think most developers are interested in the engine development (a known quantity) but when it comes to the art assets (3D models, animations, textures, level design) that seems like a giant unknown to me. I would enjoy working on a rendering engine, but if I had to model characters and animate them, I think I'd release the game 6 weeks before my 97th birthday. If you have talent in all the required spots to do this, I'd agree with the other poster... so 2 or 3 proof of concepts in the app store to hone your skills. 1. Game 1, simple terrain traversal game. Get used to open-world rendering. 2. Game 2, character-focused game with stats. Get used to modeling and animation. 3. <some more stuff> 4. Game 4, Skyrim for iOS Step #3 is critical; don't skip that :)
- ivanbernat 15y ago
  Between coding OpenGL and jumping into web dev, I spent 2 years professionally working as a 3D artist. As a kid I worked a lot on video and audio editing, and as a front-end developer I've mastered Photoshop. I have the talent but need the money safety net before leaving everything behind and pursuing a "crazy" idea like this.
  - rkalla 15y ago
    Keep in mind I don't know your situation or what idea for a game you have in your head, but are you coming at this from too much of a black-or-white angle? No you can't create Skyrim iOS edition in your free time, but you could create something much much sillier and simpler right? Get the ball rolling, the creative juices flowing and a few apps in the respective app stores before quitting and going full-force? I realize there isn't anything prophetical here; if you are an all-or-nothing type, then that will just be a much harder decision to make and I am hoping you get a chance to make it at some point.
- justicefries 15y ago
  Specifically, I'd start off even simpler than this. There's a lot more to it than "simple terrain traversal" and "open-world rendering". Understanding things like a run loop, how game objects work/composed, and building your way up are crucial to success. While we're on the topic, begin considering articles like these: http://www.pixelprospector.com/indie-resources/ http://www.pixelprospector.com/indie-resources/ And as you build a game, you'll hit that hump. Derek Yu of Spelunky fame talks about what it took for him to finish a game, and the topic in general. http://makegames.tumblr.com/post/1136623767/finishing-a-game http://makegames.tumblr.com/post/1136623767/finishing-a-game Here's things to start building, and build them COMPLETELY. This includes menu screen, level screen where appropriate, etc. etc. http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources/_/technical/game-programming/how-do-i-make-games-a-path-to-game-development-r892 http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources/_/technical/game-progr...

lionhearted 15y ago

Do a proof of concept, and do a Kickstarter, and make one. There's really no reason not to do cool projects that people would enjoy in 2012.

rkalla 15y ago

I specifically see "games" a lot from developers and I always wonder if they have all 5 or 6 talents necessary to pull it off. I think most developers are interested in the engine development (a known quantity) but when it comes to the art assets (3D models, animations, textures, level design) that seems like a giant unknown to me. I would enjoy working on a rendering engine, but if I had to model characters and animate them, I think I'd release the game 6 weeks before my 97th birthday. If you have talent in all the required spots to do this, I'd agree with the other poster... so 2 or 3 proof of concepts in the app store to hone your skills. 1. Game 1, simple terrain traversal game. Get used to open-world rendering. 2. Game 2, character-focused game with stats. Get used to modeling and animation. 3. <some more stuff> 4. Game 4, Skyrim for iOS Step #3 is critical; don't skip that :)

ivanbernat 15y ago
Between coding OpenGL and jumping into web dev, I spent 2 years professionally working as a 3D artist. As a kid I worked a lot on video and audio editing, and as a front-end developer I've mastered Photoshop. I have the talent but need the money safety net before leaving everything behind and pursuing a "crazy" idea like this.
- rkalla 15y ago
  Keep in mind I don't know your situation or what idea for a game you have in your head, but are you coming at this from too much of a black-or-white angle? No you can't create Skyrim iOS edition in your free time, but you could create something much much sillier and simpler right? Get the ball rolling, the creative juices flowing and a few apps in the respective app stores before quitting and going full-force? I realize there isn't anything prophetical here; if you are an all-or-nothing type, then that will just be a much harder decision to make and I am hoping you get a chance to make it at some point.
justicefries 15y ago
Specifically, I'd start off even simpler than this. There's a lot more to it than "simple terrain traversal" and "open-world rendering". Understanding things like a run loop, how game objects work/composed, and building your way up are crucial to success. While we're on the topic, begin considering articles like these: http://www.pixelprospector.com/indie-resources/ http://www.pixelprospector.com/indie-resources/ And as you build a game, you'll hit that hump. Derek Yu of Spelunky fame talks about what it took for him to finish a game, and the topic in general. http://makegames.tumblr.com/post/1136623767/finishing-a-game http://makegames.tumblr.com/post/1136623767/finishing-a-game Here's things to start building, and build them COMPLETELY. This includes menu screen, level screen where appropriate, etc. etc. http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources/_/technical/game-programming/how-do-i-make-games-a-path-to-game-development-r892 http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources/_/technical/game-progr...