Game development is a rewarding but challenging field that requires creativity, skill, and passion. If you want to improve your game development skills and create better games, here are some tricks and tips that might help you:
- Play more games: One of the best ways to learn game design is to play a lot of games, both in and out of your preferred genre. Playing games can help you analyze what makes them fun, engaging, and memorable, and also what makes them boring, frustrating, or forgettable. You can also get inspired by other games and learn from their strengths and weaknesses.
- Show your games to others: Getting feedback from other people is essential for improving your game development. Showing your games to your friends, family, or online communities can help you get honest opinions, suggestions, and criticisms, and also gauge the reactions and emotions of your players. You can use this feedback to refine your game design, fix bugs, and polish your game.
- Join game jams: Game jams are events where game developers create games in a limited time, usually based on a theme or a constraint. Game jams are a great way to challenge yourself, learn new skills, experiment with new ideas, and meet other game developers. You can find game jams online or in your local area, and participate in them solo or in a team.
- Keep it simple: When you start a new game project, it can be tempting to add a lot of features, mechanics, and content, but this can also make your game development more complicated and difficult. A good tip is to keep your game design simple and focused, and only add what is necessary and relevant for your game. You can always expand your game later, but it is harder to remove or change something that is already implemented.
- Have a hook: A hook is something that makes your game stand out from the crowd and attracts the attention of your players. It can be a unique mechanic, a compelling story, a catchy aesthetic, or anything else that makes your game different and interesting. Having a hook can help you create a more memorable and engaging game experience, and also market your game more effectively.
- Learn from others: Game development is a collaborative and constantly evolving field, and there is always something new to learn and discover. You can learn a lot from other game developers, both experienced and novice, by watching their videos, reading their blogs, following their social media, or joining their forums and discord servers. You can also ask questions, share your knowledge, and seek advice from other game developers, and build your network and community.
- Use the right tools: Game development requires a lot of tools, such as game engines, programming languages, graphics software, sound software, and more. Choosing the right tools for your game project can make your game development easier, faster, and more efficient. You should consider your game design, your skill level, your budget, and your preferences when selecting your tools, and also explore different options and alternatives.
- Plan ahead: Game development can be a complex and lengthy process, and it can be easy to lose track of your goals, tasks, and progress. Planning ahead can help you organize your game development, set realistic expectations, and avoid unnecessary problems and delays. You can use tools like spreadsheets, calendars, or project management software to plan your game development, and also document your game design, code, and assets.
- Test often: Testing your game is crucial for ensuring its quality, functionality, and usability. Testing your game can help you find and fix errors, bugs, and glitches, and also improve your game design, balance, and performance. You should test your game often, throughout your game development, and also test it on different devices, platforms, and scenarios. You can also use tools like debuggers, profilers, or analytics to test your game more effectively.
- Have fun: Game development is a creative and enjoyable activity, and you should have fun while doing it. Having fun can help you stay motivated, inspired, and passionate about your game project, and also reflect on your game design and your players. You should make games that you love, that express your vision and personality, and that bring joy and satisfaction to you and your players.
These are some of the game development tricks and tips that I found from the web. I hope they are helpful for you. If you want to learn more, you can check out these links:
10 game design tips for new developers 9 Tips for Better Game Development 20 Indie Dev Tips for Awesome Game Design Simple Ways To Get Better At Game DevelopmentSource:
https://unity.com/how-to/beginner/10-game-design-tips-new-developers
https://www.bairesdev.com/blog/tips-for-better-game-development/