Apr 20, 2020 10:31 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

https://pixabay.com/photos/computer-console-controller-game-1845880/

You may be in school or planning to start soon and also like the idea of making a game on the side. Creating games can be a lot of fun and often quite profitable, but there are some things you should know before you start programming. There's a lot of thinking and planning that goes into making a game, and you'll need to do some research.

Learn How to Use Your Software

If you're brand new to game making, then you don't have to learn everything about complex coding. You can choose what game you'll make, then find software that works for you and learn how to make games within that program. 

The best part is that there are plenty of ways to learn how to use these kinds of programs. The creators of Construct 3 game making software say that using tutorials and materials for beginners can be extremely beneficial. If you wish to learn more than how to use a type of software, then you can always enroll in a course offered by the software company. 

Going this route will give you the skills that you need to get started much faster.

Get Lots of Feedback

You can't make a game and publish it without knowing how people will perceive the game. There could be a lot of bugs in your game that you may not notice or an interface issue. Making a prototype of your game and giving it to people to play can help improve your game significantly.

Knowing how your game works may cause you to miss situations that will crash your program. Fresh eyes in the form of an outside player can give you great feedback. The more people you get to play, the more you'll be able to better your code.

By the time you decide to publish your game, you'll have the right amount of insight on what players like and don't like about your game.

Take a Break from Making Your Game

Spending too much time focusing on making your game may lead to you focusing on the wrong things. You can quickly get too focused on a small detail or even get stuck on a problem in your code.

You need to step away from your computer occasionally and give yourself a break. Go out and relax before coming back. It can be doing something simple like cooking a meal, watching a TV show, or listening to music.

Taking a short break will give you a fresh perspective on your game. You'll be able to solve any problem better, and you might be struck by inspiration during your downtime.

Don't Force Yourself to Finish the Game

Working in a professional environment comes with deadlines and specific expectations. Clients expect you to finish a project by a particular time. The great thing about making a game by yourself in your own time is that you don't have that pressure. You can have as much fun as you want.

If making a game isn't fun for you, or it's causing you a lot of stress, then stop for a while. It's not a failure if you don't finish a game in a certain amount of time. Even if you take several months off, it's ok. The most important thing is to enjoy the process of game making.

Conclusion

Choosing to make games is no easy task, but it can be very fulfilling. It's a great way to express your creativity and could lead to many exciting opportunities. Always remember that this process is more than typing some code. You'll have to do a lot of testing and go through a lot of failures before you reach your goal.

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