What is a code coding program to learn to become a video game designer

So first let's explore game Design versus code vs. Graphics , I think the best way to explain this is an architect who plans out a structure versus the construction team who builds it versus the team who paints it .

The Game Designers I have worked with tend to be people who Have a penchant for not just thinking about games but developing the full idea of a game . For example a Game Designer I work with was tasked with Creating a small title called GemJump . His job was to decide what the different platform types players would jump on in the game are, the unlockables that players could earn , figure out what sort of social features/ leaderboards we would have in place are, what players special abilities are, how long our target gameplay session was . And all of these things he could do with a pencil and pad of paper but he is a particularly good Designer so he'd write Game design documents, play other similar games to what we anted to make , and essentially craft the foundation of what the game was that we were making . While his main focus was the design he also enjoyed tweaking and crafting the particulars of the experience to make sure it played and " felt " right .

I am a programmer my job isn't that of a designer I do the building , if my game designer wants a character to jump a certain Height I program that character to jump or I create a tool or means for him to set the character jump height himself . I do the vast majority of this by writing code or essentially writing instructions for the game to carry out " when player taps screen , Jump!" . The code for that can be a little more complicated but that's the idea . The designer creates the idea of the experience and Programmers bring the experience to life putting in the features before handing the project back to a Designer to tighten and tweak .

Graphic designers( and I assume you mean 2D / 3D Modelers and artists) are another discipline they create the visuals of the game, see that Shiny enchanted shield with the flames running around it ? That's a skilled artists doing . See those trees blowing in the wind , an artist modeled that tree and depending on their knowledge may also have animated the swaying movements . The artists create the visual elements of the game They are the ones who make the col cars we drive, the awesome Boss monsters we fight , or who make the tank Firing at you from across the battlefield seem so realistic.

These are just three disciplines that contribute to a finished game and there are many many more .

So now my question to you would be do you want to design games?

the easiest way to do that is to begin writing a journal about every game you play and think about what you love/ hate / and wish to improve about every game experience you have . if you have a Game idea I would encourage you to look up a Game Design document and write all the lovely details you like and once you finish pick up a simple game engine such as Construct 2 , Game Maker studio , Game Salad or another engine to help introduce you into making games.

Do you want to engineer Games? I would suggest you pick up a game engine to start with Game salad, Game Maker studio , construct 2 , and look up youtube tutorials on coding . Do something small first like a basic game where you click a moving object and get points for it . My very first game wasn't even visual ! it was a text based RPG and creating that helped lay the foundation for how I understood to code logical structures. as you advance some basic introduction to programming videos may help but I'm more of a hands on learner and I think the best way to learn is to build a game of your own ASAP .

Do you want to create Awesome art ? If you'd like to create visuals I would suggest studying some basic art theory , maybe a simple youtube tutorial on drawing and modeling and looking at Maya , 3D Studio Max, Blender, or checking out some of the assets being sold on TurboSquid. if you like 2D art you can look into sprite editing software ( I can't think of any great ones at the moment but there are plenty out there and I think Game Maker Studio and Construct 2 come with their own Sprite editors).

I know I gave you a lot of information but feel free to reach out if you need any clarification on what to look for and if I don't have an answer I can always reach out to some of my friends who have been making games for a while too . Good luck !

Hey Elijah,

My answer will be quick and short. And hopefully this answer finds what you need to do at this current moment.

During my time at San Francisco State University, my major was graphic/web design and I had a course that was called Digital Media 2. My professor had a messy syllabus so overall, his teaching of the class was out of place but it gave me a good amount of time to make my final project that I always wanted to tried.

My professor gave us a open-end final project of the semester (2 and half weeks), relating to anything digital. Virtual Reality Research, Informative Website, or really anything that's not print related. I decided to create a short game that you can play on any computer, it was a program called Unity 3D. I learned the program on my own and about three of my other classmates wanted to follow my idea and asked me for coding advice and how to use Unity.

Bottom line, Unity 3D is the perfect beginning step of becoming a video game designer. The prior knowledge I had in coding wise were PHP and JavaScript, in addition, I also knew how to use Illustrator and Photoshop which helped me in designing the characters/sprites for my first game.

Unity 3D personal edition is free to download and use. The coding I generally use was C#, I would recommend to learn while you're using Unity 3D. There are also tutorials videos and codes on Unity that will help you get started and understand Unity more. I was able to learn the program within 2 days. I was able to make a side-scroller game within 2 and half weeks.

P.S. If you do want music for your game, you would have to find a website that offers free music. Or you can create your own sounds/music on FL Studio. Which I also know how to use.

Try out Unity 3D, I hope I was able to give you a taste of what video game designing is.

Feel free to message me questions Elijah if you have any!