I'm trying to be a game designer but I am not sure what programs and specs in a computer i'll need
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e14 Contributor
Do you already have skills you can use in game design such as programming, graphics design, 3d modelling, sound production etc..
If not, think about learning some basics in all areas that way you can realise what goes into game design. Once you have an all round skill set in the basics, building a portfolio of work to demonstrate your capabilities will help in lots of areas.
Working on a portfolio will help to develop your skills further, show potential employers what you can do - having a portfolio you work on in your own time shows that you are passionate about game development which is an important quality in itself.
Workflow is also something that you will develop while working on a portfolio, everybody has their favourite programs, their own way of doing things, how you arrange your computer workspace, how you like your actual physical desktop to be. Where you like putting things etc... Developing a workflow is so important but it's something that happens naturally while you are going about your work, it's not something that you can teach and is individual to everybody.
A portfolio doesn't have to be completed games, it can a mix of everything, snippets of programs, artwork, a sound collection, maybe make a small website that everything can be uploaded to. Websites are a great way to show off your artistic and design talents, a website is a great way to experiment with user interfaces - another very important aspect in game development.
Maybe just make a program that makes pretty lava or plasma animations or design a spaceship as a vector picture and work out how to make it move around a screen with the arrow buttons.. Small things like that make for a very good portfolio of work as well as letting you build on your skills.
Once you have a grasp of things and have made some small programs, maybe look at doing something like Ludum Dare .I'm not sure if it still runs but there will always be similar competitions and taking part in them will really make you stand out from every other joe and nancy blogs that is trying to get into game development.
If theres anything specific you want to know, feel free to ask.
Do you already have skills you can use in game design such as programming, graphics design, 3d modelling, sound production etc..
If not, think about learning some basics in all areas that way you can realise what goes into game design. Once you have an all round skill set in the basics, building a portfolio of work to demonstrate your capabilities will help in lots of areas.
Working on a portfolio will help to develop your skills further, show potential employers what you can do - having a portfolio you work on in your own time shows that you are passionate about game development which is an important quality in itself.
Workflow is also something that you will develop while working on a portfolio, everybody has their favourite programs, their own way of doing things, how you arrange your computer workspace, how you like your actual physical desktop to be. Where you like putting things etc... Developing a workflow is so important but it's something that happens naturally while you are going about your work, it's not something that you can teach and is individual to everybody.
A portfolio doesn't have to be completed games, it can a mix of everything, snippets of programs, artwork, a sound collection, maybe make a small website that everything can be uploaded to. Websites are a great way to show off your artistic and design talents, a website is a great way to experiment with user interfaces - another very important aspect in game development.
Maybe just make a program that makes pretty lava or plasma animations or design a spaceship as a vector picture and work out how to make it move around a screen with the arrow buttons.. Small things like that make for a very good portfolio of work as well as letting you build on your skills.
Once you have a grasp of things and have made some small programs, maybe look at doing something like Ludum Dare .I'm not sure if it still runs but there will always be similar competitions and taking part in them will really make you stand out from every other joe and nancy blogs that is trying to get into game development.
If theres anything specific you want to know, feel free to ask.
