I want to become a video designer/app developer

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  FireRunner on 28/07/2018 - 12:11

  +1

  For a 2D game, I would recommend GameMaker Studio.

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    Splashtash on 28/07/2018 - 21:49

    Cheers mate

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  Quantumcat on 28/07/2018 - 12:11

  For Android development, you'll need to learn Java. I used this textbook in my introductory subject at uni: https://doc.lagout.org/programmation/Java/Introduction%20to%…

  You should do a software engineering diploma at TAFE or a computer science degree at a university. You won't become a good programmer just be learning a language, you have to be taught how to solve problems using common patterns and how to make your code more efficient, about memory and stuff like that. You can just learn a language if you wish but you'll only be able to get to a certain level in terms of writing program, then you'll start getting frustrated as you continually find yourself unable to solve particular problems or not know how to achieve something that seems like it should be possible. Your more complicated programs will run slowly and you won't be able to get them to run faster after a particular point because you approached the problem in completely the wrong way simply because you don't know the patterns or understand about memory usage. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but rather manage your expectations, rather than you invest hundreds of hours and not get where you were hoping. It is of course possible to become a great programmer with no tertiary education but that requires a much higher than normal drive to learn (so you don't just stop once you find a way to do something, you keep digging deeper until you understand it on many more levels), and ability to think outside the box to find the solutions that would just be handed to you in a tertiary setting, and super abnormally high motivation drive, so you don't get put off at continuous medium size or large obstacles.

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    quirki on 28/07/2018 - 13:17

    Learn Kotlin instead if you’re pursuing android dev. Java is horrendous.

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    Splashtash on 28/07/2018 - 21:49

    Thanks for your thoughts mate. I will be a bit pig headed and stubborn. I want to drive myself and rely on forums for troubleshooting but I think its sensible to say if it gets too much I might enrol. I've always done things on my own usually and gotten where I needed to be. I completely understand what your saying though. Do you have any forums you could suggest?

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      Quantumcat on 28/07/2018 - 22:37

      Stackoverflow is the place to go for solving specific problems (they usually take up more than half the first page of Google results when I search for an error message or a "how do you.."). Be aware though they have a very specific way they like people to ask questions, so be very prepared before you ask a question on there if you don't want to be attacked! (You have to write a near complete mini-program that displays your problem and be very specific about what you are asking). I think I've only asked like 3 programming questions in the several years I've used it as a resource.

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        Splashtash on 30/07/2018 - 19:10

        Haha…. Well I guess they would get upset if you ask how do i fix this guy to jump over the mole hill with no context….. They cant help unless they have the details. Sounds good though. Can't wait to start. I've already downloaded RPG maker while I wait for my rig to arrive, just to get a few thoughts going. Learning from all angles is best :)

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  pongky on 28/07/2018 - 12:34

  I've heard that the Unity platform is really good to make games quickly for mobile devices

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    poboy on 28/07/2018 - 18:32

    Unity charge an arm and a leg to use their services in a commercial setting.

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  AlienC on 29/07/2018 - 20:22

  Sorry I cant post everything here right now but if you private message me maybe i can follow up on it later or as i come into it also more

  I am also an aspiring solo developer.. want to make an rts game or some kind of base building game unless i figure out a winning formula for an rpg or something but i think there is a niche still left for rts and it is very underrated and kind of a hidden gem but still very loved by the whole community.

  I am using unreal engine and unity and following some other indie game developers and forums and facebook groups.

  If you are not in the indie game developer facebook group join now as that will transport you to so many avenues later in future

  Reddit is also the best source I have found for the start until you need more specific help and support with the engine and 3d modelling and etc you decide to use to produce.

  I am sure you watch many youtube videos like myself and honestly that is the best place i have found to do this kind of stuff

  there was a dude on gumtree even offering to make a game about somebody in vr for a fee you could message him if any of his stuff interests you

  but yeah the unreal forums are probably the best as well as the art station forums for 3d art development

  just keep joining facebook groups in your passion and things will keep opening up

  good luck my friend and let me know how you go keep me posted or just message me here on ozbargain

  maybe might see you on steam sometime soon

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    Splashtash on 30/07/2018 - 19:26

    Cheers mate :) I would definitely say there would be much love for a new RTS format. I am very stuck on 2 games I play and those are League of legends and halo wars. So I am not sure of the range of games that are new/evolving but I did see one take my eye yesterday due to me reaching out and studying games in more detail. I feel it will be a decent hit and could expand nicely if done well.

    Oracles Hybrid AR Board Game

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MYdB8ohtuw&t=4s&rel=0

    I think this is only a boardgame though… I thought it might of been for pc/consoles.
    I rekon this would even be well done with a VR headset…. I can't wait. I feel if a bigger company comes along they could enhance the game further.

    I'll deff check out unreal forums and slowly start to build up my places for knowledge gathering.
    Have you also designed anything yet? or your also just getting into it.

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      AlienC on 30/07/2018 - 20:05

      Just getting into it but my dream game would be a real time 3D RTS. Something like the oracle game you mentioned maybe but I want constant real time action with base building and live town management and unit creation etc.

      Maybe even a civilian aspect to it to add not just all about combat and warfare but some depth to the landscape.

      Basically games like supreme commander or command and conquer or battle for middle earth but more emphasis on town management and unit customisation and unit specialisation. Majesty did well but only touched on the basics and didn't go further than the base classes and maybe one or two upgrades I want more upgrades more classes and more unit abilities and customisation.

      Battle realms really did a fantastic job on emphasising unit specialisation and had a great upgrade and customisation system something like that would be almost perfect for what I could see and want in a fully fleshed out rts game.

      I want the user to have so many creatures to choose from the game does not become stale but very fun cat and mouse and rock scissors paper action like rise of nations or age of empires.

      A combination of all these would for me be a perfect game in a maybe fantasy or medieval setting possibly ancient we shall see.

      I follow 0ad and their open source style development and they have been very inspirational in my journey.

      So many awesome dev logs and materials from creeper world 4's live developer streams to sword coast legends detailed transparent intro (before) to some other community development diaries and livestreams.

      I personally kind of hate League of Legends not for it's great popularity but that it watered down the moba section and scene. Dota 2 for me is still the superior play and encourages more sophisticated plays and great ability contrasts where as League is very one dimensional in return and very almost mobile based aka simplified.

      These are my own observations and opinions but yeah I wish the current top moba was a more improved dota and not a watered down casual easy mode version of it. There is a lot less going on league everything wise compared to dota and same with dota in a classic base building rts title.. we have gone backwards and I want to push all back on track forwards and either release or help release the next proper possible future generation that should have happened after dota and not this mish mash. I feel either a rpg with base building mechanics or just a straight up fully fleshed out base building rts should do it.. anyways enough of my ramblings i know others do not see the same as my way but hey it is what it is.. life always finds a way

      For what it is worth I liked the format style of halo wars but it was very hard to not see its warcraft 3 roots in very similar games such as tech wars and castle fight and summmon wars and etc

      Warcraft 3 still holds all the motherland blueprints and source game concepts for the entire gaming community if we go even further back then we get into custom text based rpgs and very early mmos which i dont think none of the people here would have even heard of. But yeah we have gone backwards in some aspects in terms of customisation and custom game aspects.. not too sad just wish some of the future game developers out there will know how to make a fun and sophisticated game so that we can all enjoy as one big happy and smart community and family.

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  Splashtash on 30/07/2018 - 20:24

  Haha, yup. The reason I play lol and halo wars are because it's simple and quick. I don't have time to spend more then that online at a time. I do feel a lot of games are being based off w3 and are a bit iffy. I'm still waiting on that day they bring out a new ragnarok game in a way I felt when I was first introduced to it. Too many games are like movies these days. Sequels of past games/scripts.

  I liked the concept of no mans sky. Not 100% sure what it's like though. Would be cool if you could set up defences to protect your planets. Lots of creatures for rts would be epic and I'd love to seee the diversity. The main thing that makes me sad about league is over the years they have made it more simple and less unique items/states u can change to work for champs… I always liked playing the way others don't and I think it can help ppl feel empowered and say this is my build/preference among many as opposed to a few …

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    AlienC on 31/07/2018 - 15:24

    A lot of mainstream games these days are going the way of the mobile aka casual and super simplified gamer.. which is kinda sad but in this changing environment where everyone is too busy to commit 3 hours on a fully fledged complex battle I can understand. None of my peers from highschool today probably are even able to still commit time to play long winded chess like battles and so games like dota 2 and lol and rocket league even have risen high to take over the old mainstream warriors which were a lot more complicated, long winded and just generally larger depth in strategy and gameplay mechanics. Now it is super fast jump in click auto this and auto that and just move your character.. not even games like WoW are being made anymore because one the developers are all secluded to WoW and two there probably would not be a market for it since WoW covers that placeholder criteria.

    In a world with no time for games it is very sad to see the more "serious" games go to the wayside and get left behind but it is what it is. Who knows maybe when the current generation of gamers start retiring or having enough to relax for a little while we might see a surge back in more serious games with fully fledged battles and action and complex mechanics but for now it is the age of the fast mobile casual gamer.. which I most certainly am not or trying not to be.. pubg mobile was fun see even i got suckered into it :( sad

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  TimboAus1234 on 31/07/2018 - 22:28

  My advice is to really focus on what type of game you want to deliver, write it out discover what your game is going to be, tell your friends and ask for their opinions. use modelling tools to get an overall view of the project then plan it out using some free software. TBH there's a lot of tools out there to help you plan your project and everyone has their own.

  Getting the requirements and plan for the game are in my opinion the most important aspects, Once you have a good blueprint and time schedule it's significantly easier to complete your project. I would start there before I even started writing out code.

  Good questions to ask about the project would be;

  • Why would anyone want to play my game?
  • Is there anything out there that is better or like my game?
  • What would people be willing to pay for my game?
  • What is the scope for my game?
  • Can I make this game by myself in a resonable time period or do I need help?
  • How hard am I willing to work?

  etc etc.

  if you can answer all of your questions no matter how hard or disheartening they be then your on track.

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    Splashtash on 19/08/2018 - 23:41

    I can't tell you enough, how many times over the past 2+ weeks I have thought about what you said. It makes sense and stuck with me. I have been basing my starting research on this. THanks mate!