Want to Be an Indie Developer?

Source Article: http://www.mode7games.com/blog/2012/06/12/how-to-be-an-indie-game-developer/

The process of making and releasing a indie computer game will come down to the following disciplines: Game design, programming, level design, art and animation, audio and music, and business. Also, your team make up will largely determine if your game will succeed.

Game Design

Game design is the game development process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. Game design requires an analytical mind, creative discipline, artistic and technical competence as well as writing skills. Unless you get the chance to work with a team of high level coders, your life as a designer will become significantly easier if you become a competent coder.

Programming

Game design means nothing if you can’t actually code a game. Unless you are working with Torque, Unity, or Game Maker, learning to program games on your own can be difficult. The best approach is to surf the web or buy books for programming. Make a program that changes something and you’re off! If there are books available for your engine read them front to back without coding, and then attempt the exercises. Learning game programming is the same as every discipline in that it takes months to gain enough knowledge to make something useful.

Level Design

Level design is different from game design per se: one is designing a system and the other is working out how to present that system in the most rewarding way. Most of the time you will be designing levels by hand and it can be a long process.

Art and Animation

If art is not for you, you can use tools like GIMP and Blender, or outsource to someone else. If you have a standard engine and can give a reputable artist specs for a good price, then you can focus on other areas of the game. You can sink a ton of money into art so always consider what art your game actually needs. Character animations will be worth more to your game then glorious cut-scenes.

Music and Audio

Audio is the least important of the disciplines in indie games: Many successful games have average music and sound effects. You can get away purchasing stock sounds and plopping them into your game. If you have the budget (or skills) for a good soundtrack, you can sell the soundtrack for your game online adding a new way for people to discover your game.

Business

You are running a small business. You need a good accountant who knows what the internet is and has other small games companies in their books. You may need a solicitor to stop you from making a mistake inadvertently giving away all of your company to a publisher. No publisher should charge a start-up for coming to talk to them.

Your Team

You will have to find trust worthy partners, or pay others, in order to cover all these disciplines. You will have to split the workload. Make sure everybody is in it for the long haul, and that you all share the same vision. Volunteers have a higher tendency to give up when development gets difficult. It’s best to start off with a small team and choose a game idea you can all be confident about. The best indie games are small but polished. All of us must learn by doing. Trial and error is intrinsic to every discipline. The goal is to be aware of what’s going on during the entire game development process. Learn from mistakes fast and don’t let them slow you down. Happy developing!

Ryan Ross