Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Hello, I would like to make a Christian video game. How do I start? Drew |
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
err... well. you would want to come up with a genre, or plot. either one could go first. After you chose the genre, choose an engine to fit your idea in mind.(if you want an engine, that is. I suggest it, though. It saves time, energe, and makes the process more fun) Learn to use the engine(make a test game) then proceed to make your game. Usually, I began with storyboard, then art, cuz many engines want art in the beginning. Once you get familiar with an engine, you'll kinda know what you need to do. Oh, and pray. Prayer is essential. (oh, and don't take my advice as "infallible" or anything. I'm still learning gaming development and making my own) Would love to see you game when your game comes out! They are really fun to make! ------------------ |
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Christian Member Posts: 400 From: Australia Registered: 09-15-2002 |
Can you program ? If so, then there are some good books around. If not, you're wasting your time. You need to be able to code in order to write a game, and a game is not the best project to learn programming from. |
CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
Depends . . . You can make a decent 2D game with something like GameMaker, but if you want to make a really good game, as Christian says, you'll want to learn how to program. |
Mack Administrator Posts: 2779 From: Registered: 01-20-2001 |
+) Concept of Design (I have a game idea!) +) Design Documentation (Text version expanding your idea) +) Visual Design Documentation (Text version expanding your idea, with tons of art showing everything from the game menu, to characters, to environments) +) Seeking/Creating an engine that will suit your game +) Development period +) Polish period +) Public relations period +) Release period You'll have to ask yourself what skills you can submit to this project (along with being the project over-seer), can you do programming, graphics, sounds, music, etc. etc. etc? Your also going to have to look at profit wise, everything requires money to build. I would start with a small project and work your way up. Let God design your game. Building a Christian game pretty much well refines your faith in Him. Expect a lot of prayer, responsibility, dedication and work. Since you specifically noted that you want to create a Christian game, you have to make sure your design is something that will be an outreach to people but also not bonk them on the head with the gospel over and over. Evangelistic entertainment, built for people without a relationship with Jesus, to introduce them to a relationship with Jesus. You don’t have to save them by the end of your game, but to at least plant a seed or water an already planted seed is good. In the end, as with any outreach, it depends on the choice the person makes to accept God or not. I wish you all the best in your ventures and always feel free to email me if you have any additional questions or the such. ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
That's good advice Mack... I'm definetly using it. (Though I'm currently in steps 2-4, at the same time!) I know a handful of game engines that require no coding, and others that require some, and others that require alot. And even if you can't code, you might be able to get someone who can. Or learn to code. Hey Gudan Warrior(that sounds cool!) Later Homies! ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
I don't know how to code but I can learn. I just thought it would be something fun to do. I've always wanted to make one so I just came to ask what steps I should take. I'm playing on making an RPG Game. What is a good recommended engine for that. I'm not planning on making anything super great or something. I came up with a plot a long time ago. I was trying to get ity published by a game maker but figured it was to less to let someone see. Drew |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
GameMaker should be able to handle 2D RPGs easily. I've created a small "test RPG" with it, although it never really had a plot. It was just for testing purposes to see what GameMaker can do. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
Hey! An engine I like for RPGs is the RPG Toolkit. It's site is http://www.rpgtoolkit.com/ It's pretty cool and fun to use. That is what I'm going to do when I start making my RPG. It's style might be slightly limited to the 2D RPG Accidentlyfindsomebodyonthemap Genre, but it's cool! Download it, try it out. see if you like it! Gamemaker is pretty good. Though, I generally like something more specific for my game. It's easier. I'd probably use Gamemaker for action games. My choice would be the RPG Toolkit.
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Thanks. I'll let you all know how it's going. Hopefully it will be going. Drew |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Art problems. I'm not an artist what is the best way to draw art for my game. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
Well... You could either Find someone to do the art for you. (maybe even here!) Find some Free Art Resource Or try REALLY REALLY Hard and do the art yourself. Art Resource is the easiest(if you can find some good ones, that is) but you'll have to sacrifice some originality and some of your vision. You probably won't be able to get exactly what you want... But you probably know that and all that I am saying. ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
To actually answer your question: You can just play around some art programs you might have. Alright, 'Nuff talking for me. Peace out! ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
I couldn't draw a straight line if my life depended on it, but I've been able to make some 3D scenes that look OK. It just takes a lot of work and practice. Attention to detail helps. I also do better if I have a photo, drawing, or model of what I'm making with me. |
c h i e f y Member Posts: 415 From: Surrey, United Kingdom Registered: 03-07-2002 |
last month's (FEB) PC Plus magazine has a pretty good run down of applications to cover Gudam's predicament, all the applications are CURRENT products 1) 3D Gamemaker 2) Inform 6 is to get your own TEXT ADVENTURE off the ground (yes it's a CURRENT product) 3) Unreal Tournament 2003 could be worth a look ------------------ |
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graceworks Member Posts: 455 From: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Registered: 03-03-2001 |
quote: Just to show how active this genre is, I used TADS (and version 3 is due out soon). TADS=Text Adventure Development System. You can include HTML hooks so hyperlinking of commands, adding pictures, avis or flash, sound effects or music. And the prices is right ... free (Inform is free too). Oh, I have a thick book around here on how to make games that I still haven't read. :-) Just jump in and do a small (really small) one. -Tim ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Ok. Right now I'm going over character templates and just remaking them into something useful. Drew |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Also Archangel, How do you make your on Title screen on RPG tool kit. Also where do you but your title and where do you put your story. Drew |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
Ya know, Gudam, I really don't know... Currently. I'm going to look into this. I know it can be done. It shouldn't be to hard. It's really bugging me now!!! I'm still sorta new to the RPG Toolkit, so, yeah. ------------------ |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
Hey Gudam Warrior... Found something better than RPG Toolkit. While I was searching around it, and it started to bother me... the games it produces. So I found a new engine that provides cool games. It's the RPG Maker. I think you would like it. You can Download the RPG Maker here: It's a German site... so it's hard to navigate. Go to the Download section. Hit "programme" and download the RPG Maker version 1.07b. You would also need the Runtime Package (RTP) get this at: http://www.rpg-maker.com/ressourcen.php?shGruppe=Programme (this is also a german site) This comes with a huge amount of art. (free, of course) You can also change the colors on the pictures. It's pretty cool. I'd be using there pictures, but I want to draw my own guys (it's half the fun!). The art is plentiful and cool! This may have solved your art problem. Doesn't mean you can't get your own. I have offically dumped the RPG Toolkit and now am a supporter of the RPG Maker. If you have any questions, ask me. (though I'm still learning how to use it. (Wow, long message. I must be pretty excited) ArchAngel Out ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Where is the preview pictures of the system? |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
No sorry... can't see any. I, however, made my own! I put it on my site Later! ------------------ [This message has been edited by ArchAngel (edited March 05, 2003).] |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
It's a nice program, but read the help file, and find the section about copyrights/legalities . . . scroll down and look at "Distribution" The RPG toolkit is a little better, but you have to register it to sell games you make with it. GameMaker doesn't have such restrictions. I so liked RPG Maker 2000 (before I read the help file) - I even created a transparent clouds effect similar to the old Chrono Trigger's clouds GameMaker needs real transparency . . . |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
I think it's worth it... I don't plan on selling a game made in the RPG Maker... just freeware. As long I keep their splash screens and give credit to the resources I use, it should be fine. I was expecting something like that. If you plan on selling... you'd probably want a different engine. Later! ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
Well, as long as you're comfortable with the legalities, it's a pretty good RPG-making engine. I feel the inside tileset is a bit limited, though. That star that the author seems to be obsessed with could be replaced. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
yes. I took notes of of the tilesets, etc. I plan on making my own. Hacker-style. Well, sorta Hacker-style. Later! ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
I have to have the runtime program. I do my game making on another computer and 11MB is to big for floppy and zip. Also I really need to find me someone who can draw Medieval characters and etc. tiles. Anyone know of anyone. Drew |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
You would need the RTP. there are ways to transfer bigger files(split them up into small files, use a cd or an iomega ZIP, or transfer them over a network) I can draw some medieval characters, though they are not top quality. ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
Best way to go. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
? ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
What is the best way to go? What would make the files come more smoothly? |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
ohhh. Well, LAN is the best if you have it. ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
CD-R is a good way to go if you don't have a LAN or broadband access. CD burners are getting pretty cheap, and nearly all new computers have them. I'm personally using an Iomega ZIP 250, but that's because that's what my college is using. You could use floppies, but it wold take forever to transfer information with them. Less then 1.44 MB, and they'll do the job, but more than that and you're better off with a better medium. I've done it, I've used WinZip to break apart files and put them back together on the other end, but it takes a lot of time and infinite patience . . . Broadband internet and/or a LAN is the best way to go if you have it. I've also done a physical transfer direct between harddrives, but that requires taking the computer apart and having intimate knowledge of issues such as master/slave settings and BIOS settings. [This message has been edited by CobraA1 (edited March 06, 2003).] |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
CD-R's is pretty good. I got a pack for like 5 cents per CD (with rebate) If you don't have Iomega, or a network. Use a cd, CD-R, or CD-RW. ------------------ |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
BTW, I've touched-up the "inner" chipset, replacing the star with objects moved so that you can place wine, silverware, flowers, food, and a lamp on the tables, instead of them appearing in the middle of the tile. They can be placed on top of the upper layer by making them events. Now the food won't appear to be hanging off the tables! The wine, flowers, and lamp are divided into lower and upper graphics; I suggest when importing to set "passing, block" to star (*) of the top portion so the player can pass behind them correctly. If you want it, send me an E-mail and I'll E-mail the .PNG file. |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
I've been playing around a bit more . . . It seems that RPG Maker 2000 limits itself to 256 colors, but it also seems that each graphic can have its own palette. There's also size limitations depending on what the graphic is being used for. The transparency seems to be selecting a transparent color, like what's used in GIF files. PNG supports this type of transparency. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
hmmm... quite interesting... ------------------ |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
What do I for music? I'm looking for RPG music. What's the best route to go. |
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Gudam Warrior Member Posts: 25 From: Registered: 02-26-2003 |
I did CD. |
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ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
hmmm. Don't really know. On the RTP, there is a bunch of music you could use. Glad to see you got it working! ------------------ |
. It's a nice RPG system.