Hi Gamers and Game Makers!

In this week's blog, I'm going to talk about one page Game Design Documents and why they're a really handy tool for prototyping games.

So, by now you know I like to prototype my game ideas as early as possible in an effort to ascertain whether or not the game idea actually makes for a good game. Now while the prototype is meant to be a very rough small build to demonstrate gameplay and mechanics, you still need to keep track of what it is you're going to make and more importantly, understand what it is you're trying to make.

A great way of keeping track of and understanding your design better is with one page Game Design Documents(GDD). These are great not just for organizing the design of your own early prototype, but also if you're taking part in a game jam. It's a quick and effective way of conveying your games design to other people and members of your team so that you can work more effectively towards making the game in the given time you have.

So, what should be in a one page GDD? Well, it can vary to an extent depending on the type of developer you are and the type of games you tend to make but, a good overall one page GDD will consist of a Game Overview, where you give a quick summery of what the game is about.

An Objective section where you outline the goals and motivation of the player as well as structure.

A Mechanics section where you describe the core mechanics and features of the game. Preferably in bullet point structure, keeping it clear and concise.

​A Gameplay section where you describe a typical scene from the game and how it should play. Be very clear and descriptive here so that the person reading it can easily imagine the game scene in there head and understand what it is you are conveying.

A Style section which you use to describe the visual style of the game. Attach any reference images that may be applicable to help the person reading to understand or further research the style. Also make use of this section to describe the style of music the game will have and the role audio will play in the games design.

I've attached a basic template version at the end of this post for people to use if they wish. One page GDD's are make for not just better communication about your games design with other people, but also helps you better understand game design by seeing how all the elements of your idea come together to work or in some cases, you see why it doesn't work and you can fix it. As always, I hope this was of use and if you want to ask any questions or get in touch, please do or leave a comment below.

Until next time!

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

Before I get into this week's blog, I just want to take a moment to say that my blog has been awarded a Top 30 Game Design Blogs on the web by the folks over at Feedspot. It was surly a surprise as the list is comprised of some very popular creators such as the folks of Extra Credits. You can check out the list of blogs here.

Ok so, in this week's blog, I'm going to talk a bit about the pros and cons to having random elements to your games. These can range from random enemies spawning, random level generation and more. I've made some games in the past that have used random elements to an extent and I'm currently working on something that makes use of some random mechanics too.

A pro for me in using random elements to a game is as a developer, it can make the game I've spent a long time working on more fun. Simply because there will be moments where even I don't know what's going to happen. It makes a nice change from having made a linear game where I can predict every moment of it. Now the downside to this is the same as the upside. Not knowing what's going to happen can be fun but at the same time can be a pain for directing a game. Sometimes that random gameplay can end up frustrating the player more than being fun and even prevent them from finishing the game if a random element of the game such as an enemy spawns somewhere preventing the player from progressing.

For example, I'm currently working on a game that uses a random enemy spawn mechanic. This works better than placing the enemies as it's a horror game and allows for an element of unknowing each time you play. However, this mechanic could prove to just be annoying if say an enemy spawned right next to you when you start the game or if too many spawn at once making the game simply unfair.

So, how do we have random gameplay elements but also keep the game balanced? Using my game as an example, I create variables that I can use to set certain limits to the random spawning. First, I define areas where the enemies can spawn, making it impossible for an enemy to spawn next to the player when the game starts. Secondly, I define a max and minimum number that can spawn at a time. This way the player will never feel as if there was an unfair number of enemies at the one time and also they won't be left with nothing spawning.

I love having random gameplay mechanics to a game as they can bring a whole new feeling to a game but it's important that you do it right. Plan out what it is you want to do and keep testing and tweaking your mechanic until you feel you've struck a good balance with it. As always, I hope this has been of use and if you have any questions or want to get in touch or leave a comment below.

​Until next time!

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

This week, I want to talk a little bit about getting requests for review keys for games. While we can see reviews for games we're looking forward to on some very well known sites such as Rock Paper Shotgun, IGN and more. As indie developers who may not have a deep pocket for marketing, we tend to rely on more sources talking about the games we make. These can come from other smaller sites and especially Youtubers.

Now, I get several requests every week from various small game review sites and Youtubers and sometimes I tend to be apprehensive about giving out a review key for the game. It's not because the Youtuber or site is not very popular. As far as I'm concerned, all the smaller sources add up to some good coverage of your game. Especially if that Youtuber or review site has a following specifically interested in the type of game you are making. My concern comes from just how many of these have become scams to get games for free or to get keys to sell themselves.

I even at one point had an individual ask for a review key claiming he was from a particular gaming media outlet. Upon proving that he was not part of that outlet, I politely refused to supply a key and ended it there. The same individual then purchased the game (same email he used to contact me was used in the transaction) This was all very well and good until he right away demanded a refund for a DRM free game. Thankfully for me I had enough evidence from emails to prove that his claim for a refund was not legitimate.

So what can we do to avoid the scammers? Well,there's a few basic things you can do to quickly filter out the real from the fake.

If a Youtuber contacts you asking for a review key, make sure the email they contacted you from matches the email linked to their Youtube channel. You could even confirm the request through messaging them through Youtube itself. If it's someone claiming to be from a media outlet, the email's tend to have a particular format you can check or you could reach out to an editor at the site to confirm.

Check to see if the Youtube channel or media outlet is real and that they have posted content before and that that content is in keeping with what they are asking from you. If a Youtube channel has no subs and no content then that will raise some red flags.

These days if I get a creditable request for a key, after a bit of quick vetting I'll supply a review key or I'll often refer Youtubers to my Gamejolt page. Gamejolt offer a way for Youtubers to apply for an account that lets them download games for free to review them. This is a fantastic integration into the site for the simple fact that people actually looking to review my games can do so legitimately and saves me time on having to follow up requests.

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

It's that time again when I talk a little bit about what I've been playing lately. So, as of late I've been playing Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Crash has a very special place in my heart because it was such a big part of my childhood but also because the original Crash Bandicoot game was one of the first games to spark my curiosity and interest in becoming a Game Dev.

So does Crash still hold up today? You bet your ass it does! Of course the remaster has the benefit of better looking art and animations but what shines through is its charm. A charm that comes from the original games. Crash is still that lovable goof, out to save the world. I had such a wonderful time remembering each character and feeling of nostalgia while playing through the games again. 

Something that really struck me was how good the level design was after all these years. It really is such a well made game that even after all these years, it can still stand up against a lot of platformers today. Another thing that I love about the Crash Bandicoot games is how well they tell their stories through such simple mechanics. A limitation of the tech back on the originals games that made for a fantastic simple way of setting up the world and your goals. 

They are the perfect games for simply picking up and jumping into without having to worry about getting focused on anything other than fun gripping gameplay. It also was interesting to play through the games as I'm currently working on a 2D Platformer and it made me appreciate the effort and design skill required to design a platformer of any kind. I personally loved the remaster and it brought back so many fond memories for me. If you played the originals as a kid or are looking for a game that's just fun and charming to play, then I urge you all to pick up the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy ​and enjoy a blast from the past.

​Until next time!

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

Over the last little while, as I've been updating my portfolio, looking back on old games I've made and looking at how I design games now. I started thinking about how I've changed as a developer and the things I've learned over the years. So, for this week, I'm going to talk about some of the things I've learned along the way.

1: You're going to bite off more than you can chew.
When I look back at when I very first started learning to make games, I remember how ambitious I was. Now, being ambitious is something you need and should keep all through your years as a creative because without ambition, what's the point?

However, there's a difference between being ambitious and knowing what you can achieve at the time. When I first started making games, I had dreams of creating big open world games with huge stories and multiple.....well, multiple everything! While it's good to have that ambition, it wasn't realistic to aim for such an ambitious game at that early stage of my game dev life.

The most important thing is to finish projects and that means creating smaller projects first. Set goals you can achieve and work towards a deadline. Once you become more disciplined at your craft you can start pushing yourself on more ambitious projects. But you need to actually do it. The mistake a lot of people make is that they spend all their time in the planning phase. Where ideas seem great because you haven't put them to the test or where you keep refining that idea and keep saying "I'll start tomorrow" START TODAY!

2: Even small games take time to develop.
Another mistake I made in my early days was thinking that just because I was making a small game that it would be easy and quick to develop. Even small games take more time than you first realize to develop. General rule of thumb, if you think you'll make your short game in four months, add two more months to that and you might have a better idea of when it'll be finished.

It's important to understand that anything worthwhile doing is going to take time and is not to be rushed. Be realistic about how long it should take and don't try to rush through it. Both the game and you will suffer if you do. 

3: Your dream game is not the only game.
As game developers, we all have that game idea that we consider our dream game. What we think is our best idea and the game we just have to make. I know I have an idea that has been on my mind and I've been planning and testing for a number of years now. But it's an ambitious game and while it's a game I will get made over the course of time, it's important to realize your other ideas. Making other games not only improves your skills and helps get your name out there but those other games are what make working on your dream game possible. Don't fall down the rabbit hole of working on one game for so long that it burns you out.

4: Finish It!
In case it hasn't been obvious from what I've wrote so far, finishing a project is so important. Even if the game you finish is just a free game that you put out there for people to play, it's a finished game that you can point to at a moments notice if and when you need to show a portfolio piece. Keep your core game simple and avoid the feature creep. Get something finished and out to the world and then continue doing the same the next game. 

5: Stay motivated.
In our early days of making games right up to our more experienced days we can struggle with motivation. You know that feeling of being super excited and motivated at the start of making a game only to quickly find yourself losing that motivation as you develop a game you feel will never get finished. Don't worry, it's not just you. It happens to the best of us. The thing about games development is that a game will seem crap for about 90% of the projects development. It's only in that final stretch when things start to come together and it actually looks and feel like the game that you had envisioned. 

What I do to keep my focus on work is set a pace. I'll work without interruption for an hour and then I'll take a ten minute break where I'll take a break from the screen and stretch my legs. After that, I'll do another hour and repeat the process. I make a strong effort to not crunch late hours and also take time to try forget about the game for a bit and focus on other things that make me happy. It's important to take car of both your physical and metal health. Games may be your passion, but YOU still come first. Take time for yourself and spend it with family and friends doing things you enjoy. When you come back to your work you'll have that fresh motivation to keep going.

6: How you ​measure success.
This is something we all struggle with. Everyone will measure success differently. You need to figure out what success is to you. When I was a kid, all I wanted to do is become a game developer and even though I don't work in a big game studio and I make small games. I can proudly say I'm an award winning game developer who gets to make the type of games I want to make and people play them. Games may not make me rich but they make me happy and I'm in a position where what I've done so far is allowing me to return to college pursue a degree in Software Development and I continue to make games. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to being a game developer, I'm successful and most importantly, happy.

As always, I hope this has been of help to folks  and please, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch.

​Until next time!

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

This week, we're going to talk about why and when it's okay to make a bad game. Now before you ready your pitchforks and burning torches all the while proclaiming "It's never okay to make a bad game", let me explain.

Spending three or more years working on a game only to have it turn out to be a bad game is never good. It happens, but it's never a good thing really. Spending a full development cycle on a bad game means losing a lot of time that you can't get back and a lot of money too.

So when is it okay to make a bad game? Well, there's a lot to be said for Game Jams. You have a very short amount of time to make a playable game and the best part of this is, you don't have to worry too much about bugs or polish. As long as the game is playable and fun, then you've done great. There's something very rewarding about making a game and not having to worry about bugs and polish because you'll not only have a lot of fun with it but you'll learn a lot in the process.

So, what should you take away from making a game in such a short space of time?

1: You'll learn if the game idea is good.
Working in a Game Jam or even just making a game yourself over the course of a weekend is a great way to prototype a game fast and determine if the idea works.

2: You'll see what works.
Setting up mechanics in such a short time forces you to focus on the core gameplay and avoids the feature creep, allowing you to determine the mechanics that work best with your game.

3: You'll see what doesn't work.
Most importantly of all, you'll see what doesn't work about your game very quickly and you can adjust the design of the game or scrap it if it's just not working out in favor of a new idea.

The information you get and the lessons you learn from making a bad game in a short period of time is invaluable. So, can you really call a game like that a bad game? I don't think so. For now, if you have an idea for a game you want to make, then take a weekend and just knock out a rough game and see if it's a bad game or something you can actually learn from and build on.

​Until next time!

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

This past weekend I had the chance to do some much needed catch up on a couple of games I've been meaning to get to for some time. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Hitman Season 1..

I managed to complete both games over the course of the weekend and both were great. I loved both games for very different reasons. Let's start off with uncharted 4. As a game developer who tends to create very narrative driven games, Uncharted 4 is a dream to play. The story is crafted so well with fantastic characters, each with their own traits that make you love or hate them. The gameplay is balanced very well too. The world artists and level designers do a fantastic job of making it clear where you have to go and what you can interact with without once making something seem out of place. It all blends perfectly to make for an enjoyable exciting experience.

As someone who has followed this series of games since the beginning, it was also quite an emotional game to play. It being the final installment is the series had my expectations very high and very curious as to how they would end it. Now, I won't spoil the ending as I'm sure there's more like me who are taking their time getting to it. But, it was a perfect ending in my mind.

Ok, let's talk about Hitman Season One. Once agin, I've been a fan of this series of games since the start with Contracts and Blood Money some of my favorites in the series. Absolution, while a solid game, was I found lacking in some of the classic elements that made the Hitman games so good. It went for a more linear style that suited the story they wanted to tell. However, Hitman Season One has gone back to the design that made me fall in love with the games.

While there is still a story and it is interesting, the game is structured in such a way that you can just completely ignore the story and it won't be a problem. What I love about Hitman is the open ended levels that are so detailed. The characters all have their own routines to go about and the possibilities for how you can take out your targets are almost endless. I have to hand it to the game designers on this one. The ability to be able to craft a world that not only feels alive but also giving the player the ability to interact and manipulate the routines in that world to benefit yourself but for it all to come together and make sense is amazing.

Often times when I'm replaying a mission, I'll ignore my objective and simply explore the level just listening in on conversations, observing ways I could plan out a way to kill my target and even just enjoy the attention to detail in the levels. The game design and level design in a good Hitman game is some of the best you'll see. One of the best things about this Hitman game is how much you can replay it and you can be sure I'll be jumping back in once I get some free time.

Hey there, Gamers and Game Makers!

Welcome to another Game Dev Advice blog. In this, the first of the quick tips series,I'll try to break down some key ​fundamental tips that will help you make better games and decisions in promoting your games.

Tip 1: To Make Great Games, You Have To Play Great Games
This may seem like a simple one and you may even say "Isn't playing other peoples games a waste of my time when I should be making mine?" Well, games development while a very technical job is still at it's very core such a creative one and at the end of the day you are an artist.

Like any other creative medium, your work is a result of the things you draw inspiration from. This inspiration can come from anything really. Movies, books, music, nature, life experiences and yes, games are obviously going to be a big source of inspiration for a game developer. The games you played growing up will most likely be a big influence on the type of games you make. Games you play now will also be a source of inspiration for you. Seeing a particular game mechanic may inspire an idea in you for something in your game. A strong narrative game may inspire a new way you think about writing for games. So to make games, you need to play games.

Tip 2: Work Balance
While it's important to be very motivated and driven in order to make a game, it's more important to take care of yourself. It's very easy to become obsessive about your work and begin to neglect other aspects of your life. Finding a balance that works is different for everyone. For me, I set aside an hour and a half to workout four times a week. I make time for others in my life and take breaks to read, watch movies, listen to music and most importantly time away from all technology. Even if just for an hour in the day.

The better you manage your work life balance, you'll not only find your work will be better but that you'll also feel better as a person and at the end of the day that's what counts.

Tip 3: Finding Your Style
When making games, we're surrounded by extremely talented people in the industry. They can be folks working on the latest AAA title in a big studio to a guy or girl in their bedroom working on their first ever game. Regardless sometimes we compare our work to that of others and feel like it's not good enough or we wonder why we can't do something like another person did.

Games development is a creative process and as with any creative medium, people have their own styles and ways of creating. The key is to figure out what your style is and develop and grow it. Focus on what you enjoy making and see how you can evolve the look. This is one of those things that you'll just have to give time. But if you do dedicate time to it, you'll see that you'll develop your own style and that it will keep on improving with every project.

Tip 4: It's Ok to Fail
Being a creative means that you will try things and a lot of times those things don't turn out the way you want. An idea that you felt at the beginning may turn out to be something you hate. Making a game is a scary process sometimes. As a developer you not only invest so much time into making a game but you also invest so much of yourself into it.

Each game is a reflection of a part of you and that can make it all the more frustrating if you fail. But here's the thing. It's ok to fail. It's better to try and fail than to fail to try. If you fail, simply pick yourself up and learn from that failure. Use that knowledge and improve on the next project and the next and always keep learning. If you're motivated and ​passionate about something, you've got to keep at it and keep trying.

That about does it for this week's blog. I hope it's been of use to some and asalways, feel free to leave a comment or get in touch.

​Until next time!

Hey there Gamers and game Makers!

This week's blog post is a little different. Rather than talk about tips and advice for game development, I'm going to talk a little about what I'm currently working on.

So, my past few projects have been relatively small projects and each one had a small development cycle. While I've had a lot of fun working on these short projects and seeing the great response each one has received, I've been sitting on a game idea that I really love for quite some time. I've been toying around with the story in my head for some time and very recently I've gone into pre-production on it. I've been concepting the art style for it and prototyping some of the game mechanics I have in mind for it.

While I'm not ready to talk about what it is right now, like most of my past games it will be very much a narrative driven game. Now, you may wonder why am I even telling you guys about this right now? Well, as this game is not a short game like my last few projects, it's going to take a longer development cycle. This is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Working on a game with a longer development cycle has a lot more potential risks.

So, what I'm hoping to do is as I'm developing this game I want to share updates on it's progress through blog post and potentially through videos on my Youtube channel. The idea is to not only engage more with the potential people that will be playing the game but also give you guys a look at what goes into making a game and my personal creative process. I hope to begin this process of sharing more about the game and updating folks on what it is and the development process soon. Right now, I want to get a little more into the pre-production of it and get a solid proof of concept prototype down. Once I'm at that stage I'll start sharing more information about the game.

So for now, please feel free to suggest what you'd like to see from the development process once it begins and what form you'd prefer to see it in such as blog post, video updates on Youtube or other. I'm excited about working on a game in this way as it's out of my comfort zone but I think it could make for an interesting learning experience for us all. So, let's get ready to go on an adventure, shall we?

​Until next time!

Hi there, Gamers and Game Makers!

This week, I'll be breaking down some very quick but useful tips for your level design work. Ok let's jump right in!

Tip 1:Know your level
It's important to not just jump right into your editor placing objects any old place. You should always start out with your level design on paper. Think about the gameplay that takes place in this level and how the environment will influence that gameplay and vice versa.

​Sketch out rough outlines of your level and make notes of key points in the level and consider things such as how you'll guide the player the way you want them to go. Have as much information about your level and what you want/need from it before you start building it.

Tip 2: It's only logical
When you know what you need in your level from a gameplay point of view and are ready to start building it,it's important to also think about the logic of your level. When it comes to games we tend to let a few things slide under the reasoning of "Video game logic" but at the same time you should strive to have your level make sense. Do the things in your level make sense? If you have a level set in a hospital and in the operating room I would expect to see an operating table but if I see a pool table or jukebox, I'll start to question to question the logic and the immersion will be broken. Always aim to have your level feel like a real logical place. Even in a fantasy game, we have expectations of what we want to see in an area.

Tip 3: Make it feel real
We've all played games where the level just felt like a placeholder for the gameplay that's taking place in it and then we've played games where the level felt not just like it was a real place with a story of it's own but that it may even hold some secrets if you poked around. I always feel like a games world should tell a story of it's own and when you're a level designer then that's exactly what you're doing. You want to have the level feel like a real place with it's own history that came before the player and the current events of the game. Make your level tell a story of its own and you'll have a more realistic and better level.

Tip 4: Know your tools
It's one thing to have your level on paper but when it comes to building it make sure you take the time to fully learn your tools. The better you understand your level design editor, the better levels you'll build. Get to know how your lighting works, your LODs, particals and so on.

Tip 5: Break the rules!
While there are many rules and tips you should follow when it comes to level design,sometimes breaking the rules and trying new things can lead to some truly new and fantastic game levels. Don't be afraid to experiment with your levels and think of new gameplay that you might create through new and interesting levels. Most importantly, have fun with it.

Well, that's it for this week. As always I hope this has been of some help. Feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch with me if you have any questions or suggestions for a topic you'd like me to cover.

​Until next time!