Getting Started in GameDev

[Tristin Hightower]

Howdy all,

I'm trying to update the IGDA's horribly outdated "Breaking In" guide for getting started in game development.

I'm renaming it "Getting Started" instead of breaking in and want to focus on analog as well as digital games (the old one focused only on computer/video games).

1) I don't know jack about analog game development or where I'd look for legit resources. I know there are some analog gamedevs in Philly (looking at you Kevin and Jason) so I thought you all might have some places I can look or reference.

2) The old resource was intended for students looking to go to school for gamedev. While that will still be included, I want to include info for folks who want to make games but don't necessarily want to go to school, folks who already have gone to school (maybe not necessarily for games), and folks who may want to just create games as a side thing or hobby.

3) If you have any references or resources or books or website or youtube videos or anything like that that you think would be useful for this type of thing, PLEASE SHARE! :)

4) If anyone wants to help out with this, I'd love you long time. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLES! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
/t

[Nicole Kline]

hey tristin! happy new year!! sorry for the delay in response - i got knocked out by the flu. :( i'm finally starting to feel human again!!

as for "breaking in" to game dev for analog games, i'm not sure if i'm qualified, as we don't actually have a product for sale yet. we're getting ready to launch our kickstarter in a few weeks. i have tons and tons (and goddamn TONS) of resources for doing a kickstarter, so if that's something you're interested in, i'd be glad to share it! but as for breaking in, i agree with amanda: it's so, SO clutch to play a lot of games, and to go to as many events as possible. and definitely have them get a board game geek account and start using it ASAP, because the faster they learn that website, the better off they'll be. they will need to use BGG a LOT if they're making board games. and while this is something that is severely limiting, having a community is super important, because you need people to physically be around you in order to help playtest your games. (so far, philly and boston are two of the most amazing cities for analog game devs!! they are full of great groups of people who are super into board games and very generous and helpful.)

sorry if that's not very helpful - we're kind of just trying to figure this out as we go :-\ i have lots of books in my amazon cart that people have recommended to me, but i am not sure how good they are, as they haven't read them myself. i can make a list for you if you like!

i hope you're doing well!! let me know if you have any other questions!

-nicole

On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 11:07 AM, Amanda Lange <litag...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are you including pixelprospector.com? That's a site I link a lot of beginners to. We like Extra Credits as well.

Regarding analog game dev, my best advice which you should also pass along is to tell people to play a bigger variety of analog games than they are used to before trying to design one. Send them to boardgamegeek etc. (Students in particular I have found never play enough different analog games then don't know what designing one looks like.) I would tell people who want to do analog games to go to board game related conventions so they can experience a big variety fast. PAX, GenCon, Origins

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~*~*~*~

Nicole Kline

Designer, Cardboard Fortress Games

Senior Editor, Warp Zoned

Contributing Writer, Geekadelphia

Co-Founder, Girl Geek Dinners Philadelphia

Co-Organizer, GameLoop Philly

Doer, All of the Things