8 tips to becoming a great game developer

Attending the Philippine Game Development Festival (PGDF) was a very fruitful and fun endeavour. Aside from meeting game developers (I was starstruck!), I also learned a lot about how they work. We previously posted an article about lessons from game developers. This time, we’ve come back with detailed tips to help you get on the road to becoming a game developer.

1. Play games

I bet this is rather easy if you’re a gamer. According to Alvin Juban of Secret 6 and president of the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), this is easy because it’s what us gamers do during our free time, and anything you like doing is not tedious. But this doesn’t mean you just play games that you think are cool. Of course, as gamers we have our own preferences when it comes to the games we play and that’s fine. But if you’re stepping in the world of game development, you need to grow in more ways than one. Playing games is one of them, but remember to get out of your comfort zone. You don’t have to love all the different kinds of games you try. You just have to play them from time-to-time and see them on a different level. What is it about shooters that you hate? And if there’s anything about shooters that you like, what would it be?

2. Everything you need is online

According to Paul Gadi of IGDA Manila, “Everything you need is online”, though I would like to tell you that I was able to live as a student during the times when internet access was little to none. Now before you start figuring out my age, I would like to point out how much information there is out there on the internet. Not only are there tutorials and downloadable material, but also countless online groups and forums that you could join. Get help from people with experience. Build connections. Form groups. Learn as much as you can and apply it. The online world is open to everyone. You don’t have to be an IT graduate or a multimedia arts student to try. This is the era of the internet. Make use of it.

3. Learn how to code, or at least understand it.

You might think this is a no-brainer for programmers. You’re developing a game. Of course, you’re going to code! Here’s the thing though, it is a common misconception that everyone in the game development industry must code. This isn’t entirely false, but isn’t entirely true either. You’re not expected to build the program itself, but you’re expected to understand how it works. Let’s say if you’re an artist, of course you’re expected to draw and design stuff, but being an artist doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be bothered to figure how everything is programmed. You need to figure out how stuff is put together, even if it’s just a superficial understanding. How does this thing move? Why doesn’t this color come out in the shade I originally designed it to be? Exactly what does it mean when they say they need the hex code for this color?

4. Build your portfolio

Is it not enough that I know how to code? Is it not enough that I know how to draw? Is it not enough that I have played more than a hundred games in my lifetime? You know, that’s cool and all, but you’re right about it not being enough. Anyone can say, “Hey, I can make games”, but they might not have anything to show for it. Building your portfolio is very important because not only does it show any potential employers or clients what you’re capable of, but it is also a good way of tracking your progress. It helps you improve on so many levels.

According to Ria Lu of Komikasi, building a portfolio is best when you’re still a student because at this time, you still aren’t worried about bills or taxes. And you have more leeway to make mistakes and try out new stuff. Sure you have school deadlines and extracurricular activities, but that’s nothing compared to your landlord when rent is due.

5. Join groups and be active

I stress on the part of being active so you know this doesn’t mean you register on a forum or join a Facebook group and just read through posts. That’s not joining. That’s lurking. Once you join a group, make sure you participate in discussions. This has many benefits. You learn how to communicate with people over the internet on an educational level. It also helps you build connections, which is particularly important if you’re looking at being an indie developer.