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[Hambone]

I know this question has probably been answered a time or two; probably on this exact forum and probably all over the internets (yes, I said internets). But, I will ask anyways because well... I want to ask it from my perspective.

Background Information:

I am a 28 year old virgin (jk) male. I finished a degree in Computer Science a year ago from a local university. I am a decent programmer and currently work as one for a company that writes corporate card management software. I actually like my job, I actually love my job. However, I do long to work on projects (games) in my free-time for two main reasons: one, because I want to become a better programmer/smart, two, because I want to at least try to give something my own little whirl and see if I can't make something decent and maybe make a little cash. I have always been interested in game development, probably more interested in gamdev than actually playing games (this is another dilemma I face, I'll ask about this another time  ). When in school I took a few game development courses and managed to graduate with a few (shitty) games under my belt. By shitty I mean the design was horrible but I would say the programming was decent. I am very interested in low-level game programming (engines, game-play programming, architecture) but I know if I ever want to make a game I have to get better at the whole design part  .


So how does one get better at game design? Subjective question I am certain but I am interested to know others thoughts.
Does one play and study lots of games? Does one simply just try to design tons of games? Do I read a lot for inspiration/research? Watch lots of TV? Free Write? Masterbate (you still reading  )? I am sure all of these will certainly help but I still feel like there is just something I am missing with the approach. Maybe part of my problem is a am a programmer and want an exact answer?
if (studyThisShit) amazingGameDesigner = true;

p.s. ignore my shit grammar plz. totes apprec.

Hambone

 

[Alec S.]

A big part of learning to design games is practice.  Make small games.  Either something with only a few simple mechanics (Like a simple puzzle or arcadey action game), or things in fairly simple, well-established genres (SHMUP, Platformer).  Start by just prototyping things (try to finish your prototype in a matter of weeks), let other people play them, get feedback, and repeat.  The first step to making good games is making shitty games.

Also, play other games and try to notice the small details that make them effective. 

[halk3n]

Study mazes and labyrinths:

- Mazes for space and object.

- Labyrinths for narrative structure.

[s0]

play board games if you want to learn about mechanics

[PaulWv2.017]

Also make board games. They force you to be simple and try to flourish in spite of limitations rather than face the intimidation of infinite possibility.

[Alevice]

make verbs meaningfully connected to the motifs, and not window dressing for generic mechanic or stat #293090980987