Opinion: Indie Game Design Do-s and Don't-s: A Manifesto

[Veteran indie game creator Edmund McMillen, known for his work on 2005 IGF Grand Prize winner Gish, Time Fcuk, and Super Meat Boy for WiiWare, shares his opinions and manifesto on making indie games, with 24 clear do-s and don't-s to make your art thrive.] One of the most common questions I'm asked in interviews is, "Do you have any advice for independent game developers who are new to the scene, or tips for developers in general?" Well, I actually answered it this time: I came up with this list of indie do-s and don't-s. Now, I'm going to make clear that I'm not perfect and I'm sure as the years go by this list will change. But from where I stand right now, having made independent art/games for a living for the past 10 years, the advice below is crucial to all indie game designers, and all artists for that matter. Also note that when I refer to a "designer" or "artist," I include programmers. The creative is visible in the work as a whole rather than in the specifics. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

A Video Game Development Blog November 17th, 2008 Posted in Reviews, Featured | No Comments » A Digital Dreamer takes a close look at this gem of a PS3 game that every designer should take the time to play. We had heard a lot of great things about LittleBigPlanet for the Playstation 3 months before it was released. We heard things like the way the characters were designed and showed emotions brought instant smiles on the faces of pretty much anyone who had a chance to play it. We had heard about great looking levels, multiplayer interaction, and creation aspects of the game. Getting down to the most basic elements of the game, LittleBigPlanet is essentially a 2D side scrolling adventure. Read the rest of this entry »

Games from Within | So You Want to Be a Game Programmer? I often get email from people looking to get their first job in the game industry asking me for advice. What are companies looking for in candidates for entry-level programming positions? How come it’s so difficult to land a job? I can’t answer for the industry as a whole, but I can certainly tell you what I am looking for when trying to fill an entry-level programmer position. A few weeks ago, Joel wrote an article with advice for college students looking to become programmers. Specifically, I’m going to concentrate on the case of someone without any previous industry development experience applying to game companies for the first time, possibly straight out of college. The type of job openings you’ll be looking for are usually referred to as junior programmer, entry-level programmer, associate programmer, or something similar. What exactly am I looking for, then, in an entry-level programmer candidate? Enthusiasm. How do you show this enthusiasm of yours? Always learning. Plays games.

Rules of play: game design fundamentals eco-footprint Indiegames.com - showcasing the best in independent games. Indie-Resource.com s Blog » Indie games as a business As Psychoavatar is winding up, I'm back into "business" mode. I have a good amount of experience in running Near Death Studios, so I know to avoid pitfalls like taking on too much overhead too early. I've also started considering business opportunities and haven't put marketing ideas off until the last minute. In my daily reading, I've been seeing more articles about independent game development, particularly about business. Another article requires a bit more delving but also provides insight into the next step: making a living from your game. From a the very simplest point of view, your business is defined by two values: your income you receive and the expenses you pay. Things get murkier when you try to expand from this. The other issue to note is the Child's Play donation. Finally, it's important to look at income as well. Not to pick on Mr. What insights do you get from that article?

TIGSource Getting Started How long have you dreamed of making a video game? Video game development is a substantial industry, employing over 40,000 people in North America alone. But while many people daydream about working in game development, few have the chops to follow through and take action. We know that's why you're here now: to take action. These Getting Started pages will introduce you to the world of game development by breaking down some of the complex information. If you've got the basics down, our homepage has daily news updates and feature articles to keep you in sync with the professional world. Check out our community forums, too, where you can network with fellow newbies and ask working professionals for their opinionated advice. To work in game development, you've got to have tenacity.

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