GameDev basics: everything newcomers need to know about the game development industry

Game development (GameDev) is the process of creating and developing video games.

• It includes: game design, programming, graphics, and sound that work together to create engaging game content.
• Game development requires: creativity, technical skills, and collaboration between different specialists to create a complete game experience for players.
  

Content

1. Directions of GameDev

1. Console games.
2. PC games.
   
3. Mobile games.
   
4. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
   
5. Browser and online games.
   

2. Classification of games

1. By genre.
2. By type of gameplay.
   
3. Visualization style.
   
4. By target audience.
   
5. By level of realization.
   

3. Stages of game development

1. Defining the idea and concept of the game.
2. Development of the game design.
   
3. Game engine development and coding.
   
4. Graphics and animation of the game.
   
5. Testing and debugging.
   

4. Evolution of the game industry

1. Early period.
2. Arcade games.
   
3. Home game consoles.
   
4. Transition to 3D graphics.
   
5. Modern gamemade.
   

The main goal of game development is to create an interactive and immersive interaction between the player and the game world. Game developers, be it VR, PC and console games strive to create unique and engaging game mechanics, interesting storylines, quality graphics and sound effects to ensure players enjoyment and enthrallment.

GameDev today is a dynamic and fast-growing industry that continues to attract talented and creative people from all over the world. It offers opportunities to innovate, experiment and create unique gaming experiences for players.

Directions of GameDev

Gamemade can differ depending on the platform for which the game is being developed:

1. Console gaming. Here, developers can work on creating exclusive games for consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. As well as releasing games on multiple platforms. These games can range from large-scale AAA projects to independent games.

2. PC games. Developing games for computers has its own peculiarities. Here, programmers can use different programming languages such as C++, C#, Java, Python, and different game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine. PC games can range from strategy and role-playing games to shooters and simulators.

C++ is a mid-level programming language that is faster and closer to machine code. C# is a high-level programming language that is easier to learn. Both C++ and C# are general purpose object-oriented programming languages.

3. Mobile gaming. Developing games for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets has become very popular. Programming languages such as Java, Swift and C# and various platforms such as Android and iOS are used here. Mobile games can range from simple puzzle and arcade games to online multiplayer projects.

Swift is Apple's robust and intuitive programming language that can be used to create apps for iOS, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch. It gives developers unprecedented creative freedom.

4. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Developing games for VR platforms such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR requires specialization in this area. Here, developers create immersive game worlds using VR-specific APIs and tools.

A VR platform is a magical world of your fantasies that you can explore using specialized goggles and controllers. It's like entering another reality where you can try anything from flying dragons to learning virtual skills.

5. Browser and online games. Game development on cloud services allow you to create online games with multiple players and complex networking features. Web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript and WebGL are used here to create games accessible through web browsers.

Developers can specialize in specific areas depending on the chosen platform. This allows them to better adapt to the specifics of the platform and create game projects for their target audience.

Game Classification

In the field of game development, there are several major classifications of games that help in defining their features and genres. Here are some of them:

1. By genre. Games can be categorized by genre such as action, adventure, strategy, puzzle, sports, etc. Each genre has its own unique game mechanics and goals.
   
   
2. By type of gameplay. Games can be categorized by the type of gameplay such as single player game, multiplayer game, cooperative game and competitive game. This determines how players interact with each other in the game.
   
   
3. By visualization style. Games can be classified by visualization style: realistic graphics, pixel graphics, animation style or comic book style. The visualization style creates the unique atmosphere and aesthetics of the game.
   
   
4. By target audience. Games can be categorized by target audience such as children, teenagers, adults, or a specific interest group. Considering the preferences and interests of the target audience, developers create game content to suit their needs.
   
   
5. By level of implementation.
   

• AAA games that have high budgets and complex technical components. These games are usually developed by large teams and include advanced graphic technologies.
• AA games may have an average budget and development team, their graphics and technical capabilities are at a level sufficient for comfortable play, but are not cutting edge.
  
• Indie games are created by small teams or individual developers and may have a limited budget. They are often characterized by original gameplay, unconventional ideas and experiments.
  

Stages of game development

Stage one 

Defining the idea and concept of the game. You should ask yourself what kind of game you want to create and what target audience you want to attract. Defining a unique and interesting game concept will help you attract the attention of players and distinguish yourself in the game market.

Phase two

Game Design Development. This stage includes the creation of game mechanics, levels, characters, art style and sound design. A good game design helps to create an engaging game experience and satisfy the needs of the players. Next come the most difficult, but no less interesting stages. We wrote more about design earlier in this article.

Ori and the Blind Forest (Ori and the Blind Forest) is a computer game in the genres of platformer and metroidvania, developed by Moon Studios on the Unity engine and published by Microsoft Studios.

Phase Three

Game engine development and coding is one of the most technically challenging aspects of game development. You must choose a suitable game engine (Unity, Unreal Engine, CryEngine. There are tons of them and each has its own pros and cons) or develop your own and then write the code that will control game objects, physics, artificial intelligence and other aspects of the game.

You can learn more about the different engines that can help you create games here. CODDY has put together tutorials on the most popular engines. Here you will learn about Uniti, creating 2D and 3D games in C# and C++, programming in Java, Roblox Studio and much more. Come and choose your engine!

Step Four

The game's graphics and animations play an important role in creating the visual appearance of the game. You need to create or select appropriate graphic assets, create animations of characters and objects, and ensure that they interact smoothly with the game world.

The plot of the game "Ori and the Impenetrable Forest" tells about the adventures of the orphaned forest spirit Ori, who explores the magical forest, tries to save it from evil and restore the three basic elements that maintain the balance.

Final Phase

Testing and debugging should be done after the game development is finalized. You should test the game for bugs, gameplay issues and other inconsistencies. Testing will help you improve the quality of the game and ensure a positive gaming experience.

The evolution of the video game industry

Today, video games are a huge industry. Budgets of large projects reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Famous Hollywood stars take part in them, and revenues reach billions of dollars. Consoles, computers, televisions, smartphones. On almost any electronic device you can run at least a simple game, but it was not always so...

Red Dead Redemption II for the first 2 days from the day of release collected more than the movie Marvel - "Avengers. Infinity War".

Early Period (1940-1960): 

During this time, the first computers and computer games appeared. 

The first video game is generally considered to be the Nimatron machine, created in the United States in 1940. A huge computing machine similar to an arcade machine offered players to turn off light bulbs in turn with the computer. But the real birth of gaming is attributed to 1978.

One of the most famous games of the time was "Spacewar!" (1962), developed on the PDP-1. This is also when games like Pac-Man, Street Fighter and others appeared.

Arcade games (1970-1980):

Arcade machines became popular during this period, including games like "Pong" (1972) and "Space Invaders" (1978). Developers created simple and addictive games using arcade machine hardware.

Home game consoles (1980-1990): 

With the advent of home game consoles such as the Atari 2600, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and Sega Genesis, a new era of gameplay emerged. Developers began creating games for these platforms using specialized tools and programming languages.

Transition to 3D graphics (1990-2000): 

During this period, GameDev became more sophisticated and technological. 3D graphics appeared and games became more realistic and interactive. One important development was the advent of game engines such as the Quake Engine and Unreal Engine.

The real breakthrough came in 2000 when Sony presented the PlayStation 2 console. The 6th generation gaming console became the fastest selling and most popular gaming console in history.

It was on the PS2 that the first 3D GTA was released. Many games had millions of users, further cementing the role of the internet in video games.

Modern Gamemade (2000-present): 

With the development of computer technology and the internet, GameDev became even more accessible and diverse. Independent developers began to create games for mobile devices and Steam platform, while large studios continue to produce AAA projects with stunning graphics and gameplay.

The breakthrough in video games happened in 2010, when more powerful phones began to appear, for which it was possible to develop "heavy" games. And starting in 2020, the latest breakthrough was virtual reality. Fully immersive games began to span the world.

when we write articles about games, we often leave links to popular games that can be bought on Steam

Nowadays, games are not only a popular entertainment, but also a huge industry with many successful projects. The gaming industry has become one of the most lucrative and dynamic entertainment industries.

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We invite you to get acquainted with a selection of "Game Creation" courses. CODDY has carefully collected for you training courses with the most popular engines. Here you will find a well-built learning system and learn programming languages while immersing yourself in your favorite games. Come and start creating unique worlds! 

Game development is a fun and creative endeavor that requires effort and perseverance. The GameDev basics we've discussed in this article are key aspects of game development. We hope you find this information useful if you are looking to start your GameDev journey.