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Geek Culture / Please help me do a report

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Aaron Miller
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Playing: osu!
Posted: 12th Dec 2007 04:36
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For my homework, it asked me to do a research paper. For this research paper I decided to take the topic of game development. Since the only place you can actually get information on that is the internet (Without having to purchase books, or dig out books from the back of the uhaul which is fully packed atm).

So, my question is more of an interview... How do you make your games? What are your methods (Don't have to actually go in depth on that one, what I mean is do you have a schedule worked out), etc.

I know I asked something similar a while ago, but this is different and I need it to be up to date. Thank you.


Cheers,

-naota

Madness never stops..... It takes a breather every once in a while, but then it grabs it's inhaler and chases you down the street with a cane.
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Zaibatsu
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 04:56
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when conducting an interview, always have specific questions to ask, or you'll get stuff you don't want.

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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 05:04
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What tools do you use when constructing your game? This includes development software and SDKs, world building tools, modelling tools, etc.

Which tools do you find the most important of those listed?

How much have you (as a hobbiest) spent on these tools?

Are you planning on selling any of your work. How far do you plan on taking that?

How much time have you spent on game development? How has this affected your life? (Second doesn't need to be answered at all, but may help the report)

Would you say you've learned from other hobbiests? If so, do you have an example?


Cheers,

-naota

Madness never stops..... It takes a breather every once in a while, but then it grabs it's inhaler and chases you down the street with a cane.
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Grandma
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Location: Norway, Guiding the New World Order
Posted: 12th Dec 2007 13:40 Edited at: 12th Dec 2007 14:59
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Quote: "What tools do you use when constructing your game?"

Except from Dark Basic, i use photoshop and 3ds max mostly.

Quote: "Which tools do you find the most important of those listed?"

Dark Basic. Okay, I would think it's 3ds max as it's capable of making textures as well as levels and weapons and other stuff you might need for a game. All in one handy package.

How much have you (as a hobbyist) spent on these tools? 2 years with DBP, almost 6 years with 3ds max, and about 1 one with Photoshop.

Quote: "Are you planning on selling any of your work."

No.

Quote: "How much time have you spent on game development?"

Since about the time i started with 3ds max.

Quote: "How has this affected your life?"

I got recognised for my l33t skills in max and got a nice job as a result. Don't have that job same job now though.

Quote: "Would you say you've learned from other hobbyists?"

No, Grandma is self-taught.

This message was brought to you by Grandma industries.

Making yesterdays games, today!
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Zappo
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 14:06
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I am not sure how you hope to put together any stats from those questions, but I will try and answer what I can.

What tools do you use when constructing your game? This includes development software and SDKs, world building tools, modelling tools, etc. - A paper and pencil is probably my most important tool. I use it to sketch layouts, jot down code and ideas, and design characters and objects. As far as software goes I mostly use DarkBasic Pro for the game (usually), MilkShape for 3D, PhotoShop for 2D, and Delphi for making level editors or other helpful tools.

Which tools do you find the most important of those listed? - Paper and pencil by far (and a good eraser ).

How much have you (as a hobbiest) spent on these tools? - Well, Delphi was the most expensive but I have recouped that many times over with custom application software I have created with it and sold. I can't remember how much I paid for it but I bought an older version at a cut down price (around 100ukp maybe?). Then there is the price of DBPro (around 40ukp) and MilkShape (around 15ukp). That's pretty much it. PhotoShop was provided by my workplace and any other tools are either written by me, open source or freeware.

Are you planning on selling any of your work. How far do you plan on taking that? - I make money from programming already but as far as games go, the only money I have made has been for charity. I do plan on selling in the future when I consider to have created something of commercial quality. I was offered a deal from a publisher not long ago but the game in question was already released as free and I didn't consider it suitable for updating and charging for it.

How much time have you spent on game development? How has this affected your life? - Not much. I don't get much free time with work, household stuff and parenting, so the little time I get is often just to sit down. I don't let programming/design affect my home life at all.

Would you say you've learned from other hobbiests? - Through sites like this one, certainly. The Internet is full of useful tips from other hobbiests and professionals. Communities like this one are an excellent resource.


Chart data provided with kind permission from ELSPA
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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 14:10
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Quote: "No, Grandma is self-thought."


self-taught

Also, 3D Max can not produce textures, it creates a UV map so you can texture it in a 2D art package.

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Grandma
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Location: Norway, Guiding the New World Order
Posted: 12th Dec 2007 14:58
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Quote: "self-taught"


Thanks, fixed. I was unsure about that one as it didn't look quite right.

Quote: "Also, 3D Max can not produce textures"


I've used 3ds max for ~6 years, i'm pretty sure it can create textures.

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SpyDaniel
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 16:37
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I've used it for 5 years and I can't say I've seen a paint program attached to it. Maybe it's a part I haven't gone over before, show me a screen shot of what you mean

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Grandma
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 16:55
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Well by pressin "M" you enter the material editor, from there you can create all sorts of materials and use them as textures. I use it all the time to create basic textures. I do add details and finish them up in photoshop, but that isn't necessary unless you can't or don't know how to do the same effect in the material editor.

There is no "paint program" as one would generally think of them, but that doesn't mean there is no other way to create textures.

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David R
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Posted: 12th Dec 2007 20:27
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What tools do you use when constructing your game? This includes development software and SDKs, world building tools, modelling tools, etc.

Currently, Irrlicht, FMODEx, Visual Studio 2005, Paintshop Pro X, Nero Mulitrak

Which tools do you find the most important of those listed?
Visual studio, definitely. The code is essentially the framework of the program, so I spend most of my time in it, obviously. It meshes everything else together of course.

How much have you (as a hobbiest) spent on these tools?
Not much actually. SDKs I use are free, VS05 I got a massive discount on because of education etc. (this was prior to express edition), PSPX did cost quite a bit (off of eBay though, about 60 quid). And Nero Premium was part of my DVD burner's software set, so I got that free :p

Are you planning on selling any of your work. How far do you plan on taking that?
I'm planning on selling stuff eventually. I'm trying to create a really amazing game prior to trying though.

How much time have you spent on game development? How has this affected your life? (Second doesn't need to be answered at all, but may help the report)
A lot of time. I've been making games since I got DIV games studio when I was 9, and I've been pretty much obsessed since then. It has greatly affected my life. I recommend this article to explain my obsession: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_effect

Would you say you've learned from other hobbiests? If so, do you have an example?
Definitely - it's impossible not to learn from other people. Can't think of an exact example though


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Inspire
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Location: Rochester, NY
Posted: 13th Dec 2007 03:50 Edited at: 13th Dec 2007 03:51
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What tools do you use when constructing your game? This includes development software and SDKs, world building tools, modelling tools, etc.
Blender, DarkBasic Pro, FPSC, Photoshop CS, Milkshape, Fragmotion.


Which tools do you find the most important of those listed?
Blender, Photoshop CS, DarkBasic Pro.


How much have you (as a hobbiest) spent on these tools?
I'm guessing somewhere over a thousand dollars.


Are you planning on selling any of your work. How far do you plan on taking that?
I'm planning on selling alot of my media in the form of model packs, maybe some of my utilities that I've programmed.

How much time have you spent on game development? How has this affected your life? (Second doesn't need to be answered at all, but may help the report)
I generally do game design any time that I'm not doing something else. It is not my first priority, but usually from 9 - 2:30 PM is game dev time for me, resulting in a lack of sleep and a messed sleep schedule.


Would you say you've learned from other hobbiests? If so, do you have an example?
I've learned everything that I know. I haven't used tutorials, I've asked other people and found things out by myself. I've learned that you should start small, and how to post a WIP correctly (by seeing countless locked threads of others).

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Aaron Miller
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Posted: 13th Dec 2007 07:41
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I'll throw in answers to my questions:

Quote: "What tools do you use when constructing your game? This includes development software and SDKs, world building tools, modelling tools, etc."

I use Nuclear Fusion, Wings 3D, Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 (Code::Blocks sometimes), and Windows Vista (The OS which I develop for). I also occaisonally use the Direct3D 9.0c SDK and the Platform SDK instead of Nuclear Fusion (As I am building my own projects ya know).

Quote: "Which tools do you find the most important of those listed?"

Besides the OS, and the IDE, would be the SDKs: Nuclear Fusion, Platform SDK, Direct3D 9.0c SDK, etc. If I didn't have those, I'd have to make 'em myself.

Quote: "How much have you (as a hobbiest) spent on these tools?"

$60 USD, and that was only for Nuclear Fusion. However, I technically got Nuclear Fusion for free since it was a present last christmas (One that I asked for constantly, btw ).

Quote: "Are you planning on selling any of your work. How far do you plan on taking that?"

Yes. I wish to make it as far as I can. I won't be satisfied unless I can make a middle-classed job out of this (Meaning I can buy a house solely from programming). This doesn't mean my money can't come from donations though, as I 100% enjoy the thought of someone donating to me because they like what I'm doing with the software. If I had a bank account, I'd set up a PayPal for WinGUI. I wouldn't ask for a donation though, I'd just say If you like it you can donate, if not the empty donation box tells me I gotta do better.

Quote: "How much time have you spent on game development? How has this affected your life? (Second doesn't need to be answered at all, but may help the report)"

About 2 years. I have few friends now, the friends I do have consist of a juveniel, someone with A.D.D. (Attention Deficet Disorder (spelling?)), some chick, random people off the internet, and two very good friends, one in New Zealand, and one elsewhere in America (Where I live). Planning to move in with the one here in America.

Quote: "Would you say you've learned from other hobbiests? If so, do you have an example?"

Most definitely. Did you know that if it weren't for hobbiests, computers wouldn't be as advanced as they are today? The very first games were all from hobbiests.


I finished the report last night btw, thanks for the input though, I'll see about extra credit

Cheers,

-naota

Madness never stops..... It takes a breather every once in a while, but then it grabs it's inhaler and chases you down the street with a cane.
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