Special:
Guide to Game Developement(eng)
2D vs. 3D: Fight of the Century(eng)
Download:
Delphi vs Visual C++
FAQ.
A FAQ by Ben Sawyer Version 2.0
Please feel free to distribute this document electronically as much as
possible for non-profit use only. This document may not be printed
and/or distributed in any fashion in any for-profit manner whether
for a newsletter, online zine, or professional publication without the
written permission of Benjamin G. Sawyer.
(c) 1995 Benjamin G. Sawyer
===============================================
Improvements from Version 1.3
Fixed erratta
New and Improved Book Section
New and Improved Magazine Section
New and Improved Internet Resources Section
New and Improved Online Services Section
Now Featuring Karen Crowther's Shareware Gamers FAQ!
Now Featuring Ron Gilberts Design Document and Game Design
Advice!
Added Section on Rating and the RSAC
Added Section on Macromedia Director
===============================================
Contributors: The following people have assisted in the creation of
this document:
Dave Snyder/MVP Games, Bruce Lewis CyberSims, Gregg Seelhoff,
Jim Bucher, Akiva Atwood, Chris Crawford, Kevin Gliner/CGDA,
John Eichelberger, and Chris Newland.
Plus anyone I forgot and thanks to all my downloaders over 2500 I
know of with the first version.
===============================================
NEWS ANNOUCEMENTS
===============================================
THE ULTIMATE GAME DEVELOPERS SOURCEBOOK
Coming this fall from Coriolis Group Books.
Yours truly is teaming up with The Coriolis Group, publishers of
PC-Techniques Magazine, Michael Abrash's Zen of Grpahics
Programming, Diana Grubers Action Arcade Adventure Set and Lary
Myers 3D Games Action Adventure Set among others to bring you
the most comprehensive guide and sourcebook ever seen in the
history of Game Development Texts.
I have spent countless hours researching and writing about how to do
game development, who to call, what to use, how to design, produce
and market. I have and still am interviewing dozens of top game
industry producers, designers, marketers and analysts to bring out a
book which covers the entire realm of the industry.
Look for it this fall from The Coriolis Group.
And...
Keep looking for Game Devlepors FAQ updates which will
supplement and compliment the book!
===============================================
COMPUSERVE GAME DEVELOPERS FORUM BECOMES
OFFICIAL LAUNCHING FOR GAME DEVELOPERS FAQ
UPDATES!
I have recently taken on the role of Assistant Sysop in Compuserve's
Game Developers Forum. Please drop by for the latest release of the
FAQ which goes through Quarterly Updates.
===============================================
ANNOUNCING GAME DEVLOPERS CONFERENCES ON
COMPUSERVE'S GAMDEV FORUM
Starting in August of 1995 I will be hosting regular conferences with
industry proffessionals on Compuserve's Game Developers Forum.
These will be regular Bi-Weekly sessions complete with a speaker or
speakers a topic and a Q&A roundtable. Join Compuserve and GO
GAMDEV for more information on this program.
===============================================
WORLD WIDE WEB VERSION OF THE GAME DEVELOPERS
FAQ FROM THE CORIOLIS GROUP
In conjunction with the Ultimate Game Developers FAQ The
Coriolis Group is publishing the WWW version of The Game
Developers FAQ. In addition to all the information contained here
are live links to all the coolest sites for game developers to check out
and much much more.
For more information point your web browser towards
http:\\www.coriolis.com
===============================================
Special Thanks:
Everyone who frequents CompuServe's GamDev forum, especially...
Karen Crowther
Without Karen initially persuading, (suckering) me into this, I would
not have thought I could be helpful. Her advice is always available
and always good. Anyone else wishing to thank her should purchase
her games: Rescue the Scientists (Retail from Comptons), Pickle
Wars (shareware from MVP), Math Rescue, and Word Rescue
(Shareware from Apogee).
Ron Gilbert
Ron is the co-founder of Humongous Entertainment which produces
Childrens games for a wide vareity of platforms. He posted on
Compuserve's Game Development Forum some great information
about design documents and computer game design in general and I
ask if I could include a revised version in this new update and he
said sure. Ron's advice is excellent and I am glad to make it more
widely available as part of the ongoing GameDev FAQ Update!
Swen Vincke
Swen came all the way from Belgium to help me to explain some
DOS Specifics like DOS Extenders and Midpak that programmers
should learn. Anyone else wishing to thank Swen should either
contribute to his collaborative game project titled Chronicles (visit
the CompuServe Gamdev forum for more info) or buy his upcoming
Adventure RPG Ragnarok.
Keith Weiskamp
Keith is the publisher of the Coriolis Group, which has recently
brought out such books as Visual Basic Multimedia Adventure Set,
Arcade Action Adventure Set, and PC Game Programming Explorer,
to name just a few. I cannot thank him enough. Keith spotted my
work early on and has served as an excellent resource, editor and all
around cheerleader. Anyone else wishing to thank him should buy
his books and even if you didn't initially want to thank him, you will
probably want to do ultimately, anyway since they are among the
best books published.
The following developers\producers for their divine inspiration to
me, I've never met them, but their games have always inspired me to
become a game developer.
Bill Budge (Pinball Construction Set)
Danielle Bunten (Seven Cities of Gold, M.U.L.E.)
Chris Crawford (Balance of Power, Excaliber)
Don Daglow (Producer of many EA Hits)
Richard Garriot (Lord British)
Sid Meir (Pirates, F-15 Strike Eagle)
and Bill Williams (Sinbad, Alley Cat, Necromancer)
OK! WHAT DO I DO BEFORE STARTING TO WRITE A GAME?
A lot more work than you will do once you start coding!
HOW DO I PREPARE?
1. First find a good Chinese food take-out place. You will be eating
in a lot.
2. Flesh Out Your Design.
Try to really flesh out your idea as much as possible. Put your ideas
on paper first. Diving in might seem like the quickest way but
sooner or later, you are going to hit design and programming snags.
Why? Because you have not completely thought through your idea.
Always remember: designing and coding are two separate tasks that
deserve equal attention.
3. Line Up Your Resources.
Like a cook preparing ingredients, during the design process I line
up lists of the graphics, sounds, and music I will need. Remember,
creating a game requires a lot of non-code items. Make sure you
have a good idea of what those will be and how you will acquire or
create them.
4. Preparing a design document
A design document is an overall catch-phrase for a complete written
account of what you intend your game to be. Games require
planning and the design document is the formal instance of your
plans. What follows here is an edited and revised version of a post
Ron Gilbert of Humongous Entertainment placed in Compuserve's
Game Developers forum. Humongous is a fast growing children's
entertainment company based in Woodinville, Washington and
makes awesomely animated games like Putt Putt Joins the Parade
and Freddi Fish!
The most difficult part of designing and writing interactive stories is
the form of the script. You will find that everyone does it
differently, so basically the choice is up to you. Over the course of
the last 10 years, I have designed and written many interactive stories
and adventure games and have never kept the same format.
First, don't prototype you project. Prototyping is for people who
don't understand the medium. If you (and your prospective
company) understand the medium, you both will be able to
understand it in a linear, written form. I suggest you product the
following documents:
Story treatment.
This is exactly like the ones for movies. It briefly describes the story
and major characters. Don't worry about it being interactive and
having branches, just write the main branch or the most important
ending. Other endings can be mentioned but don't spend time
flushing them out in the treatment. The treatment is for a quick
overview.
Design.
This is a document the describes the interactive design of the
products. It includes sample descriptions of what the play will do
such as:
What form is the interaction is taking?
Are they make story choices in a branch story composed on scenes,
or are they roaming an environment as in a adventure game?
Do they pick up items?
How do they talk to people they meet?
What does the interface look like?
These are all VERY important issues that must be talked about in
the design document.
The best way to get this information across is by comparison to other
products. "It's just like Myst, but underwater". "It's just like
Monkey Island, but with talking cars". Don't be afraid to draw these
comparisons, it's not a sign of a lack of imaginations, just the
opposite, it shows that you're well versed in what other designers
have done successfully.
The design document is where all the interactive design goes. If you
are creating a adventure game style world, make a map. Show where
all the charters are, and where everything can be found. If your
story is branching, then make a flow chart with little boxes for each
scene and a once sentence description of what happens.
Scripts
The script resembles a movie script, but each represents each box, or
location or interaction in the design. The great thing about an
interactive script is that you can throw it up in the air, gather the
papers up and it DOESN'T MATTER.
Advice on submitting design documents to companies.
If you are trying to sell this to a company, do step 1 and step 2, don't
bother with step 3 until you get an OK (or you just don't have
anything else to do!). Any company that knows what it's doing
(which are very few), won't need to see a script to understand what's
going on. Unlike film and TV, the script is not early as important as
the design. There are thousands of people out there that can write,
but very few who can design.
There is also something else very important to remember when
selling your design and/or script. Unless you're just interested in
just soaking someone for a bunch of up-front money, pick a
company that has done something you like. [editor - I would ad that
selling a game design is very tough as I talk about later, this isn't to
say don't try just be aware it's tough!]
There are hundreds of multimedia companies that hove no idea what
they're doing and you have a good chance of getting hooked up with
one of them. Don't sell it to "movie" studio that happens to have an
interactive division. They are notorious for not knowing what there
doing. This is a brand new art form that is understood by very few
people. You may have a great story and design that get ruined by the
implementation, and unfortunately you're reputation as a designer
goes along with it.
I don't know if any of this is helpful or not, and just
remember...everyone does it different, so there is really no right or
wrong.
Good luck
Ron Gilbert
Humongous Entertainment
My advice has more to do with how I organize my work as a part
time game maker:
For organizing my game, I got a loose leaf binder. In the binder, I
have three sections: To Do, Design and Resources.
TO DO
The To Do section is a running list with notes about stuff I want to
work on to make my game. For example I might have an entry titled
Movement Scheme For Enemies, and below it some notes
concerning how I might do it.
At the beginning of the section is a running Top Ten list. Not my
list of the best David Letterman lists, but a list of the next ten
features or things I am going to do when I sit down to work. I do this
because, like you I pursue this craft in my spare time. I find that
good design notes and a To Do work list helps me make the most of
that time.
I also always carry a printout of my code so I can edit it on the road.
By using lots of pen and paper, I turn what spare time I have away
from my computer into productive time.
DESIGN
This is simply a running set of sketches, short essays and notes
about the overall design like storyline and
interface design, etc. I am constantly adding to it until I have a
complete picture of what the game will be, always being careful not
to do too much.
RESOURCES
Just as I said before, your game will have many elements besides
programming code. This section is a running list of the artwork,
sounds, data files, etc. which will need to created.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES AND QUESTIONS THAT
DEAL WITH DESIGN?
DECIDING ON A PLATFORM.
Windows or DOS? That is the question.
Lately, there has been a huge shift toward the Windows market for
games. Windows has been used mostly for applications. Recent
developments for Windows. The new WinG graphics library and the
upcoming release of Windows '95, means Windows is becoming
more and more the dominant form of PC Game development. Bill
Gates wins again.
On the other hand, many computers which do not use Windows still
exist. Some people refuse to give in to Microsoft. These people
remind me of people who say they can ride out hurricanes.
In addition to this major decision come secondary decisions. For
example, like hardware requirements, if your game is multi-player,
what networks will you support? Will your game will require a
printer?
A great deal of game development does not happen on the computer.
It is very important to design, document and plan your program. I
cannot stress this enough.
AM I UP TO IT?
Remember Not Everyone is Ray Tobey.
Discovered by the inventor of the Apple Computer, Steve Wozniak,
Tobey programmed his first commercial game, SkyFox, at the age of
16! Rumor has it, Bill Budge in his 30's at the time - author of
Pinball Construction Kit, quit the game business when he saw
Tobey's amazing game.
Its Important To Finish. Always walk before you compile!
The most important thing to consider when developing games is to
finish them. I must have started at least three projects which were
beyond my means before I got smart and scaled back my ambitions.
It may seem neat to make a DOOM style game right away. That level
of programming takes a lot of work and experience (Id had been
creating games for several years prior to DOOM). Start simple,
learn, read, and build your skills.
A finished game with less flash and dazzle is better than no game. In
short, learn to work within your skills and learn to finish.
WHAT IF I WANT TO SELL MY GAME WHEN IT IS DONE?
What you mean you don't want to slave for seven to twelve months
and then give it away?
IS IT UNIQUE?
Either by storyline, game dynamics, graphics or whatever, your game
in order to have any chance at success has to have a discernible
difference from everything else out there. Remaking a clone of
Asteroids is not a good way to go about making money because it
already exists.
Remember: not every game need be a best seller. Just understand the
level of sophistication, polish, and uniqueness that such a product
requires. Even if you feel your game is not up to these standards,
press on, and you will see that there are many outlets beyond the
retail realm for showcasing and receiving credit for your work.
IS IT BETTER?
One way to be unique that is it just simply better. Many games are
newer versions of older ideas. For example, NASCAR by Papyrus-
now certainly car racing simulations are nothing new-but NASCAR
is absolutely amazing. It is simply better, so not only will it sell
outright, but anyone with a love for car racing simulations will want
this game too.
Being unique is a general code word for simply offering the
consumer of your game a specific reason to choose that game when
they compare it to verses other available options.
WHAT SHOULD I DO ONCE CODING BEGINS?
Order that chinese food, lots of it.
All of the steps in the design stage above apply while coding too. I
just want to add a few things to this.
TAKE BREAKS.
Even God took a day off!
Breaks help a lot remember to rest. Try to take breaks from time to
time. My trick is to take regular breaks, sometimes programming a
second project, a more mundane small application utility. This keeps
me programming, just not in the same manner.
COMMENT YOUR CODE.
Reedabilllity es gooing 2 b impertant.
Remember to comment your code. A typical mistake of many
programmers, game or otherwise is not placing comments in your
code. Game programming requires a lot of clever work arounds,
much more so than other forms of programming, and requires serious
optimization many times late in the work. This means commenting
is even more important for games.
WRITE REUSEABLE CODE!
As you write your game try to make sure you create code that can be
applied to other games later. For example my RPG game, which
features a tiled multiple scrolling map. Now certainly the map can
be used for other games, so I made sure it was wellcommented and
very open ended to apply to future projects I have in mind.
BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES
Everyone has ideas that need development.
Games are perhaps on of the most creative mediums ever. They
require music, sound, art, storytelling, writing, programming, and
more! This requires a lot of brainstorming!!!
If Leonardo or Michaelangelo were alive today, there is no doubt
they would be game developers. Also, if Leonardo were alive today
he wouldn't have paid 30 million dollars for his book at auction
which Bill Gates did.
Every creative person needs to come up with ideas, and with games
even more so, as this medium has perhaps the most fickle customers.
So lets talk a little about brainstorming.
I don't have anything special to say here, but I always think of two
things I have read or heard from two great programmers when
dreaming up ideas:
LORD BRITISH a.k.a. RICHARD GARRIOT Origin Systems:
Author of Ultima I-VIII and Worlds of Ultima and for trivia buffs,
Akalebeth!
I always emulate Richard Garriot in that he constantly carries a pad
of paper around to work ideas out immediately. You never know
when an idea can come to mind. I also try to make little notes about
books I've read and movies I've seen. I use these notes later when
considering actual game ideas like I described
above. This journal process has always served many other creative
types as well and it works well for game design similarly well. A
small tip here is to avoid the massive carry of a pad, I purchase
reporters notebooks which fit perfectly into a jacket pocket or pants
pocket as well.
I would add only the following comments of my own:
PLAY LOTS OF GAMES
The Worlds Best Excuse.
Spend a lot of time reading about and playing other games. A lot of
great ideas exist which are merely new twists on existing themes.
Again, remember the unique rule-attempt to differentiate!
I'm lucky I have a few friends who play lots of games-so every once
and a while I take a trip over to their house and play all their games. I
spend several minutes with each, evaluating the way they play, the
documentation etc.
Become a Comparison Developer!!!
I am constantly in stores reading backs of the boxes, and evaluating
demos. In a creative medium like this, ripping off someone else's
ideas is how we create. When a new game is written, it attempts to
incorporate (read: rip off) all of the current ideas out there and then
move beyond them (only to create
new features which themselves are incorporated). This is how games
evolve. So, being as much of a player as creator has a lot of merit.
READ READ READ
And did I say Read?
Spend a lot of time reading non-technical materialsbecause I enjoy
Adventure/RPG games, I draw a lot of my ideas from mythology,
science fiction, etc. You have to read. A programmer of games is a
new-age Renaissance person. They must have an understanding of
many different elements of the arts, technology,
and the general world around them. How are you going to write a
game about geopolitics if you haven't read about the world around
you? What are you going to do-just make it up? Read Read Read.
NEVER
Never brainstorm on your computer. Use paper and a pen or pencil.
Always brainstorm in a relaxed atmosphere, and set aside time to do
so every week.
WHEN IN DOUBT, WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
If you can't seem to generate what you feel is an original idea,
consider what many writers simply do, write what you know. I am
an RPG nut, so I am writing what else, an RPG! Of course, I have
some innovative ideas for that RPG, but starting with an idea based
on what I know got me going initially.
BRAINSTORMING BOOKS
For other reading on creative brainstorming, check out the writing
section of your favorite bookstore. There are usually several good
books about creative idea development to be found there.
WHAT IS GAME DESIGN?
"The answer my friends is blowing in the wind." Bob Dylan
The answer is infinity. Well, sort of, game design is an endless
process which we could talk about forever, but you and I don't have
forever, so here is a "Reader's Digest" essay about game design to
help you understand the thought process about creating games.
Game design concerns one thing tantamount to all else and that is
Interaction. What separates games from similar creative mediums
like, art, movies, music, and books, is that the player interacts with
the medium.
You don't stare at, or just listen to a game-YOU CONTROL IT! So
as designers, we have to create a product which entices people to
play, and at the same time, provide the storyline, the emotional feel,
the realistic tone, and the other qualities all other creative mediums
give us. A tall order, but this is what makes creating games so much
fun!!!
Playing means making decisions. Therefore our games need to
create situations where the player has to decide what to do, and then
to perform that action, which our game then reacts to. This can be as
simple as PAC MAN where the player has to decide whether to go
UP, DOWN, LEFT, or RIGHT, or as complex as Balance of Power;
should I or shouldn't I arm the rebels in this country?
This is what makes games appealing: A set of decisions which the
player controls and, based on their skill and intelligence, by which
they ultimately decide the outcome of their game.
So when sitting down to design a game, attempt to create
entertaining interaction, try to provide an easy way for the player to
make decisions about the situation you put them in, then return
interesting outcomes which in turn lead to new situations and the
whole process starts over until there is a
final outcome.
KEEP IN MIND:
As you sit down to design your games try to keep the following
things in mind as you decide on what it will be:
Am I creating Interaction? Does my design create a decision
dilemma for the player or not?
Are clear situations provided to the player? Is there enough
information in the game (graphical/sound/text) to illustrate to the
player what situation they are in.
Am I providing them with the proper information to make decisions?
Is the interface by which the player commands the game clear and
easy to use? Does it provide the proper information to them to help
them input desured actions?
Do the outcomes of the player's decisions end or continue the game?
Does skill and intelligence of the player produce the outcome?
Random outcomes not based on the skills of the players decisions
are not games. Players must know they are controlling the outcome.
Is it entertaining? If it isn't fun, they won't play it.
In short, concentrate on providing interaction, creating player control
of their outcomes based on their skills and intelligence, and make it
fun.
WHAT TYPES OF GAMES DO WELL?
Good ones.
The are many types of games which do well. Game players come in
many shapes and sizes. Here is a list of game categories which seem
to dominate the shelves. Remember that GOOD GAMES will do
well regardless of the category, but by evaluating these categories
you can find a niche to write a GOOD GAME in. The following not
in any order of importance.
3D Games - Now commonly referred to as "Doom Style" games,
these games feature texture mapped 3D environments and usually a
lot of action and shooting. Already several books have come out
which
show you how to write games like this.
RPG - Role-Playing-Games are like Dungeons and Dragons, though
they might be about space, postapocalyptic, sci-fi oriented, they still
share the statistical characteristics and strategic features of games
like D&D.
Adventure - Not to be confused with RPG's these programs, such as
Sierra's King/Police/Space Quest series or Lucas Arts Indiana Jones
games, are more puzzle based games, and are not based on building
up a character, or statistics like an RPG.
Edutainment - This is a hot hot category right now. Games like
Carmen Sandiego and Rescue the Scientists are traditional
educational games with exciting game elements melded in. Games
which become "learning experiences" so to speak, rather than the
first generation of "flash card" like products.
Retro Games - This is a relativly new category of games. What the
term refers to is the recreation for a new platform of an old classic
like say Microsofts Arcade Pack which features 4 original coin-op
Atari classics.
Simulation - Computer Simulations like Flight Simulator, F-15
Strike Eagle, and Comanche have been excellent sellers. There is
nothing like a detailed simulation to entertain gamers. However, be
careful, trying to put together a complex simulation game can take a
lot of work. Gamers in this category are extremely picky.
Sports Games - EA probably tripled the size of their company on its
sports titles alone. Prior to the release of their first classic, Earl
Weaver Baseball, sports games tended to be simplistic arcadish
games or dry statistical models. Earl Weaver brought both of those
approaches together and gave birth to the
statistical/simulation model. One note here: Check out FIFA
Soccer for the 3DO an amazing look at the where this type of game
is going.
God Games - God games refer to those simulations where you
essentially simulate an environment and give the player control over
factors which affect it. SimCity and Sim Earth as well as Populus by
Bull Frog/EA are great examples of this game type.
Shooters: Usually viewed from above, the screen scrolls as the
player -you guessed it- shoots everything. Examples might be
Raptor from Cygnus/Apogee or Space Invaders and Asteroids.
Fighting games: Fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Virtua
Fighter have become so popular they really do warrent their own
category. Most of these game involve heavy arcade action as players
either vs. the computer or their friend duke it out in some for of
hand-to-hand combat with special moves and sometimes hand
weapons like swords or flails. Other games in this category are
things like Street Fighter, and One Must Fall.
Platform games: Ever since the original Donkey Kong, 2D
side/verticle scrolling screen, jump n' shoot games have been
amongst the most popular form or arcade games made. In the PC
world the role of shareware alone has brought side scrolling games
like Commander Keen, Jazz Jackrabbit, and Duke Nukem to much
prominance.
Overall, though many games tend to have 80% of themselves firmly
rooted in one of these categories, great games always tend to overlap
into other game types as well. Magic Carpet, a huge hit right now
(Bull Frog/EA) is both a flight simulation, an adventure game.
It's always good to keep track of new and interesting gaming types,
there are more than what I've touched on, and new hybrids emerging
every day. Keep track and you might just create a game that is either
a benchmark for its category, or the newest game for the next great
game type!
Oh and did I say GOOD GAMES sell well?
HOW DO I GET A JOB AS A GAME DESIGNER?
Jobs are tough write your own game!
JOBS
AS A PROGRAMMER/DESIGNER
As for an actual job, a good article appeared in the February 95 issue
of Computer Gaming World. Without going into detail I will
summarize the key points.
1. Getting hired is tough. There is a lot of competition, programming
and/or art skills are a must.
2. Having a good demo or a good game already completed is a big,
big plus.
3. College graduates are the choice of company recruiters, and a non
game specific background is also important.
In short, go to college-this isn't a simple job-and write something on
your own. It will give you at a big advantage.
THEY'RE ARE OTHER OPTIONS
As the game industry evolves from single designers who did
everything to team oriented multimedia megagames, there are many
other job types which have opened up.
Artists 2D & 3D. Musicians, Writers, Level Designers, Marketing
etc.
If you feel you have a special talent - like Art for instance - and you
feel you understand Game development as it relates to art (or writing
or ...) then you might want to put together examples
of your work and send them to the human resources departments of
companies.
Remember, though: As with any creative medium - or any job for
that matter, getting one will be tough. It won't happen overnight.
Also, if you are approaching the Game Development field for a job
in one of these support positions, it is important to really understand
the process and the difference that the notion of interactivity
presents to the product. Writing your own game might develop that!
If you're really interested in the industry, check out:
THE CGDA
The Computer Game Developers Association.
What is the CGDA?
The CGDA is an association of interactive entertainment
professionals dedicated to serving the careers and interests of its
members. It's not a trade association or a union. The purposes of the
CGDA are:
To foster information exchange among professionals in the industry
To represent the community of interactive entertainment developers
when policy issues arise in industry or government
To increase artistic and financial recognition for developers
To enhance the quality of interactive entertainment and educational
software
Why should I join the CGDA?
The most important reason for joining the CGDA is that it lets you
participate in a community of people with similar interests and
concerns. The CGDA will take an active role in helping to set
government and industry policy on important issues such as software
ratings. In addition, the CGDA will offer a variety of services to its
members, designed to assist them in their careers.
They also have a newsletter which has all kinds of good info too.
What does it cost?
Membership will cost $75 for 1995. (Foreign memberships will be
somewhat more!)
How do I get in touch with them?
Computer Game Developers' Association
555 Bryant Street Suite 330
Palo Alto, CA
voice: +1 415 948-CGDA
fax: +1 415 948-2744
Please note: In order to keep costs down, this phone line is not
staffed by a live person. Leave a message and someone from the
CGDA will return your call as soon as possible.
CONFERENCES
All right Deductible Junkets!!!!!
Several conferences exist. The major one to attend is:
The Computer Game Developers Conference (What else did you
expect it to be named,)
This is held every year in the spring. In 1995 it is being held at the
Westin Hotel in Santa Clara, CA, April 22-24. Contact the CGDA,
an affiliate of the producer of the conference for more information.
There is also an East Coast Developers Conference.
This is held in the fall.
Call Alexander Associates in New York +1 212-684-2333 for more
info.
What About The Consumer Electronics Show?
CES is a good place to go too, but it is mainly a show for retailers
and vendors to hook up, so while you'll have fun playing all the
games and looking at the latest gadgets, the amount of networking
you can do isn't as good as the Computer Game Developers
Conference.
What About Comdex/Windows World?
These are business-oriented shows, I've never seen much in the way
of games at either show.
CAN I SELL MY IDEAS?
Write your own game, everybody has ideas.
The fact is, just like in any other creative medium, ideas are
plentiful. This means it is unlikely a publisher would be interested
in your idea alone. In fact, the way copyright laws work, they
probably won't even look at it because it could open them up to a
lawsuit if you later claim they 'took' your idea.
In order to attract the talent to make the game you will need to have
capital, or some very friendly developers. However, if you're reading
this, you probably now know that you need to develop your ideas
yourself and that is probably what you had in mind to begin with.
So, read on!
OK! Enough talk about ideas and getting employed, lets find out
how to turn our ideas into finished games and our finished games
into products!!!!
WHICH LANGUAGE SHOULD I USE?
C/C++
The dominant language of game development is C/C++ for both
Windows and DOS.
Almost every game you see is written in this language originally
developed at AT&T Bell Labs. C is the original version of the
language and C++ is a newer version, geared toward a system of
programming known as object oriented programming (OOP for
short). C++ programming is not much different from C, so I use the
two together since even most C compilers you can buy will allow for
both flavors of C programming. C is also a great language to write in
because it is easy to move a hit games C/C++ code from one
platform to the other - more so than any other language. Even though
"easier" hybrid languages exist for Windows (which we will discuss
below) C/C++ is the dominant Windows development
language too.
What more can I say - it's the dominant language of game
development.
ASSEMBLY
The Road Runner of languages.
Since it is the fastest language, some Assembly Language is used.
Assembly is usually used to create subroutines to call from C/C++
for sections requiring intensive speed. Assembly language is the
most difficult to understand. The general law of computer languages
states: The lower level the language, the faster it is, and the harder it
is to program in it. Don't be discouraged though, learning Assembly
is a great tool; DOOM would not have had it's blazing speed without
some programming in Assembly, and people who know it can
accomplish amazing things.
With its portability and easier learning curve, C/C++ is much easier
than Assembly. C/C++ like assembly "compiles" to standalone
executable files.
However no one said programming in C/C++ was easy either, just
easier than Assembly, and many people are a little intimidated by all
of the coding required and such. First, with a little work and some
good books, programming in C/C++ is not as hard as it seems. Hell -
even I know how to program a little in C! There are, however, some
alternatives to programming in C.
VISUAL BASIC
You mean I can create great Windows products and actually get
some sleep too?
Visual Basic from Microsoft is a hybrid form of Basic written
especially for Windows. VB works in the Windows environment so
you can create neat interfaces and professional looking products.
Visual Basic also has a much easier learning curve. In addition by
learning how to access the Windows API, a special slew of calls to
the Windows Operating System, you can do some nifty animation
and sound effects!
There are also third-party add-on products that extend its VB's
features which are referred to as VBX's. VB skills can eventually be
used in C/C++, especially concerning API calls. This makes your
skills here transferable to the next level of Windows programming
with C/C++.
However, you should know that VB has its drawbacks. C/C++ is
much faster, and speed in games can be crucial.
I don't think you'll see Doom being created with VB any time soon.
VB also does not create stand-alone executables like C/C++. VB is
what we call an interpretive language it doesn't actually compile.
While you can create "executable stand-alone" versions of your VB
programs (royalty free), your user must also have the
VBRUN300.DLL file in order to use the program. While you can
distribute this DLL (and many users already have it on their systems)
this is an extra burden for VB to carry. More and more, though I am
amazed at the stuff possible with VB. I wholeheartedly recommend
it to beginners, and even pro's, to create games. If you find it too
limited or slow, than just move on to C/C++
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHOICES?
Yeah! DELPHI!
The other language is Delphi, a recently released hybrid Windows
programming language, from Borland. Delphi is a hybrid Windows
version of Pascal. It allows you to create full .exe files with no
additional files needed (as opposed to VB) and its very fast.
Delphi allows you to do a lot of things VB can't like write your own
DLLs and .VBXs and of course it compiles. A tip here is check out
The Coriolis Groups web page at http://www.coriolis.com they've
constructed a complete index to Internet resources for Delphi
programmers.
One note it does require 6mb of memory.
And Don't forget Director...
Many multimedia developers have been using this product for quite a
while and some have even shipped games with it. I believe Journey
Project (the original not Turbo) was done in Director as was Myst on
the Mac and HellCab.
With the current release, Director is true cross platform. It's amazing
how a product of this kind can create binary compatible files for
both Mac and Windows. Basically, you take your multimedia app,
create it all on a Mac, copy everything to Windows, and it runs
without a hitch, identical to the Mac version. OR THE OTHER
WAY ROUND. There are some exceptions, but they are mostly
minor, like remembering (on the Mac) to stick to the stupid 8.3 file
name conventions, etc.
Creating things in Director is really fast feedback is immediate. I've
seen several programmers who have problems adapting to the
Director paradigm, but I myself didn't experience this. It's fun,
powerful, easy, and you (almost) automatically get both a Mac and a
Windows final product. A 3DO player is in beta. A Director player
engine is also being integrated into Netscape Navigator.
The programming language, Lingo, is a complete language, and fully
OO. You can even switch ancestors on the fly! Tech support here on
CompuServe is grrrrrrrreat (they won an award for it). So is the user
community, both here and on Internet.
On the downside. Director has to move a lot of stuff around. It's too
slow for arcade games. Lingo is an interpreted language, which
means that it's in the Visual Basic performance class. Definitely not
C. But if your goal is to develop something than can convey an
aesthetic experience, and you expect your audience to have time to
enjoy a development of character and narrative quality, it seems to
me that Director is a good choice.
If you're not intending to produce arcade games, I think Director
warrents a look. Understand also that the package is somewhat pricy
by beginners standards but still you get a lot for your money and
Macromedia often sells bundle deals with Director and ton of other
cool multimedia products like Premiere from Adobe or sound
editors, so shop around.
SUMMARY
C/C++ is the leading development language of game creation, Visual
Basic by Microsoft has some merit, especially for non- action
intensive products, and Delphi, a new language for Windows, by
Borland shows promise. For beginners I recommend Visual Basic,
perhaps Delphi if they know some programming already. For people
already familiar with VB or other flavors of Basic or Pascal, go for
C/C++ and some Assembly.
ANYTHING ELSE?
It pays to be multilingual.
While you may have chosen one language to become proficient in,
take the time to learn about some of the other languages I've
mentioned.
While you may not want to program in C or Assembly, having a
basic knowledge can help you look at code examples, and gain ideas
for whatever language you're using. I'm drawing on my rudimentary
knowledge of C to read books about Windows programming to learn
more about controlling Windows from Visual Basic. While I can't
write a program in C, I can dissect code, understand so I can learn
from it.
Concentrate on one, but pay attention to the others.
WHAT ARE SOME PROGRAMMING BASICS and DESIGN
BASICS?
If you're absolutely brand new to programming, you have a lot of
work to do. Order some more Chinese food and maybe a lot of Jolt
Cola.
One trick: Build your game-developing skills by designing new
levels\scenarios with games that have built-in editors. For example,
learn about wargame design by developing neat scenarios with
Empire Deluxe's scenario editor, or how about a new level for Doom,
using many of the public domain and shareware WAD file editors?
A list of some of the better 'Designable Games' can be found in the
Resources Section.
Learning The Ropes.
What I've provided here is a list of basics specific to game
development that assumes you know programming basics. If you
don't know basics, like variables, looping conditions, etc. skip this
and come back when you do. If you've already mastered some of the
basics, here is a rundown of the type of game specific programming
abilities you will want to learn about. Not all will be needed
depending on your game, but that is for you to determine.
GRAPHICS
Graphics files can come in many shapes and sizes. You should be
somewhat familiar (if not thoroughly familiar) with the various
formats and how to load them into your program for later use in
animation and such. the new PNG, PCX and BMP are Examples of
these formats.
Another point to be made about graphics is that 320 * 200 used to be
the dominant form of games, but with most things progress has
raised that level. Right now the dominant resolution is 640*480
which is also the default Windows resolution.
ANIMATION
Animation in games involves copying sections of the screen to and
from sections of memory that contain the graphics information.
Widely referred to as a BitBlit, it is one of the most basic graphics
programming skills you will need to master.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI or Artificial Intelligence concerns the creation of intelligent
reactions by the game's of the situation and the player's decisions.
Most commonly used to create computer opponents assessment. It is
not an arcane art and many established methods have seen their most
useful twists and applications by game programmers. Bullfrog the
makers of such games as Populas and Magic Carpet has especially
embarked on a mission to bring more innovative AI to computer
games, check out their newer titles for the results as they develop.
DOS SPECIFIC
Here is a list of the specific items you need to understand which
concern are involved in games for DOS.
SOUND
In DOS, programmers mainly use MidPak and DigPak to create
music and data files and to control their playback. These programs
allow a developer to write sound routines for multiple sound board
types with one set of code, saving an extensive amount of
programming.
MODE_X
Mode_X is a special VGA graphics mode which displays 256 colors
on the screen at once. Every game programmer for DOS, needs to be
familiar with working in this special graphics mode.
Much has been written about it in the books listed in the Book
Section of this FAQ.
FASTGRAPH
FastGraph from Ted Gruber Software is a library of graphics routines
and software which helps with displaying graphics on the screen in
Mode_X, as well as many other useful game-oriented tools, like
joystick reading. Many programmers use it and the company offers
excellent support. While it is not necessary to have this product to
make games, many hours will be saved by using it. A shareware
version of the program, called FastGraph Lite, is available on the
GamDev forum on CompuServe, as well as
on a disk included with Action Arcade Adventure Set, by Diana
Gruber, from Coriolis Books (See Book Section).
DOS EXTENDER
Without going into a dissertation on how DOS memory works, let
me explain what this is. A DOS Extender allows you to program
your DOS based game without the memory restrictions placed on
traditional DOS programs. Before DOS extenders came along,
games were limited how much memory, they could use to store
graphics, sound, etc. in the computers RAM. Today's games require
256 color graphics and sound; this means you will need to use as
much of the computers memory as possible, and thus you will
probably need a DOS Extender. So, investigate these programs and
choose one to
use. One of the more popular is a product called DOS4GW.
WINDOW SPECIFIC
Here are specific Windows items you should familiarize yourself
with.
THE WINDOWS API
The main component that Windows programmers need to learn about
is the Windows API or Application Programmers Interface. The API
is a pre-defined set of routines that the programmer can use to do
many things in Windows, from the basic displaying of text in a
window, to the more complex playback of full motion video. Several
good books exist which detail the multitude of API calls. Even if you
plan on using a much higher level language like VB, you can still
make use of the Windows API. In fact for VB game development it
is absolutely necessary!
Of special interest to Windows programmers are three special new
products that were created specifically to help with the construction
of games in Windows.
The Windows Game Developer SDK
I really can't comment much on this but if you're serious about
Windows 95 game development either get in on the Beta and Beta
Forum or wait for the bugs and final version to ship and get in on the
developers program then. Understand for beginners that you don't
have to have this kit to do the development.
WinG And WaveMix
Even though Microsoft is readying the new Windows SDK these
may still be useful in that they are available now (the SDK as I said
is still in BETA) and for Win 16 3.1 development the still are useful.
WinG (Win-Gee) is a new version of the Windows API which
includes many new and redesigned API calls specifically geared
toward the intensive graphic and sound requirements of games. Game
programmers for Windows are especially advised to familiarize
themselves with this new API.
This special additional API for Windows allows you to manipulate
multiple .WAV files in real-time for your games. Windows as it is
does not allow for simultaneous playback of multiple .WAV files.
With WaveMix this problem is solved. However, be warned:
WAVEMIX has started life as a non-supported program from within
the ranks of Microsoft. Recently, problems and bugs have cropped
up. Microsoft has announced new support for the product, but it is
uncertain at this time when the bugs will be fixed. Investigate
thoroughly if WAVEMIX can work in your program--it might, it
might not.
WINTOON
While not as necessary for Game Development as other products,
WinToon can be a great tool for animationintensive products.
WinToon is a utility whereby you can create animated cartoons
which are stored in the Video For Windows format, making later
playback very easy because of Video For Windows wide acceptance
and extensive existing API.
All three of these items can be found in the WINMM forum on
CompuServe and Via Anonymous FTP at ftp.microsoft.com.
Level II CD-ROM
If you're even somewhat serious about Windows Development save
up the $500 and join as a level II developer with Microsoft. It'll be
the best $500 you ever spent and will get you a number of tools,
operating system updates, documentation and much much more. For
those on a little more of a budget there's a $200 jumpstart
development but, it's not nearly as extensive still there are some
useful things like Video for Windows stuff here you might find
useful.
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED?
As we have already said, creating a game is far more than knowing
how to program. Games include music, sound, and of course,
graphics. Therefore there are many other tools and products you will
need to collect before creating your game. Let's briefly discuss some
of these.
COMPILERS
Let's take a brief moment to discuss 'C/C++' compilers. You'll
remember C/C++ is the dominant language of game development. C
however, unlike VB and Delphi, has many different implementations
to choose from. Here is a run down with the pro's and cons of the
major packages.
Everyone has their favorites, but the most popular version of C/C++
seems to be Watcom, followed by Borland, and then Microsoft.
All of the products above have a Linker option which will let you
produce DOS EXEs even while developing in Windows.
Here is a more specific rundown contributed by Chris Newland (so
blame him if you disagree -- actually I think its overall well done)
Borland C++ 4.5 $495 Retail
If you can afford it ($495 retail, probably more if you are ordering
from another country) this is a really good package.
Some things to be aware of are:
The size of the box is huge!...some people have expressed difficulty
installing it...a resident DPMI extender is used instead of
DOS4GW....However, 6070% of the libraries out there are Borland
Compatible.
Turbo C++ 3.0 DOS $99 Retail
This is the last great compiler. From what I hear, Borland will no
longer be supporting their DOS package any longer. It's got
powerful tools and just about every library on the market supports it.
And once you get a feel for using it, you can easily zip up a file that
has the command line compiler, basic library files for all memory
models, all include files and even one or two 3rd party libraries in it
and still be able to fit it on a single disk to take with you when you
program on another machine.
Be aware of the following:
You don't get a library reference so you will probably have to buy a
TurboC++ specific one....The BGI is slow and limited.... It comes
with NO Windows tools, so if you ever decide to write Windows
games, you will have to get another compiler.
Turbo C++ 3.1 WIN $89
Hmmm, this is cheaper than the DOS package and it comes with
many more tools...I wonder what Borland is trying to tell us? This is
a good solid package with lot's of features. It comes with an
application wizard, written by a 3rd party outfit, that will develop the
shell for your applications totally...leaving you to do the boring
tedium of actual programming.
For your consideration:
This compiler will not link to a DOS EXE....If you develop in it,
make sure you run Windows in High Res SVGA Mode or you'll be
ALT-TABing back and forth.
Microsoft Visual C++ PRO $229 Retail
Forget the Standard Edition if you want to program games, it doesn't
allow you to compile to a DOS EXE, but the Pro version does.
As a general Game compiler, I can't say I would recommend this one
and from what I hear, no one uses it for DOS Game programming
either, however, on the Window's game programming front, WING
and the latest CARTOON graphics packages work seamlessly with
it. And of course, they are both by Microsoft.
Symantec C++ 6.1 Standard $99 Retail/ Pro $199 Retail
The interface is great. You have a TAB type interface where each
note tab is a seperate programming function, i.e. EDIT, DEBUG,
etc.. Either version will compile a DOS EXE in Windows, but the
Pro version comes with a DOS Command Line version that allows
you to develop solely in DOS if you want.
However:
Most stores are selling the 6.0 version. If you buy it, immediately
upgrade to 6.1. If you don't you will find that Windows will start
crashing in your house and I know you don't want to step on all of
that glass <g>...On the same note, I have WFWG and if you run 6.0
or 6.1 in it and you have 32bit File Access turned on, you will
TRASH your system. I had to reinstall WFWG twice before I
figured out what it was. My system ran slower, but it ran happier.
Watcom C++ 9.0 $199 Retail
This is a good package and most of the games you see that bring up
the DOS\4GW message are using this compiler for development. I
only had 1 oppurtunity to use the compiler and I found that it was
different but still excellent for developing games.
However:
Inline assembly is declared differently in Watcom....DOS Extender
programming requires you to access memory differently as well...a
reference to the screen at address A000 will have to be extended out
to 00A000 to account for the extended memory addressing. This
probably will be changed once in a #DEFINE statement in your code
and you will never think about it again......From what I hear, Borland
libraries won't work with it.
Be careful to make sure that the package you buy has everything you
need, including Windows support. Windows is, as we have said, the
emerging dominant game platform, so you will need Windows
support.
A PAINT PROGRAM
You will definitely need a paint program to create or edit graphics
for your game. Behind every good programmer even ones who aren't
artists is a good paint program. My personal recommendation is:
Deluxe Paint IIe
This program, from Electronic Arts, allows for editing images in 256
colors in many different resolutions. Also included is a good
conversion program to output your graphics in many different
variations of size and graphic formats. It also is fairly cheap, costing
less than $100.
Whatever paint program you use, make sure it can output to different
sizes and formats, and additionally be able to paint in 256 colors in
multiple resolutions (especially 320*200 and 640*400).
As I write this update EA has officially discontinued Deluxe Paint --
however if you act fast you may still locate a copy at some of the
larger mail-order places. There is also a chance EA may sell the
product to people who want to continue updating it. Stay tuned.
SCANNING
You may also wish to use a scanner or digital camera to incorporate
drawings on paper. Just remember: If this is your desired process,
scanned artwork looks like scanned artwork. Many artists sketch
out their artwork in line drawings, then scan it in and from there add
color and other embellishments.
Any developer worth their salt may scan, but they always touch it up
in a paint program to clear up color distortions and imperfect scans.
Just an additional note here, I was visiting a friend who is an
excellent critic of games -- in fact he is called upon by distributors
when he returns from CES to get his opinion which they use to
decide how much of which games to order. Anyways we were
talking about game art and looking at his SONY
PSX/PLAYSTATION!!! - the new gamebox from Japan. He made a
point that I thought is very relevant here -- GAMERS LIKE
ARTWORK --scanned pictures may look more real or whatever but,
the fact is people enjoy art and animation created by artists its part of
the enjoyment factor. It may seem obvious but it really hits home
when you actually state it. I'll say it again people like art.
GRAPHIC CONVERSION
You will also need to get a conversion utility to convert a graphic
file to different formats. As I said, Dpaint comes with a very good
one.
Debabbelizer, a commercial product is a very powerful and popular
stand-alone graphic conversion utility.
ANIMATION CREATION
Many programmers create animation by programming it directly with
individual frames of animation they've drawn. However-there are,
some programs which help you create stand alone animated files
which can be used for more intensive animation.
WINTOON
We've already discussed this above.
AUTODESK ANIMATOR
Autodesk Animator is an excellent 2-D program for creating
animation, Autodesk has published several Windows and DOS
programming tools for people interested in creating products which
use these animation programs.
DELUXE ANIMATOR
This product uses the Dpaint engine, but only works in 320x200
mode and creates animation. Go to the GamePubA forum and
download EA's C source code for controlling playback with your
own routines.
VIDEO CAPTURE SYSTEMS
In addition there are several Video Capture Cards and Programs on
the market which allow you to create digitized video. The two major
formats for these video files are QuickTime, which was created by
Apple but exists for Windows (and possibly DOS, but not yet), and
VFW (Video For Windows), which was created by Microsoft and
Intel. Also, look for the book How To Digitize Video for more
information about creating animation of this kind.
3-D CREATION
Looking to create neat 3-D scenes or programs like 7th Guest? Then
you will need a 3-D modeler.
Two of the better DOS-based 3-D programs are:
CALIGARI TRUESPACE
This program was originally created for the Amiga PC more than 5
years ago and is now steadily finding users among DOS-based
machines.
AUTODESK 3-D STUDIO
This was the main 3-D modeling program used by many program
houses before they could afford Silicon Graphics Workstations.
GRAPHICS PROGRAMMING Libraries
Several programming aids are available to help you with creating
graphics from the programmer standpoint, as opposed to the creator.
We have discussed two of these: FastGraph, from Ted Gruber
Software, and WinG.DLL from Microsoft.
For VB, there is one really popular package called MediaKnife.VBX
It helps VB programmers create really wild graphics by bypassing
VB's internally slow routines. $349 from Media Architects, (503)
639-2505.
SOUND and MUSIC
The most important feature of doing your own sounds is having a
good sound board and a GREAT MICROPHONE!!! A key fact,
sound recording, is no matter what the format is, is a good
microphone.
Any sound engineer will tell you the same.
SOUND EDITOR
GoldWave
This is a great shareware sound editor I have recently found. It's
available in the WinFun Forum, among other places on CompuServe.
MUSIC CREATION
Music is the hardest thing to get if you're going it alone and don't
have a lot of money.
A tip here is to use public domain MIDI files, though always check
with the author of the Midi file before including it to make sure the
song is actually public domain. While a song may be public domain,
the actual arrangement created by the author may not be.
As for professional composition, post messages on the MIDI or
GAMDEV forums on CompuServe but be prepared to provide proper
compensation: Just like any other worker, musicians expect to be
compensated.
EDITING MIDI FILES
WinJammerPro
This is an excellent shareware MIDI program I have used a couple of
times. You can find it in the WinFun forum among other places.
Music Programming
MidPAK/DigPAK
We've already talked about MidPak and DigPak a little.
DigPak/Midpak costs a one time $1000 fee for use in commercial
programming and free for noncommercial programs. You can
contact the creators of DigPak/MidPak at there BBS:
The Audio Solution
747 Napa Lane
St. Charles, MO 63304
BBS: (314) 939-0200
DiamondWares Sound Tool Kit
+1 914 638 4615
This package has been out for several months now in a real mode
version and has been getting good reviews. Called Diamondwares
Soundkit, it offers the same functionality of the stalwart
MidPak/DigPak, and, according to the company, has a much cheaper
and better royalty arrangement. In addition a protected mode version
is just about shipping check with Diamondware for more info.
On the high, high end there are pacakges like HMIs Sound Operating
System, but I suspect most of the readers of the FAQ will find all
they need in the above two solutions or will be using Windows API
or Direct Sound libraries.
+++End of File+++
