where do you get your game ideas from?

arkonllf

i want to build a game for ipad/iphone but i got no ideas for a game.
so i wanted to know from where you get the ideas for your games?

Xpandemic

From watching Sesame Street

I get ideas from anywhere, playing other games, looking at concept art, doing everyday things, watching tv etc. Remember not to overthink and get frustrated, if you do just take a break and do something else.

gsfanatic

i just randomly think of ideas. you can be inspired by anything you see.

butterbean

My main inspiration comes from artwork, but there are many more sources of inspiration

BackUpAndDown

I mainly get inspired by nature. Just sit and watch how bubbles float to the surface of a fish tank, how a leaf falls to the ground or even how dandelion seeds get blown around in the wind and think of how that could be turned into the basic mechanics of a game. Just look around you for something that stands out as "unique" and build upon it.

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Tadpole Rescue (iPod Touch/iPhone)
Hungry Chameleon (iPod Touch/iPhone)

jamesmunro2

I just take a template and stick it up for sale.

Just kidding.

I ask the question "What would I like to play?" The problem is, once a game become slightly playable I spend too much time "testing" the game instead of finishing it off.

DoMan

Whenever you see someone doing something cool, imagine how you could do it yourself, then yourself doing it in 2d, then yourself doing it on a computer. Then make in GS as best you can. delete ucky elements, and improve!

Dizko

I take a shower. All my good idea come to me while I'm in the shower.

DreamLab

Every single one of my ideas has come at night or when I am sleeping. So I always have my ipad or pen and paper next to my bed and just right them down!

gamedivision

bear grills on the tv,he was putting crampons on his boots to walk a glacier,so i thought how about snow shoes for my character,so now when you collect the snow shoe perk in my game you dont slide on the ice for about 15 seconds,so what im trying to say is everyday things can give you ideas you just have to modify them slightly

mithrawept

Dreams

Asymptoteell

If you're really stumped, try thinking of a general topic, similar to the ones chosen for the thinking outside the box contest. Then, I'm sure, ideas will flow in. For example, rather than trying to think of game ideas for anything, try narrowing it down to being just ideas for games that take place in the middle ages, or with light as a theme in them, or games about a specific profession, such as plumbing, firefighting, doctoring, or gardening. Basically, I'd suggest trying to narrow it down a bit.

Mrshoestore

Sheer Brilliance. what? Just me?

svn

Watch TV, play videogames, read magazines, tick off your parents, annoy your siblings, jump rope, go jogging, go biking, have a barbecue, watch Les Stroud, anything! Anything can give you ideas-you just have to think about them! In fact, my own tirade just gave me an idea!!

kapser

Like above post sayin, pretty much everything but mostly medias. After you make games for a while, you start to get pretty obsessed at bringing a game concept out of everything XD

But my main inspiration is retro japanese gaming. The old times of NES and SNES is where game design really shined in my opinion. When it comes to GameSalad game, your best bet is probably flash games.