Which games should I learn to create 1st and are the easiest to make, while which games are the hard

Richongs

After reading through the manual and practicing while watching some youtube tutorials, I realize that there is a learning curve and some games are easier to make than others! (D'uh)

What games should I learn first (since they are simplest to make), then second (like intermediate) and finally last (which I assume would be like an angry birds or Zelda like game)? If you have any tutorials for the games too, that would be great!

Additional comments? And, suggestions?

(Also, I posted twice today because (1) was to say hi to the community and (2) this question was more specific)

~Rich

natzuur

Any polished game of any sort is gonna take some time and effort, but you got it pretty much right.

An RPG/Action RPG is going to take a while and be pretty difficult. A runner would be simple to intermediate. A platformer would be intermediate to advanced. Puzzle games run the whole spectrum. But like I said any game can end up being "Advanced" depending on the features and amount of polish you to put in it.

Richongs

Like Natzuur for responding, I KNOW this is a basic question. But, how should I go about learning to use GameSalad? Ie, some features are basic and simple, while others are more advanced. Hence, which should I learn first, second, third, etc...

I am still watching the youtube videos and reading the manuals, but I cannot figure what would be a good order to watch them!

I found the cookbook, and am go through that as the basic, but after that I would like some advice...

jamie_c

Hi Rich, I'd definitely start with something simple for your first project like making a version of Pong or Space Invaders, something without a lot of pieces. Also consider just learning game elements first, like how to make an actor move around screen, how to make a score UI update and display, then putting those basic blocks together to make an actual game.

I've done a couple full game tutorials for gamedev.tutsplus.com that are linked from my website in my signature. There is an Asteroids step-by-step and an Angry Birds style game step-by-step if you're interested in checking those out too.

DanielDoe

Easy - endless runner. Hard - rpg.

tatiang

@Richongs, try the Tutorials link in my signature. I have a YouTube playlist that leads you through how to make a shooter step-by-step. It may not be the type of game you want to make, but once you've finished it, you will have the basics down and can branch out on your own.

StormyStudio

Make the most polished sound board you can... it'll teach some GameSalad basics (buttons, activating attributes) and if you decide its ready for the world it can give you a good introduction to app submission with Apple/Android/Windows etc...

It wont take so long that you might give up,
It will give you a chance to do some artwork,
and potentially make some good income from a popular sound board.

natzuur

I would also suggest just making some projects with no purpose just to get a feel for things. Putting a behavior in an actor and then hitting preview is a good way to understand what each does, and then you can change the setting for each behavior to see how it adjusts and affects it. Some things may not be readily apparent and thats where videos can come in to help you understand.

TheGabfather

My very first practice game was a Logos Quiz-type one. I definitely learned a lot from it.

It's a combination of practicing Logic within GameSalad, Scene Transitions, heavy on Attribute creation & manipulations, and critical lessons on how to design and use art/images properly.

Also a bit if User Interface / User Experience lessons thrown in there.

There's very little "animation" in these games save for special effects for correct answers and sliding screens, but then again games heavy on animations / movements I already consider intermediate and wouldn't be a very good starter experiment game.

Go with this if you agree with me, otherwise, go with whatever floats your boat
Good luck!

The_Gamesalad_Guru

A good way to start is to watch tons of videos and just digest as much as you can. Then when you want to build something you know which video to go back to and watch. My logic video series is a good place to start also as it covers the basics of what coding is in gamesalad.

Dreamwalker-SJM

I am yet to create a game due to study mode heh but I always wanted to make a JRPG game but I figured out I should make a simple one instead. After one or two simples game, move on the difficult game project depends on what you've learnt so far.

quantumsheep

@Dreamwalker-SJM said:
I am yet to create a game due to study mode heh but I always wanted to make a JRPG game but I figured out I should make a simple one instead. After one or two simples game, move on the difficult game project depends on what you've learnt so far.

You could always start by making 'parts' of games. Or 'systems' as we call them

For example, in your JRPG I imagine you'd have a battle system. Perhaps try and just make that one part of your game.

Or the map system. Work out how to move a character around a map.

By making the little parts of a big game you'll learn a bunch of stuff and then be able to fit it all together at a later date maybe.

QS =D