How to Get Your Game Made

Think you can do better than the pros? These days, the opportunities are greater than ever.

So you’ve decided that if the makers of Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance can get a game made, anyone can. It’s time for your idea — Fright Night Round Gore, complete with face-shattering punching mechanic — to show Halo how it’s done. Now where do you send it, and when do you ask for the check: now or after the Spike VGAs?

Well, it might not be that easy. Millions of people game, but the number of people making games? A lot less than that. Many gamers have an idea for the perfect game, and most accept that it’ll never happen. What makes you any different? You’re passionate and you know your game’s twice as perfect as everyone else’s. That, and you have this handy guide to help you begin.

(1) Pitchin'

Pitching an idea to a publisher or studio isn’t quite the dead-end you’d think. If it makes the publisher see dollar signs or the studio head see awards, it’s as strong a candidate as any. You are, however, vying for the attention of some very busy people, so even the record-breakingly bloody design of Fright Night Round Gore stands little chance of being noticed in the first place. But if luck’s on your side, the most important part will be the “five minutes of gameplay” document, which describes what the player sees and does in simple, direct terms.

(2) Join the Mod Squad

“Mod development is better in a lot of ways than work experience,” says Valve director Gabe Newell. Nowadays, modding can turn an idea into reality from even a standing start — though you’ll need to work on a PC. With PC games like Unreal Tournament III and Crysis giving you near-complete game engines and toolsets to play with, bedroom game development has re-emerged. So set yourself up as a designer/producer, visit a few forums (moddb.com/forum is as good as any), recruit a team, and before you know it you’ll have your very own studio — just without the studio. An example: Lukewarm Media, developer of CryEngine 2–based action-adventure Lightspire.

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