Independent Game Development

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Independent Game Development

• William Monks

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What is an Indie Game???

• An indie game is a game made without the
  financial support of a video game publisher.
• Typically made by a small team.

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Who Can Make Indie Games???

• You!
• Anyone with the desire
• Programming skills not necessary!
• Solo or team

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Good Reasons For Development

• Looks great on the résumé!
• To Learn
• Personal Satisfaction
• You have a great idea!

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Unrealistic Notions

• I'll be rich!
• I'll be famous!
• I'll be able to support myself!

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Strategies

• Program everything from scratch
• Use existing tools and libraries to aid you
• Use a game engine
• Use a game creation program

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Program Everything From Scratch

• Pros
• Maximum flexibility
• Looks best on the résumé
• Turns boys into men and girls into women
• Free

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Program Everything From Scratch

• Cons
• Takes a lot of time
• Requires programming skills

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Program Everything From Scratch

• Example
• rRootage by Kenta Cho
• Vertical shooter, made in C
• Awesome
• Available for Windows,
• Mac, Linux, and iPhone
• Open source

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Libraries and Tools

• Some popular ones
• Microsoft XNA
• OGRE

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Microsoft XNA

• What is XNA?
• XNA's Not Acronymed
• A set of tools with a managed runtime environment
• Encapsulates low-level technological details
• Frees the programmer from writing boilerplate
  code
• Cross-platform Windows, Xbox 360, Zune and
  Windows Phone 7
• Supported Language C

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Microsoft XNA

• Pros
• C is easier than C
• Lots of libraries available
• Removes many mundane elements from game
  programming
• Windows code runs on 360 with minimal
  modification
• Xbox Live Indie Games
• Free

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Microsoft XNA

• Cons
• Only available on Microsoft platforms
• Slower performance than pure C
• Requires programming experience

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Microsoft XNA

• Example
• Fez, by Polytron Corporation
• Puzzle / Platformer
• Awesome
• Won Excellence In Visual Artaward at IGF 2008
• Available on Xbox Live Arcadein 2010

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OGRE

• What is OGRE?
• Open Source 3D Graphics Engine
• A flexible 3D rendering engine for OpenGL and/or
  Direct3D
• Not a game engine, only handles graphics
  rendering
• Provides state of the art graphics rendering
• Written for C, many ports and wrappers exist
  for other languages

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OGRE

• Pros
• Provides professional quality graphics rendering
• High flexibility

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OGRE

• Cons
• Only a graphics engine
• Can be difficult to get set up

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OGRE

• Example
• Torchlight by Runic Games
• RPG
• Awesome
• Best Debut Game Award atthe 2010 Game
  DevelopersChoice Awards
• Available on Windows and Macvia digital
  distribution
• Picked up by publisher for retail

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Game Engines

• Provide many aspects of the game development for
  you
• Cost ranges from free to more than you can afford

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Example Game Engines

• Unreal Engine 3
• Free for indie developers(in exchange for a cut)
• I like it
• DarkGDK
• Free
• I don't like it

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Game Engines

• Pros
• Provide many aspects of the game development for
  you
• Graphics, sound, input, scripting, etc...
• Less programming needed
• Can help you quickly create something of
  professional quality

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Game Engines

• Cons
• Can be difficult to make something of a different
  genre than expected by the engine.
• It can be difficult to make the engine do
  anything it wasn't expected to do.
• Your engine's weaknesses can limit your game.

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Game Creation Programs

• Flash
• RPG Maker
• Multimedia Fusion
• Game Maker

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Flash

• Pros
• Easy to distribute, most people have the Flash
  browser plugin.
• Great for prototyping ideas
• Cons
• ActionScript programming knowledge required
• Limiting
• Costs money you are unlikely to earn back

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RPG Maker

• Lets the user create their own traditional RPG
• Easy to use
• No programming required
• Very limiting
• Nearly impossible to make anything that is not an
  RPG or adventure game
• Some brilliant results
• 60

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Multimedia Fusion / Game Maker

• Lets the user create their own 2D or 3D game
• Easy to use
• No programming required, user applies conditions
  and logic to objects
• Somewhat limiting
• Many very impressive games have been made with
  these tools.
• Spelunky
• Noitu Love 2

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That's all fantastic, but I can't draw!

• Don't panic!!!
• There are many resources for programmers in need
  of assets
• Make the game with temporary crude graphics, and
  replace them later
• Many artists can be found on the internet
• If all else fails, you can purchase assets

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A few concluding tips

• Start small! Do something you know you can
  accomplish.
• Follow through! It can be tempting to start over
  when you're in the middle of development...but
  don't!
• Make a FINISHED game, not several unfinished games

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The End