24 training resources for novice developers

Game developers with enviable constancy have to not only fix bugs, but also learn. Online tutorials, forums and courses are a small part of where 75% of developers sit every day. And if experienced guys have learned over the years to identify the main trends and navigate a huge flow of advice, then beginners collect this data bit by bit.

Lina Lugovaya from Epom Apps compiled a list of useful resources for developers and divided it by topic.

Lina Lugovaya1. Game Design

• Extra Credits is a YouTube channel with a retrospective look at games, where the reasons for the success or failure of a particular game are well explained.
• GDC Vault is an excellent library of videos from GDC panels on game design. The site has free and paid sections with a lot of applied information.
• Game Design Dojo – podcasts from veterans of the gaming industry — with insights, practical advice and a bit of humor. Podcasts have not been updated since 2016, but 80% of the information on game development is still relevant.
• Lost Garden is a small author’s blog with good articles about core gameplay and free assets. The author writes infrequently, but to the point.

2. Programming

• Udemy is an educational resource where for $25-40 you can learn how to create games on Unity, HTML5 and other platforms. There are often sales of courses here, and then there is a chance to get access for $ 15 cheaper.
• Learn Unity is an ideal resource from the creators of the platform, which helps to learn the mechanics of Unity. It consists of many separate tutorials and whole courses that will help you create a game from scratch.
• Game Programming Patterns is a free book that explains the basic patterns that you will have to face when programming. Contains illustrations and code examples.
• Game Code School is an online platform where you can take individual lessons or a whole coding course. In addition, it allows you to understand the mechanics of Unreal, Game Maker and other platforms. Although you won’t be able to download sample projects for some tutorials, you can find their detailed explanations and the final code on the site.
• Envato Tuts+ is another platform with tutorials where you can learn how to create characters, inventory, program game logic and interfaces. Updated once a week. Note that some tutorials may be outdated, keep this in mind if you decide to use platforms like Unity or GameMaker.
• Lazy Foo’s Tutorials – if you want to learn how to write games, it will be useful to understand the general logic of writing code. This understanding is useful when using C#, Java and other programming languages. Some Lazy Foo tutorials are many years old, but they are still a great starting point for those who want to do the right thing right away.

3. Game Art

• 2D Game Art for Programmers – if you are not an artist or you don’t have the money to search for it, this site will teach you how to draw vector images beautifully and simply. The author creates step-by-step guides and sometimes shares his files. And most importantly, it uses free programs like Gimp and Inkscape so that you can easily repeat after it.
• Opengameart – If you need 2D or 3D image templates, this media archive is very useful. It contains assets for free use in open source programs and games. Before using assets in a commercial game, be sure to check the license and resolve all issues with their owner.
• Kenney – this company not only hosts high-quality assets, but also provides most of them for free. Kenney also developed the Asset Forge program, in which it is easy to create your own sprites in 2D and 3D.

4. Music for games/SFX

• Audio Tuts+ is an ideal resource for those who want to create music for games. If you have the time and patience, free tutorials will help you figure out what’s what.
• SoundJay is a large repository of sound effects for those who do not want to record them. The library includes human sounds, sounds of nature, transport and many others.
• Stock Music – if creating music is not your strong point, then on this resource you can buy the perfect game track (from $30) or sound effect (from $2). Many genres, easy navigation and non-banal melodies.
• LMMS is a free application for creating music tracks. Suitable for games for Windows, Linux and Mac. Here you can also find tools, plugins and samples.
• DSK Music is useful when additional VST plugins are needed. Here you can create great sound effects for free.

5. Game Marketing

• Pixel Prospector Marketing Guide – on all stages of the game promo: from the initial concept of the game to the release. There are links to useful resources.
• AppSamurai is a knowledge base for mobile developers. Everything is clear, understandable and structured.
• A list of resources for publishing the game – some kind person has collected a whole database of resources (there is even a tab with Brazilian sites) and YouTubers.
• tinyBuild list of Streamers – if you want to make a great promo game for an engaged audience, you will need a list of streamers from Twitch and YouTube on this resource. The main thing is to agree on the review format, price and minutes on the air before payment.
• Big List of YouTubers – If you are not a Twitch fan, pay attention to this list of YouTube celebrities. The list is slightly outdated, but it is easy to find someone who will review the game for adequate money. Check each influencer yourself: look at the number of views of the last 7-10 videos, comments and the frequency of the appearance of the YouTuber on the air.
• Promoter is an application that allows you to track any mentions of the game in the press, distribute Steam keys and even send reminders for events. A paid, but convenient application for developers of medium and large games.