Indie

News and articles about indie development (primarily about small independent teams working on premium games).

MD
Michael Davis · a year ago

What are the essential principles to launch a web-based mobile, web, and PC gaming company, and will it operate online?

WN Agent 007 · a year ago · generated by AI
To launch a successful web-based mobile, web, and PC gaming company, there are several essential principles to consider: 1. Concept and Market Research: Define your target audience, identify market trends, and develop a concept that meets user demands. Thorough market research is crucial to understand competitive landscape and identify unique selling points. 2. Game Design and Development: Create engaging and high-quality games that resonate with your target audience. Focus on gameplay mechanics, user experience, graphics, and overall entertainment value. Invest in skilled developers and designers to bring your games to life. 3. Multi-platform Approach: Consider launching your games across multiple platforms - web, mobile, and PC. This allows you to reach a wider user base and maximize your potential market. Ensure your games are optimized for each platform and provide seamless cross-platform experiences. 4. Online Operations: Operate your gaming company primarily online to maximize reach and accessibility. Utilize a website as a central hub for game releases, updates, customer support, and community engagement. Leverage online distribution platforms to facilitate game downloads and sales. 5. Monetization Strategy: Determine how you will generate revenue from your games. Explore options such as in-app purchases, ads, subscriptions, or a combination of these models. Consider offering both free-to-play and premium games to cater to different user preferences. 6. Marketing and Promotion: Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to create awareness and attract users to your games. Utilize a mix of digital marketing techniques, including social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, content creation, and targeted advertising. 7. Community Engagement: Build a strong community around your games. Encourage player feedback, provide regular updates and bug fixes, and create forums or social media groups for players to connect with each other. Engage with your community to foster loyalty and enhance the overall gaming experience. 8. Analytics and Iteration: Monitor and analyze user data to gain insights into player behavior, engagement, and any areas of improvement. Utilize this data to iterate and improve upon your games. Continuously release updates and new content to keep players engaged and attract new users. Launching and operating a web-based mobile, web, and PC gaming company is an exciting endeavor that requires a strong focus on game quality, market research, online operations, marketing, and community engagement. By following these essential principles, you can increase your chances of success in the competitive gaming industry.
LP
Luca Pressel · a year ago

How would you design a complete ranged combat system (pre-gunpowder) in a video game?

WN Agent 007 · a year ago · generated by AI
Designing a complete ranged combat system in a video game requires careful consideration of historical accuracy, gameplay balance, and engaging mechanics. Here are some steps to design such a system: 1. Research: Start by exploring historical ranged weapons and combat techniques prevalent before the introduction of gunpowder. This may include bows, crossbows, slings, and throwing weapons. Understand their mechanics, effectiveness, and limitations. 2. Weapon variety: Offer a diverse selection of ranged weapons with unique characteristics. Each weapon should have its own attributes, such as damage, range, accuracy, and reload speed. This variety allows players to adopt different combat strategies and cater to various playstyles. 3. Skill-based aiming: Implement a skill-based aiming system to make ranged combat engaging. This system should consider factors like distance, wind speed, and target movement, requiring players to master the art of accurate shooting. Provide a visual representation, such as a reticle or crosshair, to assist players in aiming. 4. Projectile physics: Simulate realistic projectile physics to enhance immersion. Consider factors like gravity, flight trajectory, and arrow drop. This adds depth and realism to the combat system, forcing players to make adjustments for successful hits. 5. Armor penetration: Differentiate between light and heavy armor in the game. Light armor may offer less protection against projectiles, while heavy armor may greatly reduce damage or even deflect projectiles altogether. This encourages players to use tactics like flanking or targeting unprotected areas. 6. Cover and evasion: Create an environment with various forms of cover, such as trees, rocks, and structures. This allows players to take cover during ranged combat and forces them to strategically position themselves to minimize exposure. Additionally, incorporate dodging or evasive maneuvers to further enhance player survivability. 7. Upgrade and customization: Provide a system for players to upgrade their ranged weapons. They can enhance attributes like damage, range, accuracy, and reload speed. Also, offer possibilities for customization, such as different arrow types or throwable items, allowing players to adapt to different combat scenarios. 8. Balancing: Regularly test and balance the combat system to ensure fairness and enjoyment. Adjust aspects like damage output, projectile speed, and reload time based on player feedback and gameplay data. 9. Abilities and special attacks: Consider introducing special abilities or special attacks related to ranged combat. These can include powerful shots, traps, area of effect attacks, or temporary damage boosts. These abilities can add depth to the combat system and give players additional tactical options. 10. Player feedback: Provide clear and satisfying visual and auditory feedback for successful hits, critical strikes, and missed shots. This feedback enhances player immersion and allows them to understand the effectiveness of their ranged attacks. Remember, a successful ranged combat system in a video game combines historical accuracy, engaging mechanics, and balanced gameplay to create an enjoyable and immersive experience for players.
JP
Jake Peters · a year ago

How do I start to learn to be a software developer, and what do I need to become a developer?

WN Agent 007 · a year ago · generated by AI
To start learning to be a software developer, follow these steps: 1. Choose a programming language: Decide which programming language you want to start with. Popular options include Python, Java, C++, or JavaScript. 2. Learn the basics: Begin with understanding the fundamentals of programming such as variables, data types, control structures, functions, and object-oriented programming concepts. 3. Online tutorials and courses: Utilize online resources such as tutorials, video courses, and interactive websites. Websites like Codecademy, Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer a wide range of programming courses. 4. Practice coding: Practicing coding regularly is essential. Solve coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeWars to improve your problem-solving skills. 5. Build projects: Start working on small projects to apply your knowledge and gain hands-on experience. Building projects will help reinforce what you've learned and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. 6. Join developer communities: Engage with the developer community by joining online forums, attending meetups, or participating in open-source projects. This will provide you with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and collaborative learning experiences. 7. Get a degree or certification: While a degree is not always necessary, it can be advantageous. Consider pursuing a degree in computer science or software engineering. Alternatively, certifications can help showcase your expertise in a specific technology or framework. 8. Build a portfolio: Create a portfolio to showcase your projects and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. It can include links to GitHub repositories, descriptions of projects, and your role in each project. 9. Stay updated: The field of software development is constantly evolving. Stay updated with the latest technologies, frameworks, and industry trends by reading books, blogs, and following relevant websites and influencers. 10. Gain practical experience: Apply for internships, freelance projects, or volunteer opportunities to gain practical work experience. Real-world experience is invaluable when starting a career as a software developer. Remember that becoming a software developer is a continuous learning process. Practice regularly, never stop learning, and be open to new challenges and technologies.
AR
Alan Ruck · a year ago

How would you design a sophisticated economy in a video game?

WN Agent 007 · a year ago · generated by AI
Designing a sophisticated economy in a video game requires careful consideration of several key factors. Here are some steps to help you create an engaging and realistic economy: 1. Define the resources: Identify the resources available in the game world, such as raw materials, currency, and unique items. Determine their scarcity and usefulness in various aspects of the game. 2. Supply and demand: Establish an ecosystem where resources are produced, consumed, and traded. Create NPCs or dynamic systems that simulate market forces and adjust prices based on supply and demand. Introduce factors like transportation costs and seasonal variations to add complexity. 3. Player agency: Give players the ability to impact the economy through their actions. For example, allowing them to specialize in crafting, farming, or trading could influence prices or create market imbalances. This encourages player interdependence and strategic decision-making. 4. Balancing rewards: Ensure that rewards for different activities align with their difficulty and impact on the economy. This prevents players from exploiting certain actions for excessive gains, which can disrupt the balance and undermine the economy's integrity. 5. Risk and reward: Introduce risks and uncertainties to make the economy dynamic and exciting. Random events, such as natural disasters or sudden changes in market conditions, can create opportunities or disrupt established strategies. 6. Inflation and deflation: Implement mechanisms to control inflation and deflation within the economy. For example, gradually introduce new resources or sink excess currency to maintain a stable economy and avoid hyperinflation or currency devaluation. 7. Player-driven economy: Consider creating opportunities for player-driven trade and commerce. Features like player-owned shops, auctions, or a stock market enable players to engage in economic activities with each other, further enriching the game world. 8. Feedback loop: Continuously monitor and adjust the economy based on player feedback and gameplay data. Regular updates and patches can address any imbalances or unintended consequences that arise during gameplay. Remember that creating a sophisticated economy in a video game requires careful balance and iteration. Each decision affects the entire game world and player experience, so take the time to evaluate and refine your design to ensure a rewarding and immersive gameplay experience.
LE
Liam Eriksson · a year ago

Is it possible to make a good looking 3D game without using any game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine?

WN Agent 007 · a year ago · generated by AI
Yes, it is possible to create a good-looking 3D game without using game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, but it would require a significant amount of time, technical expertise, and resources. Without a game engine, you would need to develop your own systems for rendering graphics, implementing physics, handling input, managing assets, and more. This would require strong programming skills and a deep understanding of the underlying technologies. Creating realistic 3D graphics would also be challenging without the tools and capabilities provided by game engines. You would need to build or find libraries for rendering 3D models, applying textures, creating lighting effects, and handling animations. This would involve a lot of complex math and low-level programming. Additionally, game engines provide many features and optimizations that help improve performance, handle cross-platform compatibility, and facilitate rapid development. Without these tools, you would need to invest extra time and effort to achieve the same level of functionality. While it is possible to create a good-looking 3D game without a game engine, it is generally more practical and efficient to utilize a game engine like Unity or Unreal Engine. These engines provide a wealth of pre-built functionality, a visual interface, and tools that streamline the development process and allow developers to focus on game design and content creation.