25 Beginner Tips and Tricks for Game Development

TLDRLearn 25 valuable tips and tricks for game development, including the importance of clean code, marketing your game early, choosing the right game engine, focusing on the first and last levels, creating a captivating game trailer, understanding player psychology, avoiding AAA-level visuals, emphasizing sound design, engaging with your social media audience, taking a course before releasing a commercial game, taking breaks, releasing prototype games, surrounding yourself with successful game developers, considering multiplayer for profitability, creating streamable and creative gameplay, using existing assets, prototyping your game first, giving yourself an hourly rate, creating a solid hook, focusing on a hyper-polished demo, and pursuing full-time indie game development before finishing your game.

Key insights

💡Clean code is important, but not as critical as you may think. Focus on it if you have a team or want to stay organized during development.

📣Start marketing your game before you even start making it. Build an audience and generate wishlist entries for launch day.

🎮The game engine you choose (Unity, Unreal, etc.) doesn't dictate the success of your game. Dedicated developers make great games, not engines.

🏞️Pay extra attention to the first and last levels of your game. The first level sets the tone, and the last level leaves a lasting impression.

🎥Create a game trailer that hooks your audience immediately. Focus on capturing their attention and showcasing the unique features of your game.

Q&A

Is clean code essential for a successful game?

—Clean code is helpful, especially for teams or staying organized, but it's not the sole factor determining a game's success.

When should I start marketing my game?

—Begin marketing your game before you start developing it. Build an audience, generate interest, and gather wishlist entries for launch day.

Does the game engine I choose affect the success of my game?

—No, the success of your game is determined by your skills and dedication as a developer, not the engine you choose.

Why should I focus on the first and last levels of my game?

—The first level sets the tone and captures players' attention, while the last level leaves a lasting impression. Both are crucial for player engagement.

How important is a captivating game trailer?

—A captivating game trailer is essential for capturing your audience's attention. It should highlight the unique features and gameplay of your game.

Timestamped Summary

00:00In this video, the creator shares 25 beginner tips and tricks for game development.

02:24The importance of clean code is discussed. While it's helpful, it's not as critical as you may think.

05:30Marketing your game before development is emphasized. Building an audience and generating wishlist entries is crucial for success.

08:04The game engine choice is addressed. Unity, Unreal, and others have pros and cons, but dedicated developers make great games, not engines.

11:12The importance of focusing on the first and last levels of your game is highlighted. These levels set the tone and leave a lasting impression.

13:36Creating a captivating game trailer that hooks your audience immediately is discussed. Showcase the unique features of your game.

16:22Understanding player psychology and rewarding/punishing them is crucial for engaging gameplay.

18:25Avoiding AAA-level visuals is recommended to avoid setting unrealistic expectations for players.

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