How do you begin?

[+CXK]

To all the 2600 programmers out there. What is your process when you begin working on a project? Do you have a detailed plan? a general outline?

 

I recently started playing with batari and am wanting to put a small game together for my family to enjoy at home... and am looking for ideas on how other people get their ideas and how they structure the initial stages of their projects.

 

 

Thanks!

[GemWare Games]

I just get an idea and fly with it. Generally, unlike most programmers, I know the exact gameplay beforehand. I usually write a story board, and figure out how to get where a want.

[gauauu]

I usually start extremely simple (ie get a sprite showing on a background) and very slowly iteratively transform it into the game that's in my imagination.

[tschak909]

In my case, with Dodgeball, the idea knocked me upside the head. As I stumbled back up, I thumbed through the idea, which was reasonably well formed. At this point, it was about trying to implement the idea.

 

-Thom

[undeadbobop]

How to start a project in general:

1. Figure out the tools you need to make it.
2. Value if those tools are worth it
   -Yes- Continue to step 3
   -no- go back to step 1 and find different tools
   -no I don't like any of the tools- Reinvent the wheel
   - No I don't want to re-invent the wheel- quit
3. Figure out what your project is going to be, make the first steps in planning it out,
4. Learn how to work the tools
5. change 3's plans around how you learned to use the tools, and figure out what can and can't be done with them.
6. learn how to do what you think can't be done with work arounds.
7. make the basics, the menu's HUD.
8. Make environment graphics
9. Make a player object
10. Make a enemy base object
11. make your gameplay
12. make your sounds add them to your gameplay
13. ADD polish to all graphics, and sounds
14. Fix all da bugs or you will never hear the end of it.
15. Release maybe
16. Figure out how you can get it on multiple platforms maybe
17. sell maybe
18. Profit maybe?

Edited November 28, 2016 by undeadbobop