There are many programming languages to choose from, but most go with C++ or Java and they are also the most useful in Game Development. Once you learn one language, it’s much easier to learn another.

No matter who you are, you can find a programming class that suits you. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw. mit. edu/) has a variety of free classes. If you look around on Google, you’ll find a number of other sites that also have free lectures and classes available. You could also have a friend teach you a language, sharing is caring.

Try to make a simple game. If you learned Java, check out the Swing package. Don’t worry too much about this project(s), they should only take up a few weeks of your time. Learn from your mistakes.

Think for a while, don’t feel pressured to do this in one sitting. Sit on your idea for a while so you know it is good.

Write up a “Game Design Document”. These are used in professional game development, but more importantly, they easily communicate your idea(s) to others. There are many free templates available online.

You can’t make a custom game engine and manage the project without help. Ask your Friends first before going to strangers or advertising for help, you’d be surprised who would love to get into the game industry.

Look into “OpenGL” if you learned C and “JOGL” if you learned Java. Maybe buy a textbook on OpenGL, “Redbook” is the most famous one, but it is online for free.

Make a 2D triangle, or a cube. Look into “Display Lists” so you can draw many primitive objects.

Make the perspective of your game (First person perspective, top-down, etc. )

Either move everything around the camera or move the camera view port, but they are the same to the processor. Be able to move in all angles, not just along the axis.

Splice them into your display list(s).

Perhaps footsteps for when you walk.

Learn the different kinds of lighting. Use a sphere instead of a cube to make sure the lighting is working. You could put a primitive object where the light should be coming from to debug. Just make sure the light can get out of the box/sphere you put it into.

Make it impossible to walk through the cube. Make it possible to move (in other directions) when you are colliding with the cube.

Make a floor, and jump around on it.

Have Fun!

Game Engines are valuable and impressive. Did you notice how much those other engines are charging indie developers? (You could be that engine!) Use your engine to get wannabe game developers into the industry!

Now you can laugh at your friends who said “Unity was easier”.