Is it possible to create a game without knowing how to program?
by Pedro Waite · in General Discussion · 08/07/2009 (2:03 am) · 6 replies
Hi guys, I have an idea for a 2d platform game, it's entirely already in my mind. All powers I'm going to have, all enemies, all bosses and all story.
But I don't know anything about C++ or any kind of programming, algorithm. Also I can't draw anything on photoshop, neither modeling my character on any program.
Is it possible for this kind of person to create a game using any available tools? drag and drop stuff for the backgrounds, characters and objects for example.
And for collision? explosion? life meter? Is it mandatory to use programming?
My big question is if you need to be both a programmer and an artist to create a game. Programmer for objects to actually interact in-game, and artist to draw your backgrounds and objects. Or at least one of them?
Sorry if this kind of question is nonsense and sorry for my english, it's not my mother language.
But I don't know anything about C++ or any kind of programming, algorithm. Also I can't draw anything on photoshop, neither modeling my character on any program.
Is it possible for this kind of person to create a game using any available tools? drag and drop stuff for the backgrounds, characters and objects for example.
And for collision? explosion? life meter? Is it mandatory to use programming?
My big question is if you need to be both a programmer and an artist to create a game. Programmer for objects to actually interact in-game, and artist to draw your backgrounds and objects. Or at least one of them?
Sorry if this kind of question is nonsense and sorry for my english, it's not my mother language.
#2
Well... Technically I suppose you could find free character's and other art around the net.. and possibly locate enough basic donated scripts code from over the years to move you along a great deal. But absolutely zero learning of code and or art, no, I tend to doubt it.
The extent of how much of these things you will need to learn depends on the magnitude of game you are wishing to create. But try not to worry about all this at one time. There are numerous people here, and other places who started making a game not knowing hardly anything about either as well. You learn as you go.. ask questions, read doc's and tutorials from this site and others and slowly you move forward. In my experience, that's half of the fun.
Download one of the engine demo's and take a look. Try afew things and see what you think.
Good Luck!
LK
08/07/2009 (7:02 am)
Quote:But I don't know anything about C++ or any kind of programming, algorithm. Also I can't draw anything on photoshop, neither modeling my character on any program.
Is it possible for this kind of person to create a game using any available tools? drag and drop stuff for the backgrounds, characters and objects for example.
And for collision? explosion? life meter? Is it mandatory to use programming?
Well... Technically I suppose you could find free character's and other art around the net.. and possibly locate enough basic donated scripts code from over the years to move you along a great deal. But absolutely zero learning of code and or art, no, I tend to doubt it.
The extent of how much of these things you will need to learn depends on the magnitude of game you are wishing to create. But try not to worry about all this at one time. There are numerous people here, and other places who started making a game not knowing hardly anything about either as well. You learn as you go.. ask questions, read doc's and tutorials from this site and others and slowly you move forward. In my experience, that's half of the fun.
Download one of the engine demo's and take a look. Try afew things and see what you think.
Good Luck!
LK
#3
http://creators.xna.com/en-US/news/kodugamelab
You need no programming skills and no artistic skills, as well. Kodu comes with everything you need to get started making your own game.
Of course, you don't have as many possibilities as when programming the game on your own, but it's a lot easier. I suppose for a platformer that should be sufficient.
08/07/2009 (7:25 am)
Maybe you should try Kodu:http://creators.xna.com/en-US/news/kodugamelab
You need no programming skills and no artistic skills, as well. Kodu comes with everything you need to get started making your own game.
Of course, you don't have as many possibilities as when programming the game on your own, but it's a lot easier. I suppose for a platformer that should be sufficient.
#6
08/09/2009 (7:52 pm)
thanks a lot! been checking all these softwares. really cool stuff 
Torque 3D Owner Vincent D
If you really want to make a game, I bet you end up learning some programming language(s) and how to use a few programs to create art.
If your lucky, you may find someone of your own skill and work toghether so one of you could focus on the programming side while the other does the art side of things.
If your even more lucky and hapen to have too much money, you could always hire professional developers :)
And finally, if your serieus about this, have no skills yet, but are still eager to make a game, I recommend to check out GameMaker. It's the program I used to make my first game.
http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/
And since this is the garagegames website, you should also check out TGB, but I have, unfortunatly, never tryed it myself so far.
I wish you good luck in your potential journey ahead