What You Need to Design Video Games: Skills, Tools, and Process

1. Core Concepts & Vision

• Game Idea: Core loop, target emotions/experience.
• Target Audience: Preferences, skill levels.
• Genre & Style: RPG, FPS, puzzle, etc.; visual/audio direction.
• Story & Narrative: Characters, plot, delivery method.

2. Game Design

• Mechanics: Rules, player-world interaction, core loops (combat, puzzles, economy).
• Level Design: Maps, environments, obstacles, points of interest.
• UI/UX: Menus, controls, player-interface interaction.
• Balancing: Challenge vs. fairness, rewarding skill, progression feel.
• Modes & Features: Single/multi/co-op, achievements, leaderboards.

3. Development

• Programming: C++, C#, etc. to implement mechanics/logic.
• Art & Graphics: 2D/3D assets (Photoshop, Blender, Unity).
• Sound & Music: Composition, SFX, voice acting.
• Animation: Character/object movement.
• Engine & Tools: Unity, Unreal, Godot; version control (Git).

4. Essential Soft Skills

• Teamwork & Communication.
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking.
• Passion & Creativity.

5. Learning Resources

• Courses: Udemy, Coursera, YouTube.
• Communities: Reddit, Discord, forums.
• Books, blogs, magazines.

Requirements vary by game type and team role. Many specialize (programming, art, sound); others are generalists.