
<p>This article is a summary of video exposing <a href="https://game-designers.net/tag/how-to-learn-unity-game-development">1 Year of Learning Game Development</a> In 6 Minutes, and which a very interesting resource to see how to learn game design and develpment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1 Year of Learning Game Development</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<amp-youtube layout="responsive" width="1200" height="675" data-videoid="_tE4phLuGyA" title="1 Year of Learning Game Development In 6 Minutes"><a placeholder href="https://youtu.be/_tE4phLuGyA"><img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_tE4phLuGyA/hqdefault.jpg" layout="fill" object-fit="cover" alt="1 Year of Learning Game Development In 6 Minutes"></a></amp-youtube>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source <a href="https://youtu.be/_tE4phLuGyA">Youtube</a></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="key-takeaways-">Key Takeaways:</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Starting game development requires no prior experience &#8211; just curiosity and persistence</li>



<li>Learning through experimentation and tutorials builds foundational skills faster than formal education</li>



<li>Setting clear goals and purposes (like creating content for YouTube) significantly increases project completion rates</li>



<li>Game optimization, asset creation, and code organization are critical skills that develop over time</li>



<li>Each completed project, regardless of quality, contributes valuable experience to your development journey</li>
</ul>



<p>I never planned to become a game developer. There was no childhood dream or lifelong passion driving me toward this creative field. Instead, it was a combination of boredom and perhaps a bit too much alcohol that led me to click on a random Unity tutorial on YouTube one night. Little did I know this casual decision would lead to almost a year of learning, creating, and falling in love with game development.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-first-steps-confusion-and-copy-pasting">The First Steps: Confusion and Copy-Pasting</h2>



<p>The first time I opened Unity, I felt completely lost. The interface, with its numerous panels, buttons, and options, was overwhelming. I had zero knowledge about making games, so I did what many beginners do &#8211; I headed straight to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Brackeys">Brackeys&#8217; YouTube channel</a> and started copy-pasting code.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://game-designers.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Untitled.png" alt="1 Year of Learning Game Development" class="wp-image-16950"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">1 Year of Learning Game Development</figcaption></figure>



<p>My first creation was laughably simple: a black square with a flashlight that could destroy enemies when you pointed light at them. Was I immediately hooked? Not exactly. My initial reaction was disappointment:</p>



<p>&#8220;This sucks. I&#8217;m just rewriting other people&#8217;s code, and there are far too many things I&#8217;d need to learn if I wanted to make real games. None of this makes sense to me.&#8221;</p>



<p>So I quit. The first attempt lasted barely a few days.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-false-start-a-multiplayer-among-us-clone">The False Start: A Multiplayer Among Us Clone</h3>



<p>Several months passed before game development crossed my path again. My programmer friend and I were playing Among Us when we had what seemed like a brilliant idea: creating our own hide-and-seek standalone multiplayer game similar to it.</p>



<p>In retrospect, this was an absurdly ambitious choice for a first game. Multiplayer game development involves network programming, synchronization, and numerous other complex elements that beginners should probably avoid.</p>



<p>I focused on creating game assets while my friend handled the code. We managed to build a system where players could:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Join a lobby</li>



<li>Get assigned as either a cute animal or a killer</li>



<li>Hide in bushes and other objects</li>



<li>Perform basic animations</li>
</ul>



<p>But our enthusiasm quickly faded. After the first day, we weren&#8217;t very invested in the project. Progress slowed, then stopped entirely. Game development attempt number two: abandoned.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-youtube-catalyst-finding-purpose-in-creation">The YouTube Catalyst: Finding Purpose in Creation</h2>



<p>Late May marked a turning point. Once again finding myself bored (and perhaps slightly intoxicated), I decided to start a YouTube channel. But what would my videos be about?</p>



<p>The answer came easily: making video games.</p>



<p>This decision changed everything. Having a concrete purpose &#8211; creating content for my channel &#8211; gave me the motivation I needed to push through difficulties. I began working on a 2D hack-and-slash game, and this time, my approach was different.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>&#8220;I watched a lot of tutorials, but this time I tried to actually understand how it works and why it works the way it does.&#8221;</p>
</blockquote>



<p>I remember staying up until 4 AM, watching developers code and explain their process. When I finally coded my first enemy behavior without following any tutorial, it felt like a breakthrough. I had actually learned something meaningful!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="strategic-choices-for-success">Strategic Choices for Success</h3>



<p>Knowing my tendency to abandon projects when they became too difficult, I made two strategic decisions:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>I chose pixel art with a simple color palette to reduce the artwork burden</li>



<li>I committed to finishing the game specifically to make a YouTube video about it</li>
</ol>



<p>These choices proved crucial. The finished game featured:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Wave-based enemy spawning</li>



<li>Different enemy types with unique animations and attacks</li>



<li>Responsive player controls</li>
</ul>



<p>As my first completed game, I&#8217;d rate it 6 out of 10 &#8211; not amazing, but a significant accomplishment for a beginner.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="experimentation-and-failure-the-voice-controlled-disaster">Experimentation and Failure: The Voice-Controlled Disaster</h2>



<p>With newfound confidence, I decided to push myself further. My second game would be more ambitious and unique &#8211; a voice-controlled adventure.</p>



<p>This turned out to be my worst creation to date. Everything about it was problematic:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The level design was tedious (I painted the entire environment using Unity&#8217;s tile palette)</li>



<li>The story was poorly conceived and insensitive</li>



<li>The gameplay wasn&#8217;t fun or truly innovative</li>



<li>My code was a complete mess</li>
</ul>



<p>I had fallen into the <a href="https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/116009/in-unity-how-do-i-correctly-implement-the-singleton-pattern">singleton pattern trap</a>, using it everywhere because it seemed convenient to access anything from anywhere in my code. As I later learned, this creates maintenance nightmares.</p>



<p>My pixel art had improved though, with the game featuring actual colors rather than the limited palette of my first project. Still, I&#8217;d rate this game only 1.5 out of 10 &#8211; a necessary failure in my learning journey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="mobile-development-new-platforms-new-challenges">Mobile Development: New Platforms, New Challenges</h2>



<p>After two PC games, I decided to try mobile development. After several failed prototypes, I settled on creating a tower-building platformer.</p>



<p>Rather than focusing on extensive features or excitement, I approached this project as a learning opportunity. I wanted to understand:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>How inputs work across different platforms</li>



<li>Implementation of achievements</li>



<li>Monetization through ads</li>
</ul>



<p>The development process introduced me to particle systems, which surprised me with their versatility. I could create impressive visual effects with relatively little effort.</p>



<p>Even more surprising was seeing my first bit of ad revenue. Though the amount was minimal, there was something validating about earning anything from my creation.</p>



<p>As my first mobile game, I&#8217;d give it a 3 out of 10. Not great, but certainly progress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="entering-the-third-dimension-a-nostalgic-inspiration">Entering the Third Dimension: A Nostalgic Inspiration</h2>



<p>All my previous games had been 2D, but I was ready for a new challenge. Inspired by childhood memories of playing <a href="https://www.kongregate.com/games/3rdrockgrep/swords-and-sandals-2-full-version">Swords and Sandals</a>, I decided to create something similar in 3D.</p>



<p>This project pushed me into entirely new territory:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="learning-3d-modeling-with-blender">Learning 3D Modeling with Blender</h3>



<p>I had zero experience with 3D modeling, so I watched tutorials and gradually learned to work with Blender. My background in drawing helped me understand how objects should look in three dimensions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="materials-textures-and-shaders">Materials, Textures, and Shaders</h3>



<p>The concept of how different textures, materials, and shaders work together was difficult to grasp initially. Through experimentation, I learned enough to create some basic custom materials.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="world-building-mistakes">World Building Mistakes</h3>



<p>When creating the game world, I made a rookie mistake &#8211; I didn&#8217;t use terrain tools for my low-poly environment. Instead, I placed each tree, rock, and grass tuft individually, which turned into a nightmare of inefficiency.</p>



<p>This was also my first encounter with performance issues. As my game grew more complex, the frame rate began to suffer. This led me to research optimization techniques, though I didn&#8217;t necessarily implement all I learned.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="advanced-animations-and-effects">Advanced Animations and Effects</h3>



<p>During this project, I explored:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Inverse kinematics (IK) &#8211; creating a system where NPCs would look at the player when approached</li>



<li>Ground adaptation &#8211; ensuring characters could stand firmly on uneven terrain</li>



<li>Improved particle systems and visual effects</li>



<li>Post-processing effects, especially bloom lighting</li>
</ul>



<p>The finished game included a shop system, equipment customization, engaging combat mechanics, and a boss battle. As my first 3D project, I&#8217;d rate it 7 out of 10 &#8211; a substantial improvement over my previous works.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="game-jam-challenge-non-euclidean-puzzles">Game Jam Challenge: Non-Euclidean Puzzles</h2>



<p>My most recent project was created for <a href="https://itch.io/jam/brackeys-8">Brackeys&#8217; Game Jam</a>, a short-term development competition. I built a puzzle game featuring non-Euclidean geometry (spaces that seem impossible in our normal three-dimensional world).</p>



<p>The primary lesson from this experience wasn&#8217;t about new technical skills but about efficiency. Working within the jam&#8217;s time constraints forced me to develop much faster, addressing one of my biggest weaknesses.</p>



<p>This game represented my best work so far, earning a personal rating of 9 out of 10.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="lessons-from-a-year-of-game-development">Lessons From A Year of Game Development</h2>



<p>Looking back on nearly a year of learning game development, several patterns emerge:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="1-persistence-matters-more-than-initial-skill">1. Persistence Matters More Than Initial Skill</h3>



<p>My journey began with two false starts. If I had given up permanently after those failures, I would never have experienced the satisfaction of completing multiple games.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-purpose-drives-completion">2. Purpose Drives Completion</h3>



<p>The games I finished had clear purposes beyond just &#8220;making a game&#8221;:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Creating content for YouTube</li>



<li>Learning specific techniques</li>



<li>Participating in game jams</li>
</ul>



<p>Having these external motivations helped me push through difficult aspects of development.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-strategic-constraints-are-helpful">3. Strategic Constraints Are Helpful</h3>



<p>When I limited my scope (simple pixel art, focused gameplay mechanics), I was more likely to complete projects. The freedom of &#8220;making anything&#8221; often led to abandoned work.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-technical-skills-build-gradually">4. Technical Skills Build Gradually</h3>



<p>Each project taught me new skills that carried forward:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Basic coding → Enemy behavior → Complex systems</li>



<li>Simple visuals → Better pixel art → 3D modeling</li>



<li>Static environments → Particle effects → Post-processing</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="5-failure-is-educational">5. Failure Is Educational</h3>



<p>My worst game (the voice-controlled disaster) taught me valuable lessons about code organization and game design that improved my later projects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-road-ahead">The Road Ahead</h2>



<p>What&#8217;s next in my development journey? Perhaps a game created entirely in Microsoft Paint, or maybe an ambitious multiplayer project inspired by League of Legends. The specific direction matters less than continuing to build, learn, and improve.</p>



<p>Game development isn&#8217;t just about creating entertainment &#8211; it&#8217;s about solving problems, expressing creativity, and constantly learning new skills. Whether you&#8217;re considering starting this journey yourself or are already on it, remember that every successful developer began as a complete beginner.</p>



<p>The difference between those who succeed and those who don&#8217;t isn&#8217;t talent or resources, but simply the willingness to keep going after the inevitable early failures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



<p>My unexpected journey into game development has taught me that creativity doesn&#8217;t require a lifelong passion or formal training. Sometimes, the most rewarding pursuits begin with random curiosity and develop through consistent effort.</p>



<p>From a black square with a flashlight to a complex 3D world with combat systems, my progression demonstrates how quickly skills can develop when applied regularly. Each game, regardless of quality, contributed valuable experience to my growth as a developer.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re considering game development but feel intimidated by the learning curve, remember my story. Start small, find a purpose that motivates you, and don&#8217;t be discouraged by initial confusion or failures. A year from now, you might be surprised by how far you&#8217;ve come.</p>



<p>And if you&#8217;re already on this journey, keep building, keep learning, and most importantly, keep finishing projects &#8211; even the imperfect ones. That&#8217;s where the real growth happens. ð®</p>



<p></p>

1 Year of Learning Game Development In 6 Minutes
