This article is a summary of video exposing 1 Year of Learning Game Development In 6 Minutes, and which a very interesting resource to see how to learn game design and develpment.
1 Year of Learning Game Development
Key Takeaways:
- Starting game development requires no prior experience – just curiosity and persistence
- Learning through experimentation and tutorials builds foundational skills faster than formal education
- Setting clear goals and purposes (like creating content for YouTube) significantly increases project completion rates
- Game optimization, asset creation, and code organization are critical skills that develop over time
- Each completed project, regardless of quality, contributes valuable experience to your development journey
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.
The First Steps: Confusion and Copy-Pasting
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 – I headed straight to Brackeys’ YouTube channel and started copy-pasting code.
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:
“This sucks. I’m just rewriting other people’s code, and there are far too many things I’d need to learn if I wanted to make real games. None of this makes sense to me.”
So I quit. The first attempt lasted barely a few days.
The False Start: A Multiplayer Among Us Clone
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.
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.
I focused on creating game assets while my friend handled the code. We managed to build a system where players could:
- Join a lobby
- Get assigned as either a cute animal or a killer
- Hide in bushes and other objects
- Perform basic animations
But our enthusiasm quickly faded. After the first day, we weren’t very invested in the project. Progress slowed, then stopped entirely. Game development attempt number two: abandoned.
The YouTube Catalyst: Finding Purpose in Creation
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?
The answer came easily: making video games.
This decision changed everything. Having a concrete purpose – creating content for my channel – 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.
“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.”
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!
Strategic Choices for Success
Knowing my tendency to abandon projects when they became too difficult, I made two strategic decisions:
- I chose pixel art with a simple color palette to reduce the artwork burden
- I committed to finishing the game specifically to make a YouTube video about it
These choices proved crucial. The finished game featured:
- Wave-based enemy spawning
- Different enemy types with unique animations and attacks
- Responsive player controls
As my first completed game, I’d rate it 6 out of 10 – not amazing, but a significant accomplishment for a beginner.
Experimentation and Failure: The Voice-Controlled Disaster
With newfound confidence, I decided to push myself further. My second game would be more ambitious and unique – a voice-controlled adventure.
This turned out to be my worst creation to date. Everything about it was problematic:
- The level design was tedious (I painted the entire environment using Unity’s tile palette)
- The story was poorly conceived and insensitive
- The gameplay wasn’t fun or truly innovative
- My code was a complete mess
I had fallen into the singleton pattern trap, using it everywhere because it seemed convenient to access anything from anywhere in my code. As I later learned, this creates maintenance nightmares.
My pixel art had improved though, with the game featuring actual colors rather than the limited palette of my first project. Still, I’d rate this game only 1.5 out of 10 – a necessary failure in my learning journey.
Mobile Development: New Platforms, New Challenges
After two PC games, I decided to try mobile development. After several failed prototypes, I settled on creating a tower-building platformer.
Rather than focusing on extensive features or excitement, I approached this project as a learning opportunity. I wanted to understand:
- How inputs work across different platforms
- Implementation of achievements
- Monetization through ads
The development process introduced me to particle systems, which surprised me with their versatility. I could create impressive visual effects with relatively little effort.
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.
As my first mobile game, I’d give it a 3 out of 10. Not great, but certainly progress.
Entering the Third Dimension: A Nostalgic Inspiration
All my previous games had been 2D, but I was ready for a new challenge. Inspired by childhood memories of playing Swords and Sandals, I decided to create something similar in 3D.
This project pushed me into entirely new territory:
Learning 3D Modeling with Blender
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.
Materials, Textures, and Shaders
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.
World Building Mistakes
When creating the game world, I made a rookie mistake – I didn’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.
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’t necessarily implement all I learned.
Advanced Animations and Effects
During this project, I explored:
- Inverse kinematics (IK) – creating a system where NPCs would look at the player when approached
- Ground adaptation – ensuring characters could stand firmly on uneven terrain
- Improved particle systems and visual effects
- Post-processing effects, especially bloom lighting
The finished game included a shop system, equipment customization, engaging combat mechanics, and a boss battle. As my first 3D project, I’d rate it 7 out of 10 – a substantial improvement over my previous works.
Game Jam Challenge: Non-Euclidean Puzzles
My most recent project was created for Brackeys’ Game Jam, a short-term development competition. I built a puzzle game featuring non-Euclidean geometry (spaces that seem impossible in our normal three-dimensional world).
The primary lesson from this experience wasn’t about new technical skills but about efficiency. Working within the jam’s time constraints forced me to develop much faster, addressing one of my biggest weaknesses.
This game represented my best work so far, earning a personal rating of 9 out of 10.
Lessons From A Year of Game Development
Looking back on nearly a year of learning game development, several patterns emerge:
1. Persistence Matters More Than Initial Skill
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.
2. Purpose Drives Completion
The games I finished had clear purposes beyond just “making a game”:
- Creating content for YouTube
- Learning specific techniques
- Participating in game jams
Having these external motivations helped me push through difficult aspects of development.
3. Strategic Constraints Are Helpful
When I limited my scope (simple pixel art, focused gameplay mechanics), I was more likely to complete projects. The freedom of “making anything” often led to abandoned work.
4. Technical Skills Build Gradually
Each project taught me new skills that carried forward:
- Basic coding → Enemy behavior → Complex systems
- Simple visuals → Better pixel art → 3D modeling
- Static environments → Particle effects → Post-processing
5. Failure Is Educational
My worst game (the voice-controlled disaster) taught me valuable lessons about code organization and game design that improved my later projects.
The Road Ahead
What’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.
Game development isn’t just about creating entertainment – it’s about solving problems, expressing creativity, and constantly learning new skills. Whether you’re considering starting this journey yourself or are already on it, remember that every successful developer began as a complete beginner.
The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t talent or resources, but simply the willingness to keep going after the inevitable early failures.
Conclusion
My unexpected journey into game development has taught me that creativity doesn’t require a lifelong passion or formal training. Sometimes, the most rewarding pursuits begin with random curiosity and develop through consistent effort.
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.
If you’re considering game development but feel intimidated by the learning curve, remember my story. Start small, find a purpose that motivates you, and don’t be discouraged by initial confusion or failures. A year from now, you might be surprised by how far you’ve come.
And if you’re already on this journey, keep building, keep learning, and most importantly, keep finishing projects – even the imperfect ones. That’s where the real growth happens. 🎮
