how do i get an idea for a video game

However, some tips on how to get your game idea made include:

• 1. Find a game developer who is willing to work with you to bring your game idea to life.
• 2. Create a prototype of your game idea and pitch it to game developers.
• 3. Use crowdfunding platforms to raise funds to develop your game idea.
• 4. Apply for game development grants or other funding opportunities.

Full Answer

How do I make my game idea into a good game?

Change anything and continue searching for things that really nicely fit together and make your game idea tick. Enhance or reduce a chosen element of your initial idea. Play with a scale. Let’s say, you’ve chosen a setting for your game. Manipulate the elements of this setting in a way similar to the method #5 described above.

How do I get Started in the gaming industry?

This is your introduction to people in the gaming industry and it is the first thing you can give them so they get a grasp of your idea (of course you would get an NDA first!) Start your research into the game industry. Hang around forums where developers and game makers chat and start learning about what it takes to make a game.

How do I start making a video game?

Start from a single detail, an object, then explore it and develop it. Look around. Find a first detail that catches your interest. This could be an inanimate object but just as well an animal or even a person. Now fix on this detail and try to build your idea for a game around it.

Can you make video games from existing games?

Existing games can give awesome ideas for video games you are planning to make. Of course, you cannot copy them outright. But using them for inspiration is a perfectly viable option! This last one is straightforward and action-oriented.

How do I get my video game idea made?

Now, if you do want to get your idea made into a game, there are a few things you can do:Inquire with the company first. Ask them if they want to hear your idea and offer to sign an NDA (nondisclosure agreement). ... Get a job at a game company. ... Get a team together and make the game yourself.

Who creates ideas for video games?

game programmersThe programming of the game is handled by one or more game programmers. They develop prototypes to test ideas, many of which may never make it into the final game. The programmers incorporate new features demanded by the game design and fix any bugs introduced during the development process.

Can you copyright an idea for a game?

Copyright does not protect the idea for game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it. Nor does copyright protect any idea, system, method, device, or trademark material involved in developing, merchandising, or playing a game.

What should I do if I have an idea for a game?

Begin by writing a “design document”. Put everything you want into it, explain the game in detail. Then, post it online to see what others think. Note: don't worry about people stealing your idea.

How much money does a video game concept artist make?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $134,000 and as low as $18,500, the majority of Video Game Concept Artist salaries currently range between $43,500 (25th percentile) to $89,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $126,500 annually across the United States.

Can one person make a video game?

Can one person make a video game? The simple answer to this question is: yes! As this article shows, many high-quality games have been created by just one person.

How much does it cost to patent a game?

Design patent attorneys typically charge between $1,500 to $3,500 to prepare and file a design patent application, so it's much cheaper than a utility patent, which requires significantly more work.

How much does it cost to patent a video game?

Once a utility patent is filed, it can sometimes take between 1 and 2 years before the first office action is issued....Utility patent application.ActionEstimated CostPreparation and filing (including filing fees)$8,000–$12,000Office Action Responses$2,000–$3,5001 more row

How much does a video game patent cost?

A relatively simple invention, such as a board game or umbrella, will cost between $7,000 and $8,500. A minimally complex invention, such as a power hand tool or camera, will cost between $8,500 and $10,000.

Can you pitch a video game idea?

If you have been working on a game idea with a lot of potential, you may want to consider creating a pitch to sell your project. Pitching gives you an opportunity to sell the vision of your game to potential investors, team members, studios, and game journalists.

How do you come up with a game name?

10 Tips to Making a GREAT Game Name1) Short, but Not Too Short. People don't want to read a sentence. ... 2) Make It Optimized for Searching. ... 3) Avoid Filler Words. ... 4) Watch for the Duplicate. ... 5) Use Awesome Words That You Know How to Use. ... 6) Can You Spell It? ... 7) Make Your Own Word. ... 8) Make It Related to Your Game.More items...•

How do you make a game popular?

Make your game social and sales will roll in quickly. People like social experiences and games do need to have a social aspects to be truly successful. Bring in rewards that people can show off or at least make sure that you provide your players with a way to show their friends the progress they make within the game.

Where do game designers get their ideas from?

Game designers are influenced by personal interests and hobbies. For example, for the first game I made professional, Space II, I took concepts I learned about shamanism in an anthropology class, and turned it into a space colonization game in which the player's goal was to acquire converts to a new religion.

What do you call people who creates games?

Game developer: One who turns a game design into a playable game through coding and in-engine asset creation. NOTE: The terms “game designer” and “game developer” are often used interchangeably, though the two roles technically vary.

What are people who make video games called?

While video game designers are involved in all the creative aspects of making a game, game developers or programmers are responsible for the actual coding and technical aspects of putting a game together.

What do you call someone who gives ideas?

Ideator. A person who creates productive ideas, a conceptualist. One who ideates; one who holds or generates an idea, or synthesizes a concept.

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How to write down every idea in your head?

Tune everything out and close everything down. Now take 15 minutes and write down every single idea that pops into your head. Don’t censor it at all. If you think it, write it. Don’t judge it. Don’t consider it. Just put it down on paper.

What to do if genre exercise isn't enough?

If you tried the genre exercise and it wasn’t enough, this option will take the exercise to the next level. Instead of just picking a game genre, pick a niche too.

Can you copy existing games?

Existing games can give awesome ideas for video games you are planning to make. Of course, you cannot copy them outright. But using them for inspiration is a perfectly viable option!

How to communicate effectively with video game publishers?

Instead of doing presentations on book reports, you’re going to have to communicate effectively with video game publishers through public speaking. This means you need to have good eye contact, be expressive without being over the top, and confidently express your ideas.

Why is it important to have a video game publisher?

While people can develop and publish their own games, especially in the age of Steam, having the aid of a video game publisher is crucial to the success of many games.

What games have great pitches?

Some of our favorite games like Diablo, Grand Theft Auto, and Silent Hill all had great pitches and have become cornerstones of gaming. Video game pitches are much like movie or TV pitches, except with software and design teams.

What is a pitch for a game?

A pitch is a simple yet alluring business presentation in which an individual approaches producers and investors for potential funding for that project. It’s your way of selling the very idea of your game to video game producers. Ideally, a pitch is short in length but packs enough of a punch to attract investors and executives into wanting ...

What are the most famous video game publishers?

Some of the most famous and highest-earning video game publishers in history are Tencent Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft, Apple, and Activision Blizzard. So, what does a game publisher do? Video game publishers are publishing companies that release games.

What does a game designer do?

They will often deal with licensing issues, advertisement campaigns, art design for products, and even work out the proper localization, i.e., translating a game into a different language or language.

Can a video game publisher advertise your game differently than intended?

A possible downside to this is that the video game publisher may either advertise your game differently than intended or designs the box art differently. I think it’s a small price to pay for having full funding and assistance when building your dream game.

What is a color in a game?

Just like the object, a person or a mood could make a theme for your game, a color is just a detail that may spark your imagination.

Is a great idea enough to guarantee the success of your game?

Conversely, a great idea may be enough to guarantee the success of your game, even if the visuals are not top-notch.

Can you use the game inspiration list in any order?

You may use those methods in any order you like, one of them, some of them or all of them if need be. There’s no wrong way of using this list, as long as it helps you find an inspiration for your next game.

Can kids change the rules of a game?

And kids have no problem at all with changing any or all the elements of they play, imagining new gameplay “rules” on the spot. Their imagination has no limits but at the same time, kids are rather merciless judges when it comes to testing a *game* being played.

How to get copyrights for a product?

The best method- make a prototype and own the copyrights. Attach a notice that it is saleable though ( or anything they call in technical terms ) and your contact number or e-mail address as well. They will contact you if they are interested.

Can you sue someone for their idea?

You see, it is a legal issue. If they come up with something even remotely like your idea, you could sue them.

Can AAA take up your idea?

No one, not a single AAA studio will take up your idea. They wouldn't even let you in their office (they are often secretive), forget listening to you. On the other hand, the best thing you can attempt to do with your idea is to learn game development and then make it yourself or with an indie team.

Can you make a game out of parkouring on top of trucks?

However, if the execution is bad, it will be terrible, however good the idea may be. For that reason, you can’t submit ideas for video games, nobody cares . 397 views.

Is the video game industry awash in great game ideas?

Even if your great game idea really is different and world-changing (which it probably isn’t), no one wants it. The video game industry is not at a loss for great game ideas.

Can you send a video game idea to a publisher?

You cannot. Game development studios and publishers destroy or return un-opened any unsolicited pitches sent to them, and keep very thorough records of having done so. Your sending a video game idea to them is a legal liability in addition to being just plain unnecessary. Whatever team you’re thinking about sending it to, you can be sure that the lot of them already have more ideas than they can ever make in a lifetime and that they’re way more interested in their own stuff than they are in anything that a stranger mails to them.

How to get your idea into a game?

A group of people have to believe in the idea and have to do the work to take it from idea to reality, and generally you have to rely on yourself. If you believe in your idea you need to be the person that will spearhead the work and get it from idea to reality. If you can do this, and if your game is unique and different the rewards can be astonishing.

How to get your game made?

There are three possible ways to get a game made from your idea: 1 Get in touch with a heavy hitter in the game making industry and convince him or her that your game is worthwhile. He or she will then set the wheels in motion for your idea to be bought and developed. (This is highly unlikely although it has happened on rare occasions) Companies will occasionally buy video game ideas and keep them for future potential projects. 2 Get in touch with independent developers with game design skills and get them to come on board with your idea. You have the ability to allow them to patch together their time in developing your game. Gamedev.net is a good place to network and find people for this endeavor. 3 Spearhead the development yourself. Learn some basic game making skills and put together a group of people willing to spend time (and money) on your game. You become the evangelist for the game and the Project Manager. (This is the best option if you want to succeed and it answers the question of who is going to do all the work - You!)

How long does it take to make a video game?

Developing a video game takes a lot of work. A typical game for today's mass market takes a team of people two years and thousands of hours of work to create. There is a tremendous amount of work involved and much of this work is very creative which can be expensive.

Can you copyright an idea?

Ideas cannot be copyrighted! It sounds funny but it's true. You can research this by checking on the official government copyright website. So, just having an idea means you have very little. If you draw pictures of your game and hopefully develop your idea into a game you can get copyright for those things.

How to make a game?

How to Create a Game. Creating a game can be a complex process. The concept of the idea is just the beginning and almost certainly the easiest part. There are no guarantees, but if things go in your favor, you will be able to create, market, and sell a popular game and your hard work will pay off. Properly protecting your idea is critical ...

How Can a Person Obtain a Patent for a Game Idea?

Patents are normally obtained by filling out an application with proper claims and drawings. You file the application and then wait to see if you are asked to respond to amendments. Patents can be expensive and often involve additional fees. You must consider various expenses before you invest in a patent. It's usually in your best interest to hire an agent who has experience in patent video game ideas. The process takes time and knowledge, and with an experienced agent, you are much more likely to be successful.

Do you need a patent for a video game?

Basically, a patent is designed to protect your idea/invention from being copied. During development, a patent ensures no one can take your idea and use it as their own.

Is it important to patent a video game idea?

Unfortunately, being the first to have an idea about a video game isn't enough to lay stake to it: it takes a lot of work and effort to turn the idea to into a real game. You need to do a lot of market research to validate your idea has potential profit, and it is critically important that you protect your idea by way of a patent.

Do video game patents exist?

Patents on the concepts of new games do provide a variety of legal protection, but as technology's fundamentals change, patent laws evolve. Creators are now capable of patenting a variety of video game components , such as the methods and processes performed by a game.

Is it expensive to patent a game?

Patents can be expensive and often involve additional fees. You must consider various expenses before you invest in a patent. It's usually in your best interest to hire an agent who has experience in patent video game ideas.

Is a game patentable?

Inventions often build upon the work of others, but if one fresh idea that sets the game apart from others is added, it is very likely a patentable concept. In determining if there is an infringement, courts will look at the whole work and design of a game and then take it apart element by element.

What is a game idea generator?

Game Idea Generator allows you to get a random prompt to help spark new game ideas for video games (maybe even board games) or challenge yourself in some way.#N#It has over a million different combinations, so you are sure to come up with something unique. You may use just a few of the generated prompts, for example, ignoring the Theme.

What happens when you click generate?

When you click generate you get a new random genre, rule, setting, and a theme to help trigger new game ideas. – You will get one or two game genres at a time. You can ignore the second one, but a mashup of genres can be really interesting.