1. Game Design and Theory
Game Genre and Gameplay
Decide on the type of game you want to make (e.g., action, adventure, strategy, etc.).
Study the gameplay mechanics of successful games of the same genre and understand why they appeal to players.
The story and world view of the game
Build the game's backstory and worldview to provide players with an immersive experience.
Design character backgrounds, character development, and relationships between characters.
Game balance and difficulty design
Design your game's levels to make sure the difficulty progresses to a reasonable level.
Balance the relationship between different elements of the game, such as character abilities, item effects, etc.
Player Experience (UX) design
Designed to be intuitive and ergonomic for game controls.
Consider the player's emotional response and design game events that can arouse the player's interest, tension, sense of achievement, etc.
2. Game Engines and Programming
Select the game engine
Choose the right game engine (such as Unity, Unreal Engine, etc.) based on your game genre and needs.
The basic operations and development workflows of the learning engine.
Game logic programming
Use programming languages such as C and C++ to implement game logic, such as character behavior, combat system, game event triggering, etc.
Master the scripting system provided by game engines for rapid prototyping and iteration.
Optimization and debugging
Use profiling tools to identify and optimize bottlenecks in your game.
Proficiency in debugging techniques such as breakpoints, logging, and memory analysis to quickly locate and fix bugs.
3. Graphics and Audio
3D modeling and texturing
Learn 3D modeling software (e.g. Blender, 3ds Max, etc.) to create game characters, scenes, and props.
Master texture mapping techniques to make the surface of your model look more realistic.
Lighting and rendering
Learn about lighting models (e.g. phong, blinn-phong, etc.) and shadow techniques (e.g. shadow mapping, ray tracing, etc.).
Master the render pipeline and understand materials, shaders, post-processing effects, and more.
Audio Design & Integration
Use audio editing software to create and edit game sound effects and**.
Learn how to integrate audio into your game, including spatialization of sound effects and how they fit into the scene.
4. Network and Multiplayer Games
Fundamentals of Network Programming
Learn TCP IP and UDP protocols and understand their application in games.
Master real-time communication technologies such as WebSocket.
Multiplayer architecture
Design a client-server architecture to ensure the stability and security of your game.
Implement multiplayer features such as player matchmaking, room creation, and state synchronization.
Delay compensation vs. **
Learn how to handle network latency and ensure a smooth player experience.
Implement techniques such as client** and server rollback to reduce the impact of latency.
5. User interface (UI UX) and interaction design
Game interface design
Design an intuitive and beautiful game interface, including the main menu, character interface, inventory, and more.
Master the UI creation tools to achieve the layout and animation of interface elements.
Interaction design
Design how players interact with the game world, such as tapping, dragging, gestures, etc.
Ensure consistency and availability of interactions to improve the player experience.
User experience testing
Conduct UX testing, gather player feedback, and make iterative improvements.
Learn how to analyze user behavior data to optimize interface and interaction design.
6. Testing, release and promotion
Gaming testing
Conduct comprehensive game testing, including functional testing, performance testing, compatibility testing, and more.
Invite external players to test and get broader feedback.
Version control and project management
Use version control tools such as Git to manage ** and resources and ensure traceability of the development process.
Adopt agile development methodologies and use project management tools such as Jira to organize and manage development tasks.
Publish & Promote
Research the requirements and processes of different game publishing platforms, and prepare release materials (such as game introductions, screenshots, etc.).
Develop and execute marketing strategies, including social ** publicity, advertising, cooperative promotion, etc.
The above covers the entire process from game design theory to actual development, testing, and release. Combined with your existing skill base, you'll be able to understand and develop high-quality games more comprehensively by learning and practicing knowledge in these areas in depth.