At this point in time, I’m still pretty new in my own game development journey. Truthfully, I’m not sure what the best course of action to take is. What do I do or learn next? So I’ve been doing a bit of research into what other developers have done. And in that research I came across this YouTube video: 7 Steps to Become a Game Developer in 2021 posted over at the Code Monkey channel (who I follow and definitely recommend subscribing to).
This video breaks down the first year of game development into 7 parts. And it focuses less on the skills or engine you might need to learn and instead focuses on a timeline. (Although it indirectly addresses the issue of which engine.)
7 Steps to Become a Game Developer
- Spend 1-2 months making small weekly games
- Watch basic and intermediate tutorial videos on Unity and C#
- Complete a simple game
- Read the book Clean Code and research clean code principles
- Make a 3 month game and publish to Steam/AppStore
- Read and study Code Complete
- Make and publish a complete 6 month game
And while it’s listed as separate steps, these are done in pairs. 1 and 2 can be done together. 3 and 4. 5 and 6.
Full disclaimer: I have read neither of the books recommended. But I plan to pick up both within the next month. You can pick them up using the links above. These are both affiliate links. By clicking the link and purchasing the item, I receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you.
Rough timeline:
- 2 months completing tutorials
- Focus on learning the game engine and gain experience
- 1 month making your first game
- Focus on how to scope your game and create a finished product
- 3 months making 2nd game
- Focus is on getting your game available for players and marketing
- 6 months building a complete game
Final Thoughts on Steps to Become a Game Developer
This video was actually really good for me. I wasn’t really sure how when I should make the transition from tutorials to starting my own game. And while I’m still not quite sure what skills will be most relevant, I at least have a general idea of what I should be doing and when.
Again, if you aren’t already a subscriber, I highly recommend subscribing to the Code Monkey channel. There are a ton of great videos on Unity, C#, and game development in general. Definitely go check it out.
If you have another great resource for beginning game developers, I’d love to hear about it. Let us know about in the comments below.