   Ok, so where do I start?
  "Easy" question - where do I start if I want to be a good game designer in the future? Here are things I already did or plan to do, plus additional info ; - Wrote (and still do) articles about videogames for websites (reviews, news, etc.) and paper press- Played (and still do) many games of all genres, including classics, hidden gems and less good productions- Asked game designers about their job (email contact)- Red (and still do) about game design in magazines (ex: Game Career Guide from GD)- Subscribed to a Game Design one-year formation (1215 hours) in Quebec City / not sure to be selected since there are a lot of candidates (hopefully I will be!)***I need suggestions ; books (english, french, german which I'm learning right now), skills, anything. I'll be really thankful of your comments. Oh, and other details ;- I'm 21 years old- Last time I programmed was in Visual Basic roughly 5 years ago (left+5 aha)- I'm now studying in University (litterature) for a certificate, and I have my diploma for college   
  I'm not an expert but I would suggest you try your hand at designing some games. The best way to get good at something is by practicing it.   ;Quote:Original post by bdoskocilI'm not an expert but I would suggest you try your hand at designing some games. The best way to get good at something is by practicing it.Well said, the more time you spend developing computer games the better you're going to get. If you're interested in the programming side of this it would be a good idea to learn C++.   ;  Your best bet would be to take a moddable game and make some levels for it and try to script some complex things.  For example, make a Half-Life 2 physics-based Rube Goldberg machine.Or make things like this.  (The 8th video on that page is probably the most impressive one).Learn a little bit about a 3D modelling tool.  "XSI Mod Tool" is a free one that you can mess around with to try to learn how they work.   ;  It depends. Do you want to get a job as a game designer? If so, just forget it. No one will hire you as one (sorry to be blunt).Now, with that out of the way, I can think of two things that might lead to designing games as a part of a job:1. Learn some primary skill that game companies really need. This can be programming, project management, marketing etc. When you get hired, you probably get plenty of opportunities to take part in game design.2. Start your own indie company/join indie game company. Same as above, but in much smaller scale. You probably need wider range of skills for this, but need not be so good/experienced at them. You'll also need another job (most likely).You could also try the artistic side and level design, but if you don't have talent for art, you probably won't get a job that way.Now, if you want to desing games as a hobby, just do it. You will need to learn programming and some art, so you can actually implement your designs. I wouldn't worry about 3d modelling or modding games, since they will teach you little of actual game design and mechanics. Start small. Get your friends involved. Have fun.Since you haven't done much programming, I would suggest that you start out with c# or java. They are much easier to learn than c++ and you can focus on things that matter. (If you do want have that job in a big game company lean (also) c++)Some reading from the net:http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/peabody/game-book/Coverpage.html   ;Quote:Original post by KudgelI need suggestions ; books (english, french, german which I'm learning right now), skills, anything. I'll be really thankful of your comments. Oh, and other details ;- I'm now studying in University (litterature) for a certificate, and I have my diploma for collegeWith your certifications I view you as a candidate on a localization work. At least you are somehow likely to do it with correct grammar and more importantly with correct translation of all jokes.The problem is companies sometimes outsource localization. So there is no guarantee you'd be at right position to get into game design. (Also companies would be foolish to hire unknown person on a position like game design, thought it happens sometimes.)Don't forget to learn mythology, create few designs and prototypes. If you'd have spare time to participate on a design of some freeware/open source games even better. Some of these have horrible design. The problem is freeware games often need a designer that is able to do some programming as well (under methodology if you designed it, program it.).;  Are you trying to be a good game designer (talented) or a successful game designer (one who gets paid lots of money to do it)?   ;Quote:Original post by LimdallionAre you trying to be a good game designer (talented) or a successful game designer (one who gets paid lots of money to do it)?Is this a question to trap me? I always think that you should apply this formula to anything : integrity > profits. I'm more on the artist side of things than the commercial one. Maybe the reason I'm also writing poesy =) I actually even go as far as being part of a little group and we recite our poems in front of crowds for events, so I can practice my speeking/pronounciation skills, even if in french. Money for me isn't a goal, nor a priority. Hell, if I could, I'd do it without a paycheck. But, like any other human, I must eat, wash, buy clothes, etc. To me, games like ICO and Rez have far more impact in the videogaming industry than sequel XYZ to a well-known franchise. I don't want to design game with the hope of driving back home with my Porshe while wearing an expansive toxedo. What I want is to help this medium evolve any way I can.   ;Quote:Original post by KudgelMoney for me isn't a goal, nor a priority. Hell, if I could, I'd do it without a paycheck. But, like any other human, I must eat, wash, buy clothes, etc. To me, games like ICO and Rez have far more impact in the videogaming industry than sequel XYZ to a well-known franchise. I don't want to design game with the hope of driving back home with my Porshe while wearing an expansive toxedo. What I want is to help this medium evolve any way I can.I like your philosophy. If everyone could adopt this rational, our world would be glorious.I think your second entry is the most important thing you can do to become a good designer. Play games. Study them as you play them. Make mental notes about things that don't work for you - as the player, and about things that really lift the experience up. Also do the same with your friends. Pay close attention to those same aspects from their perspective.It's also easy to make mistakes when trying to sum things up as feature=good and feature=bad. Such as mistaking a feature as good when it is actually some side effect caused by that feature that is good.Ultimately, I think those with high empathy and deep understanding of the human mind - most importantly, their own mind - make the best game designers. The trick is not to understand games, but to understand how you react to them.   ;  Why so much pessimism on getting a job as a game designer? I'm a game designer, so I can say it is indeed possible!Some of the big things you need to do (and prove) to a company is your ability to write coherently and concisely. A designer needs to understand how games are made and be able to effectively communicate the design to the rest of the team. Designers have to be very strong communicators and will need to interact with publishers as well to make sure that what they want is being taken care of. You need to show experience with working on games and working in teams.Another big thing is that you need to take a lot of time to make sure you have a decent resume and cover letter (or CV) and apply! There are more designer positions than a lot of people think, but so few people take the necessary steps to actually get into those jobs.   