After launching my new website and finalizing my learning plan, I’m thrilled to share my roadmap for becoming a modern-day “Edward Scissorhands” of the gaming industry—a developer with all the essential tools and skills to craft incredible games.
While many experienced game developers advise focusing on mastering one core skill before creating a game, my path is a bit different. As a full-time Project Manager at a large corporation, I have the advantage of being able to invest in premium game development courses.
My ultimate dream? To have the versatility to create games reminiscent of Firewatch, Half-Life, Max Payne, or Bioshock. These games captured the essence of storytelling, immersive worlds, and unforgettable gameplay.
A Multi-Skill Approach to Game Development
My plan is ambitious but essential: to master key skills across programming, concept art, 3D modeling, game design, and eventually, music creation. Here’s my core focus:
- Programming with C# and Unity: Building the technical backbone of my games.
- Concept Art: Designing characters and environments that bring stories to life.
- 3D Modeling: Crafting realistic and stylized assets for immersive worlds.
- Game Design: Developing engaging mechanics and narratives.
- Music Creation (future goal): Composing the perfect soundtracks to match gameplay.
Why Kevin Oxland’s Course Is My Starting Point
I’ve chosen Kevin Oxland’s Learn the ART of Video Games on Udemy as my core course to follow. While the course is older, it includes all the essential elements for prototyping a level in Unity. What I like most is that it starts with a planning session—right after receiving a Game Design Document, you begin analyzing it and understanding the assets, visuals, and overall structure needed for the project.
Although the course uses older tools like 3D Max for modeling, I’ll be replacing these sections with premium, modern classes I’ve enrolled in. The real challenge lies in adapting to Unity, as the instructor uses versions from 2018-2019. However, I’m confident I can bridge this gap with additional resources to ensure I’m working with the latest techniques and workflows.
My Pre-Production Workflow
The diagram (above) shows how I’ve structured my learning journey. Each stage aligns with game development’s production cycle, ensuring I tackle every skill systematically. For example:
- Pre-production includes game design and initial planning.
- As I advance, I’ll swap older tools like 3D Max with modern alternatives from my course lineup, ensuring I stay relevant.
- The end goal? To create an incredible 3D scene in Unity as a milestone project.
A Long Road Ahead, But Full of Promise
This journey won’t be easy or quick, but I’m excited to take each step. My goal isn’t just to create games but to master the craft and, who knows, maybe one day collaborate with other talented developers.
I’ll be documenting my progress here on my blog, sharing lessons learned, challenges faced, and victories achieved along the way.