Start with paper and pencil, "Umbra" is a great sci-fi pen and paper single or 2 player drawing game that introduces mechanics and is creative. Then move onto complex dice table tops or jump straight to Pygame! Pygame is great, I use it to make non-game python interfaces too.
Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
201–210 of 391 posts
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#202Hey! Been there exactly. It’s an opportunity for you to catch if you can. I suggest firstly to explain him things as they are that it will take a long time, will require to learn a lot of new things and a lot of work. If he takes on this then you will be partners in this venture and will study together how to build his game. Next regarding 3d I suggest you together with him to check the few development environments t…
Also, it must be his game. And you are helping him build his game..
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#203Options I see:
1. Games with highly modifiable level building tools: Game Maker's Garage, Mario Maker, LittleBigPlanet and (a big step up) Dreams 2. actually playing some indie games with them to try and give them an idea of what's remotely feasible 3. if the latter gets them interested in 2D possibilities focusing on pixel art and having you piece the bits together 4. if they're still interested start looking at some game making tools; they might want to just focus on pixel art or music or who knows what at that point instead too?
Really the hardest bit I see is shifting their thinking on what a game is; atm it's probably ramming in every idea they have when it needs to be focusing on one idea and refining the hell out of it.
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#204Understand that you're not going to finish what you start. Do things that are fun. Keep a notebook of ideas. Talk about plans and what you want do. Spend time with him. Even if almost none if it ever makes it into code, the imagination part will be going wild. Look at what he's really doing. He doesn't want to CODE. He wants to make a game. Like every kid. Emphasize the creative part just like he wants. Do things on…
kids need to spend fun time doing creative stuff with their family members for their healthy development. They are somehow aware of it and they ask for it.
Moving their hands for precise ability and their whole bodies, or sitting down to draw or read, might be more urgent than sitting in front of a computer, though
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#2051. Avoid 3D at all costs
2. Keep it simple
3. Start with the funniest and smallest things to do and increment. Like making the character being able to move around or being able to attack with a sword than different weapons, etc…
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#206I would say begin with 2D and code it in Java from scratch with Graphics2D.
This way you focus on the ideas and build something usable at the same time.
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#207Godot or Gamemaker are probably your best choices. GDScript is much easier than C# and gamemaker even has the drag and drop system to be even easier. Or bring out the ol good rpgmaker
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#208Don't worry too much about 3D (though Godot will make it easy enough to switch from 2D to 3D and even combine both) but focus on fun instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy0aCDmgnxg
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#209Understand that you're not going to finish what you start. Do things that are fun. Keep a notebook of ideas. Talk about plans and what you want do. Spend time with him. Even if almost none if it ever makes it into code, the imagination part will be going wild. Look at what he's really doing. He doesn't want to CODE. He wants to make a game. Like every kid. Emphasize the creative part just like he wants. Do things on…
This comment is so incredibly important.
We made a game within Minecraft, a story and a treasure map and a treasure.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
10years later my son showed me his multiplayer, 3d unity game he made for fun. I was blown away!
Re: Ask HN: 9-yo son wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
#210GameMaker is how I started as a kid. I know it's drastically different from 15+ years ago but at the time I installed it on a PC at the day camp I volunteered at and all the kids there were making silly little games all the time with it.
I make game engines from scratch for fun now, if that makes a difference. It all started with GameMaker.
The second is Scratch, but IMO GameMaker is just as accessible and is closed to a Real game engine than scratch is.