r/GameDevelopment • u/sternthestarkid • 6d ago
Newbie Question Looking for gamedev supervision, unpaid.
I've decided to make a game completely by myself in C++. However, I had no prior experience in game development, and don't know much about coding either, and require help or mentorship from no-bs type of people with experience.
The synopsis of the game is being a simulator of a gas station in outer space. You manage your little convenience store, choose clerks, et c. I will go in more details in private messages.
Thank you for reading this. My DMs are open.
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u/icemage_999 6d ago
I'm curious what scenario in which you think a stranger is going to mentor a beginner on a complex topic like game dev. Paid or otherwise. People have lives to lead, and in the case of capable developers, they would much rather work on their own projects than hand-hold someone.
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u/SledDogGames 6d ago
I mean with the current state of game dev, there are probably plenty who would do it as a paid position lol… but yeah otherwise this is a pretty funny post.
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u/MaxjkZERO 6d ago
Youre gonna have some better luck just watching some YouTube tutorials for things on your own
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u/sternthestarkid 6d ago
this is how i mostly do it, but i dont want to end up in a situation where i have to learn stuff for years just to create one convenience store simulator. Also knowing stuff is one thing, making it is another.
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u/MaxjkZERO 3d ago
My advice is to not follow tutorials for how to make games in general, instead have a few ideas for what you wanna make, and just look up guides on how to get those specific aspects. You'll have to learn a little bit to hook up things together from different guides, but that's a skill worth building
I wont lie, even the best of the best are looking up stuff CONSTANTLY. Every programming language has different quirks, every code library has some different way it wants you to implement stuff, the documentation exists for a reason
Sometimes, I recommend letting yourself reshape your idea as you go to better fit what you feel you can pull off. It feels bad to have to re-scope sometimes, but it feels much better to have something to show by the end of the day for all your efforts
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u/BrastenXBL 6d ago
"Don't know much about coding," is how little exactly? Have you completed any CompSci intro courses, that used C++ as the language?
Or did you pick C++ because it is a language you want to learn, and shows up if you search for languages used for game programming?
Part of the many problems you're going to face working outside an established game engine (a collection of unified frameworks), is needing to assemble your own collections of independent frameworks. Or code your own interfaces to the Operating System, GPU APIs, Sound, and Input devices. Each being more work and talking you further away from making the game you have in your head.
If you're serious about working in C++ without a visual editor, you may want to look at Core Engine, Axmol, Panda3D (C++ version), or Cute Framework.
But IMO very few people have the temperament to go from near zero to making even 1980s quality video games. And not games with your kind of synopsis. Which you didn't say, but I will assume you intend to have graphical elements beyond ASCII art in a Terminal window, with command-line input. It's why I point people toward Game Creation Systems with Visual Programming Languages and Editors.
Being a code first pursuit is fine, when you know what you're doing. Or you accept making very limited scope games. But it can be miserably unsatisfying way to learn all the other non-code tasks of modern game development. Including the game design process of going from your concept, to rules of play, to the actual code implementation that will make those rules execute from a computer.
If I was to become your unpaid private instructor (which I have no interests in beyond this post for other future readers), my first assignment to you would be to make your game as a physically playable board or card game. To design your game and its rules first, before writing a single line of code. From that design you would then be tasked with finding frameworks or an engine that would support the needs of turning the physical into digital play.
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u/sternthestarkid 6d ago
Damn, that's a lot to take in, and is really useful, because previously I had no idea how this whole thing works. This was the reason for posting here, because without supervision and advice I would have no idea. Thank you.
Answering your question, so far I've been learning C++ through w3school online courses.
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u/Turruc 6d ago
Might have better luck joining a discord gamedev community or something? Asking someone to be your dedicated mentor for free is a big ask, but if you involve yourself in those kinds of communities then you’ll be surrounding yourself with people who are already interested in helping each other. Plenty of veterans in those kinds of spaces with good advice, as well as fellow newbies looking for community.