Creating video games has never been easier. The number of video games published on major digital distribution platforms like Steam is increasing every year and so is the number of distribution platforms. However, the number of video games that actually make a profit is very low and the number of independent video game projects that were never finished or abandoned is astonishing. In this book, I want to guide you through the process of creating a video game project from an idea to the final product.



First, the book teaches you how to transform your game idea to a Game Design that serves as the foundation for your project. I will talk about the different aspects you have to keep in mind like target audience, Unique Selling Points, emotions, monetization or target platforms. Then, the pre-production and production of a game are explained with topics like team building, game engine selecion and a guide to found a company. I will explain how to market your game project even with a small budget, how you form a community and great ways to test your game. After talking briefly about the Release and Post-Release phases, I use my own video game projects as examples for each chapter.



The concluding chapter contains short interviews with ten developers from successful games like Parkitect, Academia: School Simulator or Queen's Wish.