GML Struggling with trying to come up with something original

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steveyg90

Guest
I guess one of the hardest parts in game development is actually coming up with the design for an original game, something that makes it unique, this is what I struggle with and always find myself copying parts from other games.

How do you guys come up with original ideas or do you think taking inspiration from some games is fine?
 

Niels

Member
Well if you study other "original" succesfull games, you quickly find out that every game is build on the foundations of other games.
So instead of trying to come up with something totally original, you can pick a game that you love to play, and can make yourself, and then see what you can change (setting, gamemechanic, or mix it with a other game) to make it it's own thing.

Another way to look outside gaming for inspiration
 
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steveyg90

Guest
Well if you study other "original" succesfull games, you quickly find out that every game is build on the foundations of other games.
So instead of trying to come up with something totally original, you can pick a game that you love to play, and can make yourself, and then see what you can change (setting, gamemechanic, or mix it with a other game) to make it it's own thing.

Another way to look outside gaming for inspiration
Yeah, I really like to create something similar to Overwhelm, I've now got a great graphics artist to work with me so looking forward to something similar to that with random elements...
 

pixeltroid

Member
How do you guys come up with original ideas or do you think taking inspiration from some games is fine?
Well, to me an "original idea" could be the games story or weapon/enemy/level design or maybe a mechanic. But even those will have to be implemented within the framework of a borrowed concept. For example, if youre making a platform game, its been done before countless times. But you can implement an original idea within the limits of a platform game. Even then there's a good chance that someones already done that idea before.

I just stick to tried and tested things and tweak it a little. Sometimes, an error or a glitch gives me an idea. For example, at one stage of my project, my player would begin to float inside a solid object for some reason. It was a glitch but I liked the effect so much I decided to make it a gameplay mechanic!
 
While we're using food quotes to describe game design:

"I don't think I'm as much of a creator, an inventor, as I am a chef. I mix things together and get new flavors you don't expect."

-Ken Levine

So don't worry so much about coming up with a completely original idea as long as you can combine established ideas in unique and surprising ways.
 
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deem93

Guest
Check out this documentary on how Atari employees were coming up with game mechanics, without prior examples to steal from.

 
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