Here's how you can gain game design experience despite having a non-gaming background.

There are many ways to learn game design. Since it is an endless pit of learning, understanding what role it plays in a game studio is important. Decide on what games will you be working on start playing those games and try to observe every detail of the game; Levels, UX, Game economy, Game mechanics etc. Also, start reading books on game design and design in general. Read books on human psychology. Read articles and blogs from websites that have good market research and deconstruction of popular games. And lastly, start writing what you are learning. Make documentation, articles, etc., and participate in game jams. Start making games. If you can't write code then find someone and work on small projects with them.

1:-Play games across different genres and platforms. 2:-Study game design principles. 3:-Participate in game jams. 4:-Collaborate with others. 5:-Process Documentation 6:-Network in the Industry.

Try new games in genres you normally don’t play and take notes about what catches your eye. Is something really fun to play with? Is there something you wish you could do more with?

Books and YouTube. Books - The Art of Game Design - Challenges for Game Designers - Game Feel YouTube Channels - Game makers tool kit - Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games - Snowman Gaming - Story Mode And of course, PLAY GAMES. Whenever you read the above books or watch any video from the listed YouTube channels, relate every point to perhaps a memorable game, or better, your favorite game. Allow yourself to reflect on the concepts at hand, 1 chapter/video at a time

No worries about a limited gaming history! Learn game design fundamentals online, then experiment with free engines like Unity. Participate in game jams to build a portfolio and gain experience. Analyze games you love and even try designing board games to hone your mechanics skills. Join online game design communities to learn and network. Showcase your passion through projects, and you're well on your way!

- Play lots of games and write down what you like/dislike and why - Now you can start thinking about games - Learn about cognitive psychology to connect dots - Read "A Theory of Fun" and Daniel Cook's blog (among many other resources) to connect even more dots

Gaming is hugely informed by the technology used to experience and build it. Understanding this connection and why certain games use specific mechanics in certain eras is hugely informative. Understanding for example the impact that mobile phone technology has on game design can then help in understanding what would be the next trends in the console and PC market as each informs the other.

I call this the "R&D phase" Play games that you like playing and document what do you like or dislike about the gameplay and what can be improved. After that write down a basic game loop and try prototyping that idea out. Before you even commit to fleshing out that idea, do you as the designer feel that the game is fun to play in that prototype? I remember reading Jesse Schell's The Art of Game Design and one phrase I remember is to listen to your game. If you're not having fun with it or adding still doesn't work, scrap it and try something else.

Every game designer should have a strong passion for games. And we must play a LOT. For excitement and fun? No, not exactly. To get experience and see how it works? Yes, but not only for that. You must deconstruct games you're currently playing: what mechanics where used, how game balanced, what emotions you're experiencing? What's good and bad? Think about how you could've improve game. Deconstruction is one of best ways to create an inner critic and learn how to be unbiased towards your favorite games. And also, YOUR OWN game.

Do a few case studies on games that you fancy (or not) and discuss them with fellow designers (industry veterans preferred). This will allow you to get hands on experience regarding game design. While doing this, always target games from different niche so you can get a better understanding of game design. While combat games a fun to design, card games can be a whole complicated beast in itself. Since, game design includes strategic gameplay building and each niche can have different type of strategic aspects to it, branch out and analyze tons of different niche.

As a modder myself, I can definitely agree with this point! I've created a very successful Battle Brothers mod that taught me a lot not only about designing your own mechanics and subsystems, but also how the game itself was designed and created. Making it was a great learning process and a little window into the Battle Brothers devs' thoughts and designs.

Find games with easy-to-understand mod-making tools: ? Bethesda’s creation kit ? Kenshi FCS tool Learn some extra software: ? Learn Unity and Unreal engines ? Learn how to use a simple and free 3D and animation tool, like Blender ? Learn how to use an image editor like Photoshop/Krita/Gimp

Modding is indeed a playground for creativity and skill-building. ??? As a Unity Game Developer, I’ve found modding to be a gateway to innovation. It’s a space where you can experiment with game mechanics, level design, and storytelling without the pressure of building from zero. ???? Not only does it enhance your technical skills, but it also showcases your ability to think critically and adapt existing frameworks to new ideas. Plus, it’s a portfolio goldmine that can impress future employers or collaborators. Dive in, mod, and let your creativity shine! ? #GameDev #Unity #Modding

This not only allows you to see things in the game, but if you pay attention, it helps you understand the deeper aspects as well - balance issues, why certain design choices were made, etc. The deeper you go into modding, generally speaking, the more insight you'll gain into the game itself. And you don't necessarily need to add things: even just changing some values and observing their impact will tell you a lot about the choices the developer made.

People usually get scared away when we talk about mods, however mods/level editors can be really fun and engaging ways to learn. Halo Infinite Forge, Unreal Editor for Fortnite and Warcraft 3 Editor, are great Level editors that could help exercise the design muscle with a very low entry barrier. Mario Maker, Super Dungeon Maker, and Meet Your Maker, are games that the core mechanic is to design levels, teaching while you're having. Mods can be a very fun way to Design quickly, after all, your objective should be to learn design and not how to code.

Participate in Game Jams. These will (hopefully) allow you to meet likeminded people and produce low-scoped prototypes which you could potentially finish, and finishing a game is a rare skill that needs exercising. Local in-person jams are best, but online ones (like on itch.io) are good, too.

Don’t reinvent the wheel just so you can test a new cart model. Build your first prototypes within existing game engines. They have working mechanics that you can use for free. Unreal, gives you access to First, Third, and 2D movement sets, right out of the box.

Prototyping is the crucible where game ideas are forged and refined. ?? As a Unity Developer, I advocate for starting with simple prototypes to test concepts. Platforms with drag-and-drop interfaces are a boon for beginners, allowing you to bring ideas to life without deep coding knowledge. ?????? Each prototype is a step towards mastery, a tangible lesson in the art of game creation. Don’t worry about polish; focus on the learning each build brings. ????? Embrace the process, and watch your game development skills soar! ?? #UnityDev #GamePrototyping #LearningByDoing

A prototype could be made with simpler engines or templates. Engines such as construct, twine, and game develop, are great easy-to-use tools for prototype ideas. And Unreal and Godot (through kenney.com) offer a great variety of templates to start to experimenting with ideas.

As game designers, we constantly have ideas and concepts floating around in our minds. The best way to capture those ideas is by creating simple prototypes. In my workflow, as I iterate on these prototypes, the ideas evolve into more refined concepts, and the process often provides new perspectives. I recommend using a lightweight game engine. Personally, I prefer Pico-8, which uses Lua. It allows me to create a prototype in just 4-8 hours.

Search for modder groups, find their discord, and join them. Get friendly with them by asking good questions that let them answer smartly, even if it makes you look stupid, and even if you know the answer. People tend to like talking about themselves and their work, and they start opening up and forming good relations with you based on this one trick. I AM NOT EVIL; this is just how things work.

Networking is the lifeblood of the game development world. ?? As a Unity Developer, I've found immense value in joining **online communities** and forums. These spaces are not just about connections; they're about growing together. ?? Engaging with peers, sharing knowledge, and seeking feedback has opened doors to **mentorship**, **collaborations**, and even **job opportunities**. ???? It's a support system that fuels both personal growth and professional advancement. So dive in, contribute, and watch your network become a catalyst for success! ?? #GameDev #Unity #Networking

Algo importante é se voluntariar em equipes multidisciplinares e participar de desafios para criar jogos, assim como Game Jams, no qual os times s?o formados por desenvolvedores, artistas, game design, UX-UI Design, Sound Design, monte sua equipe e participe de um evento desses, isso irá ranquear suas skills e dar experiência para seu currículo.

If you are able to become part of a modder team, then great, you are now part of a group of dedicated game designers that work for free – if not – then participate in game jams. Making mods will not guarantee you a job in the industry but if it’s part of a popular game, then you get to see how players interact with it and you get some valuable feedback. Some mods may even be used in portfolios. (make your mods available on github)

I want to share a fun perspective based on what I did years ago... As someone with literally zero knowledge about game design when I first started, I would say that the first thing you have to do is to fix what you think about yourself. It's a mentality thing, you have to believe that you are a game designer, trick yourself into it. When you have succesfully done that, the second step is to be a con artist. Look for what kind of knowledge the 'actual' game designers have, learn them, tell people that you're a game designer. But, if you're a good con artist, you'll need a proof that you're a game designer. How do you do that? Start designing a game.

Ah, my fellow non-gaming wanderers! ??? So you’ve been crunching spreadsheets instead of high scores, and your gaming résumé is as empty as a pixelated void. Fear not! Here’s your cheat code to game design glory: Steal Like an Artist (Legally) Picasso said, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” Borrow ideas! Remix mechanics from different genres. Imagine Tetris meets Sudoku with a side of interpretive dance. Voilà! Your brainchild is born. ????♀? Join the Guild of Game Jams Game jams are like speed-dating for game designers. You get 48 hours to create magic. It’s intense, like a caffeine-fueled unicorn race. Collaborate, fail gloriously, and emerge with battle scars and a prototype. ???

Uma vez participei de uma competi??o de hackathon, e tivemos a ideia de um aplicativo para contar histórias, tempo depois teve um edital de jogos, me inspirei naquele aplicativo e criei um jogo a partir dele, foi uma experiência impar, e fortaleceu meu portfólio.

Read books and learn processes. Level Up by Scott Rogers, and The Art of game design by Jesse Schell provide the bread and butter of game design. And studying processes such as Iteration Design, and agile methods such as MoSCoW, will make you learn how to use efficiently your time and creativity.