What are some must-have game development tools and software to include in your portfolio?

Choosing a game engine should be case-specific. There are various factors to take into account, including developing for PC, mobile or consoles (or the need to adapt to multiple options), developing an online or offline game, a 2D, pixel, or 3D game, its purpose, its visual requirements and, last but not least, your budget. It is important to research the functionalities and limitations of each engine before getting started. However, as a rule of thumb, if you are just getting started with game development, it is best to learn the most used tools in the industry.

Choosing a game engine is essential on long term success of your game. It involves many factors such as target platforms, programming language support, community support etc. Some game engines are platform specific such as Cry Engine where some game engines are widely cross-platform such as Unity & Unreal Engine. Some game engine are known for Mobile game development such as Unity, Cocos-2D etc. where some are known for AAA games such Unreal Engine. However, having an expertise in one engine and sound knowledge of other engines are always helpful.

A game development portfolio should showcase proficiency in key tools and software, such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Git, JIRA, programming languages like C++ and Python, and game design software like RPG Maker.

If you have experience in a commercial game engine, be sure to point it out, alongside your responsibilities when using the engine. A level artist does quite different things than a programmer, for example. Generally, though, it's a good idea to have as much engine-agnostic knowledge as possible under your belt, as you will be a better candidate to a wider range of companies.

I suggest learning the fundamental principles of graphics programming if you aim to present yourself as a game engine developer. It's essential to delve into the architecture of GPUs and GPU APIs, particularly DirectX, Vulkan, and OpenGL. This means understanding what truly occurs on the GPU when a game frame is generated. Given that many AAA companies are transitioning to Unreal Engine nowadays, you'll need to compete with in-house game engine programmers who possess significant GPU programming experience and have made the switch to Unreal Engine.

C#: C# is simpler and more accessible than C++. Designed for human understanding, it facilitates code reusability, reduces runtime errors, and is favored for its efficiency. C# excels as a scripting language, defining game mechanics and guiding the computer’s actions during gameplay. In multiplayer games, C# often acts as a back-end language, communicating actions to the server and influencing how the server interprets player actions. C++: C++ is the cornerstone for many consoles and Microsoft Windows games, offering an object-oriented programming (OOP) approach that enhances code organization into reusable units. Widely used for creating game engines.

The programming language you learn is tied to the game engine you choose. Unity and C#, Unreal and C++, GameMaker and GML, etc. While the language you learn may be, no doubt, a factor in which game engine you choose, it will be better off choosing a game engine that suits your needs first, and learn whichever language it supports. It is much easier to learn a new language than to learn a new engine AND language.

Programming languages is a communication way between engines and users. Depending on the game engine you use, you may need to learn different programming languages or frameworks. Unity supports C#, Unreal Engine supports C++ and Blueprints, Godot supports GDScript and C#, and Game Maker Studio supports GML and JavaScript. You should choose a programming language that suits your skill level, project requirements, and personal preference.

It goes hand in hand with choosing the game engine, many times it is not possible to choose the language with which you want to program because the engines are already made to work with the language that they adopted, so when choosing the engine you must see if the language is comfortable for you to use.

C# by far is the most important programming language if you are creating a game. It goes hand in hand with Unity’s game engine!

2D Graphics: Adobe Photoshop: For creating and editing 2D game assets. Aseprite: Specialized in pixel art and sprite animation. 3D Modeling and Animation: Blender: A powerful, free, and open-source 3D creation suite. Autodesk Maya: Widely used in the industry for 3D modeling and animation.

Art and animation software is a to way create the visual assets and effects of your game. Some of the most popular and powerful art and animation software are Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, Maya, and Spine. These software can help you create 2D or 3D graphics, vector or pixel art, realistic or stylized animations, and more.

When you are a one-man band (someone who must do everything) making your indie game, one of the best options that has its own niche and is widely accepted by the gaming community is pixelart, it is simple and fast to make and the best app to work with pixelaert without a doubt it is aseprite or its free version libreprite, this tool is quite complete, very intuitive and the best for this great art method called pixelart.

The best way to determine the appropriate software is to initially consider what is being developed, whether it's a 2D game, an open-world game, etc. Afterward, based on that, attempt to identify the game style or features that characters or the game environment will possess. Then, it is advisable to choose the type of software accordingly.

Gather workflow advice from artists you respect on what tools they find most intuitive. Style matters most but tools enhance your abilities. Remember no software will limit you - focus on solving problems creatively. And don't hesitate to borrow from various programs for maximum efficiency.

Audio Software allow you to create the sound and music for your game, such as sound effects, ambient sounds, voice-overs, and soundtracks. There are many audio software to choose from, depending on your budget, genre, and quality. Some of the most popular and professional audio software are Audacity, Reaper, FL Studio, and Ableton Live. You should also learn how to use audio middleware, such as MOD or wise, to integrate your audio with your game engine and control the audio behavior and effects in your game.

Audacity: Free, open-source software for audio editing. FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Logic Pro: For more advanced music composition.

Not all of us are composers but in addition to the rhythm, one of the most important things when creating audio for a video game is what you want to convey in those scenes, the atmosphere that the music gives to a video game is very important for the player to gain immersion. inside the game and not only feel that some pixels are moving on the screen.

I use the following software or websites for my design work: Figma for wireframe mockups or user interaction demonstrations (menus, systems, or story beats) InVision, GameUIDatabase, or Behance for further design inspiration Hammer SDK for "meat and potatoes" level design prototyping Unity for more mechanics-focused prototypes. Be sure to focus on the "slice" of the prototype and don't worry about art. Just get across what the mechanic should feel like and don't worry about polish at this point.

Game design tools are the tools that allow you to plan, document, and communicate your game ideas, concepts, and mechanics. There are many game design tools to choose from, depending on your scope, complexity, and collaboration. Some of the most useful and common game design tools are mind maps, flowcharts, diagrams, spreadsheets, and mockups.

Notion is a great tool to organize your ideas and since it connects with many other applications you could choose several and centralize everything through a notion page where you can manage your resources, calendars and ideas to work on during the process without complicating it too much, probably All the tools you need are already integrated with Notion.

Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD: To showcase your game design and prototyping skills. Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, or other VR/AR development tools if you have experience in this domain. NVIDIA PhysX or Unity's built-in physics engine: Important for realistic object interactions.

Something I use all the time is documentation, it is a great tool to get you familiarized with any tool or language you are using.

As an art hiring manager, there are a few things that I look for when hiring an artist. Maybe some of these ideas will help you out. 1. Ease of navigation. Often when I'm looking for a candidate, I'm actually hunting for someone with a particular skillset. Be sure to label sections, if you have more than one area of focus, to make it easy for Art Directors and HR to find your work. 2. Be sure that your portfolio will function on any device. Mobile phone, tablet etc. You never know when you might have an opportunity to show your work. 3. Show process. It's important to show the steps you took to created your artwork in your portfolio. Consider using Behance, Artstation. A blog is nice to have for showing process.

A portfolio is like a special collection that game developers create to show off their work. It's a bit like an artist's portfolio where they keep their best paintings or drawings. For game developers, it's a way to show what games they've made and how good they are at making them. When someone wants to hire them or work with them, they can look at their portfolio to see if they're a good fit. So, having a portfolio is super important because it helps game developers get noticed and get cool jobs in the game industry.

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When it comes to game development, and especially game design, it is useful to know at least the basics of each related skill - engineering, 3D modelling, audio systems etc. At the beginning of one’s career is also important to experiment as much as possible. However, game development is a very vaste world and it is advisable to pick only one of these skills and study, practice and refine it to the best of your abilities.

Create dedicated pages or sections for each game project, including detailed descriptions, screenshots, videos, and links to playable demos if available. Remember to regularly update your portfolio with new projects and achievements. This not only keeps your portfolio fresh but also reflects your ongoing growth and skills as a game developer.Include a downloadable resume and any relevant documents (e.g., project documentation, game design documents).

Stay inspired by other creatives online! Follow artists on social media, watch turnarounds of cool techniques on YouTube etc. Their passion may introduce you to unexpected programs. Be open-minded about outsourcing if needed. While it's great to learn many roles, focusing energy where you shine most often results in higher-quality work.