Today is the age of gamers. More and more video games are being pumped out, turning what used to be a simple pastime into a multi-billion-dollar industry. It's also made dreamers of a lot of people who want to start making games as full-time careers-which is something an upcoming Nintendo release aims to help with.
According to a report by TheNextWeb, Nintendo just announced an application called Game Builder Garage for the Switch, aimed at helping people learn how to make their own games. And apparently, the best thing about it is that you don't have to write any actual code. Now that's interesting.
Slated to release on June 11th, the Nintendo Game Builder Garage aims to make programming a fun, engaging endeavor which teaches even the most inexperienced (but willing-to-learn) all the basics of game design, according to its official store page. It supports up to 8 players and allows people to share their own creations, as well as to download the games their friends made to try them out; not to mention allow for collaborative work.
How Does It Teach People To Make Games?
A lot of people get turned off by the idea of game development due to its complexity. But the thing is, they just think of those big-budget AAA titles with hundreds (if not thousands) of interwoven mechanics. Even developers have trouble dealing with such massive projects, despite having years of experience. What they do have, however, is a clear understanding of the basics that help them solve problems along the way.
That is something that Nintendo Game Builder Garage offers: a valuable starting point without the intimidating factor. Nintendo made sure to make game development easier to understand by promising players that they won't have to write any actual code as they get started. Instead, the step-by-step lessons take advantage of what is called "Visual Programming", as stated on Polygon.
Players interact with creatures called "Nodons," which actually refers to a programming "node." Every single Nodon has a unique ability which will help guide the player through the steps of creating their first game. For instance, there is a "Person Nodon" which serves as the player character, who will be interacting with other Nodons presenting even more functions. Those Nodons can work as the analog sticks, in-game objects, counters, textures, and everything else.
Then once a player figures out how the Nodons work together, they can go on to create their first-ever game. With all the basics at their grasp (and the intimidation factor diminished), budding developers can now move on to learning programming languages and start off their development careers.
Simplifying Game Design And Development
Millions out there want to play. But there are also several other million who want to create. Nintendo is giving the latter an avenue to flex their creative muscles in this digital age, where demand for interactive entertainment is reaching even greater heights.
And who knows? Maybe these budding developers will be able to come up with even greater concepts that will take game design and development to a whole new level. Players will be experiencing stories and worlds they could never have dreamed about; explore universes previously untouched.
And it all starts with this one application on the Nintendo Switch.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by RJ Pierce
