Exploring New Horizons: My Journey into Game Development

Hey everyone! How's it going?

You know that feeling when you discover something new and you're super excited to tell everyone about it? Well, that's exactly how I'm feeling right now!

Since I was a kid, I've always been obsessed with games. I spent hours exploring fantastic worlds, beating impossible levels. But then life happened, and I ended up following the path of web programming. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do! Creating websites and applications is awesome, but that passion for games never left me.

And then, I had an epiphany: why not combine business with pleasure? Use all the knowledge I've accumulated as a fullstack dev and apply it to the world of games? Said and done! I decided to dive headfirst into game development.

The Importance of Exploring New Areas

Before diving into the technical details, I'd like to emphasize how valuable it is to explore different areas within the vast field of technology. As a web developer, I've learned that many skills are transferable and that diversity of knowledge can bring unique perspectives to any project.

"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein

This quote perfectly summarizes my motivation for entering game development. It's an opportunity to apply my technical expertise in a new and creative way.

Tools Chosen for Productivity

To start my journey in game development, I've selected a set of tools that I believe will maximize my productivity:

1. Godot with C#: As the main engine, I chose Godot. Its integration with C# allows me to leverage my previous experience with the language, easing the transition.

2. VSCode: My faithful companion in web development, VSCode continues to be my choice for code editing, thanks to its versatility and powerful extensions.

3. Obsidian: For organizing ideas and documentation, Obsidian has proven to be an incredible tool. Its markdown-based approach and the ease of creating links between notes fit perfectly into the creative process of game design.

4. ClickUp: Project management is crucial, and ClickUp offers the flexibility I need to track tasks, deadlines, and goals.

5. Aseprite: For creating and editing pixel art, Aseprite is a powerful and intuitive tool, perfect for those starting out in this art form.

Connections Between Web Development and Games

As I dive into game development, I've noticed several interesting connections with my development experience:

• Software Architecture: The principles of clean and modular software design are equally important in both fields.

• User Experience: Creating intuitive and pleasant interfaces is crucial for both websites and games.

• Performance Optimization: Techniques to improve performance are vital in both areas, especially when it comes to applications running in the browser.

• API Integration: Many modern games use web services, an area where my experience will be particularly useful.

Lessons Learned and Next Steps

This journey is just beginning, but I can already say that expanding into game development is enriching my perspective as a developer. I'm learning to think more creatively about interactivity and narrative, aspects that can definitely improve my web projects.

In the coming months, I plan to:

1. Develop a small 2D game using Godot

2. Explore asset creation with Aseprite more deeply

3. Share my progress and learnings here on the blog

Conclusion

Embarking on this game development journey has been incredibly rewarding. I encourage all developers to explore areas outside their comfort zone. You never know what innovative ideas might emerge when you combine different fields of knowledge.

And you, have you thought about exploring a new area of technology?

Until the next post, where I'll share more details about my first game project. Stay tuned!

This post is part of a series about my journey in game development. For more content on web development and now games, be sure to subscribe to the blog feed!