Maybe you’ve thought of a really cool and unique idea for a video game and you’re thinking, “If I can get in touch with the right people, I can sell it and make a lot of money. And I can see my idea converted.” into a game that people will play.
Well, that may be true, and it’s possible to do it, but to be honest, it’s highly unlikely. Developing a video game requires a lot of work. A typical mass market game today requires a team of people two years and thousands of hours of work to create. There is a tremendous amount of work involved and much of this work is highly creative and can be expensive.
Maybe all of that is a bit daunting and if you really think you have an idea that is unique there are a few things you can do and I’ll walk you through the steps and processes you can go through to get your idea of a game out of the fantasy world into the world. of the possibilities.
The big hurdle to turning your idea into a game is the question of who is going to do all that work. It is an important question. A group of people have to believe in the idea and have to do the work to bring it from idea to reality, and generally you have to trust yourself. If you believe in your idea, you must be the person who will spearhead the work and take it from idea to reality. If you can do this, and if your game is unique and different, the rewards can be staggering.
Three possible paths to success
There are three possible ways to make a game out of your idea:
- Get in touch with a heavy hitter in the game making industry and convince them that your game is worth a shot. He or she will then set the wheels in motion for your idea to be bought and developed. (This is highly unlikely, although it has happened on rare occasions) Companies occasionally buy video game ideas and hold onto them for potential future projects.
- Get in touch with independent developers with game design skills and ask them to join your idea. You have the ability to allow them to join their time in the development of your game. Gamedev.net is a good place to network and find people for this effort.
- Lead the development yourself. Learn some basic game building skills and gather a group of people willing to invest time (and money) in your game. You become the evangelist of the game and the Project Manager. (This is the best option if you want to be successful and it answers the question of who is going to do all the work: you!)
Protecting your Idea
You probably have questions about your idea and how to protect it from being stolen. Well I guess this is a possibility and maybe it has happened, but it’s unlikely. It goes back to the fact that it takes thousands of hours to bring a game from idea to actual game and the number of unique ideas is relatively limitless, but here are some things you can do to start protecting yourself.
The problem of copyright of ideas
Ideas cannot be copyrighted! It sounds funny but it’s true. You can investigate this by checking the official government copyright website. So just having an idea means you have very little. If you draw pictures of your game and hopefully develop your idea into a game, you can get copyrights on those things. In any case, here is some help to protect yourself.
Send a letter to yourself!
Prepare a comprehensive package of materials on your idea. Include a summary, photos, drawings, and anything else that describes your idea, then seal it in an envelope and send it by certified mail. When you receive it, you sign it but do not open it. Get it sealed. This gives you an amount of legal protection that sets a timeline for your idea.
NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements)
A confidentiality agreement is a legal contract between two parties. In this case it is between you and the person you want to reveal your idea to. It can be a useful tool to help you protect your rights. In general, it describes the confidentiality of your idea and prohibits the other party from using the idea. If you’re serious about your idea, you should do some research on non-disclosure agreements and even talk to a lawyer about it. Outside of the United States, these agreements are often called Confidentiality Agreements and are sometimes called Confidentiality Agreements or Confidential Disclosures (CDs).
Okay, let’s start with something solid that you can do.
No matter which of the three paths you want to travel down, there are a few things you can do to help your idea move forward and become an actual video game.
- Write a very long description of the game. Make it as detailed as possible. And put this in the package you mail to yourself!
- Draw images and artwork of game scenes, characters, maps, and anything else that is unique about the game. In effect, you are creating a library of images in the game. Put this in your package too!
- Write an executive summary: This is a one or two page summary of the game idea and outlines the things that make it unique. This is your introduction to people in the gaming industry and it’s the first thing you can give them so they understand your idea (of course I’d get an NDA first!)
- Start your research in the gaming industry. Wander through the forums where game developers and creators chat and start learning about what it takes to make a game. You can make good contacts and there are plenty of people willing to give you good advice and help with your dream. gamedev.net is a great place to start
- Start learning how to make a video game! It is entirely possible for a person with average computer skills to develop a single level of a game or a part of a game. This can be used as a business card and an example of what the game would be like.
If you want to follow step five and learn how to create your own game, there are plenty of resources available to help you learn how to do it relatively cheaply. With a lot of persistence, you can even create the entire game yourself and have it ready for sale.
The paragraph you may not want to read
Okay, after going through all that, I’m glad to see that you’re still with me. But, if you’re thinking about all this NDA stuff, sending letters, writing summaries, and putting together packages seems like too much work, then you can see my point about making a video game out of your idea. It takes a lot of work and if you’re not going to do the work, why should anyone else? If you really think your idea is great, I highly recommend finding the time and motivation to make it a reality! Nothing worthwhile comes easy and hey, it’s very possible that your idea could one day become a real game. Every game that has been created started as an idea.