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DeadmanDines
Best Article Writer
Registered
27/04/2006
Points
4758
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11th July, 2005 at 08:50:29 -
In preparation for a small article, what are your opinions on what makes a game look more professional? Here are my suggestions so far:
Configurations
Music and sound effect volumes (as well as options to mute them) and keyboard configurations. The latter can be done using Control X object and an INI file or array to remember the values.
Where the game changes the screen res, it may be worthwhile to feature an option to disable screen res changing. This can be done by making a second application (let's call it runme.exe). All shortcuts for the game point to runme.exe. This checks the settings (such as 'don't change screen res') and then runs the game with '-NOF' in the command line. That'll execute it without res changing.
Logos at the start
A personal preference this. I find games look more professional when several logos are used on startup. It suggests that this has been worked on by a group rather than a hobbyist. In our case it's pretty easy. Shove in a logo for clickteam, the MMF 'Fueled by Fusion' logo, and then your own logo. These can load on successive screens, skipable by pressing any key.
Transitions
In the case of menus, pimp them out with some neat transitions. If your menu is made to look like a scroll, make it so the scroll unfolds and the menu options appear one after the other, for example.
One trick I've found effective is using the screen-capture object to take a photo of the screen when you pause. When you go to the menu screen (either using 'jump to frame' or opening it in a modal subapp. Subapp is better, because it does all the pausing for you), load the screenshot as an active picture in the background. This makes it look like all the stuff in your menu screen is sitting on top of the game window. Looks great if you mix it with semitransparencies and fade-in transitions.
Credits
Another personal one this. I tend to feel that a game is bigger if there are lots of names in the credits screen. So if you can, include the names of the original composer and sequencer of each midi you use.
Eg:Music
"Bubblegloop Swamp"
Composed by Grant Kirkhope
Sequenced by Sebastian Husnik
If you wanna make a feature of the credits screen, make it all priddy with fades and animation - so it looks dynamic.
What things would you guys recommend about making games look professional?
191 / 9999 * 7 + 191 * 7
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Ski
TDC is my stress ball
Registered
13/03/2005
Points
10130
         
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11th July, 2005 at 10:06:39 -
you didnt really mention the menu screens, presentation of the game all the way through and keeping the same orignal style all the way through, for example, if the person uses his graphics for level one, and then in level two he uses a crappy library graphic, in my opinion that ruins the entire game. Graphics to me is the most important thing. I only tend to like games with top notch graphics such as a game with a kitty etc. If the game is poorly programmed but has amazing graphics, i would likely forgive the creator and still give him/her a thumbs up!
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Cazra
Crazy?
Registered
24/07/2002
Points
4472
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11th July, 2005 at 10:18:40 -
-Never use the header/menu option for your game. It looks better when all you see is the game.
-Make the game fullscreen by default. Then let the player decide whether to turn that off.
-If something explodes when it's destroyed, rather than drawing an explosion for the disappearing animation, make a particle explosion effect.
-Have people beta test your game. This way you can get feedback on ways to improve it.
-Use original music. If you're like me and can't compose anything worth crap, hire someone to compose the music for you.
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AndyUK
Mascot Maniac
Registered
01/08/2002
Points
14586
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11th July, 2005 at 11:16:26 -
I would say the most important things to make a game feel professional is to have good presentation and a single graphical style throughout.
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X_Sheep
I had a custom rating before it was cool
Registered
01/03/2004
Points
1313
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11th July, 2005 at 11:21:52 -
-Don't use MIDI files for your game, use MOD's or MP3's or something instead.
-Never use the built-in installer
-Don't forget to remove the built-in menu functions like Ctrl+P, F8, F2 and stuff. Even when your menu is invisible these functions still work.
-NEVER USE THE BUILT-IN INSTALLER
a/n
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Retired Kliker Lazarus
The Ed Wood JR of TDC
Registered
18/07/2003
Points
7363
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11th July, 2005 at 11:31:55 -
Yeah, the built-in installer makes the game look like an amuture created it.
A good title screen/menu alway's helps. Also, add a custom Pause menu rather then the 'Control+P' default one.
The graphics and gameplay have to be consistant through out the game.
Fine Garbage since 2003.
CURRENT PROJECT:
-Paying off a massive amount of debt in college loans.
-Working in television.
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-Vinny-
Registered
12/01/2005
Points
436
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11th July, 2005 at 11:54:35 -
ok, if it isn't a story based game, or even if it is, you could use a level editor, especially since it extends the life of the game to the point where the player can remka levels that they found were crappyin your game, and then you could even get taht improved level, and add it to your game officially, and rerelease it not only with improved levels, but enhanced game play as well of course, and not only that, you could use the level editor yourself to speed up the game's production, because the levels can be made in the editor, now how much better does it get? i'll admit that it could take a while to learn how to create a level editor, but it'll definitely be worth your time, and not only that, if you combine it with text files, you could even have players making storyline branches of your game, like sub-stories, now how cool would that be?
Vinny
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DeadmanDines
Best Article Writer
Registered
27/04/2006
Points
4758
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11th July, 2005 at 15:38:52 -
Good point about the level editor.
What's more, you can also make more powerful games using your own level editor. For example, you can find out what tile the player is on. This can be used to change the sound of the player's footsteps, to start him swimming, to switch between different types of footprint, to make the player skid or slide, etc. You can also use the info to animate background tiles (every few seconds, find a set of random grass tiles in the visible area and paste another frame over the top).
But that can get pretty complicated after a while.
191 / 9999 * 7 + 191 * 7
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Ski
TDC is my stress ball
Registered
13/03/2005
Points
10130
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11th July, 2005 at 18:52:16 -
okay so a couple of people just basically said what i said?
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AndyUK
Mascot Maniac
Registered
01/08/2002
Points
14586
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11th July, 2005 at 20:20:28 -
Some people don't read all posts before making their own.
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Ski
TDC is my stress ball
Registered
13/03/2005
Points
10130
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11th July, 2005 at 21:17:52 -
U know some people just dont read posts before making their own. 
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Assault Andy
Administrator
I make other people create vaporware
Registered
29/07/2002
Points
5686
  
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12th July, 2005 at 02:13:40 -
Make the entire game in the same 'style'. This means don't 3D render the title page if you're game is crappily drawn with 2D sprites.
Do not use buttons in games, that is those grey default ones. Draw you're own.
Creator of Faerie Solitaire:
http://www.create-games.com/download.asp?id=7792
Also creator of ZDay20 and Dungeon Dash.
http://www.Jigxor.com
http://twitter.com/JigxorAndy
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Cazra
Crazy?
Registered
24/07/2002
Points
4472
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12th July, 2005 at 08:13:06 -
-Don't use any crazy fonts for text. It'll look very weird when talking to other characters in the game and it is most likely that a)the player doesn't have those fonts and b) you'll forget to put the fonts in with your game. Titles are probably the only exception here. Always make the title text an active object or background though just in case the players don't have the font you used.
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a1018
Registered
08/02/2005
Points
131
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12th July, 2005 at 08:48:21 -
i am a shareware game maker. &&& i can say the problems(about pro seein)here:
-help&infos
-tutorials
-you should keep limit less than 15mb if shareware
-i recommend usin 800x600, but if you can add change res support add it
-make simple menu or menus
-use a good installer
-if shareware make a good security
&&& if you are usin keygen write it on c && give devs c sdk(know, lots of them asks c sdk)
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X_Sheep
I had a custom rating before it was cool
Registered
01/03/2004
Points
1313
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12th July, 2005 at 11:29:12 -
Making the games itself is free I guess... 
a/n
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