Get Your Game On!

Video game tips from Elizabeth LaPensée

Hey readers, in the January/February 2019 issue of OWL we introduce you to video game designer Elizabeth LaPensée. Read on to see what tips she has for aspiring video game creators!

• Before you get into game development, play games. Better yet, replay games you enjoyed to understand what you liked about them.
• Look at all aspects, including the gameplay, art style, sounds, and writing.
• If you don’t already have a clear sense what video game role you’re interested in, making a game will help you figure that out.
• Game development includes the following job roles; game designers, programmers, artists, audio artists, and producers.
• Some of these roles can overlap. For example, technical artists are artists who also code.
• There are also other roles, like game writers, quality assurance testers (can identify bugs), customer support, human resources, marketing and sales, and business development positions.
• If you’re interested in expressing yourself through games, start now!
• You can do this through conversations with friends, drawing character sketches, writing down design ideas, or getting right into a game engine.
• There are always opportunities to pass on teachings, continue our languages, and express ourselves in any way we see fit through the incredible space of games.

Thanks so much for the great advice, Elizabeth. Game on, everyone!

-Melissa, owl@owlkids.com