Solo-Game-Maker requirements - Software?

Hello, I was discussing this issue in another thread and thought it would help me and others to focus more on the correct software and not waste too much time on poor or un-necessarily complicated or un-necessary software.

I currently learn when I have enough time, Blender, Unity, Irfanview, Inkscape, Spine eventually and may get Crazy Bump later.

There is a lot of individual parts to all of these but was hoping that a solo-game-maker could help me focus on what to ditch and what to take up if necessary, in order to streamline and speed up workflow and learning etc.
Currently I am learning Brackeys tutorials, Catlike coding (just started/found), Wroxx C# visual studio book, Online Microsoft notes C# etc, and tutorials on all software except irfvanview etc.

Any help appreciated, someone mentioned headus UV, i'll look at that also..
Thanks for reading.

 

Just checked headus UV $100 minimum. I'll stick with blender unless I hear other...

 

Major features covered by these tools can be handled to varying degrees by Photoshop CC. Additionally with the use of third party plugins you can extend it even further. It's almost like Unity in that sense.

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html

There is a free online way to create normal maps. Videos in spoiler.

http://cpetry.github.io/NormalMap-Online/

Alternatively Photoshop can do this too. Videos in spoiler.

Spoiler

Photoshop can paint meshes. Videos in spoiler.

Spoiler

Photoshop can do limited modelling too. Videos in spoiler and playlist linked too.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw4TQ_Oo7EnPWPalPgnO0ly6I6vRh6zrA

Spoiler

 

Sounds nice, having photoshop, but do I really want to spend a minimum of £20 every month when i'm not getting paid from using it yet? Thats £240 per year or at the full version about £870 per year.
Do you have the £20/$ version?

 

No. I went with the cheapest available tier at $9.99 per month.

 

Generally items like monthly charged photoshop or others that cost a few hundred per year will add up to a few thousand per year added together.

 

is there anything your missing from it that you still need?

 

Being primarily a programmer the answer is generally no. A true modeller is about the only other thing I could see myself needing (the whole thing about it being able to model was more of a joke than anything, but it is capable of extruding a shape you've drawn).

 

I've never heard of most of the programs mentioned in OP.

headus UVlayout has a free version, but I always do UV layout in Maya anyway. 2018 is really easy to use, and the less program swapping around, the better. I'd recommend not getting a bunch of specialist programs in the beginning. Many programs each have their own quirks, and trying to add stuff like viewport navigation on top of the fundamental skills you'll be learning makes for added confusion.

Better to learn how to do everything inside your 3d app, then when you can do that start getting into specialized software. Additionally, no point spending money on things when you don't know what you'll need/like as a beginner.

 

Do you think it is more advise-able to say, limit myself to continuous Blender tutorials, Catlike Coding Tutorials & Visual Studio C# book, rather than all the "extra's"? (inkscape/normal map generators/or others etc).

 

the free student/educator version of Maya is free, works well with Unity.. heck, it will import a scene from Maya into Unity perfectly...

https://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/maya

also, I will trade art for some coding help... (by help, I mean like a button code, something simple... cause I'm just learning Unity.... but it's great, because in the 90s I used POV-Ray.. and Unity is very similar.. just in real time, and not 30 years old, etc... well, I mean the graphics part of Unity

 

Aren't there any free "button codes" in the free asset store packs?
But anyway, maya is free for the student version yes, but i'm from the UK and not a student so $$$ is Maya for me.
Also, as i'm learning and this is the beginner section, I don't feel like spending any money unless it's for useful assets that I can't / don't know how to build etc.

For beginners who will have a career in gaming, yes it's probably a great choice. I'm not confident I have a "Career" in gaming .

 

It's problematic though because it will permanently mark a scene file as having been made with the student copy even if you purchase the full license at a later date and continue working on it. Once you decide to go commercial you'll have to completely remake anything you made with the student release in the professional one to not have it marked.

I applied for a student license at one point at least a couple years ago and Autodesk didn't bother verifying.

If you're not confident you want this to be a career then you're best off just learning Unity and trying to make a game with it rather than trying to learn every single aspect of game development. There are enough free assets on the store to make a basic game in the style of Diablo.

https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/8312 - Environment Art
https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/10104 - Giant Spider
https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/12131 - Goblin
https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/44041 - Female Warrior

 

Yes, I see your point. I will probably have to go more into C# anyway, just because the difficulty in it's usage. But I do like the idea of potentially doing some artwork with theoretically something like Blender for other purposes like websites or short intro's etc.

Though the direction of game/educational item I have in mind is more complex than a point and click game.

If I have a puzzle, I may have to purchase a whole puzzle * 100 etc. Or make a simple logic puzzle system like the mobile block-fit games, plus a few others. But the look is Key, in regards to the fact that I am not Netherrealm or DC-Universe etc. So gameplay is very simple, therefore looks have to be quite decent at least.

Think portal 2 style etc, using mainly a "console" input /buttons etc. If it is not at least somewhat styled well, it may get repettative & tedious. I think i'm going to post a vector thread on this issue too.

 

I get a "nag" when I load or save a scene in Maya.. nowhere else.. I'l try opening up one of the files in txt and see if it's got a watermark and stuff.. usually my artpath is so convoluted... I'll look into it... but... no far, doesn't seem like an issue.. I'll keep in mind the whole personal/professional bit..

 

Start with the basics of what you have. I'm an international student in game dev and already Unity WITH Blender is too much. Inrfanview is just a tool that Photoshop can handle EASILY. Don't waste time and money now on what you don't need.