I was curious how everyone goes about their game designing? Before you answer, I'm referring to the actual mental aspect. For example, before my pencil ever touches paper, or my mouse clicks on anything on the screen, I have to have music. The music I listen to directs what I create.
Many times, when I'm desinging a particular boss battle that I need the player to feel as though the world's fate rests on his shoulders, I'll design while listening to Oculus ex Inferni by Symphony X, or something to that degree (the groups Immediate Music and X-Ray Dog both have quite a few songs of this caliber).Some people have to look at images similar to what they want to design, or maybe something else goes on in a creator's mind to get the gears turning in our minds. I was simply curious how everyone comes to think up what we do. [=)]
@Kilin I agree :D
Alexia is a completely original character and isn't based on anyone I know. :P
Brandon is only like me in personality.I look for something hypnotic and lurid. Then I eat it.
Idea > Programming > Graphics > ???
Profit.
E.S. Posthumus > Immediate Music
E.S. Posthumus is alright, I have a bit of their music on my Pandora favorites. :)
I'm a big fan of orchestral metal and any music similar; it really helps the creative mood for me. :DIt starts with an idea from a random source either for an ingame environment art style thingy, funky game mechanic or character(s) featured in said game idea (usually the enemies of the game in my case(maybe something as general as 'wouldnt it be cool if this was in this so and so bossfight)).
Name said game idea, if I cannot find one to my liking I use a WIP name and think about this later (e.g. Grimoire = Freaky SHMUP).Extrapolate in head, let imagination and common sense (or sometimes lack of) do the work.Sketches, note taking (death of trees by over-use of paper (sometimes feel eco and do notes on computer instead but i like how paper feels))Music… for me comes as an afterthought, but I do recognize their power and importance when it comes to choosing (or making) one for a game. In fact I've yet to have a game idea spawn from music. Food for thought I guess.Things just happen, man.Something inspires me, be it an original idea or a game I really enjoy but would like to build upon or tweak, and then I start making the game.
I always do graphics first but I gradually update them as needed. But it's funny because I have a lot of gm6's and gmk's filled with just graphics… :PMusic helps me work and draw better sometimes and other times it just distracts me. It all depends on my mood.@Rez - I went through a similar period of just thinking up an interesting name and try and wrap a game around it. Actually two of them I've been saving away.