How to Find the Game Idea?

Game development begins with one powerful spark: an idea. Whether you’re an indie creator or part of a game studio, finding fresh concepts is both exciting and challenging. This overview explores practical methods for generating original video game ideas, drawing inspiration from everyday life, proven creativity techniques, and established gaming practices. It also highlights ways to protect and safeguard your intellectual property once your idea begins to take shape.

Starting Point: Video Game Genres and Niches

Coming up with game concepts from scratch can be quite a challenge for a video game designer, so you might want to start by choosing a game genre to use as a base:

• Choose a genre as a foundation. From shooters to RPGs, selecting a category narrows the creative field. Small tweaks—such as replacing bullets with rainbows—can redefine player gambling experience.

• Drill down into niches. A standard RTS can become a fantasy-driven RTS, while a racing game might evolve into a futuristic sci-fi experience. Narrowing scope often uncovers unique AR opportunities.

As you ponder questions like these, you’ll find that they can quickly become the building blocks of your unique indie game idea. To help you get started, check out this comparison of 2D vs 3D games in the modern video game industry.

Sources of Inspiration

If you’re looking for good video game ideas, start by standing up from your sofa and looking around. People can inspire you. Social-related gaming is a real success now. See how your neighbor walks the dog in the morning on Broadway? Make a NYC thriller out of this!

• Observe daily life. Everyday actions or people can inspire creative narratives. For example, a neighbor walking their dog could become the basis of a mystery game.

• Revisit games you love or dislike. Identify what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved.

• Explore indie titles. Games like Proteus or The Red Strings Club highlight unconventional mechanics and storytelling.

• Books, films, and TV. Literary works such as The Lord of the Rings or Orwell’s 1984 have inspired many successful titles. Movies and shows also provide strong foundations for mechanics and narrative.

Creative Frameworks

• SCAMPER method: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This structured approach helps developers reimagine familiar concepts.

• Imitation for learning: Study favorite games to understand mechanics and storytelling, then build upon them rather than copying.

• Idea generators: Online tools like Orteil’s Game Idea Generator can spark unexpected creativity.

Community and Feedback: Do Not Push the Horses

Henry Ford’s famous quote goes like this: “If I asked people what they wanted, they would have told me faster horses.”

• Player insights. While users may not always articulate what they want, they can clearly express dislikes—overly difficult levels, heavy microtransactions, poor graphics, or lack of replay value.

• Forums and platforms. Communities like Reddit or GameMaker forums provide feedback, collaboration, and idea validation.

But there is a great platform, where you can find new impressions or ask about game username ideas: Reddit. It is a place where people share the game ideas they would never possibly create, but in the hundreds of trash ideas you can find a really brilliant video game idea. It is also a method of how to sell a video game idea to developers.

If you’re eager to dive into a lively gaming community, pay a visit to the GameMaker Community Forum. There, you can engage in conversations about game development alongside numerous indie game creators who share your passion.

Practical Habits for Developers

• Note-taking. Keep a diary or digital notepad to capture spontaneous ideas.

• Dedicated brainstorming. Spend 15 minutes writing unfiltered thoughts, then refine later.

• Start building. Prototyping often reveals new directions and helps identify what resonates.

Protecting Game Ideas

Safeguarding intellectual property is essential once development begins. Strategies include:

• Patents: Cover unique, novel features (challenging but possible for innovative mechanics).

• Copyrights: Protect code, art, storylines, and other creative assets.

• Trademarks: Secure names, logos, and branding to prevent consumer confusion.

• Trade secrets: Use NDAs and restricted access policies to protect sensitive internal information.

Legal consultation is strongly recommended for selecting the right mix of protections.

Extract Inspiration from Books

Video games aren’t the sole wellspring of inspiration. Television, movies, music, books, and conventional artworks can all ignite some of the most remarkable video game concepts.

For instance, delve into the realm of literature. Books like J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series could spark ideas for magical, immersive gaming worlds. The epic journeys in Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” might inspire sprawling adventures. Even dystopian futures portrayed in books like George Orwell’s “1984” can give rise to thought-provoking game narratives.

Here’s a table listing some popular video games that were created based on books:

So, whether it’s “The Little Shop Of Horrors” with its exotic plant life, the evocative religious hymn “Bringing In The Sheaves,” or the zany mini-game antics of “Dick and Dom In Da Bungalow,” inspiration can be found in diverse facets of life, including the rich tapestry of books.

Screen Time: TV, Movies, and Beyond

Screen time can be a goldmine for sparking ideas in game creation. Watching TV shows and movies can trigger creative inspiration. For instance, a thrilling car chase scene in a movie might inspire a high-speed racing game concept.

A mysterious detective series can lead to a puzzle-solving adventure game. Even documentaries about space exploration could spark ideas for futuristic sci-fi games.

Moreover, screen time can help you understand storytelling, character development, and visual effects, all crucial elements in game design. So, the next time you’re binge-watching your favorite series, keep an eye out for that game-changing inspiration!

Use Game Idea Generator

Game idea generators can be an enjoyable way to kickstart your creative thinking, though it’s essential not to take the video game concepts they generate too literally. For instance, the idea of a “tycoon game where you breed sports teams until you own everything” might seem almost impossible (and somewhat unsettling, to be honest).

However, sometimes a single phrase like “until you own everything” can spark your imagination and a video game idea generator will just move this idea forward. With a bit of tweaking, such as rephrasing it as “A tycoon game where you build and acquire businesses until you own everything,” you can suddenly breathe life into the concept.

If you’re eager to start generating video game ideas, Orteil’s Game Idea Generator and Let’s Make A Game offer two free tools that can help you get your creative gears turning.

Just Begin: Start the Creative Process

The final approach is direct and focused on taking action: Create games. Even if you don’t have a strong attachment to the initial idea, diving into game development allows you to discover what works and what doesn’t.

Your idea is your most precious asset. Whether you’re a solo indie developer or part of a game studio, ensuring that your game concept remains safe from theft or misuse is paramount. So, how to pitch a game idea?

To bolster your copyright protection, consider registering your work with the appropriate government agency (such as the U.S. Copyright Office in the United States). Registration provides additional legal benefits, including the ability to sue for statutory damages if someone does infringe upon your copyrighted material.

Game ideation is a mix of creativity, structure, and strategy. From observing the world to using methods like SCAMPER or community feedback, developers have multiple avenues for generating unique concepts. Equally important is protecting those ideas through proper legal and organizational safeguards. By balancing inspiration with protection, game developers can confidently transform sparks of imagination into playable, market-ready titles.