PC/video games in general

How is it done?

This is directed to the Stardock team, but anyone else with experience feel free to contribute. I was just curious on what steps/processes are involved in the making of a video game.

Personally, I've always been interested in making a game, or being involved somehow, but I have no programming education (well, very little; I self taught myself basic use of Java and dabbled in a few other languages, but no formal training). So, hypothetically, is there anything one could contribute to game making without actually doing any programming?

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Definitely. Of course the meat of the work is the programming and implementing all the ideas, the game engine,..., but think for example about betatesting to finetune the balance... Hell of a job for games such as GalCiv where the AI needs to be intelligent; just think about those hundreds of games that are completely marred because of stupid AI, etc. Or how any too apparent exploit of the AI could destroy gameplay.
In addition, I guess you could also help before the actual development, when everything is still mapped out as ideas on paper (well, probably pc but I mean before any programming is done)

If you're talking about the development of a game as an entire project, there's the planning, financials, communication/marketing, distribution and such as well. Though that's the business person in me talking, I guess the fun part is in the ideas & the betatesting once you finally get your hands on the product you've been working on for so long

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I'm sure most modern games spend more man hours on content creation than actual engine programming. Texture artists, level designers, 3d modellers, animators, concept artists, etc.

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