My Journey into Video Game Development: From Player to Creator

Since childhood, I have been fascinated by video games—from the 8-bit classics to modern-day marvels like the PlayStation 5. I've experienced it all, and everything about video games—graphics, storylines, sound design, VFX, and especially background music—has always captivated me. But one moment, in particular, ignited my passion for game development.

A Glimpse Behind the Curtain: Prince of Persia 3D

It all started with a demo version of Prince of Persia 3D, a game I played over and over until its full release. I was around 12 years old when I decided to explore the game files of the demo. To my surprise, I discovered image files of the game’s scenes and character models. I realized that these images were pasted over 3D skeletons by the developers to make the characters appear more realistic. I even found the background music tracks, including the one that played during action sequences, a melody I had grown to love.

At that moment, I wasn’t just enjoying the gameplay like my friends—I had unlocked the process behind how games were made. This discovery blew my mind and set me on a path to explore the world of game development.

Early Learning: DIY Game Modding

Without access to learning platforms like YouTube (which didn’t exist at the time), I taught myself how to modify the game by exploring the files. I even managed to change the Prince’s costume and colors, which showed up in the game! This hands-on experience sparked my desire to create my own video games, although I knew it was no small task and required a team effort.

Engineering, Coding, and Music Production

Fast forward to my engineering days, where I began learning coding and programming fundamentals. I quickly saw the connection between coding commands and creating animations and designs. Since I had already been producing music by this time, I started making small jingles, imagining how they could be used in games as background scores.

Video game music caught my attention like nothing else. I realized there was far more scope for creativity in video game music compared to movies or music videos. This realization strengthened my resolve to contribute to game development.

Diving into Unreal Engine 4 and Animation

I began experimenting with Unreal Engine 4, a platform used for creating many modern 3D games. The advanced graphics capabilities fascinated me, and I even made a few music videos using Unreal, which received positive feedback. Soon after, I started receiving job offers for animation work in Unreal Engine.

Although I was now focused on game development, I quickly realized I needed a team to build 3D games. So, I decided to start small—by making 2D games, where I could handle both the music and game logic myself.

Learning JAVA and Building My First Game

I learned JAVA and started building basic apps for Android using Android Studio. I successfully published a few apps, which gave me the confidence to take on a bigger challenge: creating a video game in JAVA.

After much self-learning through YouTube and various online resources, I built my first game. When the time came to add background music, I turned to my friend and fellow musician, Rohit Gupta. We worked together to create a unique soundtrack, fulfilling a childhood dream of mine.

The moment my game went live on the Google Play Store was monumental for me. It boosted my confidence and made me realize that I had the skills to keep creating.

Entering the Professional World with VividMind Softwares

This confidence led me to join VividMind Softwares, where I’ve had the opportunity to release 10 games for Android and iOS. Working with a professional team taught me not only how to develop games but also how to navigate the complexities of Google’s developer policies, monetization strategies, ad placements, and keeping up with Android OS updates.

Game development is a demanding task—especially when ensuring that the game meets Google’s ever-changing guidelines. But the journey of working day and night to release a game successfully is always worth it.

Looking Ahead

From that first demo of Prince of Persia 3D to now, I’ve come a long way. I still find joy in every new challenge, whether it’s developing better gameplay, improving graphics, or creating compelling soundtracks. The thrill of seeing a project come to life, particularly one fueled by a passion I’ve nurtured since childhood, is incredibly rewarding.

If you’re interested in checking out some of the games I’ve worked on, you can explore them here: VividMind Softwares on Google Play. {https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6061653357988509945id=6061653357988509945}

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more about game development, music, and creativity in the future!