Maybe you have thought up a really neat and unique idea for a video game and you are thinking "If I can just get in touch with the right people I can sell it and make a lot of money. And I get to see my idea turned into a game that people will play".
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Well, that may be true, and it is possible to do but, to be honest, it is very unlikely. Developing a video game takes a lot of work. A typical game for today's mass market takes a team of people two years and thousands of hours of work to create. There is a tremendous amount of work involved and much of this work is very creative which can be expensive.
Maybe all of that is a bit discouraging and if you really think you have an idea that is unique there are some things you can do and I will explain the steps and processes you can take to move your idea for a game out of the world of fantasy into the world of possibility.
The big obstacle to getting your idea made into a game is the question of who is going to do all that work? It is an important question. A group of people have to believe in the idea and have to do the work to take it from idea to reality, and generally you have to rely on yourself. If you believe in your idea you need to be the person that will spearhead the work and get it from idea to reality. If you can do this, and if your game is unique and different the rewards can be astonishing.
Three Possible Paths to Success
There are three possible ways to get a game made from your idea:
You probably have questions about your idea and how to protect it from being stolen. Well, I guess this is a possibility and maybe it has happened but it is unlikely. It goes back to the fact that it takes thousands of hours to take a game from idea to actual game and the number of unique ideas is relatively unlimited but here are some things you can do to get started in protecting yourself.
The Problem of Copyrighting Ideas
Ideas cannot be copyrighted! It sounds funny but it's true. You can research this by checking on the official government copyright website. So, just having an idea means you have very little. If you draw pictures of your game and hopefully develop your idea into a game you can get copyright for those things. In any case here is some help with protecting yourself.
Send yourself a letter!
Put together an exhaustive package of materials about your idea. Include a summary, pictures, drawings and anything else that will describe your idea then seal it in an envelope and mail it to yourself registered mail. When you receive it you sign for it but do not open it. Leave it sealed. This gives you an amount of legal protection that establishes a time line for your idea.
NDA's (Non Disclosure Agreements)
A non-disclosure agreement is a legal contract between two parties. In this case it is between you and the person you want to reveal your idea to. It can be a useful tool that will help you protect your rights. Generally it outlines the confidentiality of your idea and prohibits the other party from using the idea. If you are serious about your idea you should do some research on NDA's and even speak with a lawyer about them. Outside of the United States these agreements are often referred to as Confidentiality Agreements and sometimes they are referred to as Secrecy agreements or Confidential Disclosures (CD's).
Okay let's get started with something solid you can do
No matter which of the three paths you want to travel down there are some things that you can do to get your idea rolling on its path toward becoming a real video game.
If you want to follow step number five and learn how to make your own game there are lots of resources available that will help you learn how to do it relatively inexpensively. With lots of perseverance you can even create the whole game yourself and have it ready for sale.
The Paragraph you might not want to read
Okay, after going through all of that I am glad to see you are still with me. But, if you are thinking all of this stuff about NDA's, sending letters, writing up summaries and putting together packages just seems like too much work then you can see my point about making a video game from your idea. It takes a lot of work and if video game news you are not going to do the work why should somebody else? If you really think your idea is a great one then I recommend you find the time and the motivation to make it happen! Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and hey it is totally possible that your idea can someday be an actual game. Every game ever made first started out as just an idea.
Video games have been in the market for the last 35 years. They are a unique form of leisure because they encourage players to be part of the game's characters. This, however, has both positive and negative effects on the player. Several studies have been published that explore the effects of video games on heart rate.
In this article, I have tried to summarize the research conducted into the effects of video games on individual's heart rate.
In a study conducted by the Stress Research Institute at Stockholm University, it has been found that playing violent video games affects heart rate variability not only during game play but also when you are sleeping at night. A group of boys, aged between 13 and 15, were told to play two different games in the evening, one focused on aggression while the other had no violent features.
Fifteen boys were exposed to violent video gaming, playing for no less than three hours a day. The remaining fifteen were asked to play nonviolent cartoon games - no more than one hour per day. The boys played the games at their homes, on two evenings.
Heart rates were observed during the game play and also while sleeping. The study seems to show that effects of gaming don't just stop when you switch off your system, but they have a continuous psychological impact without the player even being aware of it.
While the boys were sleeping later that night, boys that were exposed to highly violent games had faster heart rates compared to the night after playing nonviolent games. Boys who were exposed to violent games also reported poor quality of sleep on the night after playing an aggressive game. They also reported increased feelings of sadness. The violent game seems to have elicited more nervousness and stress at bedtime.
This suggests that frequent exposure to violent computer games not only increases stress and aggressive behaviour, but also increases anti-social behaviours. Other studies have also indicated that violent video games can cause an adrenaline response. In other words, they can affect your blood pressure, breathing rate and pain tolerance.
Violent video games usually tend to be more thrilling and obsessing than their more peaceful counterparts. As a result, they are bound to see heart rates rise. It could also be the increased excitement level which is causing increased anxiety. However, not all individuals may be affected by exposure to violent computer games, but most individuals are affected.