HT Games
Instructions
Identify your target audience so that you may tailor all subsequent design decisions to them.
Design a gameplay model. ̶0;Gameplay̶1; describes the most basic mechanics by which the player interacts with your game, such as what commands she can type and what those commands will do. Many RPGs center around a threefold model of combat, exploration, and NPC interaction.
Create a series of goals for the player to pursue. Goals make games fun by giving it form and structure. Some common main goals for text RPGs include leveling up, obtaining more powerful equipment, experiencing a story, and winning the game.
Define, design, and develop the basic components of your game̵7;s virtual environment. Every variable creates its own dimension for game play opportunities. If you create a variable that says a character may hold a separate item in each hand, then you can start exploring possibilities like handedness and item combinations. Make efforts to organize your databases clearly, as they will be harder to revise later.
Design the game play engines for your game. ̶0;Engines̶1; comprise segments of code that govern the player̵7;s use of the game play mechanics. For example, if you want your RPG to have combat, you need to devise contingencies, or write algorithms to devise contingencies dynamically, for all possible combat actions. This includes tracking health, executing attacks, and comparing aggressor and defender stats.
Build an interface. Nowadays, even most text-based RPGs have a graphical user interface showing things like menus, charts, and still photos. Unless your RPG limits itself to strictly a command line, you must give thought to how the computer screen will look as the player plays.
Build the content of your game. This includes fleshing out the maps, dialogue, pictures, and item lists.
Carry out user testing and further development to weed out bugs and tweak the balances of variables.
Write an instruction manual or user guide.
Publish, distribute, and advertise your game.