I Created a Video Game using Flow labs: Here's What I Learned

Sophie Byers
Apr 1, 2024
3 min read

Recently I created a video game for a class and I thought I would share a little about my game and what I learned. My game called "The Light Within" is about a girl named Lily Greene. Lily finds herself transported to this strange new world and discovers that she has the ability to manipulate light. Not only does she have to find her way home but she also has to rescue her dog Max who came with her. Flowlabs has a free option but I used the indie package. If you are thinking about making a video game I would highly recommend using Flowlabs. It is easy to learn and there are video tutorials on the site which I will link down below.

Now without further ado, here are five things I learned when making my video game!

#1 - Coming up with an original concept

For me, coming up with an original was the hardest part. I don't know about you but I constantly overthink things but once I let go of my expectations and started implementing my ideas I ended up with a great game. Your game doesn't need to be revolutionary or groundbreaking. Few ideas in this day and age are. Just stick to what you know and remember the sky's the limit. But at the same time don't be afraid to try something different. You never know what works and what doesn't until you try it.

#2 - Coding

I'll be honest one of the things that intimidated me the most about creating my game besides the fact that I would hand it in for a grade was figuring out the mechanics. Luckily my professor offered plenty of resources in and out of class. She was even nice enough to meet with me when I couldn't figure out how to fix a few minor bugs. So if you are worried that you can't do it, I'm here to tell you that you can! It just takes grit and a little patience. And if you are really struggling try taking a step back and looking at it from a different perspective!

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” ― John Lubbock

Tip #3 - The details vs the big picture

I am one of those people who can get caught in the details which can be both good and bad. This project reminded me that while the details are important, you don't need to worry about each little thing being perfect because people look the big picture as a whole. That being said looking at the small things helped me find ways to improve my game and make it more user friendly.

Tip #4 - Appreciation for game developers

The work game developers put into their games is truly amazing. They pour their heart and soul into their creations. Making this game helped me appreciate their hard work all the more and has helped grow new my fairly recent love of video games.

Tip #5 - Trying something new

Trying something new can be scary but it is also worth it. Until a month ago I had no idea how much work goes into a video game but if you work hard enough it can be done. In short you have to be creative, hard working, and willing. Most importantly don't be afraid to think outside the box or ask for help because trying new could lead to something amazing.

Closing Statement

If you made it to the end then thank you so much for reading! I learned a lot and if you have a specific request about what I should write about then let me know in the comments. I have also linked my game down below if you're interested in giving a try and a link to all the resources available at flow lab for those of you who would like to make their own games!