Q: Flesh out the concept of the game as much as you can before you begin, including the genre, mood, and type of gameplay. If you start programming before the concept is clear, you'll likely have to tear apart and rewrite a significant amount of work. This will probably happen anyway, but a solid plan will keep these events to a minimum. All but the most experimental games have a progress arc, so this is a good place to start the planning. Progress typically happens through one or more of the following: discovering more about the plot and characters, making decisions that affect the storyline, gaining new abilities or higher stats, exploring new areas, or solving harder and harder puzzles. Collect or create all the textures, sprites, sounds, and models you will need for your game. There are quite a few collections of free game assets, so do some searching. If you are making a 2D game and don't have an artist to help out, you could create your own pixel art. The script tells the engine what to do and when to do it. If you used an open source engine, chances are that it already has a scripting language, and probably tutorials that will teach you how to use it. If you build your own engine then you will have to create your own scripting language. Either way, you'll need these major components at minimum:  A constantly running game loop that checks for user input, processes the result, processes other events, calculates what needs to be displayed, and sends this to the graphics card. This should run at least 30 times per second. "Active listener" scripts that check for events and respond when they occur. For example, one script can watch for a player interacting with a door, then run the "open" animation and make the doorway non-collidable. Another script can watch for a weapon hitbox contacting the door, and run the "blow apart" animation instead. Level design — which may involve a literal "level 1," an area the player can explore, or the next round of a fighting game — will test some skills unrelated to programming. Start with a simple level showcasing typical gameplay, following this basic guideline for genres that involve traveling through environments:  Create the basic outline of the area. Decide on the basic path the player will most often take through the area. Add challenges and benefits (items) along this path. Space them close together for adrenaline and excitement, or farther apart for a more relaxed atmosphere. Start adding graphical elements. Place light sources along the main path to encourage players to follow it, and keep the side paths or less important areas dim. Match the gameplay, style, and setting. For example, a suspenseful horror game thrives on stretches of empty exploration punctuated by surprise attacks. A never-ending barrage of enemies overwhelms the player with adrenaline instead, while combat that requires careful tactical planning can distract the player from the emotional atmosphere. Now you get to see what all your hard work has turned into. Test each level while you are polishing it, and many times after it is "finished." Make a conscious attempt to play the game in ways you didn't intend, such as playing through more difficult areas first. Better yet, find playtesters to get fresh eyes on the game, and ask for as much feedback as possible.  Watch someone play without giving them advice, unless it's basic tutorial information that hasn't been added to the game yet. Frustrating mistakes and points where the player gets "stuck" are signs that you need to include more guidance. Once the game (or at least a level) is fairly complete, try to find strangers or acquaintances to help playtest. Friends tend to be more optimistic, which is great for providing encouragement but not as helpful for predicting how players will react. If you finish the project, you may want to release it for free or put it up for sale, but make sure you read the terms and conditions for any game engines or software you used. Whether or not you complete the game as you envisioned it, you may want to "cannibalize" some assets and ideas for a different or more ambitious project, or take the lessons you learned and start all over again!
A: Create a plan for the game. Gather your art assets. Script your game. Create individual levels. Test your game. Take the next step.

Q: Before forming a dance routine, spend some time learning a few basic moves. The dance move "the strike" is a fun dance move that can help with any routine. Here's how to do it:  Stand with your feet hip width apart, toes straight ahead. Hold your arms in front of your chest, right over left, with your hands forming fists. Hop on your right foot while bending and turning your left heel on the floor. Bend both arms 90 degrees. Turn your right hand to the ceiling, palm facing forward. At the same time, turn your left arm away from you, palm facing down. Hop again and return your feet and arms to their original positions. Repeat the process of bending and turning again, this time leading with your left foot. Happy feet is a simple move that will help you get into the rhythm of a dance routine. This can be a fun, foundational move for any dance routine. Here's how you do it:  Stand with your feet together and your arms bent to the chest level. Grasp your left wrist with your right hand. Step your right foot to the side and lean into it while letting go of your wrist. Pull your elbows behind your body, keeping them level with your shoulder. Bend them at a 90-degree angle. Return your feet to the original position. Step your left foot out while raising your arms above your head back to starting position. Repeat the process, alternating your left and right sides. The hopscotch is a fun, active dance move. Learning it can help you form your own dance routine. Here's what to do:  Stand with your feet together. Bend both arms in towards your body. Cross your right foot in front of your left foot while pulling your arms to the right. Cross your right foot behind your left foot and swing your arms to the left. Bring your feet together and hop 3 times in a small circle. Repeat the process using your left foot instead. The slap can be a fun, energetic dance move to add to a routine. Spend some time practicing this move when forming your own dance routine. This is how you do it:  Stand with your legs about 2 feet (61 cm) apart. Hop on your left foot while bringing your right knee up to your hip. Brush the top of your right knee with your left hand. Think of this like brushing some dirt off of your knees. Return to the original position. Repeat the process with your left knee and right hand. The two-step is a very basic dance move that can help you get into the rhythm of the music. Practicing the two-step can help you form a dance routine. This is what you need to do:  Move your right foot to the right, then move your left foot to meet it. Repeat the process with your left foot. Keep in time to the music. If you want to add a little something to the move, reach forward with your heel while leaning back slightly. People are often confused as to how to move their arms when dancing. There are a variety of basic dance move options regarding moving your arms.  Move 1 arm up and the other arm down. You can snap your fingers as you move your arms, if you want.  Try the shoulder roll. This is simply rolling 1 shoulder at a time, moving with the beat of the music. There are a very large amount of dance moves and styles. If you're interested in forming a dance routine, explore. Take a dance class or two. Watch people at a club or look up music videos online. Have fun and be creative. Your dance routine should be an expression of your personal taste and style.
A:
Learn the strike. Practice happy feet. Do the hopscotch. Try the slap. Practice the two-step. Figure out what to do with your arms. Explore other moves.