How do I get started making a video game?

Considering your idea, you might want to start with a beginner-friendly engine like Ren'Py. It's perfect for creating dialogue-driven games and has a supportive community.

Here's a plan: 1) Choose your programming language based on the engine you want to use (C# for Unity, C++ for Unreal, etc.). 2) Start learning to code. Spend a few weeks getting comfortable with basics like loops, if statements, and functions. 3) Familiarize yourself with your chosen engine to learn how to design and implement game mechanics. Start simple—think about creating small systems rather than a full game at first. And please, avoid relying on AI for coding help; it's not a good substitute for real learning!

If you’re serious about getting into game dev, C++ is a powerful language to learn. It can be tough at first, but it teaches fundamental software skills that many new developers overlook. Plus, C++ is widely used in game development. Check out YouTube channels (like TheCherno) for Unreal Engine tutorials—they’re super helpful!

A game focused on dialogue, like yours, shouldn’t be too heavy on coding. I’d suggest looking into visual novel engines or those that minimize coding requirements. You might be surprised at how many resources are out there to help you get started without overwhelming you. Just be ready for a lot of text—it takes more lines of dialogue than you might expect, but don't let that deter you!

First things first: learn how to code! Get familiar with command line interfaces. You'll need knowledge about systems, networking (to enable communication features like chat), and eventually some rendering engines like OpenGL. It's a lengthy journey, but starting with the basics will set you up for success in game development.

Unity paired with C# is a solid way to go. Dive into some tutorials and start building projects; it’s the best way to learn! Just keep in mind, game development can be more complex than it seems, so don’t underestimate the time and effort it might take.