I just downloaded this because I wanted to make a videogame, and from what everyone says there is obviously not a way to do that without a long period of learning. So my question is, where exactly should I start? I’m not looking for answers like, “find some tutorials on the basics,” I’m looking for “Check out some tutorials on (I don’t know what yet, but something specific).” I have had extremely basic experience in Python programming, although I doubt that will help with this, so essentially I have zero experience.
How should I start learning how to make things?
Start with the basics of modeling, if you can’t model you won’t have any assets of which to make a game with. As for python it would help because Blender uses python :eyebrowlift: Although you needn’t be concerned with it at this moment.
But in all honesty making stuff and being good at it doesn’t even start at the very basics of Blender usage. It requires large amounts of planing to decide on all sorts of things such as story, conceptual designs for characters/props/environments, a firm understanding of game theory and lots of critiques! Thankfully this forum happens to have a great community as well as areas where you can get valuable feedback from other experienced users. If you can show people your plan it will be much easier to get help/guidance where needed. Not only that but it actually makes the development much faster if you have a written plan as it saves you from the time consuming rewrites that happen as a result of not having a complete plan.
So get out that pencil or tablet and start visualizing, the community (including myself) will be eager to review your ideas and help you along the way
-Jeremy :eyebrowlift:
For me, the biggest issue was mastery (mastery?) over the UI. I would start there. Recently there has been a flood of beginner tutorials but these have always been my favorites:
http://www.gryllus.net/Blender/3D.html
I would spend a weekend there, then move on.
Try here, very good tutorials that just about cover everything for the novice.
For me, the biggest issue was mastery (mastery?) over the UI. I would start there. Recently there has been a flood of beginner tutorials but these have always been my favorites:
I found that ‘in the beginning’ learning the whole UI was rather unproductive. Its easy to forget when you haven’t a clue what the tools are, as well to a beginner it can be somewhat daunting to see how much there is too learn. I’m an advocate of learn as you go for the UI, its probably down to the users personality on whether or not it works out. But if you were to say be learning modeling its simplistic to one have to work with and become fimilular with just the section required for the task and add on to that knowledge as you progress.
Haha, dont want to start a debate on this thread though 
should be clear for educations sake.
Is the book “Blender Masterclass” worth getting? And I have heard from many other sources that you should definitely not start with the huge game project you want to, and I completely agree with this, but they also seem to imply that starting with complicated 3D software is not the way to go. Does anyone disagree with this, or am I interpreting it correctly?
@The Philosopher: I would advise following small scale projects - I practiced by modelling small objects for example, before undertaking a game project. What game engine were you planning on using? (out of curiousity)
I was not saying to learn all the tools. By mastering the UI I mean know how to create an object, how to use the mouse to rotate and move something, how to open and close and resize the windows. Things you will have to do every time you open blender. Once you have those mastered, learning the tools becomes much easier.
My “real job” is creating application training for Siemens. The first lesson we create for an application is always Basic Navigation. Learn where things are, then learn how to use them.
p.s. feel free to check out my Blender basics 2 minute tutorial series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcNukwr3b5w&list=PL7Z1KKHB1pIFyPS4M_LautLOgISrDQ2HE
I learned the basics pretty quickly from watching these ‘getting started’ tutorials:
That is of course, if you can handle the way johnathan williamson talks… sometimes I wanted to harm myself after listening to his voice for 30min. But they’re good tutorials nonetheless.
What game engine were you planning on using? (out of curiousity)
I wasn’t sure, that was my next question. Which are easy to use and yet still produce solid games?
I would give a plug for Unity as I am currently using it and pretty blown away to be honest by its quality and depth - but other free options that I’m aware of include Unreal UDK and Blender game, though I haven’t had much experience with them: I would be interested in what others have to say. 
i would recrommend to stay with blender game engine - at least for your first games.
you dont need to learn python - nearly everything is possible with Blenders LOGIC BRICKS
- learn basic modeling, texturing
- learn basic animation
- build your first game
BTW: i have a german training series for this… translation to english is on the way but need some time
I have looked at some online tutorials, but they don’t seem very good. I have found some books on modeling, but none on the engine that are up to date.
Is it necessary to get books on this, or is it fine to watch online tutorials? What’s the difference?