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At school we’ve just started a game development project. We are individually designing everything and programming it all. But one thing has puzzled me.

My teacher first said that I had to draw 32×32 sprite on squared paper, which I immediately said that people aren’t square and a sprite that size is going to be tiny on screen. So I just decided I was going to draw it normally scan in it and use Illustrator – like I normally do.

Then, we are told to log off our computers. So that meant no references for things like body shapes and weapons ( I always use references for drawing). And THEN we aren’t even allowed to discuss ideas because that drawings wouldn’t be "original".

So he’s expecting me to create a game without any inspiration or motives, we haven’t even got ideas for the games…

How does the initial design process normally take place in a game? And I don’t see what’s wrong with using references…

Thanks for any replies,
Tom.