What Software Should You Use To Make a Video Game?
Posted: Thursday, December 07, 2006
by Will Kalif
Kalif Publishing
The answer depends on a couple of questions you have to ask yourself? What skill level do you have with the computer and programming and what are your goals for making video games? I answer these questions and help you find the right software for achieving what you want.
Video game design used to be the realm of crack shot programmers who could write programs, troubleshoot computers, write tools and even draw out the graphics needed. You had to be a writer, artist, and programmer all wrapped up in one. But today this is no longer true. There are plenty of programs that do most of the hard work for you and leave the fun part of actually designing a game to you. But every software tool is different and each one is suited to a particular type of game making. Here is a guide for understanding some of the major game design suites and choosing which one is right for you.
You are the type of person that knows how to use a computer but you don’t know how to do any programming at all. You would like to make a few small video games without having to learn too much software stuff. You have lots of ideas for video games and you like the arcade style and side scrolling games. This kind of game would be a thrill for you to make for you and your friends to play.
My Recommendation:The Games Factory or Games Factory 2 by Click team
This is an enormously successful software tool you can use to make arcade style games. Everything is drag and drop so you don’t have to learn how to program and you don’t have to draw up your own graphics and images. You will learn some of the fundamenal concepts behind game making and have a blast doing it.
For medium skill computer users, for high school age to adult
You have a bit of Savvy with the computer and have tried and used different kinds of programs. Maybe you have done some level design for a popular game. You would really like to make something three-dimensional like Quake and you have the thought that maybe you would like to make whole worlds and dungeons. You really want to make a game that you can walk around in.
My Recommendation:The Reality Factory
This is a shareware program that is built on the Genesis 3D game engine. It is a legitimate game engine with a great workspace that you can actually design whole worlds in. The process is similar to something an architect would use -picture drawing out blueprints because this is what you do with the Reality Factory. This software is free to download and within an hour you can actually have a single room game up and running where you can walk your character around and shoot weapons. To do a more involved game you need to spend a significant amount of time drawing out and texturing the rooms. If you get proficient with this free software you will have set for yourself a good foundation in legitimate game making. You will have an understanding of game processes and items like textures, models, scripts and more.
For high skill computer users and adults age 18 and over
You are considering a career in game design and want to set out a good base foundation for your career. You want skills that will transfer to the Real world but you are not yet sure if you want to invest the years it takes to master a high level programming language.
My recommendations: Dark Basic
I recommend you look into the program called DarkBasic by The Game Creators. (They also have a Dark Basic Lite version). This is an excellent way to learn how to make games while you learn the protocol and logic of programming. This is a powerful tool that can make professional games. The good thing about Dark Basic is that it is specifically tailored to making games.
You are going to be a Video Game Maker – no doubts about it
My Recommendation: C++ and Direct X
– Although this is a matter of opinion I recommend you learn how to program using C++ and you learn how to develop with something called Microsoft Direct X. This is some professional and very serious stuff and you will spend months learning the languages without ever seeing a single game pixel. But this route is how to lay out a professional career. This software is also pretty expensive. But imagine the rewards?
Making video games is a wonderful pursuit that can fully tap your creative powers and whether you are doing it just for fun or for a career there are lots of tools available to help you reach your goals and make some great video games.
For more creative ideas and projects on making video games visit the author's website at:
The Making Video Games for Free Website
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I personally think there are more video game creation option out there that
you could have mentioned under an 'optional choice' if your recommendation was
unsaticfactury. But whatever. I'm new to programming and I have taken a basic
beginners course in programing Java. I don't think that its hard its just unsatisfying... miserably unsatisfying unless it functions properly. But if your s serious Programmer
I'd think that you should know that there are lots of different types of programs.
To make one video game like BioShock there are lots of teams of programers that
work together to make one game. If you want to go into the industry thinking
you can be a one man(or woman) show, making a game that's exsacly what you
want... think again... Sadly video games arn't like novels... just because you
have the idea and talent doesn't mean you can just put pen to paper...
(or finger to keyboard) and exspect magic to happen. And if you could
mangage to make a good video game worthy of being on a concole...(like
I know your expecting) then it would take you 10 years to complete...
even then it could be a flop...or be so out dated that it wasn't even
entertaining to other people. In Bioshocks production ( I looked it up) they
had a group of people working souly on animating water effects.... That's it.
No action... no characters... not story... nothing but water and how it reflects light.
Trust me... Video game design is not for everyone... its only for those people who
can accept sitting down and putting effort into something that isn't your idea...
yet feeling satifaction in seeing a completed effort... effort mind you that was partially your own, a team effort. If you can be satified playing the game you worked
2 years+ to make come to life and step in the water puddled you spend your time to
create and smile knowing that you made that puddle... then yeah... game design is
so for you... if your more intrested in making a whole game... you might as wel be come a manager or designer... or producer... but being a producer means... you pay the guy who makes the puddles... so money is a requirement.
I'm rammballing. Eitherway... If your looking for more options I suggest you
check out SHPERE. Its a program, low key... simplistic... but not for people
who don't know how to program. If you have an idea for a video game... you can complete it in FULL... with Sphere... but- it will be in 2-D... you'll need to learn how
to program- go to Spherewiki... they can help. I like sphere... you can customize everything. Whatever the case- if your out their thinking, I want to see my video game come to life... chances are (i['m being realistic) its never gonna happen...
but- don't ever give up... if you have a dream it may not always come out the way to you want it to... like making a concole version of a dream game of yours... or whatever... but hay... you can still make your dream a reality... try SHPERE... its not for everyone... but it might be helpful... its really great once you get into... it can do a lot.
-I made all of this in a half-a-sleep daze... so I rambled... but hay... the keyboard feels great beneath my fingertips... dig it. Later yall.
I feel this comment may be removed very soon. I don't blame you brother! ^_^
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