How to create games for your computer. How to create a game on Android from scratch - mastering the basics of game development
Do you want to learn how to create games?
but don't know where to start?
Read the text below and today you will make your first game!
Greetings, aspiring game developer! If you looked at this site, it means you want to create games. And not in many years, but right now. And you are also not going to spend a lot of money (from 5 to 85 thousand) on classes in training centers, special courses, etc. Even if you understand absolutely nothing about the process of creating games and think that it is incredibly difficult, I guarantee that today you will start creating your first game! Who am i? My name is Artyom Kashevarov. I am a professional programmer, designer, and the author of a dozen projects dedicated to creating games. In addition, I teach everyone the basics of creating games. Best regards, Artyom Kashevarov. |
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So, you have decided to seriously take on the fulfillment of your long-standing Dream - to create video games.
I’ll share my experience with you: a couple of years ago I couldn’t even imagine that creating games would be SO easy. As a programmer with 6 years of experience, I can tell you that creating even the simplest 2D games was not an easy task. I alone had to spend an incredible amount of mental effort and time (about a week) just to make the main character move across the screen.
Can you imagine how much effort it took to play the whole game?
Today you can easily learn how to make first simple two-dimensional games and then more complex three-dimensional ones in just a few months! At the same time, you don’t need any specific knowledge at all - your desire and a little perseverance are enough.
How to create games without unnecessary hassles?
What allows you to make games much easier and faster?
This is a Game Maker program. The principle of its operation is simple - in any game there are repeating program elements. For example - collision of objects, display of animation, playback of music and audio effects, variable game rounds, etc. So this program allows you not to waste time on implementing all these processes. All that is required of us is to connect all these processes as we like. For example, when objects collide, we can make some kind of sound play or, for example, create a new object, and if we wish, we can do both.
Creating games in this way is an exciting and incomparable pleasure!
Take a look at the level of games you can make on Game Maker:
Dustforce |
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This is an arcade game with great graphics and gameplay. This game is a commercial project created by a professional game development studio.
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Title: Dustforce Genre: Arcade Developers: Multiplayer: no Similarity: Mirror's Edge 2D |
Now I think you are convinced that Game Maker's capabilities are more than enough for you. This is currently the best game development environment for beginner game makers. And soon you will see this from personal experience.
You want to learn how to create games quickly and cheaply.
Is it possible?
Yes. And I know how.
Alas, they don’t teach how to create games in any university in our country. And what’s even more terrible is that there isn’t even any printed literature on this.
What happens? That there is no way to learn how to create games?
Just a couple of years ago, learning how to create games was actually a big challenge.
But now the situation has changed! After the release of the video tutorial on creating games:
This method of learning will not be boring, not expensive, and you can do it at any time you want.
It all looks incredibly simple. You insert the Game Maker video tutorial disc into your computer. Launch the Game Maker program and simply repeat everything that happens on the screen. Thereby adopting my experience and knowledge.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for beginners who want to learn the secrets of creating video games for the computer from scratch. Having no programming skills and not even having an idea of how video games are created.
What is the error 92% percent of beginners?
Currently, there are almost no normal lessons on creating games. This is exactly what confuses novice game makers. Many come to the conclusion that in order to make games, you must first master programming, learn to draw, and master the profession of designer and manager. And only then make games.
Your first game may not be very cool, but it will be YOURS!
This will undoubtedly push you to new achievements! And you will only do better in the future! Small victories are VERY important for you or your team if you work together. They allow you to quickly see errors and other problems.
Is it possible to create games alone?- This is the question now spinning in your head.
Of course it is possible! But, most likely, you will have work that for some reason you cannot do. In such cases, I hired for 500 rubles. a person who coped with this work, and then helped the project for a long time out of pure enthusiasm!
For example, I have never been able to draw living characters and I constantly invited someone from the outside to do the work, either for a pittance or for free. After all, creating games is an interesting thing; many can work on pure enthusiasm and completely free of charge.
How to hire people and where to look for them? - I will definitely tell you about this in the video course.
What does the simplest computer game consist of?
You shouldn’t aim for something huge - as I already said, your first game should be simple. So, to create a game we need:
Graphic design (sprites, etc.)
Game engine (the software part that will interact with the player)
The most basic game design (this is an idea of how everything will be arranged in the game)
As you can see, not much. In practice, this requires 1-2 people. And, despite the fact that we have removed the script and sound component of the game from this, we can also simplify something else.
The fact is that the graphic design can be borrowed from other games (if you do not sell such a game, then you are not breaking the law). Game design - you can also take it from some old games from the times of Dendy or Sega. And even if you only have one round to begin with. The most difficult part is the programming part, which I will teach you how to do once or twice in the Video Course "Creating Computer Games in Video Format".
Moreover, you will master the software part without programming!
That's the beauty of Game Maker!
As a result, you can only concentrate on the details of the game, game mechanics, well-balanced balance and other interesting things. In a sense, creating a game in Game Maker is a gameplay experience in itself. This is incredibly interesting!
What does the course contain?
The course consists of 3 DVDs:
The first two discs contain video tutorials.
The third disk contains all the necessary programs for creating games and resources.
The course also comes with detailed instructions for working productively with it.
DVDs 1 and 2- video materials - direct video tutorials in which I clearly show you how to create your first games. Planning, working with people and programs, creating projects, and thinking through everything down to the smallest detail and other unique material is on these two discs.
File DVD- File materials - a set of programs, blanks, projects, examples, sprites, and other useful files you will find on this disk.
Instructions for the course- the instructions describe in detail how to use the course so that the effect of the video lessons is maximum and is not forgotten at the first opportunity.
What is the course plan?
The video course itself is divided into chapters, in each of which we solve the most pressing problems that may come your way. Some chapters are divided into subchapters.
Now think about how much money you can save by studying at home on your own at a time convenient for you using this course.
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Saint Petersburg |
“We have already launched our first project! Now we are planning the second.” Hello, Artyom! Thanks for the course. To be honest, even before taking the course, I read a lot about creating games. But all the time I was frightened by the thought that without the knowledge of a programmer it would be impossible to create games. I've had a hard time with programming since school. But sometimes SUCH ideas for creating games appeared that I couldn’t resist buying your course, and I didn’t regret it. Now my friend and I have successfully completed our first project. Now let's plan the second one. I'm a game designer, and he writes scripts. It’s just a pity I don’t have enough time - work, family. But for now I’m finding time for a hobby, who knows, maybe it will develop into something more. In general, I am more than pleased with the results; it was a very powerful leap. Your lessons work wonders. I’ll tell everyone who reads my review - don’t hesitate, if you’re interested in the topic of creating video games, order with confidence - you’ll learn a lot of new things and certainly won’t part with the discs! I sincerely wish you good luck, Artyom! P.S. Sorry for writing so late, I was busy studying the course and the project. |
Igor StlikovHere's what you get when you place an order:
Firstly, you get over 9 hours of videos on two DVDs with examples and recommendations. Examples of video game creation, demonstrations of effects. You will receive this information in real time from me on video.
Secondly, you won’t need to surf the Internet looking for the right program and various kinds of graphic templates.
What results will you get after completing the course?
1 . The main thing you will learn is how to make games. After just a month, you will be able to create your own games with a team or alone. Moreover, you don’t have to go anywhere to do this - you will learn everything yourself, from the video!
2 . If you already have experience in creating games, then you will significantly improve your skills by using the Game Maker program and all its capabilities, which it has in abundance. Your game creation skills will become even more professional and unique. There will be room for improvisation, which is especially valuable for casual games. You will be more confident in doing what you love, and your friends will notice your skills.
3 . You will no longer be just a person who uselessly spends a lot of his time on games, but a person - a creator. Fascinating worlds and many unique characters - all this will be under your control.
4 . You will be able to amaze all your friends with the results you have achieved.
If you order a tutorial right now, you will receive these two gifts from me:
Gift #1: |
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Attention!!! If you place an order later than an hour later,
then you will NOT receive these bonuses.
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Valentin Laponin Novosibirsk city |
Hello! My name is Valentin. I wanted to say thank you very much for your video course. To be honest, I didn’t even expect that it would contain such a large amount of useful information. I liked that the course was structured specifically, purposefully, without unnecessary digressions and, above all, aimed at practice. I was looking for something similar for a long time, but the search was unsuccessful. I spent a lot of time looking for answers to numerous questions about game dev. Yes... you can find a lot of information on the Internet, but mostly it is not constructive, not consistent... sometimes not even reliable. A lot became clear from your video course. In addition to everything written in the advertisement, there were also a dozen useful video materials on the disk that are not in the table of contents, I never expected this. It is clear that the author tried to do something necessary and useful. And it seems that he added these lessons at the very last moment. I recommend! Thanks again! Good luck in your business! |
If you think this all sounds too good, then I want to sober you up...
While studying the course, and most importantly after studying, you will have to work seriously. Of course, after completing the course, you will have a number of skills, techniques and knowledge in your arsenal that will help you stay dozens of steps ahead. But at the same time, no one has canceled the need for work and action.
But if you agree to work and apply the described techniques and practice the exercises, act, and not sit back, dramatic changes await you.
Is this too much?
In fact, this is not even the price of the course and not the amount that you will pay at the post office after receiving the course.
This is the price of achieving your dream - creating games! After just a week of training, you will begin creating your first serious project. And in a month you will have a finished game that you can be proud of creating!
The price of the course is now equal to two sticks of sausage or one trip to a restaurant. I think in order to make your dream come true, you may not go to a restaurant once, or not finish the sausage.
Despite this, the choice is yours- you can go to a cafe once or instead give yourself a wonderful gift that will definitely not stay on the shelf!
100% risk free transaction!
If you still have doubts, then I give you a 100% guarantee:
If during your training, for any reason, you feel that creating games is “not for you” and my course does not help you, pack the disks and send them to the return address with a delivery notification, at the same time writing to me at the support service. As soon as the parcel is in my hands, I will transfer the money back to you without any questions in any way convenient for you. Agreed? :-)
support service and we will resolve the situation with you individually, offering alternative options.Very soon you will be showing your own games to your friends and acquaintances with an undisguised feeling of joy. From now on you will be an aspiring game creator.
I wish you success! Sincerely, Artyom Kashevarov. |
P.S. Don't miss the chance because you can't get this material anywhere else. It also cannot be downloaded online. The disk protection system has online activation, completely eliminating the possibility of launching pirated versions of the course.
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Leonid Bubnov Irkutsk |
“I never thought that creating games was so easy!” Hello, Artyom! This is Leonid Bubnov. I received the video course today. I am delighted! I watched a couple of videos, that's what I needed!! You explain everything in detail, well done. Before your course appeared, I thought that creating games was a very complicated process and beyond the power of one person. Now I see that this is not so. Thank you for opening your eyes! I never thought that creating games was so easy! I will be happy to do it. If you have any questions, I will definitely write. See you later. Leonid. |
P.P.S. For those who are afraid of being thrown out, and this, unfortunately, is a very common payment procedure on the RuNet, I hasten to inform you that all sales are from my sites are completely legal. I am officially registered as an individual entrepreneur (IP Kashevarov A.D., OGRN 305026522400038), therefore I am obliged to pay taxes regularly and comply with all consumer rights. You can also familiarize yourself with the certificate of state registration and other documents in more detail in the section. You can ask any questions in the section.
Now you have an idea of the direction in which we have to work, moreover, we are 100% protected by the law on the protection of consumer rights of the Russian Federation. Good luck to you in your endeavor! |
The computer games industry is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the IT sector. How difficult is it to learn how to create games or at least individual elements of them? Can the user cope with such tasks alone? How do professionals create computer games?
What do you need to start creating games?
First of all, you need to be involved in the industry as a player. Without knowing how games work from the inside and the psychology of gamers, observing how computer graphics work in real use, and not in theory, it is very difficult to achieve success in releasing your own games. If a game is created with an eye toward commercial sales (or at least with the goal of promoting the personal brand of its developer), then it must be competitive and reflect the current demands of the gaming community. To release a product without following the “trend” is to waste time. Therefore, it is important to be not just an amateur gamer, but also to study the market, be able to install new games on your computer, and test them. And this means that the developer will also need very And here we move on to the second main condition for success in the gaming industry. We are talking about hardware components - hardware.
It is known that (from among PCs, of course, we are not talking about industrial computers) - gaming ones. They include hardware components (processor, video card, memory, chipset) that are much more technologically advanced than PCs for office and home needs. Externally, of course, computers of different classes may hardly differ, but from the point of view of electronic “stuffing” the difference is significant. A gaming PC can cost 5-10 times more than an office or home PC. It is possible that even some individual component (for example, the same processor) will have a price higher than the entire finished PC for the office. By the way, powerful hardware will be needed not only for testing gaming products. High-performance components are also required by specialized programs for computer games. Those with the help of which masterpieces of the industry will be created.
The third component of success in releasing great games is, as experts in the “gaming workshop” say, a special type of thinking. It must combine two seemingly completely different principles: logic and creativity. The first is necessary in order to have a good understanding of the construction of scripts, scenarios and various kinds of dependencies embedded in the product concept, to decide how to write a game in a structure that future users will understand and accept. The second is to give your product unique features that distinguish it from similar or competing solutions.
Game Creation Methods
How are games created for a computer? Experts identify three main ways to develop gaming products: using construction kits, using game engines, and writing from scratch. The first is the simplest, the third is the most difficult. Therefore, if we are new to the field of creating games, then it makes sense for us to pay attention to the possibility of using construction sets. However, it will be useful to consider the features of each of the tools.
Game constructors
A constructor is a set of templates that have a programmed behavior model. The closest analogy that can be given to explain how to create a game using such a solution is “Lego” parts. Just as children construct, by reading a manual or improvising, houses, cars and other interesting masterpieces made of plastic.
The user has relatively great freedom in managing templates and setting scenarios for their operation. It is unlikely, of course, that with the help of a designer, even an experienced game developer will be able to produce a product that will create a sensation on the world market. Such programs are, rather, educational in nature, allowing novice gaming industry enthusiasts to understand how games are created on a computer. However, even this kind of task assigned to designers is important from the point of view of industry development.
Game engines
Creating games using engines is a process in which the user has at his disposal a disproportionately wider range of tools than in the case of designers. It is quite realistic to say that through the interfaces supplied by the manufacturers of such solutions, it is possible to create solutions that are competitive even at the global level - arcades, 3D action games, simulation games. Engines can be installed on a computer without problems and are almost always accompanied by a convenient interface for using them. As a rule, also high-quality help and training systems.
What is an engine? This is, in fact, just a set of commands (albeit a very complex one, consisting of hundreds of thousands of algorithms) that allow you to launch individual game processes. The number of templates, similar to those found in constructors, is usually kept to a minimum. And those that exist are very easy to modify or replace with those developed by the user himself. Using engines requires, of course, more qualifications than working with designers. If we are talking about creating a serious game, then the user will most likely have to involve someone else to help (we will look at the structure of a typical development team below). But once a person has mastered the engine interfaces, he will subsequently be able to adapt his existing knowledge and skills to create almost any gaming product.
Game from scratch
If a user has outgrown the capabilities of game engines, not to mention designers, has learned several programming languages, and studied in detail the principles of creating 3D graphics, then it’s time for him to master the most complex tool for creating games - writing a gaming masterpiece from scratch. The stages of releasing a new product will most likely include the development of its own engine - it is rare for a game to do without it, especially one that claims to be recognized in the community.
It is worth noting, however, that it is very difficult to cope with the release of a product from scratch alone (although the history of the gaming industry knows such precedents). But it is quite possible for one user to go through some stages of game development (such as, for example, creating characters, drawing graphic elements) in order to then involve other people by assembling a team.
Professional developers
If we talk about game development as a separate market segment, then the main role here is played by professional studios that have the financial and human resources to release commercially competitive products.
Creating top-level games costs hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, and dozens of specialists from various fields are involved in their release. There are, of course, small and medium-sized development companies whose budgets for the release of gaming products can fit into the amount of 8-10 thousand “green”, but this is a very specific segment.
Structure of a professional game studio
Continuing the conversation about professional development, it will be useful to study the structure of the average development company. Who should work for a company that claims to create a global gaming bestseller? How do people who do this on a professional basis create games on a computer?
The development team must include designers and artists. Without their talent, computer graphics will not impress users. Graphics are, according to many experts, a key factor in the success of a game. In some cases, positions of this type are divided by function. For example, a team of game creators may have separate 2-D and 3D designers, as well as so-called concept artists who offer their colleagues and company management sketches of future graphic elements for approval.
The next group of specialists are “modelers”. Befitting the name of their position, they create prototypes of the game characters, as well as the artifacts, equipment, and buildings surrounding them, and “model” the future virtual world. In some cases, specialists in this category are assisted by animators (in cases where particularly complex character movements have to be modeled).
In most cases, programmers themselves are involved in creating games. This happens most often when the development company uses its own engine, but it is necessary to periodically coordinate the scripts written in it with the features of the game animation laid down by the artists. If the engine is supplied by a third-party developer, then, as a rule, no changes to the program code are required.
A serious gaming product cannot be made without an art director. This person is called upon to consolidate the efforts of artists and designers within a single concept. He will also be responsible for the efficiency of work, organizing processes so that the game is released on time.
We create games ourselves: a review of programs
How to create a game with only general knowledge of how programs for developing gaming products work? There are many tools that allow even an amateur to create his own game. Let us give examples of the types of solutions that we discussed above.
Game Maker
This program makes it possible to create a game even for those users who do not speak programming languages. This, however, is not about developing three-dimensional masterpieces. The program allows you to create only 2D games, but in a wide variety of genres. You can make very simple action games. The menu available to the user contains a large number of ready-made templates. All that essentially remains to be done is to come up with your own game scenario.
The program contains fairly detailed instructions and a good quality help system. Having mastered the capabilities of Game Maker at a basic level, the user can move on to learning the built-in language of this program - Game Maker Language. Using its capabilities, you can go beyond the templates built into the software and create games almost from scratch.
Construct-2
The Construct-2 product is recognized by experts as one of the most functional solutions in its class for creating games by users who do not speak programming languages. The huge advantage of this solution is that it can be used to produce games for most platforms used today - Windows, iOS, Android, create them in HTML5 and applications for Facebook (having understood how to make programs to run on this social network, the user will learn how to create a game on VK and show it to friends). Users of Construct-2 note the simplicity and clarity of its interface. You can work mainly according to templates, but there are a lot of them, and therefore there is almost anyone that will fit into the scenario invented by the user. The nice thing is that Conustruct-2 is free.
Unity 3D
The two programs listed above are designed for creating games in 2D mode. Unity allows you to work using 3D graphics capabilities. The opportunities that the program provides are huge. Just as in the case of Construct 2, there is multiplatform (there is even support for consoles - Xbox, PlayStation, Wii).
The program includes one of the best game engines in the world, according to experts (it is also called Unity). Therefore, this solution, without any exaggeration, allows us to create world-class gaming masterpieces (if, of course, we manage to assemble a team comparable in personnel to at least the average development studio). It will be possible to release very serious games on the computer. Shooting games - definitely, strategies - also quite realistic, racing, simulators - easy.
What should future game developers consider? Which language should I start learning with? What to strive for? Who to look up to? And what needs to be done first?
Most rock music fans sooner or later pick up a guitar. Sports fans passionately dream of going to the football field, basketball court or tennis court. Well, those who have committed hundreds of thefts in GTA, spent dozens of hours in computer clubs playing Counter-Strike, or achieved considerable success in MMORPGs are probably thinking about a career as a game developer.
The problem is that this area is taught in only a few educational institutions. Therefore, most game developers are self-taught, having once compiled the curriculum themselves. But what nuances did they take into account? Where did you start and what did you strive for? What language did you learn first? We tried to answer these and other pressing questions.
What to strive for?
Before going to the store, you make a shopping list (at least in your head). Before traveling to the other end of the city, plan your route. Well, before learning how to develop games, it is advisable to ask yourself: what exactly do you want to do? Create mobile applications or browser games? Work in a large company or a small one? Should I develop games professionally or devote my free time to it? And if the first, then what interests you more: creating an interface, polishing the gameplay, or writing scripts?
Correct goal setting will help save a lot of time and effort. In addition, it will allow you to reach your final destination by the shortest route. Without the risk of leaving the road or falling into a swamp.
What language should I learn?
In addition, the answer to the burning question depends on the goal: what programming language should you start with?
Thus, future developers of games like Minecraft and mobile applications for Android should pay close attention to Java. To begin with, we recommend taking an intensive course, especially since it is free. For those who are looking towards iOS - Objective-C. For browser games, sometimes knowledge of Ruby-On-Rails is enough. For very small and simple ones, HTML is sometimes enough. Flash game production uses ActionScript, and to write scripts of any complexity you will need JavaScript or perhaps the less common Lua. To create small console games, knowledge of C# is required.
As for the most large-budget games (the so-called AAA class), most of them are equipped with their own or borrowed “engine”. Often, however, the entire “engine” or most of it is written in C++. It was this language that was used to create many famous “toys” - from Doom 3 and Call Of Duty to FIFA and The Sims. While classics like Quake were written in C.
However, there is a catch in mastering C++ - excessive complexity. It’s not for nothing that they say that taking on C++ without knowing other languages is the same as starting to study mathematics with linear equations.
Is one language enough?
One of the beauties of programming is the opportunity for constant self-development. In the development of games (especially large ones), self-improvement, including learning as many languages as possible, is not a whim, but a vital necessity. Thus, experienced developers working for the benefit of the giants of the gaming industry are often faced with the need to alternately write in 7-8 languages. At the same time, in addition to the above languages, they have to learn, for example, Python or even SQL (as you understand, to create databases).
Therefore, if you decide to throw in your lot with the production of major games, be prepared to become a “polyglot”. In addition, the more languages you master, the more interesting and varied tasks you will be given. And, of course, your chances of getting your dream job will increase significantly.
WHERE TO BEGIN?
Before you can travel around the world, you need to learn to walk. Well, before a serious game project, you need to try your hand at something less significant.
Almost all experienced developers, regardless of credentials and talent, started with small applications: board games, variations of well-known “toys”, simple “flash drives”. Then they did not think about large exhibitions like E3, but accumulated invaluable experience. Why not follow their example? It is not necessary to write extremely complex code. For a debut, it is enough to use special programs for creating games (for example, Game Maker). After all, even with simple tools you will make your life much easier. Firstly, you will understand in miniature the logic and structure of almost any gaming application. Secondly, you will get bumps that will heal during the transition to serious projects. Finally, thirdly, enrich your portfolio. After all, even a simple “toy” requires a lot of time, patience and creativity to come up with a concept, write code and fix bugs. In addition, it shows that you are familiar with game production not only in dry theory.
What to take as a guideline?
Anyone who dreams of becoming a writer will read hundreds of books before writing a single word. Piano masters know the best works of Strauss, Chopin and Beethoven by heart. Famous artists memorized art history before major exhibitions.
The same principle applies to game development. You can't develop in a vacuum. Therefore, play, be inspired by the masters and, like a sponge, absorb the best. At the same time, try to look at applications not through the eyes of a “gamer”, but through the eyes of a developer. In other words: transpose the game. Think about why at this moment in time the “bot” ran to the left and not back? What factors change the strength and accuracy of a shot in a sports simulator? How to create a "fatigue effect" when a character runs for a long time? How to make sure that when it rains, the player hears the sound of drops, and not the squeal of a pig? In general, get to the point. Try to recreate in your head the algorithms you encounter during the game. Believe me, such a constructive approach will help you in your future difficult, but damn exciting career as a game developer.
Probably everyone who has played computer games has at least once thought about creating their own game and retreated from the difficulties ahead. But a game can be created quite simply if you have a special program in hand, and you do not always need knowledge of programming languages to use such programs. On the Internet you can find many game designers for both beginners and professionals.
If you decide to start creating games, then you definitely need to find yourself development software. We have selected programs for you to create games without programming.
Game Maker is a simple designer program for creating 2D and 3D games, allowing you to create games for a large number of platforms: Windows, iOS, Linux, Android, Xbox One and others. But the game will need to be configured for each OS, since Game Maker does not guarantee the game will work the same everywhere.
The advantage of the constructor is that it has a low entry barrier. This means that if you have never developed games, then you can safely download Game Maker - it does not require any special programming knowledge.
You can create games using a visual programming system or using the built-in GML programming language. We advise you to study GML, as with its help games come out much more interesting and of higher quality.
The process of creating games here is very simple: creating sprites in the editor (you can upload ready-made drawings), creating objects with different properties and creating levels (rooms) in the editor. The speed of game development on Game Maker is much faster than on other similar engines.
Unity 3D
One of the most powerful and most popular game engines is Unity 3D. With its help, you can create games of any complexity and any genre, using the same visual programming interface. Although initially creating full-fledged games on Unity3D implied knowledge of programming languages such as JavaScript or C#, they are needed for larger-scale projects.
The engine will provide you with a lot of possibilities, you just need to learn how to use it. To do this, you will find tons of training material on the Internet. And the program itself helps the user in every possible way in his creativity.
Cross-platform, stability, high performance, user-friendly interface - this is just a small list of the advantages of the Unity 3D engine. Here you can create almost anything: from Tetris to GTA 5. But the program is best suited for indie game developers.
If you decide to list your game on the PlayMarket for something other than free, you will have to pay the Unity 3D developers a certain percentage of sales. And for non-commercial use the program is free.
And back to the designers again! Clickteam Fusion is a program for creating 2D games using a drag'n'drop interface. Here you don't need programming, because you will assemble games piece by piece, like a construction set. But you can also create games by writing code for each object.
With this program you can create games of any complexity and any genre, preferably with a static image. Also, the created game can be launched on any device: computer, phone, PDA, etc.
Despite the simplicity of the program, Clickteam Fusion has a large number of diverse and interesting tools. There is a testing mode in which you can check the game for errors.
Clickteam Fusion is not expensive compared to other programs, and you can also download a free demo version on the official website. Unfortunately, the program is not suitable for large games, but for small arcades it is just right.
Another very good program for creating two-dimensional games is Construct 2. Using visual programming, you can create games for various popular and not so popular platforms.
Thanks to its simple and intuitive interface, the program is suitable even for those users who have never dealt with game development. Also, beginners will find many tutorials and examples of games in the program, with a detailed explanation of all processes.
In addition to standard sets of plugins, behaviors and visual effects, you can add them yourself by downloading from the Internet or, if you are an experienced user, write plugins, behaviors and effects in JavaScript.
But where there are pros, there are also cons. The main disadvantage of Construct 2 is that export to additional platforms is carried out only using third-party programs.
CryEngine is one of the most powerful engines for creating 3D games, the graphical capabilities of which surpass all similar programs. It was here that such famous games as Crysis and Far Cry were created. And all this is possible without programming.
Here you will find a very large set of tools for game development, as well as tools that designers need. You can quickly create sketches of models in the editor, or you can immediately on location.
The physics system in EdgeEngin supports inverse kinematics of characters, vehicles, physics of hard and soft bodies, liquids, and tissues. So the objects in your game will behave quite realistically.
CryEngine is, of course, very cool, but the price for this software is corresponding. You can check out the trial version of the program on the official website, but only advanced users who can cover the cost of the software should buy it.
Game Editor is another game builder on our list that is similar to a simplified Game Maker. Here you can create simple 2D games without any special programming knowledge.
Here you will only work with actors. These can be both characters and “interior” items. Each actor can have many different properties and functions. You can also write actions in the form of code, or you can simply select a ready-made script.
Also, using Game Editor you can create games for both computers and phones. To do this, simply save the game in the correct format.
Unfortunately, you are unlikely to create a large project using Game Editor, as it will take a lot of time and effort. Another disadvantage is that the developers abandoned their project and no updates are expected yet.
And here is a competitor for Unity 3D and CryEngin - Unreal Development Kit. This is another powerful game engine for developing 3D games for many popular platforms. Games here, too, can be created without using programming languages, but simply by assigning ready-made events to objects.
Despite the complexity of mastering the program, Unreal Development Kit gives you great opportunities for creating games. We advise you to learn how to use them all. Fortunately, you will find plenty of materials on the Internet.
For non-commercial use, you can download the program for free. But as soon as you start receiving money for the game, you need to pay interest to the developers, depending on the amount received.
The Unreal Development Kit project does not stand still and the developers regularly post additions and updates. Also, if you have any problems while working with the program, you can contact the support service on the official website and they will definitely help you.
Kodu Game Lab is probably the best choice for those starting to get into 3D game development. Thanks to the colorful and clear interface, creating games in this program is interesting and not at all difficult. In general, this project was developed for teaching schoolchildren, but still it will be useful even for adults.
The program is very good at helping you understand how games are created and what they are. By the way, to create a game you don’t even need a keyboard - everything can be done with just a mouse. There is no need to write code here, you just need to click on objects and events.
A special feature of Code Game Lab is that it is a free program in Russian. And this, mind you, is very rare among serious game development programs. There is also a lot of educational material, done in an interesting form of quests.
But no matter how good the program is, there are also disadvantages. Kodu Game Lab is simple, yes. But it doesn’t have as many tools as we would like. This development environment is also quite demanding on system resources.
3D Rad is a rather interesting program for creating 3D games for your computer. As with all the programs mentioned above, it uses a visual programming interface, which will please novice developers. Over time, you will learn how to create scripts in this program.
This is one of the few programs that is free even for commercial use. Almost all game engines either need to be purchased or a percentage of the income must be deducted. In 3D Rad you can create a game of any genre and make money from it.
Interestingly, in 3D Rad you can create a multiplayer game or a network game and even set up a game chat. This is another interesting feature of this program.
The designer also pleases us with the quality of visualization and physics engine. You can customize the behavior of hard and soft bodies, and also force ready-made 3D models to obey the laws of physics by adding springs, joints, etc. to them.
With the help of another interesting and colorful program - Stencyl, you can create bright and colorful games for many popular platforms. The program has no genre restrictions, so here you can bring all your ideas to life.
Stencyl is not just an application development software, but a set of tools that makes the work of creating an application easier, allowing you to focus on what matters most. In this case, there is no need to write the code yourself - all you need is to move the blocks with the code, thus changing the behavior of the main characters of your application.
Of course, the free version of the program is quite limited, but it is still enough to create a small and interesting game. You will also find a lot of educational material, as well as the official wiki encyclopedia - Stencylpedia.
This is just a small part of all existing programs for creating games. Almost all of the programs on this list are paid, but you can always download a trial version and decide if it's worth the money. We hope you find something for yourself here and we can see the games you create soon.
The program is designed to create two-dimensional games without using programming languages. Instead of lines of code, ready-made actions of game characters are substituted. The user can only create game objects, provide them with two-dimensional sprites or animation, create rules for interaction between objects, and arrange objects on levels. You can draw graphics and animation directly in Game Maker without using third-party programs.
This program excels at top-down games and side-view platformers.
“Game Maker” will also be of interest to advanced programmers; there is also the opportunity to add your own program code.
The free version of the program does not limit ordinary users in any way, compared to the paid version of Game Maker Pro. The paid version provides access to complex software modules that are of interest only to real professional programmers.
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A very simple 2D game designer. Knowledge of programming languages is not required.
Unlike Game Maker, Construct 2 can create games for iOS, Android, Facebook, Chrome Web Store, Desktop Windows, Windows 8 Apps, Web (HTML5), Kongregate and many other platforms.
This is a higher quality program, but also more greedy for money. The program is free until you want to sell your game. In this case, you will need to buy a licensed version. There is also a special store on the developers’ website where you can buy building resources for your game: sound sets, music, detailed instructions.
We recommend the training course “TDS from A to Z” (creating a game in the “Top-down shooter” genre).
Programs for creating 3D games (Website)
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"3D Rad" is the cheapest option among 3D game engines. The program can be used completely free of charge, and by paying $5 you get the latest updates on the day they are released (in the free version, updates appear only after three months). Most often, this engine is used to create racing games.
The program has a simple and clear interface, not burdened with trifles.
"3D Rad" supports the installation of individual plugins, has pre-installed AI models, shadow and texture maps. It is possible to create online games.
NeoAxis Game Engine SDK
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An excellent game engine with a simple interface and high-quality graphics. Designed to create games in almost any genre.
Created based on the Ogre3D engine. The programming language used is C# and C++ and the .NET platform, but it is possible to do without programming thanks to special libraries of ready-made actions. The engine has various add-ons and extensions developed by third-party users. It is possible to export for 3dsMax and Maya, Autodesk Softimage and Blender. PSSM (Parallel-Split Shadow Map) shaders, lighting and shadows are supported.
NeoAxis Engine is distributed under 4 license types: Non-commercial – free for non-commercial projects; Indie license – $95/$295 (single/team); Commercial – $395/995 (single/team); Source license - from $9,800.
The main advantage of this game engine is maximum convenience and simplicity. In addition, the engine was developed by domestic programmers, which is why it has Russian as the default language. When you purchase a licensed version, you receive high-quality technical support in your native language.
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A comprehensive tool containing everything you might need to create a game. The Unity 3D package includes a graphics engine that fully utilizes the capabilities of DirectX and OpenGL, a built-in 3D model editor, separate programs for creating and processing shaders, shadows, landscapes, physics and sounds, as well as rich script libraries. With Unity 3D you can completely forget about third-party programs, or reduce their use to a minimum.
Unity 3D is suitable for creating games of any genre. The platforms supported are regular computers (Windows XP/Vista/7, OSX), mobile devices (Android, iOS, Blackberry), game consoles (Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox), Internet browsers (Flash, Web Player).
There is a special collaborative development system - Asset Server, which allows you to develop a game as part of an entire team directly via the Internet.
The only negative is that to use Unity 3D you need to know computer programming at least at an intermediate level. Despite the rich library of ready-made practical software solutions and a powerful scripting engine with instant compilation, some of the code will have to be written independently in JavaScript or C#.
Unreal Development Kit (UDK)
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One of the most popular game engines among professional game developers. Games such as the Unreal Tournament series, the Mass Effect series, XCOM, Borderlands 2, DmC: Devil May Cry and dozens and hundreds of smaller games were created on the Unreal Engine.
"UDK" supports the following platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Android.
This engine was originally designed for creating 3D shooters, but it also has the ability to create games of related genres: slashers, adventures, MMO games.
The game engine perfectly creates facial animations, complex building architecture, and processes complex physical objects. UDK contains all the necessary tools for creating animations, textures, sounds, levels, models, and program scripts. There is a built-in library containing more than 1000 structures, other 3D models, standard textures and sounds. It is possible to program in a special language “Unreal Script” (created based on C++).
You can use UDK completely free of charge until you decide to officially publish your game created on this engine. In this case, you will have to fork out for an expensive license.
CryENGINE 3 Free SDK
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"CryENGINE 3" is the pinnacle of modern game engines, delivering photorealistic graphics with support for DirectX 11 and third generation shaders. The third version of the engine was created in 2009. The Far Cry and Crysis series of games, the online game Aion, as well as dozens of lesser-known computer games were created on this engine.
The Crytek company decided to distribute this already popular game engine for free. But the free version only lasts until you want to officially release a game created on this engine. The licensed version is more expensive than all similar programs, but it is worth the money.
On "CryENGINE 3" you can create games for the platforms: PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
You can import textures from graphics programs “3ds max”, “Maya”, as well as from previous versions of the engine.
The CryENGINE 3 engine turned out to be very popular, it has a whole Russian-speaking community, thanks to this you can easily find all kinds of training materials, as well as answers to specific questions.
