Game design software is any program that makes games and is not as complex as a game programming language. Game design software is typified by these characteristics :
- It includes a game engine.
- It has a scripting language to control that game engine or is "programmed" by "snap together components".
- It is advertised as "Requires no programming!" or comes as part of a finished game.
This includes game editors distributed with well known games, such as Unreal Ed, and applications that have been purposefully created to allow a beginner to make games without having to "program".
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Types of game design software
There are two types of game design software general purpose and game specific:
General purpose
General purpose, or generic game design software is flexible enough to make any kind of game, usually 2D. Because general purpose game design software relies heavily on it's scripting language, even to create the game objects, such packages are usually considered slow. They are often fast enough for most 2D games.
2d Game Builders
Game Maker
GameMaker 7 is a 2d game builder for Windows which features drag-and-drop elements aimed at new users, and a powerful scripting language (capable of accessing DLL files) for advanced users. A free demo is available.
Game Editor
Game Editor is a game design program similar to Game Maker. It is flexible enough to make any kind of 2D game. Unlike Game Maker, it is able to make games for mobile phones. It is also annoying as hell to use, even more so than Game Maker, which is hard to imagine. The interface isn't as well organized.
- Game Editor - official Game Editor website.
Klik N Play
Klik N Play was one of the first game design software packages that gained a following. It has no scripting language to speak of and resembles a very primitive form of Game Maker (it predates Game Maker). It's not recommended that anyone actually develop games with Klik N Play, however, if you want to check out the history of game making software, it may be worth the download, if you can find one. Clickteam, the creators of Klik n Play, no longer offer it for download.
- Little Dawg's Klik N Play Page - personal website of someone using Klik N Play.
Torque Game Builder
Torque Game Builder is a 2d drag-and-drop game editor used by professionals to create games on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Consoles. The creators have also released a 3d game builder. GarageGames offers a free demo of both 2d and 3d versions.
3d Game Builders
3d Game Studio
3d Game Studio is a 3d game editor for Windows released by Conitec/Atari. It includes a programming language called LiteC.
Ray Game Designer
Ray Game Designer is a freeware 3D game design program. It once was commercial, but now it has been released as freeware. Unfortunately, it's getting old and no new updates are expected. It's also harder to use than it should be. We consider it endangered, meaning that if you develop a game with it, it is likely not to be supported at all at the present time, or at all in the future.
- Ray Game Designer - Ray Game Designer official website.
Shiva
Shiva is a 3d game editor for Windows, Linux, OSX and iPhone which uses the LUA scripting language.
Unity
Unity is a 3d game editor for Windows, Mac and iPhone, capable of instant software updates in realtime.
XNA Game Studio
XNA Game Studio is a 3d game editor created by Microsoft which compiles games for Windows, Zune, or XBox.
Game specific
Game specific, or game genre specific game design software includes a more rigid engine which usually allows only making one type of game or extending a commercial one.
Game editors
UnrealEd
UnrealEd is a 3d game editor for the Unreal and Unreal line of games. UnrealEd allows you to modify scripts written in UnrealScript that can modify almost every aspect of the game. It also is a level designer which can be used to make your own Unreal Tournament levels.
Source
Source is a 3d game editor for the Valve Software line of games. Users who purchase HalfLife 2, Portal, Team Fortress 2, or Left4Dead will be able to download the Source SDK from steam at no additional cost.
RPG makers
Realm Crafter
Realm Crafter - a commercial MMORPG engine with a scripting language.
RPG Maker
RPG Maker - a commercial game creation program designed to only make console-style RPGs.
RPG Toolkit
RPG Toolkit is a free RPG maker.
Scenario RPG Maker
Scenario RPG Maker - an opensource RPG maker built in GFABasic.
RPG Builder 3D
FPS Makers
Torque 3d
Torque 3d is a 3d FPS game editor used by professionals to create games on Windows, Mac and Consoles. You can technically make more than just FPS games, but doing so requires complex edits to the source code. Updates to the game world by administrators reflect themselves in real-time to players of the game. The creators have also released a 2d game builder. GarageGames offers a free demo of both 2d and 3d versions.
FPS Creator
FPS Creator is a game design program designed to make 3D FPSes. FPS Creator is available for Microsoft Windows only and requires Direct X. It uses quite a bit more resources than it should. UnrealEd runs smoother, and is capable of making better FPS games. Additionally, the help file is an unsearchable PDF, which is extremely annoying.
Related Pages
- list of free game design software - our list of free game design software.
- game programming language - a step up from game design software.
- game design software graveyard - those not with us anymore
| Categories: Game Design Software : Software |