Thread: I'm curious about making video games

Isn't flash free?

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Isn't flash free?

Not by a long shot

Oh, well then C++?

I've never used game maker, but I'm sure it is something you could use.

http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/

This is one link I think there might be more places to search for it.

I was told it was originally only 2d, but now it supports some 3d capabilities as well. This is probably good enough for making games similar to final fantasies old stuff.

You can find free online sprite makers to make your characters.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Oh, well then C++?

yes thats a good one, either that or C#.
you can get that free, and also you can get XNA for more features, its kind of an add-on, also free.

I think starting with simple modding is a better idea.

Originally Posted by NeoSioType

specifically something with 2-D sprites similar to the old final fantasy games. Is there freeware out there that can let me do this? I have some experience with the notepad, though setting characters/music in MUGEN (a fighting game) doesn't really count...

www.cprogramming.com
www.allegro.cc
www.codeblocks.org

Have at it.

Originally Posted by A Roxxor

[url]www.allegro.cc

Allegro would be good to start out, but if you want to make real games someday you should transition to OpenGL quickly.

I found a wiki about game programming, if you want to see it. I haven't looked at it yet, but it is apparently about programming games.

http://gpwiki.org/
Here is a list of game engines and the programming languages involved with them from the gpwiki.
http://gpwiki.org/index.php/Game_Engines

I've never edited anything in games except for Fable. http://fabletlcmod.com/forum/ For the P.C. Well, at least without gameshark or codebreaker and etc. hehe.
But I enjoyed it, and they have it set up so that you can learn to do it on your own, and you can edit everything. They even have something called AlbionExplorer which allows even someone like me who never had experience in it to change extremely advanced things in it. You could try it in case you were going to take Marvo's advice.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Allegro would be good to start out, but if you want to make real games someday you should transition to OpenGL quickly.

OpenGL is a little much for someone with no programming experience

Originally Posted by A Roxxor

Games are a little much for someone with no programming experience

but I'm an elitist snob

Originally Posted by Ynot

but I'm an elitist snob

Meh. You can make games with Html

Originally Posted by Ynot

Games are a little much for someone with no programming experience

+1

Python with pygame (basically a high-level SDL wrapper) has a short enough learning curve if the OP is willing to learn how to program, though.

It really depends what sort of game you wanna make XD

I've had years of experience with Game Maker, then I moved onto Flash. I would begin in Game Maker, but don't get too attached to it. I've been making games for maybe 7 years, and it was a good decision to move on. Also, Flash works best with vectors, and Game Maker has a built in pixel-graphic editting software. So for you---Game Maker. Also, be sure to get the registered version, it's definitely worth it.

Oh, something I just remembered... Blender

Blender has a built in game engine, I've never used it, but then again, I know how to program.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Blender has a built in game engine

speaking of Blender's game engine
have you seen Yo Frankie?

Why not start from a free open-source game and mod it? There are loads of 2D open-source games in all genres. Or you could use one of the countless 2D game engines.

Either way, there's no good reason to start everything from scratch or even from the middle. If you make your own engine you will never get finished and if you just integrate library after library, you're basically doing what a million people before you have done.

So you might as well use that time constructively and start making your game, because you will have enough to do just learning to code, let alone understanding how an integrated game engine works.