[game_edu] Suggestions on Game Engines

[Ian Schreiber]

For simple 2D sprite-based games, try Game Maker (www.gamemaker.nl). It's mostly drag-and-drop functionality (with a scripting language if you need something more heavy-duty), it's free, and you can get some advanced features for something like $25US. Perfect for people with little or no programming experience.
 
If you're comfortable with scripting but not hardcore programming, a lot of people like ActionScript / Flash. It's expensive, but if you're at a school they probably have copies already, and even if not the educational version isn't terribly expensive.
 
If you've never developed a game before, my main concern wouldn't be the lack of programming background, but the lack of game design background. Educational games are tricky; most of them end up being glorified multiple-choice tests with a half-baked mini-game tacked on, and finding a way to embrace the inherent fun of skill/content mastery (rather than treating "learning" and "fun" as antithetical concepts) is something that's lost on most "edutainment" developers.
 
- Ian

--- On Thu, 1/8/09, Nilay Yildirim <nilayyildiri at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Nilay Yildirim <nilayyildiri at gmail.com>
Subject: [game_edu] Suggestions on Game Engines
To: game_edu at igda.org
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009, 11:36 PM


I'd like to try developing an educational 2D game. This will be my first try and I am not very familiar with game development or programming languages. Just wanted to check if I anyone can suggest a few game engines suitable for a beginner like me. Which Game Engines are most suitable for someone who doesn't have much of a programming knowledge? 


Thanks,


Nilay Yildirim


Graduate Student
Syracuse University
Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation_______________________________________________
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