| Recently there has been a demand for tools | | | | commercial options, such as Torque or |
| which will allow the user to create video games | | | | Gamestudio, but no comprehensive free or open |
| for the PC and consoles. In the last few years | | | | source alternatives. Delta 3D is one such choice, |
| many options have become available, and in this | | | | but you will need additional tools to create games |
| article I will outline a few of them. I will also cover | | | | with it. |
| some of the terminology of this subject, and | | | | I should also mention that GCSs may not be a |
| provide some alternatives to creating your own | | | | perfect fit for your particular needs when making |
| games on the PC. | | | | a game for the PC. Most game developers use |
| Make Your Own Video Games for Consoles: | | | | many custom tools tailor made for their needs as |
| The only console system you can currently make | | | | a result. So your best bet is to use tools that are |
| games for is the Xbox 360. To do so you need | | | | specialized for different aspects of game |
| to download XNA and join their "Creator's Club" | | | | development. You will need a good programming |
| for $99.00 a year. XNA has been designed to be | | | | environment, a good image editor, a good sound |
| fairly easy to use, but some programming | | | | and music editor, and a good modeling animation |
| experience is required. | | | | studio. |
| Make Your Own Video Games for the PC: | | | | The current industry standard modeling and |
| There are many options if you want to make | | | | animation studios are 3DS Max and Maya. |
| your own games on the PC. The first thing you | | | | However True Space and Blender both provide |
| need to know is the difference between a game | | | | excellent free alternatives, and are backed by |
| engine, and a GCS (Game Creation System.) | | | | large, supportive communities. The industry |
| Game Engines: | | | | standard image editing programs are Paint Shop |
| A video game engine is just that, an engine. Few | | | | Pro and Adobe Photoshop, but the free |
| if any tools come with it, so some programming | | | | alternatives Gimp and Paint.NET will work just as |
| is required. There are many commercial engines | | | | well. Expensive programs like Cakewalk are used |
| available such as the Unreal Engine or CryEngine 2, | | | | for the creation of music and sounds, but |
| and almost as many free alternatives. Crystal | | | | Audacity is a free alternative. The best free |
| Space 3D and the Irrlicht Engine are examples of | | | | programming environment is Microsoft Visual |
| the later. | | | | Studio Express. |
| GCSs: | | | | Making video games requires a lot of work, but |
| If you don't want to mess with any programming | | | | with the right tools it can be done fairly quickly |
| you need a GCS. A GCS packages a video game | | | | and easily. Now that you know what tools to look |
| engine along with a variety of tools which can be | | | | for, it should be a lot easier to find what you |
| used to make a game. There are a lot of | | | | need. |