What computer game writing software should I use?

May 31, 2012 5:08 AM

I want to make a couple of small computer games for the PC. Where do I start?

I want to make a couple of simple (?!) computer games and hide puzzles in them. I don't want loads of coding because it will put me off.

I'd like to make a 2D platform scroller like Jet Set Willy, a 2.5D adventure game in the style of Prisoner of Ice, a simple RPG similar to MegaTraveller 1 - The Zhodani Conspiracy, a Doom clone, and a text / graphic adventure game like Hitch-Hikers guide to the galaxy


What sort of computer game writing software would you recommend? Are there some really obvious things I ought to know before starting? Bonus points for open source.

posted by gonzo_ID to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

For a text adventure game, you definitely should take a look at Inform, which allows you to write in something akin to natural language. It will do all the heavy lifting in terms of parsing and has loads of volunteer support from the professionals (well, the professional amateurs...I don't think there are really professional professionals in the world of text adventures any more).
posted by bcwinters at 5:34 AM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

There are a number of tools you could use. I second Inform for text adventures.
For a graphical RPG, I would use RPG Maker. For a Doom clone maybe look into Garry's Mod?
posted by Akke at 5:37 AM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

A platformer is easy to do in Game Maker.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:25 AM on May 31, 2012 [2 favorites]

the TIGsource forums have some great resources, a lot of very good games have started as ideas there.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:22 AM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

The major issues with making games: it requires coding, assets, and time. Your "small" projects (2D side-scroller, text adventure) seem reasonable assuming that you're willing to do a bit of code development and either purchase or create graphics. The rest is much more complicated, and a good output will take months of work and real development chops to get a decent outcome, rather than a clunk pre-fabricated result as would be the result of using a game-creation tool.

Start with the text adventure. Spend some time working out game flow, making it fun, and for the sake of your sanity, cut your scope. Make a 60-minute text adventure, not a sprawling epic. You'll learn more about game creation by doing and finishing a project than you will by starting a half dozen things and never completing them.
posted by ellF at 7:59 AM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Inform, Game Maker (for platformers), RPG Maker, and Adventure Game Studio all seem to be the go-to tools for their respective genres. For anything 3D (and any semi-serious gamemaking, even 2D) I highly recommend the free version of Unity, though you won't get quite as far without some coding. And if you want a community devoted to making lots of small games utterly regardless of your skill level, look no further than Glorious Trainwrecks.
posted by squidlarkin at 3:05 PM on May 31, 2012 [2 favorites]

GameSalad is what you want. No code.
posted by tracert at 6:04 PM on May 31, 2012