Do you have an idea for a new video game? I show you the best programs to create games and programming languages to know
For some time now, the idea of making a video game has been floating in your head and you are wondering what you need to make it.
First you need two basic things:
- game development software
- knowledge of a programming language
There are many software for making video games of the highest level, and they are often free for private use or at least have very low costs for independent developers.
These software allow you to put together all the pieces of the puzzle that make up a video game, such as graphics, 2D / 3D models and most importantly, the logical part of the game.
To make your game work, to make your character walk, jump, or shoot, you need to know at least one programming language.
As we will see later, which language depends on the program to create games that you use.
Index
Which programming language? – Best programs to create games
C
C is a procedural imperative programming language, released in 1972.
Programs written in this language are made up of mathematical expressions and imperative instructions grouped into parameterized procedures capable of manipulating different types of data.
C++
C++ it is probably the most used programming language at the moment in the creation of videogames.
Although it is a complicated language to learn, it has advantages over other languages, such as direct control of the hardware and graphics processes, which are very important in the development of a video game.
C++ is an object-oriented language (OOP), which means that you can use internal structures to better organize your code into reusable blocks (Classes and Objects).
C++ it is a derivative of C, however the two have many differences and incompatibilities, which have increased over the years.
C#
C # is another very popular language, easier to learn than C ++.
His in-depth knowledge is useful in creating video games of any type and for any architecture.
As in the case of C ++, this programming language developed by Microsoft is also object oriented (OOP).
Java
Java plays an important role in the video game industry. It uses the same OOP principles as C ++, but unlike the latter it is designed to be as independent as possible from the execution platform.
And also one of the primary languages for developing games for Android, thanks also to the growing number of third-party modules and libraries.
Python
Phyton is one of the programming languages of the moment, thanks to its simplicity and versatility.
Python offers developers Object Oriented Programming (OOP) techniques, just like C ++ and Java.
Thanks to Pygame, a set of Phyton modules, you can prototype your video games quickly.
The best programs to create games
Unity – Best programs to create games
Unity is a cross-platform graphics engine widely used for video game creation.
To use Unity you need to have knowledge of C#, which can also be acquired through i tutorial offered by Unity itself.
Unity supports assets created in 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, and other similar software, as well as offering a large catalog of high quality graphics, models, textures, both free and paid
In addition to the paid Plus and Pro versions, Unity is also available in free version, for anyone with a revenue from video games below $ 100,000 / year.
Unreal Engine 4 – Best programs to create games
Unreal Engine 4 is the graphics engine of Epic Games, known for games like Fortnite and Unreal Tournament.
One of the things that make Unreal Engine 4 unique is the Visual Scripting System, which allows you to quickly develop the logic of your games without writing a line of code.
For those who are comfortable with classic programming, you can use it without any problems C++.
As with most programs for creating current games, Unreal Engine also allows you to export your creations to PCs, consoles, smartphones and VR systems.
Their payment model provides for thefree use of the software compared to the payment of a royalty of 5% of the turnover, if this exceeds $ 3,000 every 3 months.
In the course of 2021 the version 5 of Unreal Ungine, which brings several very important news.
GameMaker Studio 2 – Best programs for creating games
Developed by the software house YoYo Games, GameMaker Studio 2 has been available on the market for 3 years now.
Thanks to its features and drag-and-drop interface for creating variables and game logic, it is considered one of the best software for beginners.
In any case, having a basic knowledge of C it can be useful in programming more complex scenarios.
GameMaker Studio 2 it is not free. There are 3 versions (Creator, Developer and Console), with prices start at $ 39, and you can try it for free for 30 days before purchasing.