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• Tools of the Trade

So you want to make video games, right? There are a lot of tools out there. I can’t vouch for all of them, but I can certainly tell you what I use myself.

Hey, why isn’t Game Maker/MMF2/etc. on this list!? I haven’t used them yet. Maybe one day.

Prototyping: The Pygame Approach

The Setup – Code

Eclipse : If you’re planning on using Java or Python, I really can’t imagine a better environment. Eclipse does everything right, leaving no feature behind. There are so many packages for download, you can’t possibly dream up something not already on the list.

Pygame : No python game developer is complete without the Pygame package. I admit that it is a bit sloppy (especially if you’re used to fine-tuning your work in other languages), but man does the work get done fast. You can prototype a game within a day or two. This is a great resource just for testing ideas or participating in short compos like Ludum Dare.

The Setup – Media

Paint.NET : I’ve been using this for awhile now. It doesn’t do much, but it works just well enough for me to not throw it out. It’s not as confusing as many other paint programs which makes it ideal for a novice. It also has some decent plug-ins that can make certain tasks much easier. The level of control over the palette is especially great. Overall, it’s decent for sprite work but not much else.

Going Online: The Flash Approach

The Setup – Code

Flashdevelop : If you’re gonna be working with Flash, you’d be a fool to use anything else. This program is free to use and makes life real easy. It takes the complex and strange world of Actionscript and gives it the common sense of any good programming environment. Thank goodness for that!

Flixel : Hey look! A game engine that makes it easy on you! So just how usable is Adam’s excellent framework? Lots of people use it and get great results. I shouldn’t have to sell you on the merits of this brilliant time-saver.

The Setup – Media

GraphicsGale : If you’re willing to shell a couple of bucks, you can’t do better pixel art than this program. It helps with the flow of animation, it does layering (and onion skins), and is great for any low-level detailed work.

Madtracker : There are a lot of trackers out there that will make music for your game. However, the layout of this program is especially helpful if you’re just getting into it. If you’ve never used a tracker before, I suggest starting with Famitracker first.

3D Graphics: The OpenGL Approach

The Setup – Code

Code::Blocks : First things first: the plugins are awesome. If you’re coming from Dev-C++, this program is a luxurious upgrade. It’s not needlessly complex like Eclipse or Visual Studio, yet it still does a lot for you. It’s fast, it’s light, and it gets the job done right.

SFML : Oh, I remember the days of using SDL and Allegro. Man, I was stupid. SFML does everything, it does it fast and does it well. This means sound, networking, the works. It’s also available in a multitude of languages and not just C++. It’s also totally free to use! Seriously! If you use anything else, I question your sanity.

The Setup – Media

Blender : If you’re gonna make 3D models, there isn’t much sense in emptying your wallet for a good tool. Blender is an open-source program that is supported by some pretty heavy hitters (like Pixar.) The interface is crazy complicated if you’ve never done this sort of work before. Fortunately, there is a wide range of tutorials ready to hold your hand.

Linux Multimedia Studio : Trackers don’t really cut mustard if you want to overwhelm the listener with a spectacular Wall of Sound. At that point, it’s time to pull out a sequencer. It’s not easy to learn, but musicians will definitely appreciate this step up. LMMS is free and not too overwhelming, especially if you’re already experienced with a tracker.

Not Done Yet: Other Tools

Here are some other programs I’ve been known to use occasionally. I always choose the best tool for the job ahead and sometimes I need something very specific to one of these programs.

Famitracker : The instruments are limited, the channels are limited, and there isn’t much to it. That’s what you get when you make music for the Famicom! I will say this: Famitracker is the best for learning. If you’ve never done music for video games before, this is definitely the place to start. It’s stripped down to the basics and will really give you a good grasp of the basics before you move on to something bigger.

Fireworks : I find Fireworks is great for doing web-related graphics. When it comes to making fonts all pretty, this is a tough program to beat.

GIMP : GIMP is a decent choice for any job. It’s sort of a one-size-fits-all paint program. But getting it to do exactly what you want is like pulling teeth. Considering I have a whole plethora of tools already, GIMP doesn’t get much use. However, if you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades and don’t mind the hurdles, take a look.

Maya : If you’re gonna spend a lot of money, this is what all the professionals use. Seriously, I think just about every artist in the games industry uses it for big-budget projects. It’s overkill for indie development.

FL Studio : If you’re one of those rare musicians that has money, this program is a decent improvement over the offerings of LMMS. I can’t really say it’s better, but it does have more instruments and does have Garage Band-like capabilities.