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SoCoder -> Blogs Home -> Blogs

 
f4ktor
Created : 21 June 2007
Edited : 21 June 2007

About GameDeveloping - No.2
Ok, part 2 covers what I promised a few weeks ago:
A list of useful software for you guys.

Game Engines & Game Programming Languages (3D DX9 or OpenGL rendering and audio at least)

- Sylphis3D : $0
- Luxinia : $0(Freeware Open Source) or $100(Commercial)
- FPS Creator : $50
- DarkBasic Pro : $70
- GLBasic : $80
- BlitzMax (+ miniB3D) : $80
- Leadwerks Engine : $100
- Torque Game Engine : $150
- Vatan Game Engine : $150
- 3D Game Studio Commercial : $200

3D Modelling and UV Mapping

- Wings3D : $0
- Blender : $0
- Milkshape3D : $25
- Fragmotion : $25
- Morphology : $30
- UltimateUnwrap3D (only UV Mapping) : $50

Animating

- Blender : $0
- Milkshape3D : $25
- Fragmotion : $25
- PaceMaker : $50

Level Creation

- Blender : $0
- DeleD : $0(Lite) or $60(Pro)
- gile[s] : $50
- 3D World Studio : $80

The following programs are all free so they should be in your tools folder no matter what:

Texturing

- The Gimp
- MaPZone

Model postprocessing

- 3D Brush

Here are some engine/tool combinations:

1. I've got no money ($0): Sylphis/Luxinia(non commercial) + Blender
2. Don't take all my pocket money ($50): FPS Creator + Blender
3. I saved a bit for my new hobby ($100): Leadwerks Engine + Blender, DBPro/GLBasic + Milkshape/Fragmotion, BlitzMax + Blender
4. I want to get started right ($200): Leadwerks Engine + 3DWS + Blender, 3D Game Studio Commercial, Torque Game Engine, BlitzMax + Milkshape/Fragmotion + PaceMaker
5. One time investment ($300): Leadwerks Engine + 3DWS + Fragmotion/Milkshape + gile[s], BlitzMax + Milkshape/Fragmotion + PaceMaker + gile[s]

The list is not complete and I want you to drop me a PM if you miss some tool/engine. As for XNA engines, I'll write a seperate entry for that later (information wanted).

 

Comments
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 10:27
Jayenkai
 		For flash, SoThink SWF Quicken - $85
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 11:05
f4ktor
 		Well, that's just 3D stuff here. But I might do a list for 2D stuff also if wanted.
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 12:40
TheMadProff
 		Hey, what about for level creating - Google sketchup

There is a free, and a professional...
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 12:57
f4ktor
 		The professional is way to much.
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 13:41
power mousey
 		scratch off DBPro. ugh!!
flush it down!!

I recommend Blitz3d, Pure Basic, Dev C++ package
and Allegro, even Python and Pygame.

But hey, if you are gonna use DBPro
go for it, dude.

|edit| Besides, its not only about budget, but also
your current system specs and state. and also your personal preference, taste and style too. hey, if I was more inTo a state of esoterica as well as a programming maschismo I'd be using DBPro or even DBC. |edit|
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 14:04
f4ktor
 		@Mousey: Blitz3D, PureBasic, Dev C++, Allegro, Python + Pygame all doesn't match the following: 3D graphics powered by DirectX9 or OpenGL and audio
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 14:37
power mousey
 		yet, DirectX9 is backward compatible to DirectX7.
also, there are 3d graphics libraries for Dev C++
package. Also, there is a 3d Pygame lib for Python too.

but, here is something cool for you
and others here too. Enjoy.


View on YouTube
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 15:41
f4ktor
 		Mousey, as I have stated in the first part of "About Game Development" while DX9 SHOULD be compatible to DX7, most of the newer graphics cards (at least the build in GPUs like Intel which are surprisingly widespread these days) have problems with them. That's why DirectX7 backwards compatibility doesn't count here.
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 20:24
power mousey
 		why spend all that moolah,moolah on high end
or the latest greatest graphics cards??
the built-in GPUs that Intel and others
build and manufacturers install in their computers...
lets call it "reverse planned obsolence"
For want of a better term. In this case and example of the GPUs'...why are there problems and why was it designed as be??? You want your computer graphics to work better and with backward compatibility go out and buy a lower-end graphics card that will work with both DirectX7 and DirectX8 versions.

uh...huh.

and again.....and especially for the indie
market and niche: how many people still have and use
computers that support Windows XP and even Windows 98.
And utilize DirectX compatibility back to both versions 7 and 8??

also it seems like a lockdown on older DirectX version of 7 and 8.


again...there must be a new and better

R E V O L U T I O N

in both computer and console gaming. True!!
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 20:51
Jayenkai
 		Speaking from experience, the Intel onboard chips might be good, but they're not perfect.
For starters, mine can't do AntiAliasing.
And, it also has weird texturing issues, with a few textures popping up as plain white here and there.

Still, it plays Half Life 2 better than my last PC, so that's a plus
Thursday, 21 June 2007, 21:08
power mousey
 		yet Jay, if I do
get a new computer in the far future
and with this Intel GPU...I'll install
a lower end graphics card like a GeForce FX 5900
or even Radeon 9600.

and on a cool and positive note


View on YouTube
Friday, 22 June 2007, 08:49
f4ktor
 		@mousey: the problems with newer cards like the GeForce 8 series is that they are designed for DirectX 10. That means they aren't designed mainly for the fixed function rendering pipeline anymore. But that is everything DX7 can do. Also the card manufactorers always try to optimize their cards and drivers for the latest games. Those are all build around DX9 so the developers simply don't care for DX7. Why should they? DX9 is far better.
Friday, 22 June 2007, 13:24
power mousey
 		but you know about the glow??