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Creating a game engine?
I was interested in creating a game design engine/editor. The only part I need to know right now is the most important part...I'm not sure how to make it so that my engine/editor does anything for the user, I think I can get the rest.
** Right now this idea is for non-graphical, or horrible 2D content only, until I learn how to use graphics.
Let me explain this a little better - I can design the engine/editor's user interface, and the technical workings of the engine/editor to a certain extent. Basically I can create an engine/editor that runs smoothly, but doesn't create anything. I need to know, how do I set it so that the options the user chooses in the editor actually creates a game? Would I have to hard-code a system that sets different code pieces for each option that is selected, then puts them together?
** Right now this idea is for non-graphical, or horrible 2D content only, until I learn how to use graphics.
Let me explain this a little better - I can design the engine/editor's user interface, and the technical workings of the engine/editor to a certain extent. Basically I can create an engine/editor that runs smoothly, but doesn't create anything. I need to know, how do I set it so that the options the user chooses in the editor actually creates a game? Would I have to hard-code a system that sets different code pieces for each option that is selected, then puts them together?
I am sorry, but do you actually know what a game engine is? It sure doesn't sound like it.
If you're interested in creating a game engine, this would probably be a good read:
http://www.amazon.de/Game-Engine-Architecture-Jason-Gregory/dp/1568814135
I hope you also understand that creating a game engine is somewhat different from creating a game.
If you're interested in creating a game engine, this would probably be a good read:
http://www.amazon.de/Game-Engine-Architecture-Jason-Gregory/dp/1568814135
I hope you also understand that creating a game engine is somewhat different from creating a game.
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Yes, I do know what a game engine is - A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of video games. And, yes, I also know that a game engine and actual game creation differs greatly. However, the two go hand-in-hand.
I sometimes have trouble expressing my questions in the correct way. I am just curious, what part of my post would make you think I don't know what I'm talking about?
Also, thank you for the link. I will be sure to look into it. However, if anyone could point me in the direction of some free reference resources, it would be greatly appreciated.
I sometimes have trouble expressing my questions in the correct way. I am just curious, what part of my post would make you think I don't know what I'm talking about?
Also, thank you for the link. I will be sure to look into it. However, if anyone could point me in the direction of some free reference resources, it would be greatly appreciated.
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A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of video games. |
This part. It seems you're confusing the terms "game engine" and "tools for creating games" here. A game engine is a sort of runtime environment that handles stuff that happens in the game - what you seem to understand as a game engine would be something like map editors or something the like - which are nowadays often packaged together with a game engine, but not actual parts of it. I ask this because the question
| I need to know, how do I set it so that the options the user chooses in the editor actually creates a game? Would I have to hard-code a system that sets different code pieces for each option that is selected, then puts them together? |
doesn't make any sense when talking about a game engine.
@ hanst99
A game engine is a tool for creating a game. Besides, the part that you have quoted me on there is the basic definition for 'game engine'. Take some time to read the original post a little better, I used the term 'game design engine/editor. The second quote you posted may be worded poorly, but makes perfect sense.
@tajendra
I was basically aiming for an advanced version of the RPG Maker series. Something with more potential than the first or third ones, that is easier to understand for non-programmers, than the second.
| It seems you're confusing the terms "game engine" and "tools for creating games" here. |
@tajendra
I was basically aiming for an advanced version of the RPG Maker series. Something with more potential than the first or third ones, that is easier to understand for non-programmers, than the second.
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I guess the most obvious answer is to have the editor produce some sort of data file containing all the user-defined stuff(maps, characters, items, etc). Of course you must also develop an executable that can read the data file and render the game accordingly.
Also, there are alot of good articles on gamedev.net. Just click Archive under each category to see all...
http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources?view=categories
Also, there are alot of good articles on gamedev.net. Just click Archive under each category to see all...
http://www.gamedev.net/page/resources?view=categories
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No, it doesn't make any sense with a game engine, I'm telling you. If you have a game engine, the question you posted doesn't even come up. An engine is, in simple terms, just something you feed some data, let it work and then it spits some data out. The way your question is worded indicates that you are trying to create development tools - which are used to create such data - without actually having an engine that could work with that data.
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@gpotw
Thank you for the link, I will check it out when I finish my current project.
Thank you for the link, I will check it out when I finish my current project.
Typically, unless you're making a fully featured, huge suite style game engine, you won't have a user interface for the engine itself.
In it's simplest form a game engine is something that drives your game, not something that (really) creates it. Yes, you certainly can have portions of your game engine devoted to creating the game, and loading maps and displaying them, having events run other events is basically like creating a new game from dynamic files, but generally anything you as a single individual making games will not be a fully featured game engine. Not unless you're going to spend a LOT of time on it. Which is perfectly viable.
However from the way you're talking I don't think you quite understand the concept. If you'd like an example, I can spell it out for you.
What do you think a game engine does? Do you think it makes code? Do you think you drag and drop stuff in it game-maker style? Do you think it holds entities for user interaction? Do you think it displays images on the screen? Does it make particles? Does it track collisions? What do you think?
In it's simplest form a game engine is something that drives your game, not something that (really) creates it. Yes, you certainly can have portions of your game engine devoted to creating the game, and loading maps and displaying them, having events run other events is basically like creating a new game from dynamic files, but generally anything you as a single individual making games will not be a fully featured game engine. Not unless you're going to spend a LOT of time on it. Which is perfectly viable.
However from the way you're talking I don't think you quite understand the concept. If you'd like an example, I can spell it out for you.
What do you think a game engine does? Do you think it makes code? Do you think you drag and drop stuff in it game-maker style? Do you think it holds entities for user interaction? Do you think it displays images on the screen? Does it make particles? Does it track collisions? What do you think?
Most engines comprise of ‘a rendering engine for 2D or 3D graphics, a physics engine or collision detection (and collision response), sound, scripting, animation, artificial intelligence, networking, streaming, memory management’ .
These are all used in creating the game, and most engines are integrated into a development kits to allow games artists to produce games faster and which are altogether more simplified. These development kits could also be classed as ‘middleware’.
In the games development cycle, middleware is used most commonly to integrate two different software applications. For example, SpeedTree® is a common middleware used in all sorts of environments such as the UDK (Unreal Development Kit). ‘SpeedTree® is a powerful toolkit used to create 3D vegetation for games, films, and animations.’
this was taken from my dissertation on games engines which took me alot of time to do the research on it.
hope this helps you understand what a games engine is.
These are all used in creating the game, and most engines are integrated into a development kits to allow games artists to produce games faster and which are altogether more simplified. These development kits could also be classed as ‘middleware’.
In the games development cycle, middleware is used most commonly to integrate two different software applications. For example, SpeedTree® is a common middleware used in all sorts of environments such as the UDK (Unreal Development Kit). ‘SpeedTree® is a powerful toolkit used to create 3D vegetation for games, films, and animations.’
this was taken from my dissertation on games engines which took me alot of time to do the research on it.
hope this helps you understand what a games engine is.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=1I9c-8wSgsN_Rj8v3tn0fT5K3Prh-kfVoc3MUI3mTpzn9McIw3roL5Kdijbs1&hl=en a google docs ver of the incomplete dissertation if u want to read.
He obviously doesn't fully understand what a game engine is, how you handle physics, collision etc it is what defines your "engine", you are talking about tools to create game "data", and believe me sir neither the engine or the "tool" are a walk in the park.
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