The gaming industry has become a behemoth, dominating on a global scale — it’s highly lucrative for those involved, which is why there’s such a scramble for another slice of the game development pie. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or somebody wanting to make their own indie game from the comfort of their home, the software you choose will significantly impact the games you can create. This article will look at some of the most popular software so you can decide for yourself.
Unity
Unity is known within the game development space for being one of the most versatile development platforms available, which is why it’s so popular. Unity is a commonly used software in the casino industry, making it easier for developers to create games that look and feel better and more intuitive.
It has an accessible user interface while still incredibly powerful, making it perfect for professional developers and hobbyists, depending on how much work you’re willing to put into the process. It provides excellent support for graphical output, which is essential when you’re looking to create a game that has visual appeal.
Being limited by location has the potential to kill your game before it has the chance to reach its full potential. With Unity, there is cross-platform support, so you can decide where you want to play without needing to exclude vast portions of your target market. This is especially important for games with online functionality, as they are often far more lucrative due to the inclusion of pay-to-play elements. This multiplayer service, championed by Unity, is a crucial selling point.
Unity is attractive for beginners and is an excellent place to start, even if you can complete more complex hard-coded tasks. Unity has a huge asset store that you can use to build specific aspects of your game, including scripts and plug-ins, saving you valuable time, which will quicken the development process. It has physical assets, but Unity also has plenty of resources that you can use to develop your skills and create more complex elements.
Unreal Engine
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Epic Games, a powerhouse in the gaming industry, developed Unreal Engine, creating popular games such as Gears of War and Fortnite. While they were first known for the games they developed in-house, their Unreal Engine has quickly become the gold standard when it comes to platforms to develop games.
What sets this platform apart is its incredible graphics, which has been something that Epic Games has been known for since the late 1990s, complete with cutting-edge rendering capabilities.
Epic Games’ Unreal Engine also features a visual scripting system called Blueprints. This system simplifies game development for those who are not expert coders, making the whole process much more accessible. Blueprints allow designers to create complex mechanics without extensive programming knowledge, making the process faster and more budget-friendly as developers won’t need to outsource as many aspects of the process.
Construct
While Construct might not have the same level of custom-building elements, it has been designed to be as easy to use as possible, perfect for no-code and low-code developers. This does not require a deep knowledge of programming. Construct could be a great starting point if you want to dip your toe into the development world, but you should know that this comes with limitations. You will have a different level of control than the other development platforms provide. That being said, it’s worth playing with.
Phaser
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Phaser is a popular choice for those wanting to create 2D games, especially for developers wishing to develop HTML games that can be played online without downloading them. This system has been designed with an eye on convenience, specifically tailored to cater to the web browser gaming market, making the process much easier.
By using JavaScript, developers have a better chance of creating great games that won’t require a complex knowledge of confusing programming languages.
Phaser also has a wide range of features, despite being oriented for the 2D gaming space, meaning that it’s possible to create games with support for physics, sound, and user input handling so that you can add another level of interactivity for players. Suppose there’s something you need clarification on. In that case, the online community can be a powerful resource that can help answer any question you have, which can be incredibly valuable for beginners.
Choosing Your Software
No matter which platform you use, it’s worth shopping the market to see which fits your skill set and style best. Some platforms have much more powerful output options, such as Unreal Engine, while others, such as Construct and Phaser, will be more entry-level-friendly. This isn’t something you need to rush into, and whichever you choose, we’re sure you’ll have plenty of fun discovering its quirks and finding your development style that’ll take your ability to the next level.
