I just came – rather, rediscovered, Engine001. “MAKE GAMES : NO CODING” , it says on big letters on the front page.
Image by r3v || cls via Flickr
That puts the total of satisfactory “Make games; no coding” tools I’ve personally used to half a dozen: Game Maker, Scirra Construct, RPG Maker, StencylWorks, Engine001 – onward, fellow developers. And I, by my own admission, am a fairly weak user. Each day, as I perceive, these tools get better and more and more enthusiasts realize their dreams of making games. Each day, as the AAA boundaries are pushed forwards by the likes of John Carmack – this “indie” technology keeps up, lowering the barriers into GameDev even further.
Are we facing a major shift here? There was a time when, to make a game, you had to have access to expensive development kits and $1000 worth of proprietary software, or, failing that, a hardcore knowledge of C++ and spriting skills to match. Today, just about anybody can visit a website, download a software package and start building. Fantastic toolsets are available, like those mentioned above. Music is available online, as are sprites. While nothing guarantees a good game, you can’t deny that these tools – often dismissed as “toys” by the industry – are rapidly bringing more and more fresh talent into the fold.
Where would indie RPGs, for example, be without the magic of Kan Gao and Amaranthia‘s Amanda Fitch? They’re developers who work mostly alone, putting out games that, even though they’re 2D, would take much bigger teams and budgets if not for RPG Maker. I myself would not be here for Game Maker. Construct is doing wonderful things with HTML5. There’s Game Editor for iOS. And looking at the testimonials for Engine001:
While there are enough playgrounds for coders, as an artist you need to master both skills when it comes to a one man game development team … unless you discover 001. It gives artists a complex tool which is easy to use. Scripting has never been more fun and flowgraphs help keeping the project organized.
Matthias Deinert
I think good times are upon us – the game development world is moving rapidly towards a state where the big guns – AAA development studios – make incredible, realistic, epic masterpieces while, other the other side, anyone who can use a computer can start up small in their own way. Mircosoft‘s motto was a PC in every home; these tools are pushing towards a game developer in every home. Let’s hear it for progress, people. Interesting times, indeed.
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
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Yudhanjaya 
I agree. Ultimately with the brute-force power of modern computers optimization counts for less and less, allowing us to use engines like Unity, RPG Maker or Game Maker with impunity. I’d say they’re not exactly code-free (programming is programming) but they are definitely a lot easier and faster to use than C++.
This is the way of the future.
Thanks for reading! And let’s not forget, since the core engine-work is done – rendering, basic Ai and so on – it enables designers to get their ideas up and running far faster.
I was thinking the same although it’s much simpler (and more restricted) as a result. A good compromise IMO. Engine 001 actually looks more simpler than any game maker I’ve come across.
RPG Maker could’ve taken the next step and helped with much needed customized features like options to switch battle-views, allow the user to have a custom menu system by simple methods and evolve their excellent 2000/2003 series but I feel you still need a heck of a lot of resources to pull off a half-decent game. The other programs, I have very little experience of but RPG Maker was the most accessible to someone (me) with no coding background. 001 looks VERY interesting and I’ll have to check it out later.
I tried for many years myself but never happy with one or the other aspect to continue but I admire the games that make it out in release especially the ones you enjoy playing as much if not more than mainstream commercial games.
Well, the fact is that Enterbrain doesn’t seem to care for what it’s customer base thinks. The price is also depressing, given that yo have to get down and script if you want to get the features that these freeware engines support by default.
At the end of the day, though, a skilled coder is able to transcend the limitations of any system. Look at what Kan Gao is doing, or what Sean “thi15” Chan did with Game Maker.
Nice article dude! loving reading from ya. xploder