Best Software to Create a Video Game

CryWolf

I was wondering if you guys know which is the best software out there to create a video game, free or not (preferably free though). Me and my friends are working on a video game together, we have the drawings, working on the 3D models, but we do not have the software for the rest of it. Could you guys point me in the right direction? Please?

gsokol

UDK
Unity

megalmn2000

UDK and Unity are very good engines to use. Or you can wait for the CryEngine 3 SDK which will come soon.

tristamus

gsokol wrote: »

UDK
Unity

That.


And, Unity is great, if its just you or you and a very small team, and UDK is also great, but not as easy to learn / get going with fewer people. Unity can also export to multiple platforms very very easily. It takes a bit more work to do that with UDK, but less and less, now with UDK Mobile out there.

CryWolf

tristamus wrote: »

That.


And, Unity is great, if its just you or you and a very small team, and UDK is also great, but not as easy to learn / get going with fewer people. Unity can also export to multiple platforms very very easily. It takes a bit more work to do that with UDK, but less and less, now with UDK Mobile out there.

So far it is just me, but I am trying to find more people to help me work on the game. I have the drawings and the plan for the game, but I just need the 3D modeling software and the game software to make the whole thing.

Ben Apuna

Free 3D modeling software:

Blender (official builds) or from Graphicall (newer "unofficial" builds)
Voidworld (development thread here on Polycount where you can get the latest builds)
Wings
Sculptris
Meshmixer

Non-free but great value for what you get:
Silo
3DCoat

Free for academic use (so you can't sell a game using assets made with any of these software, but you could release for free):

Many Autodesk apps (Max, Maya, Softimage, Mudbox, etc...)

And lastly:

The "Become more efficient: Free or nearly free app's & websites to help us do our jobs..." thread.

passerby

yep the previous posts should cover all the software you would ever need to make a game and game content, so just get ready to jump in and learn how it all works now.

Ben Apuna

You'll probably need some 2D software as well for textures and showing off your work here in Pimping and Previews.

Unfortunately the free - open source alternatives don't quite measure up to the commercial offerings such as Adobe Photoshop...

GNU Image Manipulation Program, aka. GIMP. (for textures)

Inkscape (for vector graphics work).

Ben Apuna

For the sake of completeness, if you somehow decide that you'd rather be making 2D games, here are a couple of beginner friendly engines:

Yoyo Games - Game Maker (Pro version is going from $25 up to $40 at the end of the month)

Scirra Construct

EDIT:

Stencyl - Make flash games.

pior

Me and my friends are working on a video game together, we have the drawings, working on the 3D models, but we do not have the software for the rest of it.

Well, before even thinking about your choice of game engine to use, you might want to pick up a programmer. To take care, of, you know, the rest of it!

Ben Apuna

Yeah a good programmer is probably the most needed thing for a successful game project.

If you have the time and inclination (like me), you can learn the fundamentals of computer science and programming here, course materials here, free pre-press version of the textbook here, and the other textbook here, at the course website.

Kwramm

If you don't know any real programmers but have some technically inclined friends, then programming simple game logic in Unity shouldn't be too difficult. I know a few people who taught themselves some basic programming and then made great stuff in unity.

It just depends on the scope of your game though. Don't expect to write a MMO but a simple platformer or shooter should be possible with enough effort.

And here's my favorite inspirational post on the subject

AnimeAngel

Ben Apuna wrote: »

Yeah a good programmer is probably the most needed thing for a successful game project.

If you have the time and inclination (like me), you can learn the fundamentals of computer science and programming here, course materials here, free pre-press version of the textbook here, and the other textbook here, at the course website.

Thanks for those links Ben. Very helpful stuff there. I myself have recently started trying to learn some programming since finding a good programmer is always the major hurdle that seems to hold me back from making my own games.