Where do I start?

[Audiomad]

I have always wanted to get into making games even if they are just simple 2d games but where do I start I have heard about game engines etc but its a bit confusing hope you can help.

[Reedbeta]

Try reading some of these articles: http://devmaster.net/wiki/Main_Page

[Patrick]

GAME MAKER the simple game maker you can make platform games and so on.
The free easy to use with tutorials on the page. Go to http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/ and follow the prompts.

[Coredev]

A game engine is basicaly funtions to simplyfy the coding process. In stead of writing new code for ex. puting a sprite image on the screen you can call it easily from the game engine with a very simple function call. Also a good thing is that you can continuosly upgrade the game engine and reuse it in other games you write. The first time to write the game engine is the hardest and longest task but well worth it.

Its easier to get an already made game engine, all you have to do is learn the functions but more fun making your own and you'll learn alot on the way.

Regards, Mike.

[Harrier]

Hi

If you're not a programmer then, you might want to try an engine first because coding your own, while more fun, will take you a while. At least in C++.

There's a bunch out there but, I would say one of the easiest ones would be Reality Factory. It's free and I think you can do commercial with it if you leave the Genesis Logo splashmark on. But, check it out for yourself, anyhow.
http://www.realityfactory.info/cms/


Another route to it would be to mod an existing game as it would teach you a lot about media creation and scripting to tweak things around a bit. In this case, you might want to try Assault Cube. I never did a mod for it but the demo I downloaded was good.
http://assault.cubers.net/

Sayonara

Harrier

[LmT]

If you want to make a game, then the most important thing you can do is learn. Read, read, read, read; Practice, practice, practice. Without knowledge, you won't get far.