Tools

This page provides links to additional information about the tools you will use for your projects. Both the advanced version of Game Maker, as well as Photoshop are installed on the lab computers in Baskin Engineering 109. The basic version of Game Maker can also be freely downloaded. Most students prefer to use the advanced version of GameMaker ($20, purchase registration key from Game Maker site).

Students working on a role playing game (RPG) project are strongly advised to use RPG Maker, which is also easy to learn, and is tailored to this genre ($60 license). Game Maker is not nearly as well suited for creating RPGs as RPG Maker, though it is possible. RPG Maker is not available in the Basking Engineering 109 computer lab.

Students who want to make their game on a Macintosh may wish to consider Power Game Factory, which can be used to make side-scrolling action games (platformers). This game was successfully used by one student team in CS 80K in Winter 2006. Another interesting Mac-based tool is Unity. Note that we are unable to provide technical support for teams creating games with Power Game Factory or Unity, so choosing these tools will involve more work in learning the tool, and greater levels of initiative in seeking help with problems from public forums or the company that creates the tool.

Advanced teams might want to consider using dForge, a web-based project management web site that provides version control, mailing lists, a project web site, and more.