A list of my favourite free
tools for Game Development that can give a head-start to aspiring indie programmers.
Development
Environments
Dev-C++
A fully featured and easy to use C/C++ IDE based on GCC compilers.
Lightweight and reliable. A great feature is its ease of installing new
components and updates, straight from the IDE itself.
Microsoft
Visual C++ Express
If you want to focus on Windows applications, this is your choice!
SDK
/ Libraries / Frameworks
XNA
based on the .NET Framework 2.0, XNA is an amazing product offered by
Microsoft to give a chance to all developers to shape their ideas for
PC and XBOX360. It uses
Microsoft
Visual C# Express as programming environment.
PopCap Framework
A very good framework for developing casual games offered by PopCap Games.
Playground SDK
Another excellent SDK for developing casual games.
Allegro
An all purpose multiplatform game library, very good for moving your
first steps in C game programming. It can be integrated with other
libraries like OpenGL. Works great with Dev-C++.
DevKitPro
If you wish to do some experiemnts in homebrew console development,
this set of libraries offers everything you need for writing
games on handhelds like the PSP, DS and GBA!
PALib
A high level DS library extending those provided within
DevKitPro
Game
Engines
Adventure
Game Studio
If you loved the old LucasArts and Sierra point-and-click adventures,
you'll love this (and it will also make you feel 20 years younger!)
Adventure Maker
An interesting engine to develop Myst - like adventure games for PC and PSP.
SoA - Last Ninja Engine
A great engine to develop isometric graphic games inspired by the
unforgettable "the Last Ninja" (originally released on the C64 many
years ago). If you like retro and action based games, you'll have great
fun with this!
Game Maker
A very well known and user friendly game engine perfect for 2D games
(but also capable of some basic 3D action). Perfect for starting your
own casual games even without any programming knowledge but flexible
enough to satisfy also advanced programmers by allowing them to import
external DLLs
Graphic
Engines
OGRE
A 3D library for C++ developers to help implementing
applications using hardware-accelerated 3D graphics
through OpenGL or Direct3D.
Irrlicht
Another powerful and feature rich 3D library which can compete with
several commercial engines
3D
Graphics / Modeling / Animations
Blender
The most well known free editing and animation tool around. Very
powerful and now it includes also a game engine!
Anim8or
A simple but friendly modeling and anmation tool suitable for
beginners.
Audio
Programming and Design
FMOD EX
A powerful combination of a crossplatform API and Sound
Design tool. Free for freeware games.
DirectAudio / XACT (included within DirectX
SDK)
These API and design tools are getting better and better in every DirectX
SDK update. A very good choice for your audio needs on
Microsoft platforms.
OpenAL
An open source project supported by Creative. Very good library for 3D Audio.
Audio
Editing
Audacity
A good editing program supporting different plugins like LADSPA and VST
WavePad
Another effective recording and editing program supporting many formats.
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