I have come across a program that many of you may find useful. Its called The Games Factory. Basically, this program allows you to create games with drag n drop ease, without having to know any programming at all (though you'll still need to use logic, of course). Basically, you create your objects, then specify what happens when certain actions occur in the game. I know, I know, a lot of you may scoff at this idea, and would rather program your game with code, but many newbies may find this a viable alternative. It is a cinch to include scrolling, animation, etc. into your game. While the program still has some inherent limitations, and certain types of games may be difficult, if not impossible to make with this program, I can definitely see making a Final Fantasy, or Zelda type game with this program. A lot of it is just figuring out certain tricks to get the effect you want to work. The Games Factory is made by the same people who made Klik & Play for Maxis (in case you're familiar with that program). You can think of the Games Factory as a really advanced version of Klik & Play, or "Klik & Play 2" if you will. If you purchase the Pro version ( I think it was listed at about $49 for the retail version ) you are granted license to freely sell and distribute games that you create with it (although you can't use the sample graphics and sounds that come with the program for that, I believe, but its really easy to create or import your own). You can also download a trial version to see if it is something you'd like to use or not, as well as sample games to show you what it is possible to make with it. Also, using the Vitalize plug in that you can download for your web browser, it is possible to have your games playable online. That's best suited for small "mini-arcade" games though, because it can take forever for them to load if the file size is too large. You can also download an extension pack that adds more components that you can add to your game (like combo boxes, and other Active X controls, plus some others). You can find more out about this by going to these links: http://207.106.84.184/~webftp/The%20Games%20Factory/tgf.htm http://www.clickteam.com/website/cnc/about_cadre.htm Basically, if you are wanting to create the next Quake or Starcraft, you're gonna still have to program that on your own. But like I said, if you wanted to create a Zelda (meaning the old fashioned Zelda, not the new 3D incarnation) or a final fantasy style game, then it is possible to do all that. Old school action games are a cinch with this program. Enjoy! NOTE: The program is made by French developers so you won't be able to walk into a store and by it (assuming you don't live in France :-) ), but they have an online store where you can purchase and download everything. Edited by - CheeseLord on 6/3/00 9:35:26 AM

Do you work for these people, or do you plug programs for fun?

Sounds pretty cool. If I didn't know how to program I would definitely give it a try.

-Andreas

Edited by - Icarus on June 3, 2000 10:18:25 PM

Hmm, well I still use it for general blueprinting locations. Not much a designer can do with it once he''s passed the program''s limits...but it''s a good addition to my toolbelt at any rate.

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

quote:

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Original post by Icarus

Do you work for these people, or do you plug programs for fun?

Sounds pretty cool. If I didn''t know how to program I would definitely give it a try.

-Andreas

Edited by - Icarus on June 3, 2000 10:18:25 PM

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Haha, actually no I don''t work for them, believe it or not. If I knew how to make a program like that, I''d be making games, not programs for other people to make games without programming! lol.

The reason I brought it up is because I''ve seen a lot of posts from people about how they just want to be a game designer and not program or anything. I figured this may be just the thing for them. Sure, you can''t make a SUPER complex game with it (or 3D games for that matter), but simpler games can be fun too. It''s also good for making gag games and things to make you laugh.

Well, you forgot. People who just wanna design a game and not program, like me, heh, we want to have the next big thing.

Try Multimedia fusion..its two version higher than The Games Factory..I own it and its great.

Look into it on the clickteam.com site.


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