So, I was in the process of building assets for a 2D side scroller built on the Torque platform, when the thing collapsed.

So what does everyone think is the best engine for a 2D game for under, say, $400?

Important to me:

-robust, visual level editing
-graphics post processing
-a decent, skinable GUI system

Most engines are all about 3D, and obviously a 3D engine can be purposed to create a 2D game, so either 2D engines or 3D engines particularly suited to 2D work could be possibilities.

What do you all think?

Years ago, I liked Haaf. Not sure what it's current state is.

It'd be neat if we could create an open-source alternative.

Fixed :P

Quote: Original post by CirdanValen
I'd be neat if we could create an open-source alternative.

You'd be neat?

If you asked me, I would say Yoyo Games' Game Maker. It's easy to use, has a free version which is awesome in itself (you can say game maker is 2d version of unity in it's freeness), there's a version for mac (one version older, but they're working hard to mae both cuncurrent), and you soon can develop (and sell) games for iphone and ipad, and there's a dev going that you can make games for PSP (i think they're trying to go into the PSP-go market).

With all that option, Game Maker is the best answer for me.

cirdavalen, there's a lot of open source 2d game engines out there.

here's one:

http://sgdk2.sourceforge.net/

Take a look at Visual3D.NET. It's a .NET engine, and though still under development, it's quite amazing and viable.

Yes, I work with Realmware Corporation; so I'm biased. :) But just have a look, and you decide. And of course, it's a 3D engine but you can certainly do 2D games with it.

I can't say I agree with the Game Maker suggestion. It's not bad, perhaps too slow, but you can't use shaders, so no graphics post processing, and you'll have to implement GUI yourself.

yeah, it contain a lot of legacy codes - it started as a visual basic project, as far as I can remember. but then it was a hobby project, free for lifetime updates and all, only later (read: now) that they got serious. Even they admit the slowness of it (it's faster to use icon than to use script).

anyway, now that they are porting (or making available) the player to PSP and Iphone, they start improving things. so it's something to look in the future.

well, there's also Game Editor. also open source, but must be bought to create commercial game, and quite expensive to make ipad/iphone games.

Quote: Original post by keinmann
Take a look at Visual3D.NET. It's a .NET engine, and though still under development, it's quite amazing and viable.

Yes, I work with Realmware Corporation; so I'm biased. :) But just have a look, and you decide. And of course, it's a 3D engine but you can certainly do 2D games with it.

How does it compare to the usual suspects like Unity?