Methods of Game Programming

So, I've established in the opening few posts that the independent creation of a graphic design portfolio is the highest priority for a budding game industry professional such as myself. For now, I have two priorities:

• To come up with the concept for a game (or series of games) which would suit the creation of stunning graphics to add to the portfolio.


• To come up with a low-impact method of demonstrating these graphics in a real environment. The most effective way of doing this, naturally, is to include them in an actual game. This also has the benefit of exposing me to the process of game creation, and any requirements for video game graphics of which I am currently unaware. The "low-impact" aspect of this endeavor cannot be emphasized enough.

If the prospect of one burly woman such as myself creating a game sounds ambitious, that's because it is. However, several solutions exist on the Internet to make this a slightly less ambitious goal for someone primarily with graphic artist experience such as myself:

1. 
   
   Adobe Flash
   
   Pros: Immense levels of versatility, excellent for testing animations/animated sequences; can be used with all sorts of media
   Cons: Atrociously high price tag, primarily for the creation of Web-based multimedia presentations; though amazing games can be made with the interface, it requires every interface element to be manually programmed in great detail


2. 
   
   Multimedia Fusion 2
   
   Pros: Extended lineage of game-creation programs (from the creators of Klik & Play); ease of use; Kayin Nasaki was able to create I Wanna Be The Guy with a limited knowledge of programming
   Cons: High price tag for the purposes stated in this blog; Kayin himself describes the interface as "limited" and "clunky"


3. 
   
   Game Maker
   
   Pros: Very little experience needed; introduces the user to basic programming mechanics in an object-oriented manner; unlimited trial version
   Cons: More versatile elements are locked in trial; needs complicated workarounds for the purposes of including more nuanced mechanics


4. 
   
   RPG Maker
   
   Pros: Makes console-style role-playing games with relative ease
   Cons: Clunky, extremely limited; uses cheesy pictures of large-breasted anime girls to market product; no desire whatsoever to create RPGs

For the purposes of this blog, Game Maker will work marvelously. The license is cheap (a mere $25), online tutorials are commonplace and widespread, and it seems versatile enough to allow me to easily showcase my graphics in a working environment.

So, that's that for this entry! Coming up next: Game concepts!