Starting with linux game development

jlacroix · 2010-09-02 15:38:52

Hello everyone.

When I used to use Windows, I used a program called "Game Maker" and later became fluent with it. I don't use Windows anymore, and Game Maker doesn't run on Linux as far as I know. I'd rather design games for Linux, and I'm hoping there's an alternative to Game Maker, but I doubt it, as I've done a lot of searching and came up empty handed.

I have an idea that may work for making me better at programming games. There is a cool Linux game called "KQ Lives" that appears to have been abandoned (again). I really like that game, and maybe if I finished where the developers left off, it would help me learn. However, I don't know what I'm getting myself into because I only know the basics of programming. Then again, the basis of the game and engine have already been designed, so it may not be all that hard. Unfortunately, I never used CVS when it comes to developing before. I'd love to grab the source code and hack at it and see if I can actually do anything, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to message the original developers.

Is this a good way to get started? Or is there an easier "maker" I can use? I prefer C-style languages, and my focus is RPG's. I don't think PyGame will work as it isn't a C-style language, nor does it appear to be good for RPG's, but please correct me if I am wrong.

Last edited by jlacroix (2010-09-02 17:42:18)

litemotiv · 2010-09-02 21:11:34

Split back to it's own thread, apologies for the inconvenience.

AlexS · 2010-09-03 20:46:32

jlacroix wrote:

I don't think PyGame will work as it isn't a C-style language, nor does it appear to be good for RPG's, but please correct me if I am wrong.

I think you are probably wrong. Check what tools are available (should probably be updated)

stqn · 2010-09-04 14:04:46

Diving into someone else's code can be difficult. In fact, it almost always is difficult. If you don't know the language this project uses, maybe you'd rather learn it first by writing one or two (very) small games with it.

Besides that, love2D looks interesting, but I haven't tried it.

PirateJonno · 2010-09-05 04:25:12

allegro is another popular one, for C/C++ I think. I don't have any experience with it though.

schuay · 2010-09-05 10:51:16

SDL (older, more established / supported, written in C), and
SFML (C++, clean object oriented API, very fast on systems with good openGL support)

are both good choices. Both are fairly simple and multiplatform.

xenobrain · 2010-09-05 23:32:33

The GLUON project looks very interesting as well. It's a set of high-level game libraries and an editor for KDE.

Themaister · 2010-09-06 05:42:37

schuay wrote:

SDL (older, more established / supported, written in C), and
SFML (C++, clean object oriented API, very fast on systems with good openGL support)
are both good choices. Both are fairly simple and multiplatform.

SFML is awesome. Very clean C++/OOP.

jlacroix · 2010-09-11 01:56:04

Thank you guys for the recommendations, I'll be checking them out over the weekend.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-09-02 15:38:52

Starting with linux game development

#2 2010-09-02 21:11:34

Re: Starting with linux game development

#3 2010-09-03 20:46:32

Re: Starting with linux game development

#4 2010-09-04 14:04:46

Re: Starting with linux game development

#5 2010-09-05 04:25:12

Re: Starting with linux game development

#6 2010-09-05 10:51:16

Re: Starting with linux game development

#7 2010-09-05 23:32:33

Re: Starting with linux game development

#8 2010-09-06 05:42:37

Re: Starting with linux game development

#9 2010-09-11 01:56:04

Re: Starting with linux game development

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