An Introduction to Point-and-Click Game Engines

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An Introduction to Point-and-Click Game Engines

• Jonathan Martin

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Game Development
All Code

• Write from scratch
• Use middleware package
• Modify existing game engine
• Specialized game construction software
• Genre-specific construction software

Renderware
Doom, Source (Half Life), Unreal
Game Maker, Torque 2D
Point and Click
RPG Maker XP, AGS, NWN
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Genre-Specific Construction Software

• No Need to Reinvent the Wheel
• Requires the least amount of programming
• Tend to have the nicest user interfaces
• This all comes at the expense of freedom

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Adventure Game Studio

• What can you do with it?
• Adventure games (point-and-click)
• 2D only, though you can do quasi-1st person
• Can import many graphics/sound formats
• Breaks meaningful play down to basic level
• Example games

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Adventure Game Studio
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Adventure Game Studio

• Easily create point-and-click interfaces
• C-like scripting language for advanced
  functions
• Lucasarts-style conversation system should you
  want to use it.
• Inventory Support Built-In
• Plugin System for Advanced Users

• File Types Supported
• Audio OGG, MP3, WAV, MOD, XM, MIDI
• Video BMP, PCX, PNG, GIF, TGA
• Display Modes Supported
• 320x200, 320x240, 640x400, 640x480, 800x600
• 256-color, 16-bit color and 32-bit color
• Anti-aliasing and alpha blending supported in
  certain modes
• Available for Windows, Linux and Mac OSX

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Adventure Game Studio

• Room Creation Demo

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Adventure Game Studio

• The Adventures of Fatman
• First commercial game released using AGS
• Features full voice-acting
• Professional-Quality Animation

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Also see

• RPG Maker XP
• Create 2D tile-based RPGs
• Point and Click interface similar to AGS
• Also has databases for Monsters, Weapons, Items,
  Stats, Characters, Skillsjust about anything
  youve seen in a 16-bit era RPG

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Notable RPG Maker Games

• Not Many
• Most Are Crappy FF7 Spinoffs
• The Adventures of Reptile and Sub-Zero
• Most Developers are using 3D engines now

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Such as

• Neverwinter Nights
• Create RPG scenarios in the 3D Neverwinter Nights
  engine
• Possible to create original content, but requires
  a lot of work

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Neverwinter Nights

• Demo

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You can also check out

• Game Maker
• Room/object paradigm
• Doesnt have built-in functions like RPG Maker
  and AGS
• Simple but powerful scripting language

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Remember

• 3D graphics not necessary!!
• Use the tools you are most comfortable with, not
  what you believe is inherently better
• Small amount of programming knowledge still
  required
• Test your game as you are making itIterative
  Design!

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Resources

• http//www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/
• http//www.gamemaker.nl/
• http//www.enterbrain.co.jp/tkool/RPG_XP/eng/
• http//nwn.bioware.com/builders/