Good game making programs (free)

[Julian]

Does anyone know some good, simple, free game making programs? I want to start making a game.

[Sokko]

"Good, free game-making program" is a contradiction. Free programs are almost never good, and good programs are almost never free. In addition, almost no programs are truly simple, since a computer game in itself tends to be a complex object.

For those wishing to dabble in game creation, the best choice is here:
http://www.gamemaker.nl
This program is of the type that are good, but not free. There is a trial version you can download, but it has a number of limitations. Most of them should not bother you if you're just trying to get a general idea of whether the program is right for you. It's unusually well-documented, so if you run into problems of any kind, the help files will probably have the answer. I believe there are also a few tutorials available.

[death]

I tried it. It is easier than programing, but harder than the editor in swc.

[SpiderPumpkin]

Multimedia Fusion (www.clickteam.com), while not free either, is very easy to use, maybe easier than Game Maker. Simple games (especially games in top-down perspective) can easily be created in a matter of minutes. The bad thing is that more complex things are actually harder to do with MMF than with programs which are more difficult to learn. There's a trial version at Clickteam which (as far as I recall) enables you to use the program to its full potential (althugh without most of the bonus graphics/midis/etc included with the full version, but you don't need those) for a limited time.
I don't know of any free game making programs which don't suck :-P

[Devon Rose]

I found this old game making program once, you couldn't execute files, but it was still really good. it had it's own graphic editor and you could make any possible games with it. but sadly I can't remember where I got it. the reason why I brought this up cause it was a free program the best free game designing program I ever seen. it was called: D.E.V. game desiging or something. it had 3 letters and the first letter was a "D" but I'm not sure about the last 2 letters.

[drgamer]

Here's a few:
http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html

Here's a 3D one:
http://eicart.free.fr/rgd2/index.htm
And the [mostly] translated manual
http://craftware.speckz.org/rgd2help/

[Devon Rose]

I remember finding one game designing program, it's called peter.
http://www.gemtree.com
It was made in the Czech republic. I never tried it personally but I think it's simular to gamemaker.

[pizza]

I just found this: Game Creation Resources (http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html) (Especially, it would be fun to make a text game)

[Nebro-Gubular SpisBoy]

I've wanted to make a text adventure, because it's fun to do those verbally with your friends! I'll have to look into this software...

[Devon Rose]

Is it possible to make a text-based game with gamemaker?

[pizza]

I don't know but it surely would be difficult. It's easy/easier to make one with a text game maker.

[drgamer]

I just found this: Game Creation Resources (http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html) (Especially, it would be fun to make a text game)
In case you didn't notice, it was posted a bit earlier (by me!)

I'm back-ish...

[pizza]

Oops... I didn't notice. I just found the site and posted a link.

[Chris Da Lunatic]

Here's one!
www.toolkitzone.com
You might find this one decent. It is for making RPGs only though.
Oh, well. It is still fun

[AtkinsSJ]

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/
^Free point-and-click adventure game maker. It's pretty good.

[PurpleKoopa]

http://www.zeldaclassic.com/

This thing's fun. It's like the first zelda game, but since it comes with a rather powerful level editor, you could be able to do other stuff too.

[puffazoid]

BIG SURPRISE! i am going to make an indie game site! some time or other... :roll: