2D Game Engine

Construct 2

Construct 2 is a HTML based game editor developed by Scirra LTD. It is aimed at mainly non programmers    , Which is why it uses things like the drag and drop methods. To make things a lot easier and simple for the user.

The layout of the interface is very simple and easy to navigate around. You have clear access to a wide set of tools that allows anyone with no game engine experience to jump in and create something.Objects can be arranged on separate layers for better organisation, allowing advanced parallax and blending effects. You can also make quick edits to your objects and graphics by using the inbuilt image editor.

Construct 2 uses a very simple way of coding; instead of trying to remember loads of different script languages it uses what it known as an 'Event System'. Events are created by selecting possible conditions and actions from an organized list. The event sheet is designed to be as easily readable as possible, so that beginners can get instant results as well. each event sheet has a lit of events, which contain conditional statements or triggers. Once these are met, actions or functions can be carried out. Groups can be used to enable/disable multiple events at once, and for organisation in large projects. Advanced event logic such as OR blocks, sub-events, local variables and recursive functions allow for sophisticated systems to be programmed without learning a comparatively more difficult programming language.

With contruct 2 you can preview your games instantly at anytime. At the press of a button you get your game running in a browser window ready to be tested. This allows for fast prototyping and iterative development which enables testing during the entire creation process making it a lot easier to detect problems.

Ethanon engine

Ethanon Engine is a free and cross-platform 2D game development tool focused on the recent video cards for hardware acceleration and shader effects. Any game style is allowed, from top-down view RPG's to side scollers and shoot'em up games. The main goal is to provide high-quality lighting, shadow and particle effects with an easy to use visual inerface, simple and direct scripting enviroment.

The Ethanon Engine is highly scriptable. The ethanon's angelscript language provides a comfortable and familiar scripting environment for intermediate c++, java or c# developers. Angelscript packs convenient hight level features such as garbage collection and polymorphism while allows lower level and imperative optimizations when necessary.

Link to website - http://ethanonengine.com/

This piece of coding is saying that when the left arrow is press the sprite will move left.

This piece of coding is creating a player box around the player so that it is able to collide with things.

Here is the same again but moving the sprite on the right arrow.

Here is making the sprite move, and when it collides with the enemy it destroys it.

here is adding the animation to make the spite able to jump.

Here is setting it the sprite so when it lands on the enemy it destroys it and bounces off.

Here is setting the enemy to move around the level to make it harder to kill.

Here are the characters I used for my construct level. The sprite (top) and enemy (bottom). I made these characters as basic as possible because I didn't want to make construct too hard for me as I've never used it before. But, I think these characters do kind of suit the look of my level.

Here is the level background I chose to use. Its actually one I used for my game trailer. I thought It would be quite good because the character has several things to jump on like the tree.




Evaluation

Here are some game screens of the level. I do like the simplicity of construct 2 its a lot easier than programs like flash, but I like the simple design of it and think it adds a nice effect. I like the fact you can create little games in a short amount of time without knowing how to spript, you just have to find the right action you want and apply it. If I was to make changes to this, I would defiantly change my characters and include the one I used for my game trailer. But I didnt want to make things too hard for myself and for demo purposes just used blobs. but I think they kind of suit the look of my level.

Rotoscope

Storyboard

Game Screens/character dev

Here is some character development I've done. At first I wasnt really sure what my character was going to look like, so I started this with a stick man and built him up little be little. In the end I went with a kind of small boy aged 10 - 14 whos in the boy scouts, so I've dressed him with a rucksack and a hat and given him a flashlight. I'm still thinking about the flashlight, I may switch it for a candle or something.

Production

Mind Map/ Idea's generation

The kind of game I'm thinking of is sort of a puzzle/ survival game, similar to the game 'Limbo'.

Your character will be stuck in another dimension/ world and you will have to complete certain puzzles and tasks to get back home. The game will look very dark, gloomy, lonely a bit like a dead world or planet. There's no life and your the only person around. There will be a lot of cogs and metal parts around. The platform I was thinking for this game would be Pc, and maybe console. But defiantly for hand held consoles like the Ps Vita or Nintendo 3DS. So my age range for the game would be 12 - 18. 

Here is a few images I found on the internet which show the kind of art style I was thinking of.

Here is a frame by frame animation I did in Flash showing you a sense of what the game might look like.

Sounds
Below are some sound effects and soundtracks which I think would be good for my game.






These are some simple little sounds for things like doors opening and for when your character interacts with things.

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/44/mp3/778953_SOUNDDOGS__me.mp3

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/25/mp3/384655_SOUNDDOGS__cr.mp3

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/2024/mp3/824957_SOUNDDOGS__ba.mp3

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/58/mp3/549282_SOUNDDOGS__ru.mp3

here is a couple of soundtracks I found from YouTube which i think would sound really good for background music while playing the game. There really dark and ambient, and have a sense of mystery and puzzle about them which makes them link with the idea of my game. 

Research

I really like this games art style. Its really dark, atmospheric and gloomy looking which adds a nice feel while watching. it makes it feel more real and scary. I dont think it tells you much about the story though it just shows your character doing loads of tasks and puzzles.

The original Dead Space trailer is one of my favourite trailers. I Think the main thing I like about this trailer is soundtrack, even though its a childrens lullaby it gives such a good impact to the trailer.

I really liked the art style for this game, its very cartoony but still looks really good. i also like the way each part of the scene pulled away from the image making it relate to a puzzle game.