Development of 2D games for Windows and HTML5 without programming

image

Hi Habrausers!

Today I want to bring to your attention a wonderful designer of 2D games (for Windows and in particular for HTML5) Scirra Construct.

The main advantage of this constructor is that to create games you do not need any knowledge of programming languages, everything is done by building actions in the built-in event system.


I think many of you have thought about creating your own game, but gaming itself is a difficult task, and for those who are not at all familiar with programming and even seem like a dark forest.

image

The scirra.com team has recently distributed two of its designers:

- Construct Classic (Windows) Absolutely free
- Construct 2 (HTML5) Shareware (with restrictions)

Well, now let's talk about the distinctive characteristics of each.

The first, namely Construct Classic, is absolutely free and allows you to create DirectX games for the Windows platform. Its main advantage is open source, that is, when creating a game, you can safely sell it and use it for other commercial purposes. However, this does not make it weaker as a constructor. The capabilities of Construct Classic are probably much higher than the capabilities of Construct 2, but this is more likely due to a flaw in the second and so far limited capabilities of html5.

Here for clarity, the debut video reveals the possibilities and what Construct Classic represents.



The variety of genres in the designer is really good, for me it’s just perfect for creating platformers.

image

The simplest example of creating a platform game in Construct Classic is as follows:

- Adding a character previously drawn (or downloaded from the Internet as a sprite), and then animate his movements. The disadvantage is that you can add animation only on individual frames, and not the whole (as for example, in .gif format). But if, for example, you draw the animation yourself in Flash, then the problem is solved by frame-by-frame saving.
- Assign a special Platform behavior to your character (in this behavior you can edit such character properties as speed, jump speed, gravity, assignment of control buttons, etc.)
- Creating a surface (support) for the character on which he actually will run.
- Adding a background on a separate layer.
- Adding enemies, game points, sounds, etc.
- Adding events and actions to the Evevnt Sheet Editor (for example: if a character touches an enemy, then the character’s life is taken).

The constructor does not limit you in imagination over the abilities of your character, having figured it out in detail, you will be able to teach the character how to fly, climb walls, swim, etc.

If someone is interested, then the detailed process of creating a platformer is discussed in this article:
Create a platformer in Construct Classic in 5 minutes .

Here are some examples of games developed by Construct Classic





In addition to games, the constructor has the ability to create simple applications.

image

Now let's talk about the second brainchild from Scirra, which allows you to create games in HTML5. Namely, Construct 2. At the moment, it is distributed in three versions.

The first option is free. You are provided with a constructor with limited functionality and without a license. In this option, creating a masterpiece will most likely fail, because the restriction of 100 events and the limitation of the number of layers will not allow the toy to expand to its fullest.

The second option costs $ 79 and includes the creation of an unlimited number of events and layers. It also has a limited license if your income from a game or application does not exceed $ 5000.

The third option provides all the same as the second one, only the license is purchased (as I understand it) completely and this option will cost 375 green.

image

Construct 2 is primarily different from Construct Classic in its slightly reduced capabilities. At least in it there are very few objects and behaviors, unlike its predecessor. But meanwhile, the designer himself became even friendlier to the user and mastered the live drag and drop of images into the program using drug and drop. And most importantly, the ability to create games for devices that support HTML5, including support for touch control (Hi iOS).

An example of the initial creation of a platform game in Construct 2.



Physics in Construct 2 (also available in Construct Classic), Box2D is used as the engine.



In conclusion, I can say that one of the main disadvantages of both designers is that they work only under Windows. This of course does not stop you from trying to run the program in Wine or Crossover, but still the fact remains. As a result, you can get together a small company of several people and try to create something “your own” and maybe even release this “your” light. You can work on the game alone, but it’s difficult, if it is simply said, it does not mean quickly. At a minimum, you need to think about creating game mechanics, graphics, music, and then implement all this. But the very process of building a game, the interaction of game mechanics, linking the main events with actions, is implemented in Consctruct at a very high and understandable level for the user. Of course this is not the first such game designer, (take for example GameMaker),

All for those interested:

Lesson on creating a TDS game in Construct 2 .

Examples of games created in Construct 2 .

Also popular now: