Choosing an engine for a game - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

So, probably asked hundreds of times before, I already searched for it and know some candidates, but since the oppinions I have found could be outdated, I'll ask again:
I want to jump to game development as a hobbie. I already have a job programming, and know C++ and Java very well (not a guru...yet! ). But when I search for game engines there are SO many to choose from.
I'd like to pick one which:
has a big community of users (for example, PlayN looks nice, but I think lacks of this. just try to google "PlayN push notifications" and nothing will appear)
is free (since it's just a hobby)
and would be nice (not mandatory) if it was possible to port to other non-Android devices (iOS, Windows8...). AndEngine looks great, but it is only for Android, and I don't know if Cocos2Dx is reliable.
extra points if the engine includes multiplayer capabilities or push notifications. I have not found information about this for PlayN, AndEngine or Cocos2Dx, so I guess they don't have these features and aim only for graphics. Moai looks promising here, but I don't want to learn to use it and then discover than the free edition is too limited.
So, I'd love to hear oppinions from game developers around here: please tell me your experiences.
BTW, I'd love to create a Civilization-like game, that's why I'm interested in push notifications and multiplayer. But I'll start with a card game, because I'm just not that mad (yet).
PS: After reading forum rules, I guess this question goes here, in Q&A, but feel free to move it to Android Game development subforum if you think it is misplaced.

Related

App Suggestions for my project

Hi everyone, i know there are tonssssss of nice people here on xda forums, and i was just hoping for some suggestions because i have to choose a project to work on.. any java game / application which is not too tough is fine. It doesnt have to be an original application, so i was thinkin maybe some simple apps which u guys love? I'm still not that good at it as i have just started learning bout using netbeans to develops the java apps.. i will have bout a month or two to work on it. please give me some suggestions? thank you everyone Much appreciated.
cloning/image app/program for windows mobile
i do not know how hard it would be but just a thought, but it should be a true image .... something like acronis or seagate etc but for windows mobile
how about using the blu tooth technology to turn the phone into a ps3 key board similar to the g remote for ur windows desktop.
or app that is like winterboard where it manages ur cabs alot more organized so u can switch them off and on isntead of deleting and replacing clocks lock screens etc etc
a craigslist app is a very popular
ebay app
sound boards or voice changers
a cocktail drink guide
synthasizer
as for games
here
are a list of games that would be cool
teenage mutant ninja turtles arcade version
left for dead the 8 bit version(google it)
plants v.s. zombies
iphone version of resident evil 4
maybe gta china town wars or even gta 1
mortal kombat
fallout 1 or 2
how about;
an app which uses the oem headphones and mike and turns them into a noise-canceling headset
a music editing app like audacity
and (my favourite) a light saber app
game
Well 1st congradulations on becoming a developer. I too in my spare time develop but I develop games. If this is your 1st time developing a complete project I would suggest a simple game. A game like pong,space invaders, or pacman. I dont know your level but those can be made relatively easy and give you time to add something to make an original twist. Since I program in C language I dont know if any of the commands are similar in java maybe I could help. Goodluck on your project and keep us posted.
This is proly a tough one, but one I would (and many others) love to see on our HD2 phones.
Netflix watch instantly app from our queue.
Why they half assed the Netflix app in the first place is beyond me.
thanks for all the suggestions guys! knew some of you here on xda would be happy to gimme some ideas. First i thought nobody was gonna bother replying. lol. thanks again and I will keep you guys informed when i decide what to do and if I need any help. Thanks a lot everyone.
I just noticed your handle; football-fan. I am assuming you mean soccer?
Perhaps combine your love for the game with your project and develop something relating to the upcoming World Cup.
An app that has the game fixture, match time etc. It could also connect and update scores and match stats as they happen. It could keep track of the heats and results. Keep a tree/chart of who wins and loses, who makes it to the finals etc.
I have no doubt there are plenty of people out there who would love an app like that. Especially considering you could produce something that is ad free. I am assuming that any official app that comes from commercial organisations will be plastered with sponsorship logos and the like.
Franwella said:
I just noticed your handle; football-fan. I am assuming you mean soccer?
Perhaps combine your love for the game with your project and develop something relating to the upcoming World Cup.
An app that has the game fixture, match time etc. It could also connect and update scores and match stats as they happen. It could keep track of the heats and results. Keep a tree/chart of who wins and loses, who makes it to the finals etc.
I have no doubt there are plenty of people out there who would love an app like that. Especially considering you could produce something that is ad free. I am assuming that any official app that comes from commercial organisations will be plastered with sponsorship logos and the like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the idea!
but my lecturer was saying it would be better if the apps that we make would require move.. interaction / input from the user?
football_fan said:
thanks for the idea!
but my lecturer was saying it would be better if the apps that we make would require move.. interaction / input from the user?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about a playlist editor for wmp? Something that would allow you to browse folders and select tracks and build a playlist from scratch.
It may seem a pretty plain application, but it would mean coding a decent GUI (that would obvously run purely on user interaction), but it would still have some more "gutsy" stuff, like system access, reading folder and files etc., and you'd also have to make sure you can build a playlist file. (I have no idea what format a playlist is in - it could be a simple list, but is more likely to be xml)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=683297

[Q] Best 2d game engine for android game development ?

Hey guys,
I've decided to start an android 2d game project, however i am confused as to which 2d game engine would be the best.
I'd prefer if the engine had good cross platform porting ability. The game is a single screen game and has character animations.
Which one would you suggest me?
Thanks
kross666 said:
Hey guys,
I've decided to start an android 2d game project, however i am confused as to which 2d game engine would be the best.
I'd prefer if the engine had good cross platform porting ability. The game is a single screen game and has character animations.
Which one would you suggest me?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't play with it long enough to give any kind of solid recommendation, but libgdx was incredibly easy to get up and running. With a few tutorials and online guides I had a super simple grid-based screen similar to Final Fantasy 1 and a on-screen controls to move the character around. Then once I realized I could do it, I realized I have no creativity whatsoever and abandoned it, lol.
CptSupermrkt said:
I didn't play with it long enough to give any kind of solid recommendation, but libgdx was incredibly easy to get up and running. With a few tutorials and online guides I had a super simple grid-based screen similar to Final Fantasy 1 and a on-screen controls to move the character around. Then once I realized I could do it, I realized I have no creativity whatsoever and abandoned it, lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion. I've also heard that Cocos2dx is quite efficient but difficult to set up initially.
Here's what i am looking for in a 2d game engine :
- Must be cross-platform
- Must be efficient
- Should be C++, Java, C# or Objective C since I'm comfortable with them and NOT Flash, Javascript, HTML5 since I am not a
web developer
- Must have a large community, tutorials, additional libraries
- The final delivered package must be not too large
- The engine can be free, but I also wouldn't mind paying a reasonable price
Hi, I used libGDX for my first project, and I'm glad .
When you are looking for CROSS-PLATFORM GAME FRAMEWORK, it's the right one.
At the begining you spent some time on forums, but there are several tools that helps you start your first project realy quick (Project setup tool).
And many free examples and templeates that you can start with.
Also community around project is active, so you get quick answers in forums.
One really cool think, which saved a lot of my time, is running and debugging app directly on PC.
Wish you happy coding.
Kilobolt Game development tutorial
If you are an extreme novice who really wants to start you first game right away i recommend you to read "Kilobolt Game Development tutorial". It is so easy to understand and provide nice set of wrapper classes which covers all the complex details of image, sound and animation handling.
It also contains a well made tutorial set for game development.
The game "Hungry squirrels" which can be downloaded freely on the app store entirely uses this engine. So first take a look at that game and you can get an idea about the powers of this engine.

Best way to make a game for Apple and/or Andriod

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this forum, and new to the world of mobile phone game construction.
I have spent the last month researching the best way to make an game app for android or apple phones and tablets.
I am struggling to find good information online, so I would appreciate any comments you may all have .
I wish to construct a 2D platformer game only, but want to use the most user friendly method to do this. I would also want to upload the game to the market once completed.
I have played around with the following software so far, but have failed to make good progress. This is because I am unsure which software I should be using:
Cocos-2dx
QT Creator
Andriod Studio
When using QT creator (also known as Eclipse I think) I was having trouble setting it up for mobile development. But I was able to get good information online and use demo codes to mess around with.
During my research people have been saying Android Studio is the way forward, because it has a gradle system apparently. However, starting off making a game on this is incredibly hard as there are no examples or demo code around. I am assuming I cant use the demo codes from the QT creator software on the Android Studio?
Does anybody recommend a particular software for 2D games?
I am not experienced in programming, but I just need a good starting point.
Thank you for your time.
Jamie
QT Creator, Eclipse, Android Studio are just code editors. They also have tools for GUI building, but that is not related to games - games draw everything with OpenGL or DirectX.
So, first of all, you have to choose game engine or framework. Prefer the most popular - that means a large community, a lot of info and help.
Unity, Cocos2d are mentioned often. And libGDX as well, which I use, but don't know really cool top grossing games made with it, maybe it means something
Game engines either have their own editors with gamedev-oriented tools or instructions on how to set everything up in popular IDEs. And they provide nice tutorials also.
stickin said:
QT Creator, Eclipse, Android Studio are just code editors. They also have tools for GUI building, but that is not related to games - games draw everything with OpenGL or DirectX.
So, first of all, you have to choose game engine or framework. Prefer the most popular - that means a large community, a lot of info and help.
Unity, Cocos2d are mentioned often. And libGDX as well, which I use, but don't know really cool top grossing games made with it, maybe it means something
Game engines either have their own editors with gamedev-oriented tools or instructions on how to set everything up in popular IDEs. And they provide nice tutorials also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Sticken,
Thanks for your clear response. It appears I have been going down the wrong road then. I will look at the ones your have mentioned. I have heard the name unity pop up now and again. After checking on the website you have subscribe to a pro version. I am hoping I would not need to do this as my game is just going to be a simple 2d platform
ja7me said:
After checking on the website you have subscribe to a pro version. I am hoping I would not need to do this as my game is just going to be a simple 2d platform
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you can find the restrictions of free personal edition on the website too. They aren't critical.
I am quite new to the game development scene too. I decided upon Unity myself late last year. I have found it a great tool
to develop on (both 2d and 3d) with lots of information and tutorials out there that could help you build your game.
I have been using it now for around 4 months and have just released my first game to the Google Play store.

How to boost Rank keyword my app on Google Play?

Hello everybody!
My name is Phuong Pham. I live in Vietnam and an independent developer of the interesting game. You can look it at adress:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=super.brother.world
This game is that I really spent a lot of time to research for everybody around the world about a game with more optimal entertainment characteristics.
I wasted a lot of time, even lost a lot of money to develop it, but the results were not really what I expected. In the hundreds of similar games that you can find on google play, the advantages of my game are not enough.
Fortunately, I found a very helpful supporter to solve my difficult problems.
You see, just look and compare the two images of the rankings change that I have achieved after I used this useful method. You will see the difference.
I am really happy and I want to tell for you about it.
You are #2 now for "super smash world mario". But... why is that a great keyword?!
Thread closed. Do not use XDA to promote other services.
The Flash
Forum Moderator

[APP][4.3+]SabotCommunity 0.1a (Social media for video gamers)

Hi, everyone! I have an app that is currently in alpha, English and Android 4.3+ only.
TLDR: I built a social media platform for gamers to review games, find others to play with via LFG (Looking For Group), review the players they play with (5 star system), create clans, interact with one-another publicly or privately, and more.
Screenshots can be found here: imgur. com/a/1XY9wSB I apologize this isn't the greatest avenue of mobile screenshots...
Reason:
As a gamer, finding good players to team with is ridiculously hard. Finding others that own and use mics and want to work as a team? Almost impossible. What if you could find new players that weren't totally random, and were able to vet them before playing together? What if you could create a community of like-minded gamers and form a clan?
About me:
I'm a single developer, doing my best to learn and grow. You can find me on the app by searching "@brendan_abbott_1" or "PipingHotGatorade".
About the app:
I've worked hard to bring this to the table, but I understand it isn't perfect. It clearly isn't polished, but I've spent a lot of time building best-practices for security and reliability.
The future:
Plain and simple; It will ALWAYS remain free to my users, but there will be small ads I implement myself.
If you're interested in giving it a shot, the link for download is on my website for direct download as I'm not on Google Play yet. I'm very open to discussing issues, as I know there will be some.
Link: sabotcommunity .com/
Thanks for reading!

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