Software is essential in the video-game industry, this is because everything in the video-game industry must be digitally created and stored for use in the creation or designing of the full game.
A flow chart describing the sequence that is taken to create a video game is on the right. It starts with the ideas for a game being created, they are usually presented on pen and paper or in a Game design document on the computer.
Once the setting and contents of the game are further developed, artists and designers are tasked with creating designs and drawings that tailer to the game. This is usually created on the computer using "Photoshop" or possibly "Gimp". This is also done inside of 3D modeling software to create characters, objects or environments within the game.
Finally the game is coded in a programming software or game engine software (sometimes they include both in one) which is used to create the game world and determine how the game works. It does this by adding the characters and items and then coding interactions and actions for each item.
Personally I would use Photoshop to create a design then import the design to MAYA and model it before using the model in a 3.D or 2.D programming software such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
Below are a series of lists describing different softwares alongside some of my personal opinions (not on all items).
Design/Thought processing:
designs (drawings)/notepads - baisic way of jotting down ideas and designs.
Photoshop - graphics editor - drawing/ animation software - multiple uses -lots of useful and extensive tools.
Gimp - drawing/ animation software. (don't personally know much about this software)
Modeling Software:
Maya - easy to learn - large amount of uses - lots of tutorials online -
Programming Software:
These are used to code and create the game environment using the models and animated (or non animated) rigs given from the modeling software. Some programming applications don't need coding because it has set code already there and some also have modeling software inside of the programming software.
Scratch - can be used directly off of a browser - 2.D only - no programming (coding) required
R.P.G maker - 2.D only - incredibly basic - very small amount of tools or help - no programming required - can only make R.P.G games -
MonoGameDev - 2.D and 3.D - programming required - Exports to Desktop, Mobile, Web - Available for Windows, Mac, Linux -
Unity is used to create both 2.D and 3.D games and animations in a somewhat easy to learn manner. This can be helpful when wanting to make a 2.D game because it allows the developer to have a quick and easy setup for creating their 2.D game, as well as this, the 3.D aspect is also very helpful despite the drawbacks of the programme.
For example the coding application that comes with the program doesn't tell the programmer that there is an error until the programme is run. And it doesn't show the programmer the placement of this error, which can be annoying.
However, the assortment of tools and effects available to be added are incredibly easy to find and to understand, making Unity incredibly friendly towards starting programmers with easily accessible tutorials and free(or paid) assets on the internet.
Unity is available on Windows and Mac and exports to desktop, consoles, mobile and the web.
Unreal engine can be used to create games and animations in incredibly detailed 3.D graphics and is much more easy to use than Unity. However, Unreal engine doesn't have a set 2.D setting, this makes it harder to create 2.D games or animations but also makes it possible to add depth to 2.D games by making them in 3.D using flat images/surfaces in-front or behind each-other.
In order to create games in unreal you need to program the games yourself, but it is much easier to do as it will auto correct your code if you missed a capital letter and will immediately tell you if you have incorrectly spelled a word.
This application is used to create games by not only coding, positioning models and creating a level design but also for modeling and rigging within the application itself. This allows the program to overtake other positions in game production.
On the other hand however, the program can be harder to learn especially in the modeling aspect due to the large amount of options and tools as this can lead to beginning users of the program being unable to find tools and effects they need.
Unreal Engine is available on Windows and Mac and exports to desktop, consoles and mobile.
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