Useful Game Design Links

[sscadmin]

Here is an ongoing list of links to tools and information that can be used in creating games or any other program. Please feel free to donate to this thread by posting your links, and I will compile them to the first post. I want to try to keep this list to free or relatively cheap tools/programs if possible.Game Engines and ToolsUnreal Development Kit (Unreal 3 Engine): http://www.udk.comConstruct (Open Source 2D game engine): http://www.scirra.comUnity 3D (Unity engine): http://www.unity3d.com3D Rad (Free 3D game engine): http://www.3drad.comBlender 3D (Free 3D modeling tool): http://www.blender.orgWings3D (Free 3D modeling tool): http://www.wings3d.comGimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program): http://www.gimp.orgPaint.NET (Free image/photo editing and creation tool): http://www.getpaint.netPanda3D (Free 3D Engine): http://www.panda3d.orgOrge3D(Free 3D Engine): http://www.ogre3d.orgPyGame (2D Python game engine): http://www.pygame.orgSpaceScape for those space skyboxes: http://alexcpeterson.com/portfolio/spacescapeSyPanorama by Frecle: http://www.frecle.net/cloud/skypanorama.zipSculptris by Pixologic (known for ZBrush): http://www.sculptris.comTruespace 7.6 (3D modeler by Caligari): http://www.caligari.com/downloads.htmlDeleD: http://www.delgine.com/ Gile (Lightmapping by Frecle): http://www.frecle.net/index.php?show=giles.downloadPaintShop Pro X (LEXAR Promo Edition): http://www.4shared.com/file/G2kLYHfz/Corel_PaintShopPro1010_EN_LEXA.html- Supports NVIDIA's normalmap plugin: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html- Supports LunarCells plugin for those awesome planets: http://www.flamingpear.com/lunarcell.htmlRPG Game Maker: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/Free Stuff - (ie: music, backgrounds, sprites, fx, sample code, art)http://www.opengameart.org/http://www.petesqbsite.com/sections/tutorials/tuts/tsugumo/default.htmhttp://www.spriters-resource.com/community/showthread.php?tid=13868http://www.squidi.net/pixel/index.phphttp://freegamedev.net/wiki/Free_3D_and_2D_art_and_audio_resourceshttp://www.lostgarden.com/search/label/free%20game%20graphicshttp://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?board=37.0Useful TutorialsAmit's Game Programming Information: http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~amitp/gameprog.htmlReddit Gamedev: http://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/Reddit Programming: http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/Reddit Coding: http://www.reddit.com/r/coding/Tales of the Rampart Coyote (Indie developer blog): http://rampantgames.com/blog/Cliffski's Blog: http://positech.co.uk/cliffsblog/Jeff Vogel (Bottom Feeder Blog): http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/Other Communities - (ie: websites that have a load of info on game development)http://www.devmaster.net/http://www.gamedev.net/

[shadmar]

Some more freebies :Truespace 7.6 (modeler by Caligari) http://www.caligari.com/downloads.htmlDeleD (modeler) : http://www.delgine.com/PaintShop Pro X LEXAR promo edition (legal full version sponsored by LEXAR with some promo nags after close) : http://www.4shared.com/file/G2kLYHfz/Corel_PaintShopPro1010_EN_LEXA.html- Supports NVIDIA's normalmap plugin : ( http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html ) and - Supports LunarCells plugin for those awesome planets : ( http://www.flamingpear.com/lunarcell.html )SpaceScape for those space skyboxes : http://alexcpeterson.com/portfolio/spacescapeSyPanorama by Frecle : http://www.frecle.net/cloud/skypanorama.zipSculptris by Pixologic (known for ZBrush) : http://www.sculptris.comGile - Lightmapping by Frecle : http://www.frecle.net/index.php?show=giles.download

[Braindead]

some more links:[*:24b4x6ys]
Amit's Game Programming Information: This is a very nice collection of links covering allot of subjects you will have to deal with when making a game, ranging from AI logic to Game Design to Shortest Route calculation. This should be bookmarked by anyone designing games.[*:24b4x6ys]RPG Maker: I know that the people who come to this site and want to make a game probably won't be using this but it is a very good game engine when you want to make a jRPG, so imho it deserves mention.[*:24b4x6ys]Reddit Gamedev: A very good place to ask questions or just look around. All topics concerning game development can be found here. Also programming and coding[*:24b4x6ys]I find that reading blogs from indie gamedevs is quite inspirational. Knowing that you're not the only one that struggles from time to time can help, and sometimes they touch on unexpected subjects in ways that are just plain insightful. Also a good way to pass time when you're at work. My favorites are The Rampant Coyote, Cliff Ski and Jeff VogelI might find some more links, and I'll ask around a bit.Oh, I almost forgot the most important link for anyone wanting to make games, namely this one.

[SolCommand]

Darkone, nice job compiling this list of links, I am sure many people will find it extremely useful !Thx for taking the time man !

[Braindead]

Got a one more:[*:gjwuphu2]
Tile Based Games: As you can tell from the title this one is largely for tilebased games, but it covers allot of topics for it (I dare say almost all). Language is Flash BUT the info is easily translated to your language of choice...

[Pinback]

Few site which might be of use.Free textureshttp://www.texturemate.com/Some 3d/texturing tutorialshttp://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index.php/Resources_for_3D_ModelingTattoo is a free Bodypaint like programme not had a go at it yet.http://www.terabit-software.co.uk/An another open source Bobypaint like programme http://crackart.org/Good place for paint brushes for Gimp/psp ect.http://www.deviantart.com/Makehuman an opensource version of poser.http://www.makehuman.org/If you want some inspiration, then have a look at.http://www.cgsociety.org/http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/http://www.blenderartists.org/forum/

[Geraldine]

Here is a link to NASA's 3D resources site for those who want to make models inspired by todays technology http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/index.htmlAlso some have asked me in the past about paper models, so for fun here is another NASA link for those http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/papermodels.cfm

[Pinback]

Nice open source paint prog My Paint.http://mypaint.intilinux.com/

[leksimus]

Dont forget 3d games studio at: [url]http://www.3dgamestudio.com/[/url] This package comes with lots of cool stuff and it has a really active user community iirc.leks

[shadmar]

Hexagon 2.5 ProBryce 7 ProDazStudio 4All free until feb 29th ($800 worth) - http://www.daz3d.com

[sscadmin]

Thanks for the heads up on the Shadmar, are these fairly easy to use or are this programs only for advanced users?

[deepseaweed]

A nice tutorial:Effectively Organize Your Game’s Development With a Game Design Document

[leksimus]

There is also these two little gems for the modeling side of things:Art of Illusion [url]http://aoi.sourceforge.net[/url] This is a really cool, VERY powerful and completely free 3d modeling program in the vein of 3ds MAX. It has a well written manual, boat loads of good tutorials and is actively supported by it's creator. If your like me and are more familiar with the 4 view 3d modeling environment (as opposed to blender) then this one and my next one are definitely for you.And second: [url]http://www.openfx.org/[/url] I haven't used this one as much but it's similar to AoI above, But again it's completely free and under active development.On a side note, AoI has one of the most advanced procedural 2d and 3d texturing systems I've ever seen in free software. So given em' a try and see how you like em!D1: I used Bryce years ago in college, as I recall the 3d art world (at that time in that school) was fairly devided between 3ds Max and Bryce, but I remember it being fairly complicated to use (as was 3DS MAX) as there were classes for both programs.Leks.

[mikehgentry]

Here is a link to NASA's 3D resources site for those who want to make models inspired by todays technology {C}[url]http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/index.html[/url] think this may be a different collection: [url]http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/models/[/url]