Below are some helpful links on development, tools and more! Google is also your friend, doing a simple search before asking will get you much more useful answers in the group. Game development is hard and takes dedication – be prepared to spend many hours learning the tools and languages of your choice.
Be sure to join all our groups as well
GitHub repository with 5,000 programming ebooks:
https://github.com/vhf/free-programming-books/blob/master/free-programming-books.md
Engines
Fully Free
- Ethanon Engine : http://ethanonengine.com/
- Love2D – http://love2d.org
- MOAI – http://getmoai.com
- idtech4 – http://fabiensanglard.net/doom3_bfg/index.php
- Adventure Game Studio – http://adventuregamestudio.co.uk
- Wintermute Engine – http://dead-code.org
- RenPy – http://renpy.org
- libGDX – http://libgdx.badlogicgames.com/
- HaxeFlixel – http://haxeflixel.com/
- Processing – http://processing.org/
- Cocos2d-x – http://www.cocos2d-x.org/
- Openframeworks – http://openframeworks.cc/
- Cinder – http://libcinder.org/
- SFML – http://www.sfml-dev.org/
- SDL – http://www.libsdl.org/
- Torque2d – https://www.garagegames.com/products/torque-2d
- Gameplay3d – http://www.gameplay3d.org/
- Urho3d – http://urho3d.github.io/
- FreeBASIC – http://www.freebasic.net/
- TDM-GCC – http://tdm-gcc.tdragon.net/
- Visual Studio Express – https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-express-vs.aspx
- Python – www.python.org/
- Oracle Java Development Kit – http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
- Allegro Library – http://alleg.sourceforge.net/
- PyGame – http://pygame.org/
- Ogre3D – http://www.ogre3d.org/
- Irrlicht3D – http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/
Paid version available/required for commercialization
- Unreal Engine – http://www.unrealengine.com/udk/downloads/ (% based)
- CryEngine – http://www.crydev.net (% based if you want to go commercial)
- Unity3D – http://www.unity3D.com (free version available)
- Construct – https://www.scirra.com/construct2 (free version available)
- GameMaker: Studio – http://www.yoyogames.com/studio (free version available)
- RPG Maker – http://www.rpgmakerweb.com
- Stencyl – http://www.stencyl.com/ (free version available)
- GameSalad – http://gamesalad.com/ (free version available)
- Project Anarchy/Vision – http://projectanarchy.com (base version is free after one time payment (required for PC versions))
- AppEasy – http://www.appeasymobile.com (free version available)
- Marmalade SDK – http://www.madewithmarmalade.com (free version available)
- Corona – http://www.coronalabs.com (free version available)
- Gideros – http://www.giderosmobile.com (free version available)
- Xamarin – http://www.xamarin.com (free on certain platforms)
- The Game Creators Software Packages – www.thegamecreators.com
Tools
2D Free
- Gimp – http://www.gimp.org/ – Pixel editor
- InkScape – http://inkscape.org/en/ – SVG editor
- paint.net – http://www.getpaint.net/ – Pixel editor
- Pixelformer – http://www.qualibyte.com/pixelformer/ – Pixel editor
- Goji Editor – http://www.gojieditor.com – Game editor / IDE
- Tiled – http://mapeditor.org – Map editor
- Booty5 – http://booty5.com – Powerful Flash style HTML5 game editor
2D Paid
- Adobe Photoshop – http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
- Sketchbook Pro – http://www.autodesk.com/products/sketchbook-pro/overview
- GraphicsGale – http://www.humanbalance.net/gale/us/ (shareware version available)
- Pixelmator – http://www.pixelmator.com (OS X only)
3D Free
- Blender 3D – http://www.blender.org/
3D Paid
- 3DS Max – http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-3ds-max/
- Cinema 4D – http://www.maxon.net/products/cinema-4d-prime/
- Maya – http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-maya/
- Softimage – http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-softimage/
- Lightwave – https://www.lightwave3d.com/
- Silo – http://www.nevercenter.com/silo/
- MODO – http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/modo/
- Mudbox – http://www.autodesk.com/products/mudbox/overview
- ZBrush –http://pixologic.com/zbrush/
Forums/Articles/Tutorials
- Making it in Indie Games: Starter Guide –http://gamasutra.com/blogs/DerekYu/20130301/187664/Making_it_in_Indie_Games_Starter_Guide.php
- Finishing a Game – http://makegames.tumblr.com/post/1136623767/finishing-a-game
- http://pixelprospector.com
- http://tigsource.com
- http://gamedev.net
- http://www.drmop.com
- http://www.digitaltutors.com/
- Genzo’s Junkyard II – Helpful for understanding how 3D math works with QBasic Examples: http://rel.phatcode.net/
- Phatcode – Archaic site with old QB/FreeBASIC tutorials – http://phatcode.net/
- Pete’s QB Site – Archaic site with old QB/FreeBASIC tutorials and games – http://petesqbsite.com/
- GameDev at Tuts+ – A lot of miscellaneous articles relating to game development – http://gamedevelopment.tutsplus.com/
- Handmade Hero – Shows how to code your own game from scratch – https://www.youtube.com/user/handmadeheroarchive
- Babbage’s Bag – Wide variety of programming tutorials and concepts – http://www.i-programmer.info/babbages-bag.html
- C/C++/Java Language tutorials – http://cprogramming.com/
- C++ Tutorial and reference – http://www.cplusplus.com/
- HelloACM – NES C programming tutorial – https://helloacm.com/tutorial-1-c-programming-for-6502-8-bit-cpu/
Unity Game Development Tutorials
- Creating 2D game with unity – http://pixelnest.io/tutorials/2d-game-unity/
- 2D game tutorials – http://www.raywenderlich.com/61532/unity-2d-tutorial-getting-started
- 2D and 3D game tutorials – http://www.youtube.com/user/Brackeys/videos
- 3D Hack and Slash RPG tutorials with Unity – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE5C2870574BF4B06
- 2D and 3D game tutorials – http://www.youtube.com/howtobuildgames
3D Modeling tutorials:
- Darrin Lile’s Blender Character Modeling Tutorials – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyelx0TsmSpcnM61Z2XLrs1sInsQvdfl0
- Blender tutorial – Sculpting in Blender part 1 of 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApzVWuPa4A4
- Blender tutorial – Sculpting in Blender part 2 of 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTxxZAroC_w
- Blender tutorial – How to make low poly video game characters and normal maps from sculpts – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApzVWuPa4A4
- Glen Southern’s 3D Primer for Subdivision/Polygonal/Box modeling:
Lists
Marketing
- Games Press – http://www.gamespress.com
- PRMac – http://www.prmac.com
- PRLog – http://www.prlog.org
- http://gamerelease.net
- http://freegamesbandit.com – Free mobile app promotion, marketing tips, Android app store list, publiser list, forum list, art / music resource list, PR list, tools list
Languages
- http://freegamesbandit.com/news/ – Marketing tips, Android app store list, publiser list, forum list, art / music resource list, PR list