能够帮助独立游戏开发者的5大游戏引擎

　　作者：Dylan Moran

　　如今创造一款成功的独立游戏比以前简单多了。

　　

　　game-hosting(from gamasutra)

　　今天一些最具创造性的游戏和互动体验都是在一些跨平台游戏引擎的帮助下诞生的。

　　不管你的预算有多少，如果你拥有一个不错的理念，你便可以在这些游戏引擎的帮助下创造出一款华丽的2D或3D游戏。

　　你只需要找到能够提供给你匹配基于你的预算的功能和利益的游戏引擎便可。

　　在这里我将列出最值得推荐的5大游戏引擎。它们都是具有直觉性且可定制化的游戏开发解决方法。

　　Unity

　　许多独立游戏开发者在各种类型的游戏中都使用了Unity。

　　这是一种跨平台游戏引擎，不仅能够帮助你创造互动2D和3D游戏，同时也能让你与用户进行交流，帮助你优化游戏并最终获得成功。

　　Unity 5是最新的个人版，可供免费下载。它提供了全新的美术功能能让一些复杂的工作变得更简单且更有趣。例如全新的Standard Shader，Real-Time Global Illuminator，HDR Reflection Probes，全新混音器，更加强大的动画设计以及全新的物理引擎。

　　基于Unity 5你可以无需任何插件而在网上部署你的3D和2D游戏内容，如此你便可以将更多玩家带到游戏中。但是浏览器却需要能够与WebGL内容相匹配。

　　同时还存在一个更加专业的Unity版本，即伴随着更出色的工具，游戏性能报告，定制化启动画面和团队许可等内容。而这也不是一个免费版本。你需要以月为单位进行支付才能使用它。

　　Unreal Engine

　　这是Epic Games在1998年面向第一人称射击游戏所开发的引擎。但因为极高的可移植性，该引擎也被成功用于包括潜行，MMORPG和其它RPG等游戏中。

　　其最新版本Unreal Engine 4已经免费发布了，这是一套完整的游戏开发工具能够帮助开发者创造，营销，部署，优化并盈利游戏。它让开发者既能够开发简单的2D手机游戏也能创造高端的PC/主机游戏，甚至是VR游戏。

　　关于你能使用Unreal Engine技术去创造什么内容并不存在真正的限制因素。

　　与Unity一样，Unreal Engine同样也会提供给开发者定制的光线，浓淡处理，VFX和电影系统。使用Unreal Engine 4的开发者可以为建筑视觉效果，模拟内容，数字影像等创造华丽的视觉效果。

　　你也不需要去检查其它网站有没有资产，游戏内容或示例项目；因为这一游戏引擎带有你开始时所需要的一切内容。

　　GameMaker：Studio

　　最初该引擎的名字是Animo，这是发布于1999年的一个游戏创造系统。它最初的设计目的是帮助新人程序员使用拖放系统以及名为GameMaker的脚本语言去创造一款2D计算机游戏。

　　而现在该程序改名为GameMaker：Studio，是能够帮助程序员面向iOS，Android，桌面和网页平台创造休闲和社交独立游戏的一种综合性工具。

　　GameMaker的突出之处在于它有7个特殊版本，能够为不同游戏提供不同具有竞争性的功能。这些版本包括：GameMaker：Studio Professional，GameMaker：Studio Mac OS X，GameMaker：Studio Ubuntu，GameMaker：Studio HTML5，GameMaker：Studio iOS，GameMaker：Studio Android和GameMaker：Studio Windows Phone 8。

　　如果你是新人程序员或者你对游戏开发充满热情，你就应该去尝试这一软件。

　　Havok Vision Engine

　　其最新版本Havok Vision Engine 8.2是产业中最顶尖的跨平台3D游戏引擎。它包含了凹凸处理，Dot3光照图以及能够创造静态和动态照明的Light Grid系统。

　　Vision Engine 8.2为基于浏览器，手机，掌机等游戏提供了像在主机游戏开发中所具有的强大的垂直3D融入技术。

　　Vision Engine 8.2全面的强大功能能让MMO开发者快速地创建项目原型与开发。它还包含了像动态时间，光照和阴影，向前和延迟渲染，角色定制样本以及我们在MMO游戏中经常可以看到的基本且高级的功能。

　　Construct 2

　　与上面提到的所有游戏引擎一样，Construct 2也能帮助开发者无需编写任何代码而创造出一款独立游戏。

　　这是到目前为止最简单且最佳用户友好型2D游戏创造工具。它的事件系统非常直接切强大，特别适合基础计算机程序员或充满抱负的游戏开发者。

　　具有竞争性的跨平台支持让开发者可以面向所有游戏平台，即包括Web（HTML5)，Wii U，iOS，Android Windows 10,8和RT，Windows Phone 8等发行自己的独立游戏，以此吸引更多目标用户并从中赚取收益。

　　就像《Mortar Melon》便是使用Construct 2进行创造的游戏，并最终获得许多国家平台的推荐且获得了超过100万的下载量。

　　如果你拥有一个非常不错的理念，你最好尝试下Contruct 2。这是可以免费下载的工具。你可以在此释放你的创造性并创造一款华丽，可靠且强大的独立游戏。

　　服务器选择

　　当你使用了上述的其中一种游戏引擎创造了你的全新独立游戏，你将规划选择怎样的服务器。

　　你可以选择一个Listen游戏服务器或专用的服务器。通常情况下专用服务器总是优于listen服务器，因为前者伴随着更多带宽能力能让许多玩家不受打断而同时下载你的游戏。

　　因此最佳游戏服务器便是像专用服务器那样能够提供给你更多带宽，强大的网络时间，功率与速度等等优势的服务器。一些最受欢迎的游戏服务器便包括：Game Servers，Counter Strike，fragnet，Branzone和Hypernia。

　　（ 本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转发，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

　　5 Leading Game Engines for indie game developers

　　by Dylan Moran

　　Creating a successful indie game is now easier than ever.

　　Some of today’s most innovative games and interactive experiences are developed with the help of multi-platform Game Engines.

　　No matter how small your budget is, if you have an inspiring idea you can also create a beautiful 2D or 3D game with the help of these Game Engines.

　　You just need to find the right match that offers the sort of features and benefits you need at your budget.

　　Here is a list of top 5 game engines we encourage you to checkout first. These are ready-made development solution that are intuitive to use and are also customizable.

　　Unity

　　Many indie developers have used Unity for pretty much any type of game.

　　It is a multi-platform game engine that not only allows you to create interactive 2D and 3D games, but also let you connect with your audience, optimize your game and achieve success.

　　Unity 5 is the new Personal Edition – which is available for free download. It offers awesome new artistic features that make the hard work smoother and more fun. Like, the new Standard Shader, Real-Time Global Illuminator, HDR Reflection Probes, new audio mixer, enhanced animator, and a new Physics Engine.

　　With Unity 5 you can also deploy your 3D and 2D gaming content online without a plugin – letting you bring more players. The browser however needs to be compatible with WebGL content.

　　There is also a professional version of Unity which comes with excellent tools, like, access, game performance reporting, customizable splash screens, and a team license. But this is not free. You would need to pay a monthly fee for using this version.

　　The Unreal Engine

　　Primary developed by Epic Games in 1998 for first-person shooter games. But due to its high degree of portability it was successfully used for other genre including stealth, MMORPGs and other RPGs.

　　The latest version ‘Unreal Engine 4’ which is available for free, is a complete suite of game development tools for letting you create, market, deploy, optimize, and monetize on games from the same user friendly panel. It gives you the power to develop from simple 2D mobile games and high-end PC/console games to VR without much effort.

　　There is truly no limit to what you can create with Unreal Engine technology.

　　Like Unity, Unreal Engine also offers custom lighting, shading, VFX and cinematic systems. Using the Unreal Engine 4, you can create beautiful visuals for architectural visualizations, simulations, digital films, and more.

　　You would also not have to check other sites for assets, game content or sample projects; as this game engine is packed with everything you need to get started.

　　GameMaker: Studio

　　Originally titled Animo, this was a game creation system released in 1999. It was designed to let novice programmers to be able to develop 2D computer games using a drag and drop system and ing language called GameMaker.

　　The program now known as GameMaker: Studio is a comprehensive tool to help programmers develop casual and social indie games for iOS, Android, desktop and the web.

　　The beauty of GameMaker is that it comes in 7 unique versions, each offering competitive features for different types of games you wish to develop. This includes: GameMaker: Studio Professional, GameMaker: Studio Mac OS X, GameMaker: Studio Ubuntu, GameMaker: Studio HTML5, GameMaker: Studio iOS, GameMaker: Studio Android and GameMaker: Studio Windows Phone 8.

　　If you are a beginner programmer, or you are passionate about game development, you should definitely try this software.

　　Havok Vision Engine

　　The latest version, Havok Vision Engine 8.2, is one of the industry’s leading cross-platform 3D game engines. It includes many standout features including Bump mapping, Dot3 light maps, and a Light Grid system that creates realistic static and dynamic illumination.

　　Vision Engine 8.2 provides a powerful and versatile 3D immersive technology for browser-based, mobile, handheld games just like used in console game development.

　　The comprehensive powerful features of Vision Engine 8.2 allow MMO developers to prototype and develop projects quickly. It is packed with features like dynamic time of day, lights and shadows, forward and deferred rendering, samples for character customization and other basic and advanced features commonly used in MMO games.

　　Construct 2

　　Like all the game engines listed above, Construct 2 can also help you develop advanced indie games without writing a line of code.

　　It is by far, the easiest and user friendly 2D game creation tool. Its event system is very intuitive and powerful, especially for a basic computer programmer or aspiring game developer.

　　The competitive multiplatform support lets you publish your indie game to all gaming platforms including Web (HTML5), Wii U, iOS, Android Windows 10, 8, & RT, windows phone 8 and more, to attract your target audience and monetize your work.

　　Mortar Melon for example was created with Construct 2 which was featured in numerous countries and has exceeded one million downloads.

　　If you have an impressive idea, you must also try Construct 2. It is available for free download. Unleash your creativity and develop a beautiful, reliable, stable and powerful indie game like a pro.

　　Where to host your game

　　Once you have developed your new indie game using one of the game engines listed above, where do you plan to host it?

　　You can either choose a Listen game server or a dedicated server. A dedicated server is usually more preferred over a listen server for the basic reason that dedicated servers come with a lot of bandwidth capacity which allows many players to download play your game at the same time without interruptions.

　　Thus, the best game hosting server is one that offers more bandwidth, excellent network up time, power and speed, all of the features that a dedicated server offers. Some of the most popular game servers include: Game Servers, Counter Strike, fragnet, Branzone and Hypernia.( source:gamasutra)