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What tools do you use?

DeadPixelDeadPixel
edited in Questions and Answers
Hi guys

I'm not sure if this has been asked before but oh well I'm asking it again :)

So as the title states, my question is what tools do you use to make games?

Such as 3d software (Maya, 3ds max, Blender)
2d software (photoshop, gimp, sketchbook)
Game engines ( unity, udk, game maker)

And if u use any hardware such as wacom tablets and so on :)

Also if you give a small reason why u use it and like it but if u don't wanna that's also ok :)

Comments

  • SquigyXDSquigyXD
    Hardware:
    2 screens (21" & 19") Reason:because 1 is just not enough
    nvidea 560ti II (1gig) Reason: This double overclocked edition has a frekking high transfer speed (compared to it's brother)
    12GB RAM Reason: I freelance graphic design and such...so alot of images need alot of RAM
    2.5TB HDD Reason: For all dem games, movies, series, and work files
    Core i7 760 Reason: Just for it's brute strength
    Wacom tablet Reason: Usefull for textures
    Microsoft x5, x3 keyboard mouse Reason: Gaming KB&Mouse...no other reason
    Gamecon headphones Reason: Brilliant sound range, comfort and has mike for gaming

    Software
    Unity Reason: Easiest Game engine I've used till thus far
    Blender Reason: It's free, it's awesome and I just like the shortcut/hotkey system
    Photoshop Reason: Easily the 'best' (my opinion) photo manipulation program out there
    Abelton Reason: Easy to use and create believable songs/sounds

    ...
    o_O


    Wow that is a lot of typing...hope I didn't over do things =P
  • AlphaSheepAlphaSheep
    edited
    I still consider myself to be a bit of a noob, but here's what I use. Pretty much all the tools I use, I use because they're available for free.

    In terms of graphics, I draw in Inkscape, and I use Gimp for minor adjustments. I've experimented a bit with Synfig for doing 2D animations, and it seems to be really good (apart from crashing every now and then).

    I use Blender for 3D modelling because it's the most powerful free one I know of.

    For sound, I edit a little with Audacity, but I don't really really do much sound.

    For engines, I started with Pygame (because I use and teach Python at work, so I'm really used to developing in it). I do my python development in Eclipse+PyDev.

    Most recently, I've started working in GameMaker for some simple things (like my E: competition entry).

    I've also started a massive project a few months back in C++ using Ogre3D for graphics and Bullet for physics, but it's going slow because I wasn't paying enough attention when we learned C++ at university, and I keep getting distracted by smaller projects. Too be honest, it's nothing more than a camera which floats in space past a couple of models at the moment. I do my C++ development in Code::Blocks when I'm on my Ubuntu desktop at home, and Visual Studio when I'm using my laptop at work.

    I've downloaded and installed Unity, but I haven't gotten round to doing anything with it yet.
  • RickyGCRickyGC
    So if AlphaSheep is a noob... I must be the unborn offspring of a noob :P

    I have my Alienware 14 pumped to handle any processing I may need :)

    I do a lot of photoshop work for fun, websites, Solidworks etc for varsity and then for game making...

    I got Unity because someone at rAge suggested it :) Now that's how you spell noob ;)
  • ShadowBladeShadowBlade
    edited
    I do what engine with UDK.

    I wot bang out sounds and music wot with FLStudio.

    I done shape the shapes and texture the colours in 3DS & Photoshop.

    Well, on a serious note I use what I do because I have not tried anything else, but I also believe it matters little in the long run :) My PC is about 5 years old and not what you'd call the fastest, my speakers are shit, my pen/tablet is a cheapo(TM!) brand thing and I have two monitors ;)
    Thanked by 1Nitrogen
  • KarujiKaruji
    Hardware: Whatever I have around.

    Software: Whatever gets me from in my head to playable prototype in the shortest time.

    Wait isn't that kinda the same for everyone ;)
  • MikdarMikdar
    Stealing @SquigyXD's format because it is cool :D

    Hardware:
    1 screen (21") Reason:because I don't have money for 2 :P
    nvidea 660ti 2x Overclocked Windforce Reason: Bang for your buc and it is awesome
    8GB RAM Reason: Mostly for when I play games
    1TB HDD Reason: Not Much space but I have lots of external space :P
    Core i5 4430 Reason: Couldn't afford an i7 :(

    Software
    Unity Reason: Easiest Game engine I've used till thus far (same)
    Blender Reason: It's free, it's awesome and I just like the shortcut/hotkey system (same)
    Abelton Reason: Easy to use and create believable songs/sounds (I used to do some music production and it was free and I learnt on it)
  • ElyaradineElyaradine
    edited
    I use whatever the folks at the studio I work at use. This has included 3ds Max, Softimage, Maya, Photoshop, ZBrush, Mudbox and Unity. Learning software is super easy (particularly if you're working with people who use it, and can watch them using it for a few minutes now and then to pick up some workflow stuff you might be missing). It's nice to be proficient with several pieces of software, even if they do the same thing. Sometimes you just don't know that your software does something in a really slow/terrible way, because you're just so used to working around its problems, and using something else (particularly "newer" software like blender and modo). Once you see it in something else, you realise what you're missing, and can hunt down plug-ins or write scripts to fix up the holes in the software you use. At the end of the day though, if you're a good artist, you'll make good art regardless of what you're using.

    My work PC is kind of an embarrassment. It got replaced with something a little less embarrassing recently, but it's nothing to brag about. My home PC is a bit of a beast because of working from home for a little over a year. I used a Graphire4 for a few years before replacing it with an Intuos4. Looking at picking up a Kingtee 22HD sometime soonish, depending on how the reviews look. :)
  • konmankonman
    XNA which is dead, so I have upgraded to MonoGame. I can still use Visual Studio and all its delightful plugins.
    Oh, and if you haven't heard of... TILED (http://www.mapeditor.org/). OMG what a wonderful tool, no matter what your game! Audacity for sound. Photoshop for gfx.

    For videos I use Camtasia (30 day trail) since I'm on windows 8. Fraps doesn't seem to allow me to capture video for win 8 just yet, which is a shame?

    Oh, google teaches me where to go to get advice on coding the most efficient latest procedural generated levels, particle engine, physical colliding bodies, A* path finder, glorious AI algorithms eva! ;)
  • DeadPixelDeadPixel
    Ok well I guess I should also state what I'm using :)

    Computer:
    CPU- Intel i5 2500k (its nice )
    8Gb Ram
    GTX 460 GPU
    1TB internal hdd
    2 screens but 1 needs to be fixed, and another I'm thinking about getting fixed, so maybe 3 :)
    Wacom Bamboo 3rd edition (I love wacom :))

    Software:
    Blender (currently learning it)-coz its free and don't have cash for 3ds max which I love :)
    Photoshop (just coz I love it :))
    Zbrush (sculpting :))
    Unity (coz its free and awesome)
    Visual Studios (just love it a lot) also use MonoEdit
    For audio I don't do yet but wanna learn (need software tho) give me recommendations plz :)

    So ya :) a lot for a newbie but hey its what I wanna do with my life so I'm learning a hell of a lot all the time to get where I wanna be :)
  • GraviPyGraviPy
    edited
    An Intel i5 laptop with a crap built-in GPU and 4gb ram
    Blender, GIMP, Paint.NET, Inkscape, FL Studio and our digital piano, and OpenGL (yes, that counts)
    Notepad++
  • dammitdammit
    Pen and paper. And scissors.

    Oh, and a printer sometimes.

    ;) It's not about the tools, boys. It's how you use them that matters.
    Thanked by 2Elyaradine CandyflossKid
  • MJ_meo_dmtMJ_meo_dmt
    edited
    Well I use my Brain, a mouse, keyboard oh and pen & paper... ^ ^

    I use Blender for all 3d stuff since its free, but every now and then I use/fool around in MudBox, AutoCad, Maya
    2D software: Gimp(free), Photoshop, MapZone(free)
    Game Engines: I use Panda3d mostly hence it being Free(MIT), and its really simple and easy to prototype things with, UDK, Torque3D/2D(MIT)
    ## Edit: Forgot to add I use FLStudio for all sounds (Awesome software)

    The reason:
    Like I mentioned Panda3d is free MIT licensed so I can make shit and sell it, the core is C++, and on top of that is the python scripting. With python you can do prototyping really fast and its super easy. The community is awesome and the IRC chat is always helpful. Then Blender is great its easy to use simple and for it using Python aswell it easy to add scripts, also Blender supports Panda3d (And UDK well actually all of them... Blender is just great.)

    PC Details:
    I use my stupid slow crap laptop HP nc8430 with Linux/Win7 (Mostly Linux atm Ubuntu, sometimes my #! drive)
    4GB Ram
    2Ghz dual core
    Ati x1600 (So crap)

    Desktop:
    Win7 / Linux Mint 14
    i3
    4GB ram
    Ati 7770

    Basic stuff... nothing over kill... :)

    MJ
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