Simple development software recommendations

Fenner Machine · Post by **Fenner Machine** » Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:03 pm

As an amateur/beginner programmer and artist I want to keep things simple.

I’m trying to work out the best/simplest way to design tile & sprite graphics, audio and write the game engine/code.

I can use a paint program (e.g. GraphicsGale) to design the graphics then manually convert data into code for X16.

That might be interesting to do but might be time consuming as I’m estimating a total of 6,000 8x8 or equivalent tiles & sprite animations. (Not all loaded at the same time obviously, but total for all unique levels/tracks).

The tiles are going to be about a third of that or 2,000 8x8 unique tiles.

Is there a simple program for designing tile & sprite data that can then convert to an X16 data file?

Or is doing it manually going to be as easy and ‘fun’?

For game engine/code I’ll probably use notepad to start with to keep it simple.

For audio, I have no idea what software to use. I’m going to try to use the YM2151 to make some nice music and the VERA for sound effects.

So, what ‘simple’ programs can you recommend for designing art assets, music and programming the game engine?

x16tial · Post by **x16tial** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:43 am

I'd recommend looking around and trying out different things and see what you like, there are many free tools, and a lot of paid tools have free evaluation versions. Some tools are even totally browser based.

"Simple" is a very subjective term, I think to do any of the things you outlined, there is going to be some learning curve to the tools. As far as text editors for coding, if you're talking about regular Notepad on windows, I'd say that's probably *too* simple. I've used Atom a little bit, it's not bad, and I see Notepad++ mentioned very often as a great code editor. I'm currently using Visual Studio Code, which is MIcrosoft's "lightweight" code editor, compared to the full IDE of Visual Studio.

Hope that helps.

xanthrou · Post by **xanthrou** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 5:42 pm

On 2/7/2021 at 8:03 PM, Fenner Machine said:

As an amateur/beginner programmer and artist I want to keep things simple.

I’m trying to work out the best/simplest way to design tile & sprite graphics, audio and write the game engine/code.

I can use a paint program (e.g. GraphicsGale) to design the graphics then manually convert data into code for X16.

That might be interesting to do but might be time consuming as I’m estimating a total of 6,000 8x8 or equivalent tiles & sprite animations. (Not all loaded at the same time obviously, but total for all unique levels/tracks).

The tiles are going to be about a third of that or 2,000 8x8 unique tiles.

Is there a simple program for designing tile & sprite data that can then convert to an X16 data file?

Or is doing it manually going to be as easy and ‘fun’?

For game engine/code I’ll probably use notepad to start with to keep it simple.

For audio, I have no idea what software to use. I’m going to try to use the YM2151 to make some nice music and the VERA for sound effects.

So, what ‘simple’ programs can you recommend for designing art assets, music and programming the game engine?

You can also use VERA for percussion samples.

BruceMcF · Post by **BruceMcF** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:19 pm

35 minutes ago, xanthrou said:

You can also use VERA for percussion samples.

And it's appealing to look for sound effects that can be done with the FM chip, since as far as I understand ITS channels have ADSR, which substantially reduces the background processing workload for sound effects.

SlithyMatt · Post by **SlithyMatt** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:40 pm

16 minutes ago, BruceMcF said:

And it's appealing to look for sound effects that can be done with the FM chip, since as far as I understand ITS channels have ADSR, which substantially reduces the background processing workload for sound effects.

I made all the sound effects for Chase Vault using the YM2151, as that was all that was available when I wrote it. While it may be more difficult to work with than PSG, it is by far the most memory efficient, as I was able to express each sound effect in fewer than 200 bytes, and most of them much smaller. For example, the little "ding" for taking each pellet is only 6 FM instructions, which is 12 bytes.

kliepatsch · Post by **kliepatsch** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:52 pm

I would recommend using Visual Studio Code. Yes, it is supposed to be "lightweight", and there is a huge library for supported languages. I am using it with a CC65 addon, and I am enjoying life with it ?

About graphics creation: What came to my mind is this. It's note exactly what you are looking for, but close ?

And ... as it seems you consider yourself rather an artist than a coder, and I don't know what you have in mind for a game, maybe you want to have a look at this:

Fenner Machine · Post by **Fenner Machine** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:30 pm

Thanks all for the recommendations.

Just to clarify I am a beginner at all aspects of making a game: programming, art and audio.

I was thinking of using Notepad for Basic coding, but I will try Notepad++ and Visual Studio Code.

They will be handy when I try to optimise using assembly code.

Pyxel Edit looks like a useful program. Also Tiled Map Editor sounds like it might be worth a try.

Aseprite might do for all graphics needs, tiles and sprites.

I’ll try them all out.

I’m working on a pseudo 3d driving game:

Just in the planning stage at the moment with some basic concept/placeholder art (not the pictures posted August 04th. I've done some 'slighter' better stuff since).

JimmyDansbo · Post by **JimmyDansbo** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:12 pm

I use the Atom editor, it has syntax highlighting, is multiplatform and has github integration.

In order to convert images to binary, I have created https://cx16.dk/piskelc2bin/ and https://cx16.dk/png2bin/

I startet out using http://piskelapp.com/p/create but don't do much graphics. As you might gather, I like my online tools ?

Just wish there would be an online IDE with emulator- and github-integration and maybe even online compiler that was not dependent on locally installed software.

Fenner Machine · Post by **Fenner Machine** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:26 pm

Asking this question in off-topic.

Also planning on rearranging my room to make various projects easier.

Currently have my TV and PC about 8 feet away, keyboard and mouse in a very unergonomic position, a 2 seater sofa, and a small table that is too low for working on.

The TV and PC can stay where they are as there is other equipment I would need to move too, and the TV is a nice distance.

So I need a work desk for various purposes that can be moved (only moved from a side to the centre of the same room), so not a large, heavy, permanent fixed office desk.

Used for study, music theory, programming, art and others related things.

So something that would work for drawing & writing, keyboard & mouse, iPad, second computer screen, and maybe a few other bits and bobs.

Would a gaming desk and chair work as an all-in-one solution?

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Sat Feb 13, 2021 5:06 am

On 2/11/2021 at 8:40 PM, SlithyMatt said:

For example, the little "ding" for taking each pellet is only 6 FM instructions, which is 12 bytes.

I was impressed with Chase Vault and its use of YM2151 for sounds, but this I did not know. Wow! )