SyntaxBomb - Indie Coders

I would like to know what languages oriented to video game programming there are currently or are being designed and that are free. Something like bliztmax, coolbasic etc..

BlitzMax wasn't free. Why does everything have to be free? 

I use Javascript, Java and C# all to write video games - none of them cost a cent.

I use AppGameKit Studio at the moment, not free but does the job. I got it dirt cheap from Fanatical.

It's important to remember that languages like BlitzMax are actually very rare, which is why they usually have niche communities of nerds, like us, rather than being in mainstream use. Generally speaking, there's not really any such thing as a game programming language, because in a lot of ways there's not really any difference between a "game" and any other type of computer software. What you have in like 99% of cases are one of two things.

On the one hand, there's a regular programming language, like C++, Java, C# etc, where the developers will choose libraries that contain more entertainment-oriented functions; stuff for graphics, 3D rendering, audio, etc. BlitzMax happens to be a language with some of these features built in, and that's both its greatest strength and also its Achilles heel, since as soon as development stops, you're left with a set of very targeted, fixed features that are left gathering dust. A language like Python (which I LOATHE with a passion, but that's just personal taste) is a great example of something in widespread use which has many, many libraries available related to game development.

The other thing is a game development engine. The definition of "engine" can vary, but in many cases this will include a relatively feature-complete set of tools for visually developing a game without actually needing to write code. Examples of this are Unity, Unreal Engine, even RPG Maker. Of course, these major engines will usually have some way for you to include your own code or scripts (I believe Unity allows you to use Lua or code directly in C#). In a general sense, a proper game engine will be as broad or universal of a toolset as possible, allowing you to make whatever kind of game you like without needing to build your own 3D rendering code, audio system, and so on.

Really just depends on a combination of skillset, how much time and effort you're willing to put in, and what the requirements for your particular project are.

I forgot to mention earlier, if you want professional but free then you could always try Godot. I will say this though, it has a very steep learning curve, I do better in AGK than I can do in Godot, it all depends on your mindset on whether it's easy for you or not.

Quote from: Steve Elliott on February 03, 2023, 20:41:54
BlitzMax wasn't free. Why does everything have to be free? 

Currently blitzmax is free, if I remember correctly you were designing a language with "c" and "c" is free.

Quote from: Matty on February 03, 2023, 21:54:28
I use Javascript, Java and C# all to write video games - none of them cost a cent.

These are generic languages, not video game oriented languages like blitzmax. You can make games with them, yes, but they are not game oriented.

Quote from: steve_ancell on February 04, 2023, 18:23:36
I forgot to mention earlier, if you want professional but free then you could always try Godot. I will say this though, it has a very steep learning curve, I do better in AGK than I can do in Godot, it all depends on your mindset on whether it's easy for you or not.

Thank you.
Only you have answered my question, which is what game-oriented languages there are today and from what you say there is only agk. Godot is an engine with its language but an engine and I am only looking for a language.

It's just a question out of curiosity to know if there's something interesting to investigate, I'm not looking for anything serious to make professional games, that's why this unity, unreal, godot etc..
I like to investigate and test this type of language, it seems interesting to me, it's like someone who likes to investigate history for fun.

There's Cerberus-X which is free and is a maintained version of the MonkeyX game programming language. It really is pretty awesome how Mike has fixed bugs and kept it updated.

The link below takes you to the Cerberus-X forum where you can download the latest version and register on the forum to joing their community.

https://www.cerberus-x.com/community/index.php

There is also an awesome IDE for it called JungleIDE which offers near Visual Studio like code completion and tools and it is designed to work perfectly with Cerberus-X.

https://lemonbytes.com/legacy/

The link above will give you access to the ide download. Just download JungleIDE and extract the zip. In it are 3 .exe's. You want to pick the one with cerberus support in order for it to work.

Cerebrus-X exports to web, android/ios, desktops MacOS and Windows.

Quote
Currently blitzmax is free, if I remember correctly you were designing a language with "c" and "c" is free.

Well that wasn't always the case for BlitzMax now was it?! With attitudes like I would love a game programming language, to add features I want - but it must be free. You must work hard and do that for me for no money. In what other industry would that be acceptable?!

Do you even know how much work it is for a person to design a new computer language from scratch and write the Vulkan routines to gift you on a plate the built-in graphics, sound and input? No. It's not just about designing a really nice simple syntax that you will not get with C++ and you certainly won't get bloody Vulkan routines that run on Windows, Linux and mac built-in. C is just logic, and with some security pitfalls that must be addressed.

It's this kind of attitude that makes me think I'm wasting my time with my computer language. I think I might just go to the Spectrum Next and Z80 Assembly (initially at first) so people like you might actually give me some credit and not kinda stealing anything from C.

There Game Engine Ranking 2023 Lists to tell you about it

Raylib is 4th Best Game Engine so far !

Click Images to Zoom it !

They are just engines. You then have to find a language you like that has access to that engine - that was the question asked.

I suggest Creative Basic.
FreeBasic and QB64 are great options.
GFA Basic has 16 and 32 bit windows variants.
If you like interpreters, there's Yabasic and Just Basic.
That's just to name a few.

Every language has it's unique advantages and disadvantages.

You might want to code a game for a console such as Sega Genesis or Atari 2600
https://segaretro.org/BasiEgaXorz
https://bataribasic.com/

Check out this great website. It has a nice list and has been around for a long time. You may find what you're looking for here. http://basic.mindteq.com/

Quote from: Steve Elliott on February 04, 2023, 21:04:43

Quote
Currently blitzmax is free, if I remember correctly you were designing a language with "c" and "c" is free.

Well that wasn't always the case for BlitzMax now was it?! With attitudes like I would love a game programming language, to add features I want - but it must be free. You must work hard and do that for me for no money. In what other industry would that be acceptable?!

Do you even know how much work it is for a person to design a new computer language from scratch and write the Vulkan routines to gift you on a plate the built-in graphics, sound and input? No. It's not just about designing a really nice simple syntax that you will not get with C++ and you certainly won't get bloody Vulkan routines that run on Windows, Linux and mac built-in. C is just logic, and with some security pitfalls that must be addressed.

It's this kind of attitude that makes me think I'm wasting my time with my computer language. I think I might just go to the Spectrum Next and Z80 Assembly (initially at first) so people like you might actually give me some credit and not kinda stealing anything from C.

It's been a long time since I read so much nonsense together.
You say that using free software is stealing, because you have a computer full of free software that you use every day and you are not paying anyone, so you are also stealing.

Do you use languages, libraries, editors, ide, games, emulators, operating systems, browsers and thousands of free applications daily. It will be that everything on your computer is commercial, don't make me laugh.

About your fake language, well I don't think you have done anything because I haven't seen anything, it's only in your imagination but if one day you release something I'm not going to use it because I'm not going to test it for free to find a bug.

Before writing you have to think if you don't write many absurd things, and I no longer waste my time answering you.