Is Game Editor the right choice for my game idea?

[RWaher]

Hello all. I've been browsing the net for quite some time, looking for a suitable platform for creating a videogame concept I've given a lot of thought to.

Essentially, it's a game inspired by the X-Com series (as wells as games like Silent Storm, Jagged Alliance, and Laser Squad Nemesis). It would have:

- An isometric battlefield.
- Turn based combat with simultaneous resolution of turns (i.e., once the player gives his orders and ends his turn, both his units and the A.I.'s units will try to carry out the orders they've been given).
- Destructible environments, so you can make your own door.
- Units can equip items from their inventory in the middle of combat, or even pick them up from dead enemies.
- Shots can scatter, hitting things they weren't intended to.
- A LOT of enemies onscreen at once.
- A management phase, where you care for your soldiers, do research, and construct bases.
- A 2D world map to organize your campaign against the enemy.

I realize this would be a lot to chew on for my first attempt at using GE. I'd probably start with something significantly simpler so I could get some experience. However, I do need to know if GE can handle all the features I mentioned. Thanks!

[Joshua Worth]

GE can do pretty much anything but 3d. Sometimes it will take quite a bit of programming, but if you have ANY problems, you can post them on the GE forums.

NOTE- GE means Game Editor

[Just4Fun]

I second Joshua's statement. Game Editor is capable of almost anything. You can even create some programs that aren't games! but... the amount of flexibility that Game Editor offers is limited by your knowledge of programming. If you have a sound grasp of 'C' programming, then you can use the global editor that is included in GE to code and the sky is the limit. However, if you don't want to use any coding, your games will be more limited. The truly outstanding thing about GE is that it allows people of many levels to create programs and it holds your hand while you learn how to code in 'C'. It is almost like a 'C' tutorial is included for free.

Now here are my answers to your specific questions:

Can GE create an:

An isometric battlefield? Yes, but tricky. Search the forum to see some excellent responses to this question.

Turn based combat - yes

Destructible environments - yes, pretty easily.

Units can equip items from their inventory in the middle of combat, or even pick them up from dead enemies - yes, but again, I think tricky.

Shots can scatter, hitting things they weren't intended to - Yes, easily.

A LOT of enemies onscreen at once - Yes, easily.

A management phase, where you care for your soldiers, do research, and construct bases - Yes. I think this would be done as a different level, but some of this would be tricky, though creating levels is easy.

A 2D world map to organize your campaign against the enemy- Yes. Pretty easy maybe by using the "filled" actor as hotspots on an image of your map or perhaps by somehow incorporating tiles.

OK. I'm no expert and I don't program in 'C' very well, but that is my best shot at answering your specifics. I fully support GE as an excellent program and one of the best authoring systems that I have ever used. The forum is very active and helpful. There are some expert programmers here. Makslane, GE's creator is an amazingly talented person who helps all of us when we need it.

I think that if you are willing to put in a little time learning GE, you won't be disappointed. It is actually a fun program to work with. GE is a little like eating potato chips, once you start with it, you don't want to stop!

[RWaher]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm seriously thinking about getting GE now.

[Parrot]

Were you planning on making the game multiplayer? My information may be outdated (my copy of Game Editor is 8 months old) but as of my purchase Game Editor didn't have multiplayer capabilities (Unless you want both players on the same computer).

That may have changed though, I'm trying to find out.

[RWaher]

Sorry it took me so long to notice your reply, but no, I wasn't planning on multiplayer.