Product Overview: AppGameKit
AppGameKit is a versatile and user-friendly game development engine designed to cater to a wide range of developers, from beginners and hobbyists to indie and more seasoned developers. Developed by The Game Creators, AppGameKit simplifies the process of creating and deploying games and apps across multiple platforms.
Key Features
Cross-Platform Development
AppGameKit allows developers to write code once and deploy it to various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even Blackberry. This cross-platform capability makes it an ideal choice for developers who want to reach a broad audience without the hassle of rewriting code for each platform.
Scripting and Coding
The engine supports two primary coding options:
- AGK Script: A BASIC dialect with some C style features, making it easy for beginners to learn and use. This scripting system enables quick development and deployment of games and apps.
- C Libraries: For more advanced developers, AppGameKit provides C libraries that can be used within preferred C IDEs such as Visual Studio, XCode, and QT. This allows developers to leverage the full power of C while still benefiting from AppGameKit’s core game engine features.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
The AppGameKit IDE, based on the Geany editor, offers several useful features:
- IntelliSense
- Code folding
- Colour schemes
- Edit multiple projects
- Fast compiler
- Full debugger
- Broadcast direct to device
- Export to exe, app, ipa, apk.
Game Creation Tools
AppGameKit includes a range of tools and features to facilitate game development:
- Placement Editor: A tiled level creator that allows for quick creation of tiled backgrounds, though it lacks some advanced features like defining collision volumes or physics properties.
- AGK Player: Enables rapid on-device testing by broadcasting the code directly to mobile devices over Wi-Fi, saving time on bundling, signing, and deploying.
Core Functionality
The engine provides comprehensive functionality across various aspects of game development:
- 2D and 3D Graphics: Support for 2D sprites, tweening, blending modes, Spine animation, Box 2D physics, and basic 3D primitives with positioning, rotation, shaders, and collision detection. Note that 3D functionality is still under active development.
- Audio and Video: Play sound files (WAV), music files (Ogg, Mp3, M4a), video playback, and sound manipulation features like pitch and balance adjustment.
- User Input: Supports mouse, multi-touch, controller, keyboard, edit box, buttons, joystick, and virtual joystick inputs.
- Networking and File I/O: Features include network broadcasting, messages, shared variables, file I/O, HTTP support, and sensor integration (including GPS).
Monetization and Integration
AppGameKit supports various monetization options:
- Adverts: Integration with AdMob, ChartBoost, and Amazon interstitials.
- In-app Purchases: Available for both iOS and Android.
- Game Center: Integration for iOS and Android.
Additional Benefits
- Royalty-Free: AppGameKit is royalty-free, allowing developers to sell their creations without additional fees.
- Community and Support: Known for its strong community and hands-on support from the developers, making it easier for new developers to get started and resolve issues.
In summary, AppGameKit is a powerful, yet accessible game development engine that simplifies the process of creating and deploying games across multiple platforms. Its ease of use, comprehensive features, and robust support make it an excellent choice for developers of all levels.