Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

[Teonnyn]

Okay.. this is my first post here.

I came across PHPGames looking for gaming engines. I have a TCG in development - physical - with a whole story and universe behind it.

Recently it was advised that it might actually be a good thing to have an online game as well to promote this. There is a huge

level of customization in the whole thing. I've been trying to figure out of it would be better to code it myself, or go with a

engine developed beforehand, at least to study if nothing else. The player, in a online game, would be able to explore the world

envolved with the card game itself. Think a much-simplified version of Space Merchents, but you don't have to wander around

in ships (you might be able to). What kind of engine would be best?

[Dylan]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

coding your own engine is always a better choice, so it makes you're codes unique

[Bubbl3z]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

Yep thats true in some cases it might be less troble if you start with one but its always better to make your own :-D

[a_bertrand]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

I would say it preaty much depends on your coding skills. If you start with your own code, you should be able to do exactly what you want, but it may take you a lot more time, and maybe you will stop before reaching your goal.

On the other hand, if you take an existing engine as base, you may also modify it to fit your needs, the advantage is that you will start with already something, the bad part is that you will need either to modify all to fit your needs, or to live with some of the drawback of the existing design.

[Teonnyn]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

My coding skills are nowhere near the best, and in fact I've been using Joomla most of the time as a base. I really prefer having examples to use, but I have no idea what kind of engine would be good. The game I have in mind for the web version is much like the original Space Merchants (which inspired games like TDZK, etc). Is there any open-source engine that could be recommended for that?

[Tezza`]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

In my opinion no.

Programming your own engine is 100% better then using a engine, unless of course the engine i regularly updates with bug fixes.

The reason i say this is:-

You can make the engine unique to your self.

The theme is easier to build upon.

etc etc

[Bubbl3z]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

Coding your own game is much better than enguine cause its 1 no one has and you can make your game the best and easier to understand cause you made it

[POG1]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

get a bare bone engine, for example; horizons game engine would be the best way to start.

[Haunted Dawg]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

Sourceforge is a good place to look for dead engine's that can be fixed in 2 day's work.

[Bubbl3z]

Re: Developing a game - Is an engine better then simply coding it yourself?

 

I would say it preaty much depends on your coding skills. If you start with your own code, you should be able to do exactly what you want, but it may take you a lot more time, and maybe you will stop before reaching your goal.

On the other hand, if you take an existing engine as base, you may also modify it to fit your needs, the advantage is that you will start with already something, the bad part is that you will need either to modify all to fit your needs, or to live with some of the drawback of the existing design.

Very true