I was reading through that article again, at 23 Recommended 3D Game Engines (Updated) (worldofleveldesign.com).
The author listed criteria...
Criteria used to include a 3D game engine in this list were:
- Available to download
- Affordable, free (easy access) or open source
- I have used it myself and recommend
... and I realized I should probably have some criterial as well. My criteria are:
- Available to download.
- Affordable or free.
- Ability to change source code or add custom, low-level features (for the weird gameplay mechanic I have in mind). If I can implement the gameplay mechanic without modifying source, then that's fine.
- Ability to store and retrieve game data (volatile and static). I don't think I care about the data storage, though AWS or Azure would be nice.
- Ability to allow for the usual MMORPG features. Ie,
- Chat and chat options (safe, filtered, and unrestricted).
- Purchasing gear, or perhaps server space, or subscription, or whatever I decide on later.
- Dungeon instances.
- Inventory.
- Playing with other people.
- Grouping.
- Etc.
My priority with this whole endeavor is to actually make my game, but a close second priority is to experience multiple engines and be able to speak to their suitability from the perspective of actual experience. I read through some more articles on World of Level Design - Tutorials for Becoming the Best Level Designer and Game Environment Artist, and I realized, this guy has already done this--learning multiple engines and speaking to their suitability. He did it to become a great level designer and write for his website. I'll be doing it to make one specific game and code the weird mechanic.
In my game, the priority of the game features are as follows:
- Code and make functional my weird gameplay mechanic. This is my highest priority because it can be stand-alone, and gives me coding experience, and might make a worthy game.
- Create an immersive world that is based on the Raksuran novels by the amazing Martha Wells. (She long ago gave me permission, as long as I didn't publish anything publicly until she got to see it and give further permission.) This is second priority because it'll take the most tedious work. But it's nice to have the background story and world rules already specified--by the novels.
- Include the Emeralda story somehow, maybe for solo questing or just for play-learning. (This might not make sense to anyone but me, but that's ok for now.) This kinda requires #2.
