Engines and SDKs used in DET @ACU
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Regularly we are asked which engines are used to teach game development as part of the Digital Entertainment major and minor.
While we use a host of products to create the content for the games (Photoshop, Gimp, Illustrator, Flash, Premier Pro, etc) we primarily use two engines for our classes:
For 2D/mobile projects the SDK of choice is Corona by Corona Labs. We have found it easy to learn but powerful enough to handle the most intricate of projects.
For 3D projects we use Unity3D. Again, easy to learn, wonderful pricing structure for the indie developer, and powerful enough to make the most intricate multi-player games, Unity was a natural choice for the DET program.
Digital Entertainment Technology
Software used in Major/Minor
Spring/Fall 2012
In most situations you are able to select the software that you find most comfortable to use (or can afford). There are times when we use several pieces of software from one category during a course so that students are able to become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Modeling
Google Sketch-up (free) PC/Mac
*3DS Max (student edition is free http://students.autodesk.com) PC
Maya (student edition is free http://students.autodesk.com) PC/Mac
MudBox (student edition is free http://students.autodesk.com) PC/Mac
Texturing
*Adobe Photoshop PC/Mac
*Adobe Flash PC/Mac
GIMP (free) PC/Mac
Engines
*Corona SDK (unlimited trial is free http://www.CoronaLabs.com) PC/Mac
*Unity3D (basic version is free http://www.unity3d.com) PC/Mac
*UDK – Unreal Developers Kit (free http://www.udk.com) PC
Sound
Adobe Soundbooth PC/Mac
Audacity (free) PC/Mac
Sony Acid Pro PC
GarageBand Mac
Film
*Adobe Premier Pro PC/Mac
*Final Cut Mac
Compiler
*Visual Studio PC
*Eclipse IDE PC/Mac
GCC (free) PC/Mac
*Java Developers Kit (JDK) free PC/Mac
*Apple xCode Mac
Python IDLE (free) PC/Mac
- *- Industry standard
- Bold – required software in one or more DET courses.