Please recommend a FPS SDK

Hello all,
I have some ideas for creating FPS single-player (preferably) or MP levels, but I don't know yet on which SDK to do it...

I have no programming skills, but am willing to learn... what can you recommend?

I am not looking for a specific game programming software, but a game for which I can download/buy an additional SDK kit (such as FEAR and its "Public Tools")

Thanks in advance!

 

I used to make levels with Unreal. Buy the game and it comes with the full SDK. I believe it is the exact same tool that the developers used.

though, in order to really do levels, you need far more tools than just that. I.E 3d modeling tools as well as something like photoshop for the skins/maps.

But the Unreal kit wasn't too bad to learn. But scripting in a game can be a bit confusing if you don't know much about programming. However, back in the Unreal 1 days, they had a ton of free tutorials around on how to use their editor. I imagine they still have some around.

 

You can get the source engine SDK with most sources games (HL2, CSS, DOD:S...etc) as far as I know... Although I have no experience with it.

 

so you want to create a new game out of the existing game's SDK? or you just wanna modify and create new contents for the existing game?

if you just wanna to create (or modify) new levels, maps, mods, objects etc, then use the SDK that came with the game (provided that developers provide SDK for the general public)

if you wanna create a brand new game on your own, then you have to learn programming, creating your own game engine, or buy one from other game developers, like Crytek Cryengine, id Doom Engine, Gamebryo Engine, etc etc...
they are very expensive (very)
you can also find bunch relatively cheap, or even free ones (open source?)
for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine

or you can just try out "3D Game Studio"
http://www.3dgamestudio.com/
really cheap game developing tool.
it has pretty much everything you need to produce and distribute your game.

 

I work with the Source Engine SDK quite often. It comes with any Valve released Source Powered game (CounterStrike: Source, HL2, Portal, TF2).

It is ridiculously open-ended and powerful. You can to a lot of amazing stuff with Hammer (the level editor) and some basic modeling abilities. If you are willing to jump into the source code the game gives you (this requires downloading the Microsoft VC++ 2005 free version) you can essentially create your own game from scratch, only using the graphics engine part.

All in all, the Source engine SDK is my favorite, I've been recently working with the HL2:Ep2 version, which adds a couple nice features.

Be wary though, as will most SDKs, it can take a couple days of research and tutorials and installations before you have everything you need and have a basic enough knowledge to use most of it.

In other words, it took me about 2 days to figure out how to make a partial mod of HL2 (no custom models/textures) with my own levels and scripting. But two 10 hour days, not two 2 hour days. Once you get the hang of it, it is REALLY a blast, just don't burn out early.

Also, if you have not already, get Steam and download the Orange Box and PLAY IT! No better way to get acquainted with the possibilities of an SDK than playing some of its flagship titles.

 

The Source SDK is quite powerful, but the code is ugly as hell, and downright painful to work with. Still, if you're not a programmer, that won't be a problem. (but of course, without programming, there's a limit to what you can do. It is fairly powerful even without programming though)

 

I don't want to create a a new game form scratch, just make a custom level for the existing game. No new gameplay or new models, I want to use the existing objects, models, textures, etc.

My main goal is to try and create an exact replica of the Research Institute I work in.. it has lots of long hallways, with small rooms and large laboratories...

I mentioned FEAR because while playing the game I have seen lots of different objects (tables, chairs, machines, pipes, etc), textures and effects, that could be nice to arrange as I want...

 

HL2 or technically any valve game and then download the SDK in steam

FPS CREATOR X (10)

Crysis comes with Sandbox 2 (technically yeah youll create maps or mods... but you can get the SDK)

there are free ones though... just search online

 

The torque engine used in tribes 2 is free too.

 

The code isn't all that dirty, just broken. It took me a couple of hours to hunt out all the compile errors in their code, but going through it, I'd liken it to what you'd see from a talented grad student or better.

Are you talking about something specific I should watch out for? Right now I've been messing with some code trying to get on-demand lightning bolts that fry opponents from the sky (ala D&D) rather than a standard gun.

So, what is your favorite SDK then?

 

Unreal is a breeze to learn, and I'm sure you will find plenty of tutorials around for it.

 

Still nobody mentioned FEAR SDK... what are your opinions on it?

Is it possible to add spooky horror-movie effects to custom maps?