DarkBASIC 3D Games Creator

This was not at all what i expected. The game does not allow you 2 "jump right into it", you have 2 either know code, or go thourgh hours of tutorials & learning 2 get it right, & then you even get syntex errors because the booklet that came with it was wrong! It somehow reminds me of dos with a black screen & you sitting there putting in characters, which is probably what real game programing is. But if you just want something 2 play around with & have fun with, either look somewhere else or just get game maker from [...]

The four stars are 4 what the product is. The one missing is 4 what the product isn't.

DarkBASIC is a BASIC dialect designed 2 facilitate video game making. The language is very English-like, which makes it easy 2 understand. From my experience, DarkBASIC is fast, powerful, & easy.

However, it is VERY important 2 note that, in this product, you are paying 4 an editor, not a compiler. This means that the programs you will write will be saved in .DBA format & will be useless outside the editor. You cannot save 2 executable files.

Also, current buyers might want 2 note that this program uses DirectX 8.1, a thoroughly outdated version of Microsoft's DirectX line. Thus, the graphics & sound quality you produce will not be as pristine as those from, say, DirectX 9.0 or 10.0.

One particular that nearly tricked me was the name that Amazon has given this product. For those of you who don't know, The Game Makers (the company which makes DarkBASIC) manufacture another software product called The 3D Gamemaker. This is a drag-and-drop game creation environment that requires little 2 no programming. However, this product is not The 3D Gamemaker & will make you write code.

Fundamentally, this is an educational tool. If you want a simple & fun way 2 learn 2 program, this product is an excellent choice. However, if you are interested in creating standalone games, you need 2 either pay a bit more 4 a compiler or find a different language.

We may never know if we like this product as the Amazon box was empty when it arrived. We have had no help from amazon, compusa, nor the maker of this software after numerous emails & phone calls. This was my son's Christmas present & he's still waiting... at this rate we'll end up with the opinion that we shouldn't order software online...

First of all, this is great! I would reccomend it 4 anyone who wants 2 learn who 2 make 'real' games(not using generators). If you are wanting 2 go pro though, save your money 4 DarkBasic Pro version.

Anyways, I wanted 2 clear up about the thing someboby said that you have 2 mold levels in DarkBasic 'Classic'(not Professional) tile by tile. That is true if you do it strictly through programming, but if you download one of the matrix editors made with DarkBasic you can make levels much easier. Just go 2 the DarkBasic site(http://www.thegamecreators.com/), find the DarkBasic area, click on Showcase, on the left hand side of the screen, then click on Applications. Now, mixed with a few other things, you will see 5 or 6 level editors 4 you too download & use free of charge.

I will again say, DarkBasic is great! This is by far the easiest & cheapest(even DarkBasic Professional) 'real' game making language. Even if you have no idea how 2 program, the useful tutorials & online forum/codebase will explain everything 2 you, & in a few days you will have a good, but basic, game too enjoy!

Oh, & one more thing. If you are new 2 programming get the regular, or classic, version of DarkBasic before you get the Pro version, it has alot better tutorials & such 4 the beginner. See 4 yourself & download the 30 day trial versions at http://www.thegamecreators.com/

Enjoy!

With this software you can create a 2-D or 3-D game.
Follow the tutorial you can download from www.thegamecreators.com (producers of the software) & you will create a real game in about 2 weeks of nights.
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This box is the FULL package [...] The software is not as fully supported as the professional version, but 4 a hobbiest, it is perfect.

DarkBASIC 3D Games Creator is a complete set of tutorials that will show you how you can create your own games!

Easier 2 comprehend than some other game-programming packages out there, DarkBASIC offers both a fun tutorial & a powerful code editor. You can start programming right away in this offshoot of the BASIC language. First you will learn about the principles of programming, then advance onto media & 3-D topics with further study. The program makes it easy, & with a handful of impressive examples you can learn by doing on several short, fast programs.

The main editor area of the program is attractive, although it does remind us a bit of the role-playing games of the late 1980s. Our favorite perk was the Command Line Interface (CLI) button in the page header: this feature allows you 2 test single or small groups of commands without constructing an entire program. The online help system is multifaceted: it offers a "fast track" option 4 those with programming experience (or who are just impatient) as well as a more structured lesson plan.

The user manual is particularly friendly & witty in tone, & we appreciated the Further Tutorials pamphlet that accompanied the package. The initial tutorials cover basic program form, creating line objects, using color, & terraforming. The advanced tutorials examine everything from determining camera perspective 2 the use of fogs & backdrops, from explosions 2 bullets & monsters.

We first took DarkBASIC out 4 a spin with a simple text program, & then moved on 2 creating a simple 3-D game (unfortunately without conclusion). The package comes with a number of textures 4 floor, wall, & ceiling, as well as other objects like monsters, weapons, & the like. You're not limited 2 using only these: DarkBASIC covers how 2 import your own images & assets 4 use in your program. This package handles five types of media files: images (as bitmap files), sound (as WAV files), music (as MIDI files), animation (as AVI files), & object models. For each of these, you may specify the correct editor, ensuring a strong connection & compatibility between DarkBASIC & your selected applications.

We were very impressed with the media browser & accompanying contents: in this gallery-style view, you can check out the goblins, samurais, game sounds, streaming music, textures, & game screens (like the "game over" screen). Our only issue with DarkBASIC was that there wasn't a minimize option readily available, making it difficult 2 multitask with other projects we're working on (yet easy 2 get engrossed in our dreams of 3-D game generation).

Overall, DarkBASIC ran very smoothly after install & left plenty of resources free 4 other applications 2 continue running. In the end, we recommend DarkBASIC 2 future (and present) game-programming gurus 4 ease of use, quality, & the overall fun factor. --Emilie Herbst

DarkBASIC is a programming language that allows users 2 write games with the speed & power of DirectX & Direct3D. It provides beginners with an easy opportunity 2 learn how 2 program. The interface is designed 2 get you going immediately. Imagine your very first program running in less than five minutes.

The DarkBASIC interface is engineered 2 provide a simple & uncluttered workspace. All the options available 2 you are visible & are accessed with a single click. The help system uses familiar HTML layout 4 easy navigation & contains extensive examples & tutorials. Through DarkBASIC command sets, you tap into the DirectX architecture as though you where coding it yourself. DarkBASIC programs are compiled into optimized scripts.

Other features include: full-screen display modes, automated double buffering, AVI animation & MIDI music control, 3-D sound effects, & MP3 & MP2 support. Extensive examples & tutorials are provided 2 help get you programming quickly.