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Programs You Need to Create an Indie Game

To create an indie game, you will typically need a combination of tools and software programs, depending on the type of game you're making (2D or 3D), your budget, and your development needs. Here are the key categories of programs you should consider:
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1. Game Engines

A game engine is the core software that handles game development, including physics, rendering, scripting, and asset management. Some popular indie-friendly game engines include:

• Unity: A widely used engine for both 2D and 3D games, with a large community and support for multiple platforms.
• Unreal Engine: Best for 3D games with high-end graphics, but also supports 2D games. It has a visual scripting system (Blueprint) and a robust toolset.
• Godot: An open-source game engine, ideal for both 2D and 3D games, with a simple scripting language (GDScript).
• GameMaker Studio: A beginner-friendly engine, best suited for 2D games with an easy-to-learn scripting language (GML).
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2. Graphics and Animation Software

You'll need tools to create character designs, environments, and animations.

• 2D Art:
  • Adobe Photoshop or Krita (free) for creating pixel art or hand-drawn assets.
  • Aseprite: Popular for creating pixel art and animations.
• 3D Modeling:
  • Blender (free): A powerful tool for creating 3D models, animations, and even game-ready assets.
  • Maya or 3ds Max: Industry-standard tools (paid) for high-end 3D modeling and animation.
• 2D Animation:
  • Spine: A tool for skeletal animation for 2D games.
  • DragonBones (free): Another option for creating 2D animations with a bone-based system.

3. Audio Software

For creating sound effects and music:

• Audacity (free): For recording and editing audio files.
• FL Studio or Ableton Live: For music production and sound design.
• Bfxr: A free tool to create retro-style sound effects.
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4. Code Editors

If your game engine requires coding, you’ll need a good text or integrated development environment (IDE).

• Visual Studio Code: A free, customizable code editor with support for various programming languages.
• Rider or Visual Studio: Often used for Unity game development (C#).
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5. Project Management Tools

To keep your game project organized:

• Trello or Jira: For task management and team collaboration.
• Notion: For documentation and brainstorming.

6. Version Control

Version control is critical for managing different versions of your game, especially with a team.

• Git with GitHub or GitLab: To store your code and collaborate with others.

7. Asset Stores and Marketplaces

If you want to save time on creating art, models, or sounds, consider using:

• Unity Asset Store or Unreal Marketplace: To buy pre-made game assets.
• itch.io: Offers various indie game assets for 2D and 3D games.
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8. Playtesting Platforms

For feedback and user testing, you can use:

• Steamworks: If you plan to launch on Steam.
• Itch.io: Another platform where indie developers can publish their games for early testing.

By combining these tools, you can streamline the process of developing your indie game, from concept to launch. And once you have a game you want to share - even if it's not all the way done - contact an expert marketing team to help build some hype and create a community around your game. This includes building a Steam page,