Construct

Scirra Construct is an Open Source Direct-X Game Creation Tool for Windows. It includes Drag’n drop processes with editing features including an Event driven architecture for creating any 2d games and currently does support limited 3d elements for games and applications. You create your game assets, graphics and sound fx, and Construct essentially combines everything into an interactive Game or Application with logical point and click creation aspects.

The appeal of Construct to many aspiring game creators is that it requires no programming knowledge or experience. There is still a learning curve with understand Constructs workflow, more so if you not familiar with combining logic with conditions e.g. True, false, larger than, less than, on condition, etc, but it doesn’t take long to grasp.

Scirra Construct Logic

Construct Event sheets contain the logic and conditions which are executed only when when something is True, False, or if an action is triggered by a User or another object. Construct helps you define logic really simply with use of it’s Condition dialogue that guides you through. All you do is point and click on a list of predefined logic types which vary depending on what you have selected for example a sprite, keyboard/mouse input, particle emitters, etc. Math formula and expressions can be defined to help with logic and creation processes for more complex events.

Scirra Construct User Community

The application is only as good as the User Community that surrounds and supports it, and I’m happy to say that it has a very strong and active community support forum. Ask a clearly defined question and you’re bound to get an answer within an hour.

The forums and the Software includes examples and practical uses to help get anyone up to speed to aid building something functional. Once you understand and get to grips with the Event system and Conditions it becomes a lot easier to cope with and enjoyable to use.

Scirra Construct Plug-ins, Behaviours, Effects

There are a number of users that program their own plug-ins and behaviours for Construct to further add features and expand functionality that’s missing. A plug-in could add objects such as user improved mouse/keyboard control whereas behaviours add additional contol to a plug-in or sprite. Construct plug-in development is C++ backend. Effects are similar but they draw on the Direct-X Capability of a GPU to use pixel shader effects, again users have written additional shader effects.

Further Information

Construct is developed by volunteers and is open source available under the General Public License (GPL).  Wiki documentation available

Scirra Construct Official Show Reel