Game development is hard, we all know that. It’s often said that any finished game, no matter how good or bad, represents a kind of miracle, the alchemical intermeshing of disparate elements of art, audio and code to breathe life into something unique (and something that probably only worked properly for the first time a few weeks before release). It’s difficult, and, to the outsider, a bit mysterious. But it’s also getting easier.
Citizen Sleeper 2’s no-code inspiration
Solo developer Gareth Damian Martin revealed to us recently that Citizen Sleeper 2 – along with Gareth’s previous games – was built entirely using visual scripting. In other words, Gareth didn’t have to type out endless strings of code to create this world. Instead, it was made from dropdown menus and flow charts. This game was dragged and dropped into existence.
The broader use of no-code, visual scripting workflows is hugely exciting for a number of reasons. For a start, it shows that someone with very little experience in coding can make a very good game indeed. Gareth’s background is in illustration and writing, but they were able to pick up the elements of game design through the narrative game development tool Twine and later through PlayMaker, a visual scripting tool for Unity. This is hugely inspiring for artists everywhere who perhaps thought game design might be beyond their reach, or who might be scared off by the idea of typing endless pages of arcane code.
Has game development become more accessible?
Visual scripting is often used as a way to learn coding – for example, Scratch is a popular coding tool for kids that helps teach the basics in a visual way. Likewise, adults coming to coding for the first time can teach themselves the rules of how games work through tools like PlayMaker before learning the programming-language equivalents later on. Even those apps that offer no-code workflows, such as GameMaker and its GML code, encourage users to experiment with adapting the pre-made code and so learn how things are made.
But perhaps there’s no need to move on from visual scripting. Perhaps, in the long run, and for most people, it will become the norm, like how the text-based commands of DOS were superseded by the graphical user interface of Windows. There will always be a need for people to dig down into the text trenches, to fix things and create functionality behind the graphical curtain, but perhaps in the future those people will be the minority, while most programmers will be dragging and dropping in their day jobs.
Conclusion
The use of visual scripting in game development is a game-changer. It opens up the possibility for people who may not have thought they had the skills or knowledge to create a game to give it a try. The success of Citizen Sleeper 2 is a testament to the power of visual scripting and the potential it has to democratize game development. As the tools continue to improve, we can expect to see even more innovative and creative games being made using this approach.
FAQs
Q: What is visual scripting?
A: Visual scripting is a way of creating code without writing a single line of text. Instead, you use a visual interface to create a flowchart-like diagram that represents the code.
Q: What are some examples of visual scripting tools?
A: Some examples of visual scripting tools include PlayMaker, GameMaker, and Unreal Engine’s Blueprints.
Q: Can I use visual scripting to learn coding?
A: Yes, visual scripting can be a great way to learn coding. Many visual scripting tools offer a way to experiment with code and learn the basics before moving on to more advanced programming languages.
Q: Will visual scripting replace traditional coding?
A: It’s unlikely that visual scripting will completely replace traditional coding. However, it may become a more common way of creating code, especially for non-technical people or those who want to focus on the creative aspects of game development.
Q: What is Citizen Sleeper 2?
A: Citizen Sleeper 2 is a game that was built entirely using visual scripting. It is a sci-fi RPG that has received critical acclaim for its engaging story and immersive gameplay.
