Lua and LÖVE are a Dream Team for Artists
Game Development with Ease
Although the game engines Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot tend to dominate in the indie games space, there are other options available for artists looking to make games themselves. The LÖVE engine, which utilizes the easy-to-learn Lua programming language, can be a fantastic way to get started.
The Power of Lua
The Lua programming language was originally developed in Brazil in 1993 with a focus on speed, portability, and ease of use. LÖVE was later introduced in 2008 as a free, open-source engine based around Lua. Max Cahill, a programmer and artist, is a huge fan of Lua’s approachability. "Lua is really simple," he says. "Like, staggeringly simple."
A Dream Team for Artists
Lua and LÖVE are a dream team for artists. "Lua is used as the scripting language for so many AAA games," Max explains. "In fact, you’ll find pockets of Lua code in everything from World of Warcraft to the Call of Duty series. But the core game isn’t written in it, because for a big, serious game with a big serious company, it’s just not serious enough."
LÖVE: A Free, Open-Source Engine
LÖVE is primarily designed around 2D games and lacks the built-in editors you’ll find in Unity or Unreal for dealing with 3D objects. However, there is another open-source variant of the engine called LÖVR that’s specifically designed for VR and includes tools for dealing with things like 3D physics and VR controllers.
For Absolute Beginners
For absolute beginners, Max recommends starting with no-code software to learn the basic principles of programming. "You can even use no-code tools to make commercial games, as demonstrated by Citizen Sleeper 2." Once you’re ready to try some proper coding, Max recommends starting with PICO-8, which is like a fantasy console with a limited display and color palette.
Tutorials for Beginners
For beginners, there are tutorials that can guide you through the entire process of making a simple game. "It’s not as approachable as something like Twine or Bitsy or any of those low-to-no-code tools," Max warns. "But it’s good for anyone, as long as you’re willing to learn a bit of programming."
Conclusion
Lua and LÖVE can be a powerful combination, despite their simplicity. "You can go as deep as you want with the programming," Max concludes. With LÖVE, you can create games quickly and easily, without having to worry about complex 3D graphics or physics. So, are you inspired to create a game? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Q: What is LÖVE?
A: LÖVE is a free, open-source game engine that uses the Lua programming language.
Q: What is Lua?
A: Lua is a programming language that was originally developed in Brazil in 1993 with a focus on speed, portability, and ease of use.
Q: How easy is it to learn Lua?
A: Lua is known for its simplicity and ease of use. "Lua is really simple," Max Cahill says. "Like, staggeringly simple."
Q: What are some of the benefits of using LÖVE?
A: LÖVE is designed for 2D games and is easy to use, making it a great option for beginners. It’s also free and open-source, which can be a big advantage for indie game developers.
