 |
| (Image Source: Nintendo) |
Have you ever aspired to create and develop your own video game, or maybe do you want your kids to learn programming in a fun way? If you say yes to both of these questions, it would seem that Game Builder Engine for the Nintendo Switch may be the right one for you. Officially announced by Nintendo, Game Builder Garage will teach gamers the basics of game design and visual programming with step-by-step lessons to help boost the next generation of video game designers and developers. It uses pre-built lessons and games in order to make programming fun even for younger audiences.
Building off of some of the ideas featured in similar Nintendo projects in the past such as Super Mario Maker, Game Builder Engine makes use of a playful, visual programming that utilizes cute characters called Nodon that you can move around and assign properties to. The colorful cast of creatures available in Nodon take charge of various actions such as moving your character, pressing buttons and adding sound effects among others. Like Super Mario Maker, players will be able to move back and forth between building and playing to further develop and perfect their ideas. The app also features several control options which you can enable based on your own preference: Joycon controllers, touchscreen, USB mouse.
Game Builder Garage comes with seven pre-made games ranging from a 3D platformer to a multiplayer game of tag and a side-scrolling shooter, each featuring a tutorial on how they are built from scratch broken down into several steps before moving on to the next complex design features such as adding a counter and a "game over" screen. There's also a "free programming" mode where players can unleash their creativity and build whatever they want. Players can share their creations via a code to be sent to other players via a Nintendo Switch Online connection. When downloading someone else's game, you can not only try playing it but also look at the programming view and see how it is designed. Heck, you can even make a copy to build on top of another player's collection.
Game Builder Engine will be available worldwide for the Nintendo Switch starting June 11, 2021.
