I'm making my first "real" game and I'm completely lost

[UCheatedUrself]

Title basically. I'm making it in python because that's the only programming language I sorta know and I'm using the Kivy framework. I've got some basic UI and data work done but I'm finding myself just unable to connect stuff within the project and actually make anything work.

Like right now I have a number of drop-down lists and I'm trying to gather their inputs into a list so I can use those inputs to start a scene but I just can't get this list to work. It just fails to work (is empty) outside of the screen the inputs are set on and chat-gpt can only help so much withssomething this specific and large. Can anybody with experience in game coding help out here? Even if your expertise isn't python I really need help to just get anything at all done here.

 

[Meaning Less]

Why are you using a framework not designed for game development if you plan to make a game? I'd say it is time to reacess.

First find an actual game development framework that matches the kind of game you want to create, and second probably tone down with chatGPT, google things yourself and learn how they work so you don't get lost/stuck halfway through.

 

[MarshmallowCasserole]

With specific framework you'd be way better off asking on their forums/discord than here.

 

[CardinalRed]

Why are you using a framework not designed for game development if you plan to make a game? I'd say it is time to reacess.

This. I'd say go with renpy if you're doing a VN (or start with a VN since that is easier) and when you are more experienced start expanding the renpy code. That's how you learn python with renpy.

I'd say this would be a good start.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Can anybody with experience in game coding help out here?

No, not really.

The cause seem obvious, a basic scope issue, but it imply something bigger ; you don't have the starts of a clue about what "coding" effectively mean. Therefore, helping you would either solve this issue and leave you with still tons of other ones, or imply doing a full "how to code" course.

What lead to the only possible answer, already said: Use Ren'Py.

Since it's a VN/game engine, it's the kind of framework you need for such project.
Since it's fully wrote in Python and by a pythoner, it follow a logic that you're more or less a bit familiar with.
Since it's designed for people with no coding knowledge, most of the issues you could have will not exist.
Since it's a full engine, you'll have the guaranty that the Input/Output interface will works correctly, including what is the easiest thing to blow out, the save/load system.

 

[UCheatedUrself]

No, not really.

The cause seem obvious, a basic scope issue, but it imply something bigger ; you don't have the starts of a clue about what "coding" effectively mean. Therefore, helping you would either solve this issue and leave you with still tons of other ones, or imply doing a full "how to code" course.

What lead to the only possible answer, already said: Use Ren'Py.

Since it's a VN/game engine, it's the kind of framework you need for such project.
Since it's fully wrote in Python and by a pythoner, it follow a logic that you're more or less a bit familiar with.
Since it's designed for people with no coding knowledge, most of the issues you could have will not exist.
Since it's a full engine, you'll have the guaranty that the Input/Output interface will works correctly, including what is the easiest thing to blow out, the save/load system.

I didn't want to use renpy cause it's a pure text game with no graphics and besides I'm not sure renpy even allows for the level of complexity I want. And kivy lets me develop for windows, android and IOS at once, provided I can make something at all.

 

[anne O'nymous]

I didn't want to use renpy cause it's a pure text game with no graphics

And of course, an engine that handle text and image cannot works when there's no images...
Oh, wait, yes, it can.

and besides I'm not sure renpy even allows for the level of complexity I want.

Hmm, can a game engine that permit you to rewrite all its core, and/or write the whole game in pure Python if really you want (what would be stupid, must be said), handle the level of complexity someone want for his text only game ?
Of course it can !

And kivy lets me develop for windows, android and IOS at once, provided I can make something at all.

Yeah, clearly not what Ren'Py offer... The code you'll write works with Windows, MacOS X, Linux, Android, IOs and web based platforms.

You're a member since three years, and you never seen a single one of the thousands Ren'Py games that are available for Windows, MacOS X and Linux, nor have you seen a single "Android port ?" request...
As for IOs, Apple strictly forbid any kind of +18 content on their platforms, so forget about it.

 

[coffeeaddicted]

Mm...that framwork seems to be for mobile apps.
Not really meant for a game development.

As others replied, RenPy seems the natural choice.
If you want to make a game, RenPy seems to be that what you want to use.

 

[CardinalRed]

I didn't want to use renpy cause it's a pure text game with no graphics and besides I'm not sure renpy even allows for the level of complexity I want. And kivy lets me develop for windows, android and IOS at once, provided I can make something at all.

Renpy can absolutely be used to make text games, although I'd take a look at other options more suited to it (like twine), but still, renpy can be used and it exports to all of these platforms (but you won't be able to release for IOS due to apple's policies I believe)

 

[Doorknob22]

...I'm not sure renpy even allows for the level of complexity I want...

If you want complexity levels Ren'py doesn't support in your very first game, you're a brave man, to put it very politely. For all its faults, Ren'py is perfect for beginners.

My tip to you would be to stop what you're doing, design a very simple AVN, code it in Ren'py and after it is complete, decide on your next steps.

 

[peterppp]

Title basically. I'm making it in python because that's the only programming language I sorta know and I'm using the Kivy framework. I've got some basic UI and data work done but I'm finding myself just unable to connect stuff within the project and actually make anything work.

Like right now I have a number of drop-down lists and I'm trying to gather their inputs into a list so I can use those inputs to start a scene but I just can't get this list to work. It just fails to work (is empty) outside of the screen the inputs are set on and chat-gpt can only help so much withssomething this specific and large. Can anybody with experience in game coding help out here? Even if your expertise isn't python I really need help to just get anything at all done here.

I'm not sure renpy even allows for the level of complexity I want.

guy needs help with coding at the basic level and is afraid renpy won't allow for the level of complexity he wants.
dude, you must learn to walk before you can run. get real

 

[khumak]

Renpy is great for a first time dev. It comes with a built in user interface for a game without you even having to do anything other than just tell it to create a project for you. Many of the other common things you would want to do in a game have premade Renpy functions that are easier to use than building your own version of a similar function with python. You also still have access to regular python code from within Renpy if you want to get more complicated or do something that isn't already built into Renpy. It's not really designed for an action/FPS style game but most other types of games work fine with it. It's pretty much tailor made for a VN.

 

[VMiller]

There is a reason there are so many frameworks and programming languages in the world. Each of them has a field of application. The developer's experience is also a limitation. I know developers of popular mobile games (tens of millions of downloads) who work in C and don't use any high-level frameworks. Not many people can do that.
I, for example, know several programming languages, including C and C++. But I create the project in Renpy because it is the most suitable solution for VN.