How to get started if I'd ever wish to make a standalone GZDoom engine game?

[Sonikkumania]

Basically I'm asking for tutorials, websites, anything to help me out if I ever dare to enter this demanding journey, lol.

 

I've been thinking of making a story driven, GZDoom engine limited open world type game with elements from Strife. I know that theoratically it is possible but it means a lot of work. And learning.

 

But to get started in the 1st place I want to get familiar with Zscript and Strife functions, well basically everything. I've done mapping and some custom stuff so it's a start there.

 

Also I'd like to know, are there any legal issues concerning the software I'm using, can I use UDB and Slade for commercial use? I should've read that in the installation, I know..

 

So any tips and links will be appreciated. Even if this never sees the light of day it will still be helpful for me and without a doubt other users, so anyone more smarter than me please contribute to this thread :)

[Gez]

As a starting point, you can use @Nash's Standalone Game Template and just add on to it and replace the initial assets with your own as you go.

 

An essential site is, of course, the ZDoom Wiki. For ZScript specifically, this site can be useful too.

 

For license/legal issues, see License here, and notably how you should not include any of the GZDoom pk3 files other than, well, the core gzdoom.pk3 file. No widescreen, brightmaps, lights, or game support files. (Technically you could keep the lights.pk3 file but it'll just be useless.)

 

As for content created with UDB and SLADE, it's fine. They're both free software, neither of them are under an EULA that tries to take ownership of what you do with them (contrarily to some official modding tools for some other games).

 

For tutorials, generally you can find a lot with a web search for "zdoom tutorial" plus whatever you're looking for specifically. You can also ask questions in editing forums (here or on ZDoom.org) as well as in the relevant Discord if you use that (I don't, so I can't make any specific recommendation here).

[Sonikkumania]

Thank you, @Gez . That information was very useful! Zdoom Wiki and Github for up to date ZScript is a familiar place but SGT will provide useful, I'm sure :)

[Redneckerz]

2 hours ago, Sonikkumania said:

Thank you, @Gez . That information was very useful! Zdoom Wiki and Github for up to date ZScript is a familiar place but SGT will provide useful, I'm sure :)

Less useful, but a list of standalone games of what is possible with GZ is here.

 

 

[Sonikkumania]

Thank you, @Redneckerz . Most definately will check these out for further learning.

[Nash]

Definitely open up the files of already-released mods to see how things are done under the hood.

Just be sure to get proper permissions from authors if you end up using something from said mods, in your final game.

Good luck! It'll be a long but very satisfying journey :D

Edited October 6, 2022 by Nash