Game development platform recommendations?

On another note, ACWL what does premium Unity have that the free version does not?

Among other things, it removes the Unity splash screen you get in your games from the free version, allows you to get addons for game dev for other consoles (iphone, wii, etc), and allows yo to use fancier resources.

However, I do have one simple 3D game in mind I've always wanted to do even since before I created Within a Deep Forest, and Unity might be just the right thing for it.

Unless it is going to be commercial and make a bunch of cash, unity might not be the best bet, seeing as the free version puts a big 'Powered by Unity' splash screen up when the game opens. Also remember (i have hit this wall before) that as soon as you add that extra dimension, yo have to write at least 10x the amount of code, and spend 10x as long on building it =(

that as soon as you add that extra dimension, yo have to write at least 10x the amount of code, and spend 10x as long on building it =(

True to that!

Unity doesn't have Linux support...

Unfortunately not, however it does hold the ability, even with the free version, to both run and build for mac and PC.

Blender game engine would not be ideal for 2d games. Ive used it a lot.

pros

It is really good for people who do not want to learn too many programming languages, and can be completely programmed with "logic bricks".
If Nifflas can learn how use the 3d modeling part of blender, intergrating it into a game would be extremely easy. Just put all the parts together, assign physics and controls, and the basic game is done!

It uses Bullet Physics, so making a game with physics is very easy.
Its functionality can be extended with python scripting.

cons

Because blender was originally made for 3d modelling, the blender game engine isn't as usable as it could be.
An example is that making a particle system in modeling is different from making a particle system in game engine.
Also, textures do not work the same in game engine mode than they do when rendered.

Other


It has many different Python script extensions, but not enough to cause problems. Most of these are Import or Export scripts, but some are useful, such as:
City generator
Nut and bolt creator
tree generator
and a few other useful ones.
These scripts are NOT compiled, just .py, so you can edit the scripts and add your own parts to it.

it is pretty powerful, but i am not entirely sure how stable it is.

It is good to get into, because there is a script to export to flash 3d.

As someone said, it has a very steep learning curve, it took me ages to figure most of the stuff I know out.

Overall, I recommend it, as it is simple to make a 3d game, and it can then be exported to a runtime.

Oh yes, its multiplatform.
Linux
Windows
Mac
Solaris
Irix

On an entirely different note, good luck with finding a good game development platform.  

I have used blender extensively  

EDIT: here is a really good video to show the large features of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9JWYuUa2o
and here is a full game made in blender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Canbxj0RBTk

The downside is that it's 3D, so there's a chance Torque Game Builder is a better choice for me. However, I do have one simple 3D game in mind I've always wanted to do even since before I created Within a Deep Forest, and Unity might be just the right thing for it.

You can make 2D using 3D. Or semi-3D. By fixing the Z axis and only move the X and Y axis, you have a 2D game.

In fact, if the Z axis remains 0, and you give the depth only 1 pixel, it will look 2D even more.

I know, but it can still be more messy than in a 2D environment. However, since I have a simple 3D game in mind I'd like to do, I'm thinking perhaps it's the best idea after all.

You know what they say, trying never is a bad thing, because it allows you to learn.

You know what they say, trying never is a bad thing, because it allows you to learn.

True to that!

LP you made me interested in Blender too, I don't really want to spend $1200 on Unity...  

EDIT: What do you know in far as watermark/splash screen in Blender? Can you buy a full version and have no watermark or splash screen?

LP you made me interested in Blender too, I don't really want to spend $1200 on Unity...  

Huh? I thought unity was "only" 300$.

Blender is completely free and always will be, and it doesn't show a splash screen.

Is it just me or are these all 3d programs?

Is it just me or are these all 3d programs?

Its just you, but they too are 3D programs

Is it just me or are these all 3d programs?

Blender and Unity are 3D programs, but torque apparently has a 2D mode too.

as Razz said, blender and Unity are 3D, and torque has two products: Torque3D and Torque Game Builder, which is 2D.
Indeed, Unity Pro is $1200