Game creation system

A game creation system (GCS) is a game engine that is targeted towards the consumer, for the purpose of creating a user-derived video game. It contains a set of specialized design tools to make a video game, and sometimes also a light scripting language. Unlike developer-oriented game engines, game creation systems allow an easy entry point for novice or hobbyist game designers, with often little to no coding required for simple behaviors. Although initially stigmatized, all-in-one game creation systems have gained some legitimacy with the role of Unity, Pixel Game Maker MV, and GameMaker in the growth of the indie game development community. Currently the Independent Games Festival recognizes games produced with similar platforms. Early game creation systems such as Broderbund's The Arcade Machine (1982), Pinball Construction Set (1983), ASCII's War Game Construction Kit (1983), Thunder Force Construction (1984), Adventure Construction Set (1984), Garry Kitchen's GameMaker (1985), Wargame Construction Set (1986), Shoot-'Em-Up Construction Kit (1987), Mamirin / Dungeon Manjirou (1988), and Arcade Game Construction Kit (1988) appeared in the 1980s on home computers. 3D Construction Kit was released on the ZX Spectrum in 1991, and contained a full polygon-based world creation tool. Most of these early design frameworks are specific to one or another genre. In the 1990s, game creation systems for the IBM PC expanded to the more general and the more specific. Whereas frameworks like RSD Game-Maker and Klik & Play attempted to accommodate any genre, communities grew around games like ZZT (later MegaZeux) that permitted extensive user modification that they essentially became de facto game creation systems. Pie in the Sky Software created a full on 2.5D first-person shooter creator out of an engine they previously used internally, which sold in three total versions until 2003; 3D GameStudio and products by The Game Creators have targeted similar...