Why I Chose Godot (and why I almost quit)

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their four-year journey using the GDAU game engine while developing their first commercial game, 'Wild's Edge.' They highlight the engine's strengths, such as being free, open source, and having a supportive community, alongside its intuitive scene editing process. Although GDAU is praised for rapid prototyping and polished product development, the creator shares frustrations with occasional broken features due to ongoing updates. Ultimately, the creator expresses a strong commitment to GDAU and encourages viewers to check out their game on Steam, inviting them to wishlist it for notifications upon release.

Takeaways

• 😀 GDAU is a free and open-source game engine, making it accessible to developers.
• 🎮 It has a growing community of contributors, which enhances its development and support.
• 💻 The engine is lightweight and can run on various hardware configurations.
• ✨ GDAU's streamlined editing process allows for quick scene setup and efficient game organization.
• 🗂️ The intuitive scene tree structure promotes component reusability and organization.
• ⚡ GDAU is praised for rapid prototyping, allowing developers to build functional products quickly.
• 🔧 Despite its user-friendly approach, GDAU has complex features available for advanced needs.
• ⚠️ Users may encounter bugs or unfinished features due to ongoing development.
• 🔍 Documentation can sometimes lack clarity on the functionality of certain features.
• 🚀 The speaker is committed to GDAU and recommends it for new game developers, highlighting their own project, 'Wild's Edge.'

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video script?

The video script reflects on the creator's experiences using the GDAU game engine over four years, highlighting both the best and worst aspects.

Why did the creator choose GDAU over other engines like Unity and Ono?

The creator found GDAU to be free, open-source, lightweight, and supported by a passionate community, making it suitable for their needs.

What aspect of GDAU did the creator find most appealing?

The streamlined editing process, particularly the intuitive scene tree that helps organize and edit game elements efficiently.

How does the scene tree in GDAU enhance the game development process?

The scene tree allows for a clear visualization of how different elements relate to each other, making it easier to manage components and reuse them.

What is one major advantage of using GDAU mentioned in the script?

GDAU is praised for being effective for both rapid prototyping and for creating polished final products, allowing for quick development without sacrificing quality.

What challenges did the creator face while using GDAU?

The creator encountered occasional broken features or bugs due to the engine's ongoing development, which could be frustrating.

Can you provide an example of a frustrating experience with a feature in GDAU?

The creator struggled with the carry flag for an animation blend space, which appeared in the editor but did not function as intended due to it being a bug.

How quickly are bugs typically addressed in GDAU?

Bugs in GDAU are usually fixed quickly, though the presence of a non-functional feature without prior indication was a surprising experience for the creator.

What is the name of the game created by the speaker, and what engine was used?

The game is called 'Wild's Edge,' and it was developed using the GDAU game engine.

What does the creator encourage viewers to do regarding their game?

The creator invites viewers to check out the game's Steam page and wish list it to receive notifications when it is released.