A roadmap targeted to novices for 2d game engine development utilizing open-source libraries and APIs

Abstract

In an age defined by rapid technological advancements, gaming has evolved remarkably with better consoles, immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences, enhanced graphics, captivating audio and advanced game mechanics. This change has encouraged companies worldwide to develop their own game engines for creating and releasing unique games. This paper proposes a roadmap on creating a functional 2D game engine, using programming languages like C++ and C#, technologies like OpenGL and YAML, and various open source libraries and APIs. This roadmap aims to answer questions like: What are the essential subsystems needed to make a game engine function? How can they be coded? What open source libraries can be used? Our results indicate that the development of a game engine requires significant dedication and effort as well as knowledge in various fields like programming, mathematics, physics and more. However, building a game engine is expedited by the use of excellent open source libraries for implementing core subsystems. The roadmap presented in this paper can support ambitious developers without prior experience in game engine development to start building their own engine, as well as instructors teaching courses on software engineering and game programming on designing relevant team projects that can both motivate students and support them in acquiring relevant knowledge and skills through a rewarding experience.