Game development kit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:57, 13 August 2021

Revision as of 12:50, 10 October 2021

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== Overview ==

In the 1980s, computing did not involve 3D modelling or any complex programming due to the limitations of hardware.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = The Life and Times of an 80’s80's Game Programmer – Putting it all together {{!}} Play It Again|url = http://playitagainproject.org/the-life-and-times-of-an-80s-game-programmer-putting-it-all-together/|website = playitagainproject.org|accessdate = 2015-12-22}}</ref> This, combined with the hobbyist nature of early computer game programming, meant that not many individuals or smaller companies would develop for consoles. Even when consoles became mainstream (such as the Nintendo Entertainment System), there was no official or publicly available GDK since most console manufacturers would develop their games in-house. For example, Nintendo had internal development teams for both hardware and software.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Here’sHere's How Nintendo’sNintendo's Internal Teams are Organized|url = http://www.gamnesia.com/news/heres-how-nintendos-internal-teams-are-organized|website = www.gamnesia.com|access-date = 2016-02-05}}</ref>

By the fifth generation of consoles, game development kits were developed to encourage more developers to make console games and grow the videogame industry. Game development kits began as a simple way for developers to connect their computers to console hardware, allowing them to compile software on their PC and see it play directly on a console. Once most GDKs started becoming bundled with hardware-specific software, hobbyists or anyone not directly affiliated with a console manufacturer would have to write their games without the specialized software to access unique features such as the Xbox One's Kinect or the Wii U GamePad.

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There are several variations of the [[PlayStation]] development kit used for game creation. One variation of the development kit had only three components,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Store {{!}} PSXDEV|url = http://www.psxdev.net/store.html|website = www.psxdev.net|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> while the PlayStation Ultimate Development Kit included up to 26 components, including the complete [[Net Yaroze]] development kit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Things you can't ever have|url = http://www.platypuscomix.net/interactive/thingsyoucanteverhave3.html|website = www.platypuscomix.net|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>

The [[Net Yaroze]] version of the development kit was unique in that it had some features removed and added compared to the official (complete) PlayStation development kit. The Net Yaroze hardware was designed for hobbyists, while official developers would have access to the official PlayStation development kits.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 15 Years Later: How Sony's Net Yaroze Kickstarted Indie Console Development|url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/169245/15_years_later_how_sonys_net_.php|website = www.gamasutra.com|date = 26 April 2012|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> There was also a blue version of the PlayStation made for developers that would read burned discs to allow quick testing of imaged builds of their videogames. While there were official PlayStation-branded CD-Rs that could be used with the blue PlayStation, regular CD-Rs were also compatible with the system.<ref name=":0" />

=== Nintendo 64/64DD ===

The [[Nintendo 64]] development kit consisted of multiple components, both for the N64 and its add-on, the N64DD. The main hardware used in N64 game development was the Partner-N64 Development Kit,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Nintendo 64 Development {{!}} level42|url = http://level42.ca/projects/nintendo-64-development/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703224527/http://level42.ca/projects/nintendo-64-development/|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2017-07-03|website = level42.ca|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://n64squid.com/homebrew/n64-sdk/development-hardware/|title = Nintendo 64 development hardware}}</ref> and used tall cartridges for game development/testing rather than the short cartridges that were sold with retail games. Another hardware component in N64 development was the NU64 Flash Gang Writer, which allowed developers to copy data from one cartridge to multiple cartridges simultaneously. This device was primarily used to create press and test copies of games, and also relied on tall cartridges instead of short retail cartridges.<ref>{{Cite web|title = NESWORLD.COM - NU64 FLASH GANG WRITER (NINTENDO64 DEVELOPMENT TOOL)|url = http://www.nesworld.com/n64-gangwriter.php|website = www.nesworld.com|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>

Other versions of the Nintendo 64 GDK are the SN Systems development suite, as well as the SN Maestro 64 Music development system. The development suite allowed developers to run code from a computer directly to the console, and included a software package. The Maestro 64 Music system allowed developers to load music software on to the console, and play music through the Nintendo 64's hardware.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Nintendo 64 SN64 Dev Kit and SN Maestro 64 Music Dev Kit|url = http://devkits.handheldmuseum.com/SN64.htm|website = devkits.handheldmuseum.com|accessdate = 2015-12-22}}</ref> another unofficial alternative to develop games for the N64 was the [[Doctor V64]], made by [[Bung Enterprises]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retroreversing.com/turok64sourcecode|title=Turok 64 Official Source Code Analysis · RetroReversing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=18190&view=findpost&p=1144184 |title=The Official "Thrift finds" Thread - AtariAge Forums - Page 132 |publisher=Atariage.com |date= |accessdate=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dextrose.com/info/0428turok3dev.htm |title=[Oddities&#93; - A day in the life of Turok 3 |publisher=Dextrose |date=November 19, 2000 |accessdate=November 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020616145305/http://www.dextrose.com/info/0428turok3dev.htm |archivedate=June 16, 2002 }}</ref>

== Sixth generation ==

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[[Nintendo]] maintains a unified developer program for both its Wii U and Nintendo 3DS families of platforms. This developer program provides software and middleware to developers, and allows developers to self-publish their games to the Nintendo eShop.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://developer.nintendo.com/|title=Homepage - Nintendo Developer Portal|website=developer.nintendo.com|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref> Games and applications published through this program are considered "third-party" and do not belong to Nintendo, allowing independent developers to publish their games on multiple different platforms.

The Wii U development hardware consists of a system called "CAT-DEV", with its accompanying peripherals such as the Display Remote Controller (presumably the [[Wii U GamePad]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Wii U dev kit {{!}} Wii U|url = http://wiiudaily.com/wii-u-dev-kit/|website = wiiudaily.com|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>) and sensor bar.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Wii U Devkit (CAT-DEV V3) - VGLeaks|url = http://www.vgleaks.com/wii-u-devkit-cat-dev-v3|website = VGLeaks|date = 6 March 2013|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>

=== Nintendo 3DS Family ===