Multimedia Fusion 2
I've used the latest version of Multimedia Fusion in my game design course at Connections Academy. It's a pretty decent engine, though limited in the use of programming. Instead of writing everything from scratch, there's an "Events" tab that allows the user to take predefined tags and use them to make the game do something. You'll end up with something like "When object 'Player' touches object 'Finish_Line', go to next screen."
MMF:
+ Completely Custom Art
+ Easy to Understand Event Mechanics
= Not Limited to sprites
- Limited Events
- Limited Engine
RPG Maker (VX Ace)
I'd have to say my experiences with RPG Maker are much of the same, but the code given to the player is much more broad, and most combinations will handle better than with MMF. If you're looking to provide an arguably better 2D art style (meaning you make all the objects yourself), MMF will allow you to make completely custom models with proper collisions. RPG Maker is limited to sprites, which requires experience with handling them to get them to work well.
RPG Maker (VX Ace Variant)
+ Wide Event Selection
+ Moderately Large Engine
+ Less File Size Limit
= Limited Mostly to Sprite-work
= Requires Learning
BYOND (Build Your Own Net Dream)
BYOND is a horrible game engine.
Despite this, one of my favorite games is built upon it, using its own custom code variant of Lua. BYOND is an engine that features sprite art and an almost entirely custom engine. Its limits can be surpassed if you can understand code, but messing up can cause heavy lag and possible server crashes. Even though I don't recommend it for anyone here wanting to make a game, I CAN recommend a game called Space Station 13. It uses a quirky language called NTSL, or NanoTrasen Scripting Language
BYOND:
+ Heavily Open-Source
- Limited Graphic Design
- Games Fall Apart if You Fail at Code
Inform 7
Inform is a text-based engine that features a very interesting way to code. Instead of learning a new language, the developer types everything in English, using specific phrasing to cause things to happen. One can theoretically include pictures with your text RPG, but large games require a LOT of work.
Inform 7:
+ No coding knowledge required
+ Helps users understand how code works
+ Uses simple phrasing
= Limited to Text RPG's
- Graphics Limited to Images
- Sounds are Not Present (Unless one were to modify the engine)
For those that would like a picture of Inform's coding process:
http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af27 ... iscuss.png"I remember when an hour was that of a day, back when the drops of youth plagued my mind. Now, an hour is merely a speck of sand; hard to keep together, always slipping away in my hourglass. This is the cost of maturity." - Myself
