Best engine to make platform(er)s?

[mulambo]

I just wanted to know what's the best / easiest / most intuitive engine to make platform games  ?After making some vs fighting and a beat'em'up I want to start a platform proj so I just want to know what would you suggest as the most stable one ? Please consider my PC is really low spec, so probably I could never use newer stuff (unless they're compatible with older systems, of course). Thank you in advance for your suggestions 

PS, I know openBOR can manage platforms too, but I just wanted to make my own version of Super Mario Bros 1, just to help you get the picture

PPS, I've already tried GameMaker.. too  difficult for me, requires a lot of time and patience, I'm just looking for something really simpler.

 

[msmalik681]

Making a game is not easy or simple and you need time and patience.  But if you find a openbor project already made for mario brothers you could modify it that would be the easy way.

I think you should use super mario maker.

 

[mulambo]

Making a game is not easy or simple and you need time and patience.  But if you find a openbor project already made for mario brothers you could modify it that would be the easy way.

I think you should use super mario maker.

Thanks, but it would require a WII U and it's by far a bit too expensive for me (and I'm not really interested in next gen consoles, I'm fine with the ones I already got). Or maybe you're talking about Windows PC software called that way (the one for the WII U is the first result that pops up on google search).
I was looking for something for  Windows PC, I know development takes the required time and patience, but it's not easy to find the right one that is as motivating, for example, as MUGEN or OpenBOR which are a bit more user-friendly but as noobish or expensive as I can imagine supermariomaker can be (and I wouldn't face a program like... fighter maker for psx, lol).  I also didn't just want to edit the order of elements, I wanted to make a graphic re-shape and structural re-shape of levels as well (another game, same engine of super mario 1, or similar). Probably it will be a parody game or a really funny one... but I still don't have a defined "blueprint" of it, just a little picture in my mind I cannot talk about right now, as I usually develop things freely without any strict plan.
I can evaluate the Super Mario openBOR project, but I don't know actually because I figure OpenBOR is more suitable for beat'em'ups.
So I would really need something like, you know, the old RPGMaker... but for platforms, if it makes any sense.  :-\

 

[DCurrent]

There actually is a Mario OpenBOR project. It's just a technical demo but would still be good to start with.

OpenBOR is perfectly suited to make platform games with, it's not some bolt on afterthought. The only basic Mario mechanic it doesn't support right of the box is controlling jump height, and that's a simple script that is already written. IIRC the Mario demo has it, and if not I'll give you mine.

DC

 

[mulambo]

There actually is a Mario OpenBOR project. It's just a technical demo but would still be good to start with.

OpenBOR is perfectly suited to make platform games with, it's not some bolt on afterthought. The only basic Mario mechanic it doesn't support right of the box is controlling jump height, and that's a simple script that is already written. IIRC the Mario demo has it, and if not I'll give you mine.

DC

sure thing, I saw some other projects and I know it can be achieved, but my fear is that I have to customize the levels a bit painfully. it's ok for the fixed jump height (I must say that is one of the sensitive part of sm1 gameplay which made the game interesting, though... ). I honestly can't imagine myself placing each piece of brick or bonus square with notepad, one by one. If there was some stage editor to make it quick, I'd feel free to be creative, as the variety of platforms is typical in platformers ... while beat'em'ups or fighting games don't need it (but they require a different approach to complete the game). I'm talking about average games I've played though, I mean the classic ones...
That's why I said OpenBOR is perfect for beat'em'ups, while probably needs a "quick to use" editor for complex level customization. Or maybe I'm figuring things out the wrong way  :-X

 

[Bloodbane]

I honestly can't imagine myself placing each piece of brick or bonus square with notepad, one by one

Well, that's what you should do if you want to use OpenBoR to make platformer. If your level is comprised of brick blocks, yes I can imagine your pain however if your level is comprised of long and/or big platforms, constructing platformer level with OpenBoR is not that painful
Contra and Castlevania AFAIK use lots of long platforms that's why making Contra or Castlevania mod is easy

 

[mulambo]

I honestly can't imagine myself placing each piece of brick or bonus square with notepad, one by one

Well, that's what you should do if you want to use OpenBoR to make platformer. If your level is comprised of brick blocks, yes I can imagine your pain however if your level is comprised of long and/or big platforms, constructing platformer level with OpenBoR is not that painful
Contra and Castlevania AFAIK use lots of long platforms that's why making Contra or Castlevania mod is easy

I love Contra, not a big fan of Castlevania though (too difficult gameplay). As stated before, I was looking to make something like Super Mario 1 where the variety is really important and the difficulty of the game is not only based on the enemies you have to face, but on the agility of performing jumps in the right way. It won't be a shoot'em'up all the time, probably like in SM1 where it's only available as spare bonus (the fireball).

 

[ABK]

mario also had this running physics where he wouldnt stop but slide a bit after you released the direction button.
I think openbor jump velocity is not linear but its sinusoid is not editable.
Tile based engine would be better for platformers than openbor.
Id love to see racing game done in openbor, top view like micromachines, i attempted it but couldnt figure out enemies AI to race against , maybe chasing invisible checkpoints on tracks one after another...
by the way i made this platformer long time ago for fun