Construct (software)

Construct

The Construct user interface. Editing a layout and a sprite.
Developer(s)	Scirra
Initial release	October 27, 2007
Written in	C++
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Available in	English
Type	Game development/application development
License	GPL
Website	Scirra

Construct is a free, open source DirectX game creator. It aims to allow games to be created in an easy drag and drop manner, using an event-based programming system, or optionally with Python scripting. It features pixel shaders, motion blur, zooming and rotations, a Behaviors system, a bone animation system, a debugger, and over 50 built-in objects. In addition, the engine includes support for 2D physics using the Box2D library. Construct is developed by a group of students.^[1]

Event system

The primary method of programming games and applications in Construct is through 'event sheets', which are similar to source files used in programming languages. Each event sheet has a list of events, which contain conditional statements or triggers. Once these are met, actions or functions can be carried out. Event logic such as OR and AND, as well as sub-events (representing scope) allow for sophisticated systems to be programmed without learning a comparatively more difficult programming language. Groups can be used to enable/disable multiple events at once, and to organise events.

Event sheets can then be reused by other levels or parts of an application, by including them in other event sheets.

Origin and Development

Construct's event system originates from Clickteam's Multimedia Fusion 2 product. It initially was developed as a commercial product, but due to the fact that the 4 original developers of Construct were under a Non-Disclosure Agreement^{[citation needed]} with Clickteam during the initial step of the development, Scirra re-licensed Construct as a GPL open source software and uploaded the source code to SourceForge in order to avoid potential legal actions^{[citation needed]} from Clickteam.

Construct uses the commercial Prof-UIS interface library.

Release history

The first public open source build, version 0.8, was released on October 27, 2007.^[2] The current stable release is 1.2,^[3] released on February 24, 2011. Its successor Construct 2 is being developed as a commercial product and exports games to HTML5.

Hardware requirements

• Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
• A DirectX 9 compatible graphics card.
  • Effects up to Pixel Shader 2.0 can be used if supported by hardware, but is not required.

Notes

1. ^ http://www.scirra.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2338
2. ^ http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=207820&package_id=248983
3. ^ http://www.scirra.com/construct-classic