Reflections on Game Engine Development​

There was a time when every major breakthrough in game engines led to significant technological advancements in the industry, such as the transition from 2D to 3D rendering or from basic lighting to real-time shadows and physics simulations. These innovations opened up endless possibilities for game development and propelled the industry forward. However, as technology has matured, such disruptive innovations have become less common.

Hello everyone! I’m a game engine enthusiast and a programmer with a solid background in frontend development. If you’ve ever wondered how to transition from crafting websites to developing games, you’re in the right place!

Today, let’s talk about using Dora SSR—a game engine that supports TSX and runs cross-platform natively. It’s a seamless way to step into the world of game development. Don’t worry, game engines aren’t as inaccessible as they might seem; in fact, they have surprising similarities to the frontend tools we’re used to.

Moonscript: A Niche Language with a Twist​

Moonscript is a fascinating programming language that compiles into Lua and runs on the Lua virtual machine. Its syntax and features draw inspiration from Coffeescript, offering a sweet spot between expressiveness and readability—minimizing code while maximizing clarity. It's particularly adept at handling frequently changing business logic, allowing developers to slash code volumes significantly when compared to native Lua—sometimes down to a third! This not only saves time but also reduces bugs and troubleshooting headaches. But perhaps one of its quirkiest features, as revealed by a seasoned developer in a Discord chat, is its dedicated global but modest-sized user base and its delightful Sailor Moon-themed aesthetic.

Introduction​

Ever since I was captivated by the magic of Warcraft III MODs in my childhood, I've held a special fondness for game scripting languages. Reflecting back on those days, using Blizzard's JASS language to create levels in Warcraft III was quite basic by today's standards—being statically typed with no garbage collection—but it represented a bold experiment in the early days of game development standards.

Introduction​

Developing my own games has been a dream since childhood, particularly fueled by my extensive use of the Warcraft 3 World Editor. This sparked a fascination with game engines and development tools. As a student, I delved into programming and soon felt the urge to expand beyond just using various programming languages for development. I started maintaining a programming language called YueScript, tailored for writing game logic. My learning journey in graphics led me to rewrite the Cocos2d-x as a learning project, which eventually evolved into the Dora SSR game engine. Later, as my love for handheld gaming consoles grew, I began collaborating on an open, programmable gaming device called the "Auspice Gear", aiming to achieve the ultimate digital freedom in gaming.

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Behind every great creation lies a story filled with magic. The inspiration for Dora SSR springs from one of my most cherished childhood tales - "The Wizard of Oz." In this classic story, Dorothy, along with her little dog Toto and new friends - the Tin Man lacking a heart, the Scarecrow without a brain, and the Cowardly Lion, embark on an adventure filled with challenges and wonders.