Hi, I'm new here, it seems like a great community.

These past few months I finished the complete image of my game, mental image that is :p.

Now I need to give it a digital body.

I have a background of AS3 programming, lately I got used to write some shaders using AGAL, I've made some games with AS3, quite cool technology.

However, this game I want to do belongs to a different category, I want more stuff in screen, more effects, particles, shaders, etc, so I want to use C++, to even later port it to consoles, maybe.

This is not a commercial project, this is just a hobby's game, when it's finished I plan to upload it somewhere so people can play it for free.

Like I said, the game is complete, in my mind, now I need to make it happen, so, first what I think you would need to advice me better is to describe the game the best I can, well that's simple, the game is just a shoot em up scrolling top view, like 1942, but it's not 2D, I want to make at least some of the entities of the game to be 3D models, like the ships, enemies, and so on. Things like bullets, lasers and other stuff I think should be 2D.

My objective is not to make a 3D engine, nor other things that are already made by a lot more talented/experienced people than I am, so, the more libraries and other stuff that already exists for this game, the better.

My questions are:

1- 3D engine for this game, considering that it's not 2D, but also it doesn't need a FPS kind of 3D neither, what is there that could be useful?

2- Sounds/music libraries, what's out there?

3- Particles, FX libraries?

4- Game engine itself, main loop, etc, should I make it or there are premade options for this?.

Thanks and sorry if I'm not providing enough details. Just ask me.

Regards.-

Aren't UE4 and Unity3D very costly to use?.

I'm not studying right now so I can't access to an academic license, and it seems like even if I was, there has to be some kind of academic contact inside the college.

I see, I could start paying the monthly fee if it's what I'd need.

Is it UE4 a full blown game engine?, I mean, can I make a game from scratch using it or do I need something else?.

Also, does it require a guru level skills of C++?.

UE4 has monthly costs of 19 bucks and a 5% fee for every copy you sold.

I see, I could start paying the monthly fee if it's what I'd need.

Is it UE4 a full blown game engine?, I mean, can I make a game from scratch using it or do I need something else?.

Also, does it require a guru level skills of C++?.

Thanks for the info!, I will start learning UE4.

But first, after watching the system requirements, I'll need to upgrade my PC :p.