Video Game Tycoon

In 2006, with Video Game Tycoon, designers get a set of building blocks that they put together to create an infinite variety of game play scenarios. A new game can be created in a few steps. The game designer picks a name, defines objectives, selects the environment, builds a terrain, adds players, defines game play objects and artificial intelligence opponents, and then presses play to launch their own video game. The designer gets to mix and match vehicle racing games, tank battles, flying rocket packs and secret vehicles, paintball contests, platform challenges and puzzles, alien invaders, monsters, horse racing and jumping, multiplayer games, cheats and Easter-eggs.

A variety of video games are designed to introduce players to the basics of game development and programming. These 'game-making' games often provide user-friendly tools and environments where players can design, code, and test their own games. "Minecraft" for example, although not strictly a game-making game, has a Redstone mechanic which teaches basic logic gates used in programming. "Roblox" is another popular platform where players can create their own games using its proprietary engine. For those seeking a more in-depth dive into game development, "GameMaker" and "Unity" provide more complex toolsets for designing a wide array of video game genres. Moreover, games like "Scratch" and "Kodu" are designed specifically for younger audiences, helping them learn the basics of programming and game design in an interactive, engaging manner.