BYOND VS melonJS

• Community and Collaboration
  BYOND has a strong community of developers and players which encourages collaboration and sharing of resources, ideas, and feedback.
• Ease of Use
  The platform provides a relatively easy-to-use development environment with its proprietary programming language, DM (Dream Maker), making it accessible to beginners.
• Multiplayer Support
  Built-in multiplayer support simplifies the process of developing networked multiplayer games, which is often a complex task in game development.
• Resource Library
  BYOND offers an extensive library of resources, including tutorials, assets, and code snippets that can accelerate the game development process.
• Free to Use
  The platform is free to download and use, lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring game developers.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Graphics Capabilities
  The graphics capabilities are relatively outdated compared to modern game engines, which can limit the visual appeal of games developed on the platform.
• Proprietary Language
  The use of the proprietary programming language, DM, may be a barrier for developers familiar with more widely-used languages like C++ or JavaScript.
• Performance Issues
  Performance may degrade with more complex or graphically intensive games, making BYOND less suitable for high-performance game projects.
• Platform Dependency
  BYOND games typically need to be played through the BYOND client, which can limit the reach and accessibility compared to standalone game executables.
• Niche User Base
  The user base, while supportive, is relatively small and niche compared to larger game development communities, which can limit exposure and potential player base.

• Lightweight
  melonJS is known for being lightweight, which makes it ideal for simple games and faster loading times. It eliminates the bloat commonly found in more extensive game engines, ensuring better performance in resource-limited environments.
• 2D Game Focus
  The engine is designed specifically for 2D games, providing tailored features and optimizations that help developers create efficient 2D applications without the unnecessary complications of a 3D engine.
• HTML5 Compatibility
  melonJS is an HTML5 game engine that runs smoothly in modern browsers without needing plugins. This makes it an excellent choice for web-based games and applications.
• Open Source
  Being open-source, melonJS provides developers the opportunity to contribute to the engine’s development or modify it based on their needs, promoting community engagement and flexibility.
• Community Support
  The engine has an active community that shares resources, tutorials, and support, making it easier for new users to learn and work with melonJS.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited 3D Support
  As a 2D-focused engine, melonJS has minimal to no support for 3D graphics and features, which can be a limitation for developers looking to expand into the third dimension.
• Smaller Feature Set
  Compared to larger engines like Unity or Unreal, melonJS offers a more limited set of features and tools, which might impede highly complex game development.
• Steeper Learning Curve for Beginners
  Some users might find melonJS's structure and setup challenging if they are accustomed to more visual scripting environments, as a solid understanding of JavaScript is required.
• Less Extensive Documentation
  While there is documentation available, it may not be as exhaustive or detailed as that of more popular game engines, potentially making it harder to find answers for specific issues.
• Lower Popularity
  melonJS is not as widely known or used as some other game engines, which can limit the availability of third-party plugins and assets tailored specifically for this engine.

My History with BYOND

More videos

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• "I have a great idea"

  I fell for this when I was a kid on Byond. The idea guy thought he was J. R. R. Tolkien. My sprite artist friend joined me. He was vague about what he wanted and even though we had been making everything he asked of us he brought another... Source: over 5 years ago

• How to make a game under 10 MB and what engine to use?

  Checkout LittleJS, MelonJS and my main recommendation, Phaser. Source: about 4 years ago