As you should know, isometric projection is a method of visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, in which the three coordinate axes appear equally foreshortened and the angles between any two of them are 120 degrees. A great way to represent 3D worlds on old 8-bit computers since their CPUs did not handle a real 3D world, and a great way to create casual adventure games nowadays.

I am showing you a list of 11 Flash isometric engines, some of them are free, others are commercial, and some still unreleased. I am writing to all authors to have more info about their engines, meanwhile this the most complete list I was able to make.

Engines are listed in alphabetical order.

2D isometric engine – Free

http://code.google.com/p/2d-isometric-engine/

Open source, multilevel and multiplayer tilebased isometric engine, reviewed in this post

as3isolib – Free

http://as3isolib.wordpress.com/

As3isolib is an open-source ActionScript 3.0 Isometric Library developed to assist in creating isometrically projected content (such as games and graphics) targeted for the Flash player platform. As3isolib includes utilities, primitives and views. As3isolib was developed with simplicity, speed and performance in mind so that developers can focus on actual implementations rather than having to learn a complex API.

You can see latest project using this engine at http://apps.facebook.com/downtowngame/

FFilmation – Free

http://www.ffilmation.org/

The FFilmation Engine is an AS3 isometric programing engine, focused mainly on game development. The aim of the project is providing a robust development platform, where game designers can work on the game’s details and forget about the render engine. It is intended to be really usable from a “real production scenario” point of view.

See a demo playing My Name is Poncho

Flash 3D Isometric Game Engine – Unreleased

http://actionscripter.co.uk/blog/?page_id=76

Vector isometric engine allowing to zoom, rotate and pan the environment in a “real” 3D world. I’m asking the author more information, stay tuned

isoengineas3 – Free

http://isoengineas3.sourceforge.net/

2D Isometric Engine project build with Flash AS3. It is an open source, multilevel and multiplayer tilebased isometric engine. No more information.

Isometric Game Engine – Unreleased

http://www.davidworks.com/?id=int_iso

An isometric engine built from scratch for an online virtual campus. No more info.

The demo is quite interesting so I am going to contact the author for more information.

Isometric terrain engine – Free

http://yaief.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/isometric-terrain-engine/

This is an isometric terrain generator, actually an abandoned project but still an inspiration.

OpenSpace – Commercial – Trial version available

http://www.openspace-engine.com/

OpenSpace is a powerful Flash based isometric engine and framework for rapid development of multi-user virtual worlds and MMO communities.

Check Football Village to see it in action.

OpenSpace is licensed on a “per-seat” basis: a separate license is required for each user working with OpenSpace.

Sean Cooper Isometric Engine – Commercial

http://www.games.seantcooper.com/IsometricEngine.aspx

Made by Sean “BoxHead” Cooper, the engine is based on some techniques used in the PC game Syndicate, which he wrote in 1993. The technique is simple and extremely fast, well suited to Flash and will run fast on most machines.

At the moment there isn’t any project showcase, just a demo in the official page, and no info about the license, but being developed by a PROgrammer like Sean makes this engine quite interesting.

TheoWorlds – Commercial

http://www.theoworlds.com/products.php

TheoWorlds Builder SDK v2 is a kit that will help you develop online virtual worlds much faster, without starting from scratch. At its core it contains the original Theo Isometric Engine™ that lets you create pseudo-3D maps, place on them objects and characters, and organize the interaction between them.

You can test the engine playing Treasure Hunter

TheoWorlds Builder SDK v2 is priced $3,200, while the light SDK v1 $799

T.I.L.E. (Tangerine Isometric Level Editor) – Commercial

http://www.tangerinepop.com/ then click on “tech”

According to the site, T.I.L.E. provides the ability to rapidly build a standard lock & key adventure game with hundreds of rooms. It also provides the primary software framework needed to build a quality MMO with numerous maps and new play modes via in increasing list of new game mechanics.

An example of a game developed with this technology is GraveShift

Prices range from (as said on the site) “half to less than half the costs of building it yourself”

Go to Hell!: Dig through 666 meters to reach hell and find out its secret. You have to dig all the way down through caves filled with water, lava, boulders and enemies. You’ll need to eat, breathe and avoid or kill monster to survive.

What I liked: Nice concept, reminded me A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. I really enjoyed it

Programming difficulty: The water… 5/5

Snipedown: A “defense” game with a World War 2 theme… you play as a sniper and must defend your base from 20 waves of enemies. Air strikes and machine guns will help you.

What I liked: Obliterating the infantry has never been so much fun…

Programming difficulty: Not that hard… all in all it’s just an hit test with some twist. 2/5

My Pet Protector 2: Not the kind of game I like to play on a browser, but this one is casual enough to keep me as relaxed as Flash games should do, but at the same time it’s complex enough to make me use the brain.

What I liked: the character creation

Programming difficulty: it’s a complete RPG. 5/5

See you next week

Hill Of Defend: Fresh defense game, with a different view. This time you’ll defend your base from a side view.

What I liked: Normally I hate classic defense games, but this one has a new and original approach.

Programming difficulty: Very complete game. 5/5

Sagoo: Platform game with interesting physics puzzles

What I liked: Cool game, cool character.

Programming difficulty: Interesting use of Box2D combined with various stuff. 5/5

See you next week

Running Blue: Interesting platform game with 12 levels of pure action… run, jump, throw bombs…

What I liked: It’s a good platform, and I don’t see Mario…

Programming difficulty: Platforms aren’t easy. 4/5

Frutopia: Eat all fruits during all 20 levels

What I liked: It’s a very simple concept, with interesting graphics. All those fruits icons reminded me a bit Bubble Bobble

Programming difficulty: eazeeeeeeeeee… 1/5

Bubba Time: This is the final release of Bubba Time… previously featured in Triqui’s Picks #4.

What I liked: interesting concept

Programming difficulty: a good platform is always difficult. 2/5

See you next week

Jones Platformer: Don’t make the poor graphic fool you, this is an incredible platform game. The animation of the main character is awesome… you can make an incredible set of actions in a really smooth way.

What I liked: Awesome and hard.

Programming difficulty: Wow. 5/5

Defend your Honor: Interesting approach to the “Defense” theme. Clean graphics, interesting unit management (at higher levels you won’t be able to place more than about 10 units), different levels

What I liked: Cool game, something fresh in this theme.

Programming difficulty: A good defense game is quite hard to do. 5/5

See you next week

Ricochet Kills: PP: Shoot a projectile and use ricochets to kill all enemies.

What I liked: Original concept

Programming difficulty: Box2D without gravity. Or just simple math. 1/5

Where is 2010?: Arcade adventure, help the little man find the New Year toddler.

What I liked: Nice adventure, cool graphics.

Programming difficulty: Very complete game, despite the minimal look 4/5

Mitta on Starryland: Simple platform game: you control a guy with arrow keys and a star with the mouse. Collect stars with the guy while you clear the view with the star

What I liked: interesting concept

Programming difficulty: A simple platform and a mouse mask. 2/5

See you next week

Back2Back: Control a troop trapped in an hostile planet and try to escape. I am sure I played something similar when I had an Amiga. And enjoyed it a lot

What I liked: It could be a budget PC game.

Programming difficulty: The basics are very easy, but it’s a very complete and polished game. 5/5

PhysBallz: Connetc balls of the same color in this original physics game

What I liked: Nice concept

Programming difficulty: Physics game with custom gravity, some pathfinding to manage adjacent balls… 3/5

Sni[p]r 2: Blast away stickmen and tanks, while upgrading your rifle and your base.

What I liked: it’s the game that makes you say “just another one”

Programming difficulty: Pretty easy. 2/5

Perpetual Blaze: Control a perpetual blaze through various levels – great particle effect.

What I liked: The graphics

Programming difficulty: Similar to Sproing prototype. The vote is for the graphics and the particles. 3/5

Way of an Idea: Great physics game, a good way to represent the classic “bring an object from A to B”

What I liked: The level design

Programming difficulty: Box2D game, obviously the chalk is bade by tiny rectangles… 2/5

Pandemic Boy: Spread a deadly infection and kill as much people as you can.

What I liked: I hate mankind, so I love this game :)

Programming difficulty: Micro management and basic AI, maybe some pathfinding… but not that easy. 4/5

See you next week

So the question is: where should I submit my game?

You can find a lot of game portals lists around the web, but this one includes only portals able to give at least 100,000 views, according to MochiBot stats.

Having your game on half of the portals listed here should grant you some millions visits. Don’t even bother submitting your game to portals able to give you only a few thousands visits.

Just follow this list and let the game virally spread through minor portals.

More than 1,000,000 views

www.addictinggames.com
www.agame.com
www.mindjolt.com
www.oyunlar1.com

More than 100,000 views

www.7k7k.com
www.andkon.com
www.ejocurigratis.ro
www.fastgames.com
www.flasharcadegamessite.com
www.flashgames.it
www.freeonlinegames.com
www.freeworldgroup.com
www.funnygames.nl
www.gamegarage.co.uk
www.games2girls.com
www.gamesfreak.net
www2.jeux.com
www.jogosjogos.com
www.juegos10.com
www.juegosdiarios.com
www.killsometime.com
www.kongregate.com
www.micoia.net
www.minijuegos.com
www.net-games.biz
www.net-games.co.il
www.newgrounds.com
www.onemorelevel.com
www.oyunskor.com
www.physicsgames.net
www.playedonline.com
www.puffgames.com
www.spele.nl
www.thegamehomepage.com
www.wyspagier.pl
www.xiaoyouxi.cn
www.yougame.com

Happy submission… (did I forget some portals?)

Ice Breaker: Slice ice and free frozen vikings. The game isn’t that new but it has been enabled for distribution in these days.

What I liked: one of the few games using slicing feature

Programming difficulty: You can make something similar following The engine behind Splitter Flash game : working code. 3/5

Roly-Poly Monsters: Get rid of evil monsters blowing them up with bombs in this physics game

What I liked: Nice concept

Programming difficulty: Not that hard using Box2D. 3/5

Robin the Mercenary: Kill monster and collect coins in this old style arcade game

What I liked: reminded me a bit of Rick Dangerous…

Programming difficulty: Complete Flixel game. 3/5

Perfect Balance 2: Obviously the sequel of the great Perfect Balance, now with bunchs of new levels!

What I liked: more addictive than Tetris in my opinion!

Programming difficulty: Just a little Box2D… 1/5

Sandcastle: Excellent defense game. Defend your city from the invading ships. Use different types of cannons and ammo – flying pencil included – to sunk them

What I liked: great game, you must see the castle transforming to shoot all kinds of weird stuff

Programming difficulty: Rich and complete game, I must study the water effect… 4/5

Arcuz: Normally I play RPGs on my PS3, but this is the best I’ve seen so far on the Flash platform.

What I liked: Reminded me a bit the first Diablo

Programming difficulty: Wow. 5/5

See you next week

UFOMania 2: Neon Galaxy: Abduct all humans from dying planets and place them on a safe one avoiding asteroids and enemy spaceships

What I liked: interesting concept, great neon-style graphics

Programming difficulty: It’s a game full of features, but none of them is really hard. 3/5

Last UFO Hero: yes, another UFO game… this time you have to abduct animals, and you can upgrade your flying saucer

What I liked: interesting concept, but I don’t like that kind of graphics

Programming difficulty: Same as before. 3/5

Ballery: Original physics game, you have two chances to score as high as you can.

What I liked: interesting concept (yes, again! no cut/paste…)

Programming difficulty: A little Box2D and a control system similar to Pumpkin Story prototype. 1/5

See you next week