1. I noticed most of the stuff runs in web browser, likewise can only export to web, which worries me because it limits my future publishing options. Can project be easily exported as PC executables or compatible for hand held or consoles?
2. If the engine code is written in Java, a language even I know as a non-coder to be horribly sluggish and full of issues, doesn't that mean any game I make will have serious performance issues? Especially because I love to do massive levels and lots of parallax, like 10+ layers or so.
3. I am trying to create a metroidvania, so think of all the stuff a game like that needs, like save States, huge maps, rpg features and the likes, so can all this be achieved with c2?
4. If you could suggest another engine for someone like me with my game needs, what should it be?
Thanks a lot!
Hy there, first i want to say that as simplicity, and graphical editing and assembly you wont find no engine out there to compete, with Construct2 from my point of view, i tried a few FROM GM8 to stencyl, to fusion to what ever is out there, however, as performances, Construct2 has its limitations, you will face a lot of problems, but all can be solved in time, by working around things, and if you can use the plugins that people offer around Construct2 community it will solve most of them, but having a friend that has some JavaScript Knowledge, being able to do some custom work for specific effects, or library's that you may want to implement in future, will help, but you can still develop pretty fast performance Games and with a "Glamour" look to it without any of those things, just by using Default Construct2 but that will need you to understand how C2 engine works.
When i say glamour i mean, you can stuff the game with as many effects and images you may want, the issue will be later as in any game engine, more you add more resources youl need, so the minimum specification for your game, wont be from a point on a dual core processor of 2ghz and 1 gb ram, but more a newer generation of computers.
as for your points,
1 : yes most of the games are made by hobbyists and the only easy way to market a day is by using the online environment, by that meaning exporting to html5 websites and pray for players to play, but if you want, you can export to any platforms there is in C2, as a licensed user youl get more exporting power, steam/PlayStation/Xbox(windows10 support type)/ and many others, for a .exe thing i dont really know , since most of the Computer games made in Construct2 require Nodewebkit.js which is free to download, but not many players have it installed since the most common computer games dont require it, maybe someone can cover that part up, but all i want to say you are not limited to the WebBrowser only.
2: the engine is written in java, but you dont need to modify none of that, unless you want to create your own plugins or use some custom script.js, but what you ask doesn't require any of those things, you wold be for sure making a demo up and running in a few days if you have the graphics ready.
3: most of games can be made in C2 especially the old ones, even if they are in 3d, you can use Plugins to turn the 2d frame into a 3d frame, which is much faster for some reason in Construct2 but its limited by the amount of effects and objects you can add, but then you will need to learn those plugins functions and have a basic understanding of the 3d axes and 3d frames, however Castlevania, metroidvania etc can be accomplished with C2 by using the default functions with no custom plugins.
4: if you have the time to learn, and you can learn, then try Unity(has a few visual plugins, that can turn the hard core programming into a more simplistic programming similar to C2 but you have to pay an extra 300 bucks for it i think),Blender(for windows games only requires python knowledge but also can be used by visual coding drag and link things), Valve Engine, CryEngine, C## etc... what ever can help you, but since you mentioned you cant understand it no matter how hard you try, i wold say Stick to C2 for a while will grow on you, but you can play around also with GameMaker8 and other stuff, but they all have their specific issues.
My opinion in a few words, Stick to C2 play with it for a while, test it, see the problems for yourself, see if you can work around it, if not, if you have enough income to support an indie programmer, id say pay some programmers to do the coding part, and you keep doing what you like, being an artist.
P.S dont quit your day job, to make this happen, youl face many problems, and is possible youl get into the C2 loop, where you want to do all this cool projects, and you want to start all of them, since C2 is easy to use, but you will never finish one of it.
it happens to most of the users here..
Hope it helped you!
if im wrong on some points do rectify me, if not.. then well.. have a great day.