BYOND is both a gaming engine and a gaming community. It is a complete system to create, play, and publish games. You can use BYOND to create single-player games, but it really shines in the development of multi-player games.
We designed the programming language behind BYOND games, called "DM," to handle multi-player interaction in a way such that the developer need not maintain the complex networking infrastructure.
What is BYOND and what is it used for?
BYOND (Build Your Own Net Dream) is a platform for creating and playing online multiplayer games, particularly 2D games. It provides a proprietary scripting language (DM) and engine, and is most well-known for hosting fan-made games like Space Station 13.
Is BYOND still active and worth using?
Yes, BYOND still has an active, if niche, community. It's particularly relevant for legacy games like SS13 and certain anime-based games.
How hard is it to learn DM, BYOND's scripting language?
DM (Dream Maker) is relatively easy to pick up if you have experience with languages like C, JavaScript, or Python. The documentation is dated but serviceable. The real challenge is navigating the engine's older architecture and idiosyncrasies.
Can you make money from BYOND games?
It's possible, but rare. Some developers accept donations or offer perks through Patreon, but BYOND isn't optimized for monetization. If commercial success is a goal, a more flexible and modern game engine might be a better choice.
Play
- Play online for free
- Easy to install
- Wide variety of games
- Play innovative games made by people just like you
Create
- Free developer tools
- Built-in multiplayer support
- Simple yet powerful programming language
- Makes games in classic 2D or isometric perspective
- Does things no other game maker can
- Easy to get started
