Looking for help getting started with Sonic Worlds

[Balderdash]

Alright so, lot of stuff to cover here, and I'll probably sound like a total idiot, but...

 

     I've only recently found this forum and learned about SAGE after being inspired by games like Sonic: After the Sequel and Sonic 2 HD Remix to seek out my own way of contributing to the sonic fan game community.  I have a decent background in digital art, but my knowledge of programming is sorely lacking. I have amassed the appropriate resources to help me in that regard, but I am unsure how to proceed with the current version of Sonic Worlds (build 1.4.3).

 

     I have the build, but I have no idea how to open the mfa file or otherwise allocate the apporpriate files into a format which would allow me to begin building a game.  I take it I need additional software (such as Multimedia Fusion?), but I would immensely appreciate any sort of guidance or advice on how to get started here.  Or failing that, if anyone could point me in the direction of any helpful information, that would be awesome.

 

     Again, I apologize for any naivete on my part here; new to the scene, new to the forum.  Thank you in advance.

[Balderdash]

Addendum: I did some research and realize what I'll need in getting a copy of MMF2 or CF2.  I have the free version of CF2, but After looking through the forum a bit, it seems as though that is not enough (not all of the proper extensions are available through update patching or external download, at least not for sonic worlds build 1.4.3). I was wondering which of these programs is generall used or preferred, and where I might find a copy of said program that doesn't cost me 400$.  Is the cheaper 100$ non-developer version of CF2 compatible for this purpose, or is there a cheaper alternative here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GSF]

The $100 version works. The only difference between Standard and Developer is:

1)Dev allows you to sell applications and games without sticking a 'Powered by Fusion" logo on your application/game.

With the $100 version you need to do this for commercial projects. Free projects don't need this.

2)Dev has a few extra extensions that you will probably never use.

But yeah, you need MMF2 Standard or CF2.5 Standard at least. The Games Factory or CF2.5 Free Edition do not support Worlds.

If you're really willing to work with this, go ahead and buy CF, it's pretty easy to work with. Later on, I think it would be handy to have a version of Worlds that takes out extra details and extensions so that people with the CF demo can have a look at it and decide if they are willing to shell out for CF and develop a game using Worlds.

It'd be a nice side-goal to work with before the next release.

[Balderdash]

Thank you kindly for the advice. I'll probably end up buying CF 2 standard; It seems pretty easy to use from what I've seen and done with the demo already. 

 

I've dabbled in C++ and I'm actually looking into game design (particularly character and environmental design) as a career, so this software might be very well worth it, at least until I get a greater handle on formal programming.