LÖVE (game framework) explained

LÖVE
Released:[1]
Latest Release Version:11.5[2]
Programming Language:C++
Platform:FreeBSD,
OpenBSD,
NetBSD,
Microsoft Windows,
Linux,
macOS,
iOS,
Android
Genre:Application framework
License:zlib license

LÖVE is a free, open-source, cross-platform framework released under the zlib license for developing video games. The framework is written in C++ and uses Lua as its scripting language and is still maintained by its original developers. The framework is cross-platform supporting the platforms Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The API provided by the framework gives access to the video and sound functions of the host machine through the libraries SDL and OpenGL, or since version 0.10 also OpenGL ES 2 and 3.[3] Fonts can be rendered by the FreeType engine.[4] A version of the framework called piLöve has been specifically ported to Raspberry Pi.[5]

The framework is frequently found in the compositions of video game development competitions, such as the game development competition Ludum Dare.[6] In July 2018, it was the 10th most popular game development software used by independent game developers on the site Itch.io,[7] holding a 1.97% share.

Version History

Version!class=unsortable
Code nameclass=unsortableAddedRelease date
0.1.1Santa-Power
  • Reading and displaying images.
  • Reading and playing sounds.
  • Loading and rendering fonts.
  • Keyboard and mouse support.
0.2.0Mini-Moose
  • Added a screen that displays if no game is loaded.
  • Adding an animation system.
  • Added text formatting functions.
0.2.1Impending Doom
  • Added many filesystem functions.
  • Added dedicated save folders for games.
0.3.0Mutant Vermin
  • Addition of the particle system.
0.3.1Meat Space
  • Bug fixes.
0.3.2Lemony Fresh
  • Added several graphical functions.
0.4.0Taco Beam
0.5.0Salted Nuts
  • Added joystick support.
  • Support of protocols TCP/UDP using luasocket.
0.6.0Jiggly Juice
  • Removed the animation system.
  • Added support for managing events like key presses.
0.6.1Jiggly Juice
  • Added function to set and get a Box2D body's fixed rotation.
  • Added function to set the inertia of a Box2D body.
0.6.2Jiggly Juice
  • Bug fixes.
0.7.0Game Slave
  • Added support for working with fonts.
0.7.1Game Slave
  • Bug fixes.
0.7.2Game Slave
  • Updated libraries for Windows version.
0.8.0Rubber Piggy
  • Added UTF-8 support for fonts.
  • Added PNG and JPEG encoding.
0.9.0Baby Inspector
  • Added better multiplayer networking support.
0.9.1Baby Inspector
  • Added support for opening a URL with a web or file browser.
0.9.2Baby Inspector
  • Added UTF-8 encoding support.
0.10.0Super Toast
  • Supports Android and iOS.[9]
  • Added touch screen support.
  • Added video support.
0.10.1Super Toast
  • Added configuration option for saving files in internal or external storage on Android devices.
0.10.2Super Toast
  • Added the ability to restart the application.
11.0Mysterious Mysteries
  • Support for meshes.
  • Various additions to shaders (such as the effect method).
  • Ability to record from a microphone.
  • Consolidation of many object methods into new methods.
  • Added many new formats to stencil/depth buffers.
  • Audio effects such as reverberation and echoing.
  • Added support for Base64 encoding, MD5 hashing, and more.
11.1Mysterious Mysteries
  • Bug fixes.
11.2Mysterious Mysteries
  • Added functions to set and get a Box2D body's transform.
11.3Mysterious Mysteries
  • Added support for loading FLAC audio files.
  • Added support for recording audio from the microphone on Android devices.
  • Added support for uncompressed DirectDraw Surface files.
11.4Mysterious Mysteries
  • Added native Apple Silicon support on macOS.
11.5Mysterious Mysteries
  • Added new game launcher on Android for easier loading of games.
12.0TBAIn Development

Features

The framework provides these features:

Notable Games

Semi-popular games that have been made with LÖVE.

Libraries & Implementations

There are various libraries and forks of LÖVE to improve basic functions, such as OOP with inheritance and overloading, interpolations, cameras, gamestates, etc. This is a small list of some:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LÖVE version history . 2019-06-01 .
  2. Web site: LÖVE 11.5 . 2024-01-07 .
  3. Web site: 0.10.0 - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  4. Web site: en. The power of Löve !. Korben. January 14, 2011. Korben.info.
  5. Web site: en. PiLove - LÖVE on RaspberryPI. mitako.eu.
  6. Web site: en. Posts Tagged'love2d'. Ludum Dare.
  7. Web site: The most popular engines for indie games. Rob Beschizza. July 17, 2018. Boingboing.
  8. Web site: Florent Zara. Release of Löve 0.4.0, a free 2D game engine. LinuxFr. September 1, 2008.
  9. News: en. Christian Nutt. New version of free LÖVE 2D game framework adds mobile support. Gamasutra. December 22, 2015.
  10. Web site: love.touch - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  11. Web site: love.joystick - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  12. Web site: utf8 - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  13. Web site: Image Formats - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Audio Formats - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  15. Web site: love.video - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  16. Web site: love.physics - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  17. Web site: socket - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  18. Web site: lua-enet - LOVE. love2d.org. 7 August 2023.
  19. Web site: Kingdom Rush. steamdb.info. 26 March 2024.
  20. Web site: Mari0 Source. github.com. 26 March 2024.
  21. Web site: oh my giraffe · a delightful game of survival. www.ohmygiraffe.com. 7 August 2023.
  22. Web site: BLUE REVOLVER. bluerevolvergame.com. 7 August 2023.
  23. Web site: BLUE REVOLVER. steamdb.info. 26 March 2024.
  24. Web site: Move or Die. steamdb.info. 26 March 2024.
  25. Web site: Warlock's Tower on Steam. store.steampowered.com. 7 August 2023.
  26. Web site: Aeon of Sands - The Trail on Steam. store.steampowered.com. 7 August 2023.
  27. Web site: BYTEPATH on Steam. store.steampowered.com. 7 August 2023.
  28. Web site: BYTEPATH development tutorial. github.com. 26 March 2024.
  29. Web site: Metanet Hunter G4 by NIGHT KAWATA. itch.io. 7 August 2023.
  30. Web site: Intravenous' IGDB bio . www.igdb.com . August 21, 2024.
  31. Web site: Gravity Circuit's IGDB bio . www.igdb.com . August 22, 2024.
  32. Web site: Moonring. itch.io. 12 January 2024.
  33. Web site: Balatro. steamdb.info. 26 March 2024.
  34. Web site: en. Tiled. mapeditor.org.
  35. Web site: Simple Tiled Implementation. github.com. 8 April 2022.
  36. Web site: en. Anim8. love2d.org.
  37. Web site: en. An animation library for LÖVE. github. 8 April 2022.
  38. Web site: [LIKO-12 V0.0.5 PRE] An open-source pico-8-inspired game dev environment for love2d]. love2d.org. September 18, 2016.
  39. Web site: en. Lutro. github. 2 March 2022.
  40. Web site: en. ChaiLove - Another Take on 2D Game Development. December 26, 2017. RobLoach. libretro.
  41. Web site: en. love.js. github.com.
  42. Web site: g3d. github.com.