Probably the most common development pattern is the "update loop" or "game loop". Typically game objects are represented by C++ objects. Aside from that, virt

Probably the most common development pattern is the "update loop" or "game loop". Typically game objects are represented by C++ objects. Aside from that, virtually every design pattern in existence is used in the context of games. What tools you'll need to write all depends on what tools you'll want to write. Many develop games with no tools at all. Many have a full tool suite that lets them create any kind of content imaginable, whether it's levels, characters, behaviors, scripted events, etc.