This question is for dedicated independent game developers:
My dream is to be a game developer. I am a senior in high school who has taken Computer Science for all four years. I have used Java the whole time, but last year I started using PHP and ActionScript 3 (with Flixel). I also used Game Maker for a brief period. I apologize for this, I wanted to get that out of the way and clarify the fact that I have experience of some kind with game development.
I am stuck at the moment because I don't quite know what language to use to develop games at a professional level. I am seriously interested in becoming a dedicated game developer, but this issue is really bothering me. I would like to know what the best option would be for my case, based on your experiences. Any advice is appreciated.
Things to consider:
I am only interested in making 2D games (I am not worried about 3D support)
It would be ideal to use something that can be ported to multiple platforms (so as not to run into this problem later)
I can't seem to figure out what the industry likes to use
So far, this is what I have:
I can't decide if it would be wise to stick with ActionScript 3, or move to C++
I know Flash would be for browser games, but what if I want to make a downloadable game, like Plants Vs. Zombies or Super Crate Box? Would Flash be a smart choice for standalone games, or did they use something else?
Thank you for reading this, as I would like to stop worrying about this and make some games! Also, I hope this wasn't all over the place :)
tl;dr Should I move ahead with AS3 or use something else i.e. C++