User blog comment:Maryxgil/Maryxgil's Spring 2012 Awards Votes/@comment-3038048-20120405193316/@comment-2008054-20120406181945

There are infinitely many programs you can use. Some people use Gamemaker or RPG Maker. Some people use another game engine like the DOOM engine or hack another game. And some people even write out the code themselves.

But you can leave it as a fan game since that's what most people do on here. The real fan games are actually rare.