Game programming ~ SDL / Allegro / SFML / or a game engine
I will be entering into my senior year in the fall and i am thinking about what i want to do my senior project on. I use c/ c++ and C# mostly. I notice some seniors make XNA games. I not sure if i want to take that elective this spring or not. 

Anyways, I want to use C++ or maybe C# to make the game for my senior project. This will be my first game but with the amount of time i have maybe its better if i go with a 3D game instead of 2D and using SDL?.

I was looking at game engines like Unity or Leadwerks, etc..
I understand these are WYSIWYG. At first glance they look like you can build a nice game with.

I was also looking at SDL / Allegro / SFML( I didnt see much tutorials / help on this) but heard its better than SDL)

These seem limited? and only 2D! Which is ok! But if the game engines can make good 3D games maybe thats the way to go? 

I will probably have 9 months to finish this game in or less. I either want to make a 2D or 3D game. Leaning toward a 3D game. A FPS, or, an action adventure game. I don't really care. 

What are your thoughts with the time frame i have, and with the above resources(tutorials, documentation, support / help forum's) for (SDL, Game engines, etc) i have available to me with the above api / Libraries.?  

Are Game engines worth spending time in? Since, i want to use my C++ knowledge, and, expand it. Maybe, even learning openGL if its not too hard.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you
  
Game programming ~ SDL / Allegro / SFML / or a game engine
===

I will be entering into my senior year in the fall and i am thinking about what i want to do my senior project on. I use c/ c++ and C# mostly. I notice some seniors make XNA games. I not sure if i want to take that elective this spring or not. 

Anyways, I want to use C++ or maybe C# to make the game for my senior project. This will be my first game but with the amount of time i have maybe its better if i go with a 3D game instead of 2D and using SDL?.

I was looking at game engines like Unity or Leadwerks, etc..
I understand these are WYSIWYG. At first glance they look like you can build a nice game with.

I was also looking at SDL / Allegro / SFML( I didnt see much tutorials / help on this) but heard its better than SDL)

These seem limited? and only 2D! Which is ok! But if the game engines can make good 3D games maybe thats the way to go? 

I will probably have 9 months to finish this game in or less. I either want to make a 2D or 3D game. Leaning toward a 3D game. A FPS, or, an action adventure game. I don't really care. 

What are your thoughts with the time frame i have, and with the above resources(tutorials, documentation, support / help forum's) for (SDL, Game engines, etc) i have available to me with the above api / Libraries.?  

Are Game engines worth spending time in? Since, i want to use my C++ knowledge, and, expand it. Maybe, even learning openGL if its not too hard.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you
  