if it includes Visual C++ specifically it probably includes DirectX. It's the library of choice after all for game development with Visual Studio

DarkBasic and GameMaker both are kiddie programs.
Amateur stuff, but handy to guickly set up something to see those models you made in Maya and 3DS Max in action, and to get some of the basic paradigms into your head without bothering you with "complicated" (for the average kiddo) C++ syntax.
That's probably why it's used, as a stepping stone towards the real work to be done at a later stage (and maybe some scripting and tool making).