GameMaker is a game development tool that allows both non-programmers and programmers to create games across multiple platforms. It was first created in 1998 with the goal of making game development fun and accessible for people of all ages and experience levels. GameMaker uses a visual scripting interface and supports common game development elements like sprites, sounds, rooms and objects to build games without requiring code. It also includes a programming language for more advanced functionality.

1. Introduction to GameMaker
GameMaker Series
jhealy@Microsoft.com
@devfish

2. Game Maker
First version in 1998
Goal was
• Let everybody have fun creating games
• Age range 8-88
• For non-programmers and programmers
• Let people be creative
• No limitation to particular game types
• User feels she created the game
• PRO: Have fun
• EDU: Teach (unconsciously) basic concepts in computer science
• Create interest in computer science

3. Game Maker: Global Idea
Rapid Application Development Environment
• Create and include sprites, sounds, music
• Define game objects and their behavior
• Level design
• Creates single executable
Focus on ease of use
• More features not
neccesarily make the
product easier

4. Game Maker: Global Idea
Primarily 2-dimensional but support for 3D graphics
• Alpha blended graphics
• Particle systems
• Surfaces
No programming required but built-in language
• Functions for advanced graphics, path planning, data
structures, files, network play, ...
Extendible
• Actions, functions, DLLs
• Many extension packages available

5. Game Maker – License Model
• Free edition for Win Desk – commercial ok – locked
splash screen
• Pro - $99 - Windows 8
• Other modules available on various prices for other OS
• Mac, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, WP8, Tizen, Xbox,
PS4, PS3.... More coming...
http://www.yoyogames.com/studio

6. Game Maker: Games
All genres of games
• Maze, Platform, Puzzle, ...
• 3D games
• Multiplayer games

7. Welcome Screen
• Demos and tutorials
• News
• Release notes
• Other stuff…

8. Game Studio

9. Game Maker: Structure
DATA:
•Sprites
•Sounds
•Backgrounds
•Fonts
CONTROL:
•Objects
•Timelines
•Scripts
•Paths
LEVELS:
•Rooms
•Views
•Tiles
Can all also be created from code

10. Catch the clown
DEMO

11. SPRITES
CORE OBJECT

12. SPRITE
• Image container
• Image editor built-in
• Can contain sprite sheets
• Supports
• BMP, PNG, SWF, JPG
• SPINE
• GameMaker files
• Name appropriately – “spr_clown”

13. SPRITE SHEET
• Set of images
• All same size
• Nameofsprite_stripNN
• NN is number of sprites in sheet – firefly_strip15.png

14. Sprite – SWF
• SWF – adobe format
• Search “glitch” swfs for some freebies

15. Sprite - spine
• Spine is hot new animator -
http://esotericsoftware.com/
• $69-$289 depending

16. SOUND
CORE OBJECT

17. SOUND
• WAV or MP3
• Caution: Not all work
• AUDACITY is your friend
• HTML5 / Win8 may no like your sound system
• Switch to legacy under global game settings

18. OBJECTS
• Object Oriented, Event Driven
• Everything is an object
• Object can have a graphical representation (sprite)
• Objects react to events
• Collisions, user input, timers, etc.
• Actions are then executed
• Objects can have parent objects and inherent their behavior

19. INVISIBLE OBJECTS
• Useful as controllers
• Play background music
• Can be used to ‘overlay’ draw things on forms
• Watch out, don’t place multiples on form if only
one is desired

20. ROOMS
• Think “screen”
• Can actually be bigger than the screen
• Used for play surface
• Also used for menus, title screens, et cetera
• Order of rooms is important – can navigate from
one room the next and back

21. BACKGROUNDS
One big picture
Tiled picture
Can move and scroll when placed in room

22. TIP OF THE DAY - CLOUDS
• Open paint.net new blank image
• Edit Select All, hit Delete.
Everything left is transparent.
• Save as “cloud.png”
• Draw with big brush some white
and grey clouds
• “Hardness set to low”
• Pull into room as layer
• Set motion on layer to 4 or such

23. Joe Healy / jhealy@Microsoft.com / @devfish
Thank You
http://www.yoyogames.com
http://dfwiki.devfish.net – search GameMaker