Game Maker

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This article is about Game Maker for Microsoft Windows . See GameMaker for an unrelated game creation tool for Apple Macintosh.
Game Maker

The Game Maker user interface. An example of the sprite properties, object properties and script editor are visible.
Maintainer: Mark Overmars
Stable release: 6.1  (May 19, 2005) [+/-]
Preview release: Game Maker 7  (December 9th, 2006) [+/-]
OS: Microsoft Windows
Use: Game development
License: Proprietary
Website: www.gamemaker.nl

Game Maker is a game development software application written by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. Overmars released the original version on November 15, 1999.

The primary interface for the creation of games is via an object-oriented drag-and-drop system, allowing users unfamiliar with traditional programming to intuitively create their game simply by organizing things visually on the screen. Users select objects they've created themselves and drop instances of these objects in the area of the game they are working on, and Game Maker automatically applies any global effects to that instance of the object. To extend the drag-and-drop functionality of Game Maker, users can use files called Libraries to add new drag-and-drop items known as Actions to the lists. These can be created with a special library builder.

The program is designed to allow its users to easily develop computer games without having to learn a complex programming language such as C++ or Java. For experienced users, Game Maker contains a built-in scripting programming language called the "Game Maker Language (GML)", allowing the user to further customize their game and expand features. Games can be distributed under any license (including no license), in non-editable executable ".exe" files or as the .gm6 (Version 6.x), .gmk (Version 7.x) and .gmd (Version 4.x, 5.x) (source code) file itself. Users of Game Maker are allowed to sell the games that they create, as long as they haven't used any material copyrighted to anyone else without their permission (images, sounds, etc.)

Game Maker is becoming more widely known and used, with many sub-communities, such as 64 Digits[1], Game Maker Games[2], and GM Showcase[3], among many others. It has attracted a substantial number of users; mainly because of the program's accessibility to beginners while still allowing complex tasks to be undertaken by more advanced users. It is not as narrow in game creation as some other programs, as it allows the creation of many types of games, including platform games, first-person shooters, third-person shooters, massively multiplayer online games and simulation games. Game Maker is fully capable of creating standard programs as well, making it a very versatile development platform. Several online entertainment groups, such as Cubex Digital Entertainment[4], use Game Maker for many of their products.

Game Maker also has its own website, from which anyone can get the latest info on Game Maker, find tutorials on making games with Game Maker. The page also provide links to at least two Game Maker Game sites, both of which are dedicated to Game Maker.

Contents

[edit] Features

As of December 2006, Game Maker is at version 6.1. It now incorporates the use of Direct3D, allowing the usage of limited 3D graphics, and adds limited support for simple 3D models. Converters make it possible to use more popular 3D formats such as .3ds, and .obj for use in a 3D project. It also supports the ability to create certain particle effects like rain, snow, and clouds easily.

Game Maker is available in an unregistered version free of charge and a registered version. The registered version, which costs €15 (about $20 or £10), extends the features available in the program, such as the ability to incorporate DLLs, create multiplayer games, take advantage of Direct3D, use particles, and utilize advanced drawing functions. The free version displays a small Game Maker advertisement during the execution of the game, while the registered version removes the advertisement, giving a more professional feel to the finished game.

Game Maker's engine has improved over the years and has become much faster — especially in the graphics area — allowing one to use alpha and blending functions for their game's sprites.

Game Maker itself is not limited to the functions and abilities included in GML. Game Maker can load and utilize DLLs allowing it to perform tasks it otherwise could not. A number of DLLs have been created for the specific purpose of extending Game Maker, such as providing socket support and allowing MySQL connectivity.

[edit] User interface

The user interface is designed to be very user friendly with a tree menu to keep the project organized and easy to access controls. Game Maker features a drag and drop system of Action icons which allows for easy programming. A screen shot of the user interface is pictured above.

[edit] Game Maker Language

Main article: Game Maker Language

The Game Maker Language (often abbreviated to GML) is a flexible scripting language within Game Maker which allows for users to further enhance and control the design of their game through conventional programming, as opposed to the default drag-and-drop system.

Originally, GML was designed to supplement the drag-and-drop interface, allowing more advanced users to add additional functionality to their games or programs. Newer versions of Game Maker actually use GML as their base, with all of the drag-and-drop functions coming as pre-written libraries.

[edit] Syntax

The syntax used within GML is fairly relaxed, allowing users familiar with a variety of languages to switch to GML and back. This feature also allows the user to begin the use of it immediately, provided they already have a background in conventional programming. Game Maker also includes a particular engine to support other languages' .DLLs, such as C++, Delphi and Pascal.

[edit] Development

Game Maker is being actively developed as of 2006.

{future product}

[edit] Version 7

Current event marker This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future product.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the product.

The beta version of Game Maker 7 was released on December 9th, 2006. In order to use Game Maker 7, you must have a copy of registered Game Maker 6 running on the machine you install Game Maker 7 to. According to Mark Overmars, the sole developer of Game Maker, all of the features planned are in the beta version. There could be some last features he will put in for the final. The final release date of Game Maker 7 is expected sometime in January or February.

New features in Game Maker 7:

  • A new extension mechanism, making it possible to extend the functionality of Game Maker in many different ways. Pro Edition Only
  • Splash screens now support animated pictures
  • Solved security issues
  • Windows Vista compatibility
  • No additional system requirements than Game Maker 6
  • Many other small additions and bug corrections (as outlined here in the "Bugs corrected in the newest version" section)
  • Version 7.0 will be able to read version 6.1 files and is (almost) fully compatible with it
  • People that are registered will not have to pay again for version 7.0
  • "Registered" version of Game Maker has been changed to "Pro" version
  • You can create your own extensions for Game Maker including action libraries, DLLs, and Game Maker Language(GML) scripts

The Beta version is available at: http://www.gamemaker.nl/beta.html. You need a Registered Gamemaker 6.1 to use it.

[edit] System requirements

The following specifications reflect the system requirements of the Game Maker game creation tool, including the majority of executable games it can produce. These system requirements are noted on the official Game Maker website found here.

System Requirements for Game Maker 6.x:

System Requirements for Game Maker 5.x:

  • Microsoft Windows 98, Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP
  • Standard Windows compatible graphics card
  • DirectX 6 or later
  • Pentium or equivalent processor
  • 800x600 (or greater) screen resolution with 16-bit or 32-bit colors

Notice: Currently, version 5.x and 6.x are not compatible with the Microsoft Windows Vista (RC1) Operating System. In response to this, Mark Overmars, the creator of the program, will be releasing version 7 of the program shortly which will work on the Vista Operating System.

[edit] Educational use

Game Maker was written by Mark Overmars, a professor of the University of Utrecht, partly as a teaching aid for his students. It is gaining recognition as a useful teaching tool in primary and secondary schools because of its easy entry and sophisticated scripting language. It is particularly useful for primary students and secondary students as a task which is both challenging and relevant.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Wikibooks
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of

[edit] Official links

[edit] Alternate language communities

[edit] Unofficial links

  • GMWiki - A wiki dedicated to the Game Maker "universe".
  • Bozebo.com - Examples, resources, tools etcetera.
  • Game Maker Games - A website where you can submit games you have made with GM.
  • 64Digits - Also named the "All in one community". Has file uploading services, blogging services and a large game showcase.
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