GameMaker Studio

GameMaker Studio
Original author(s) Mark Overmars
Developer(s) YoYo Games
Initial release 15 November 1999 (1999-11-15)
Stable release
v2.0.6.146 / 16 May 2017 (2017-05-16)
Preview release
v1.99.548 / 11 May 2017 (2017-05-11)
Written in Delphi
Operating system Microsoft Windows
Available in English
Type Game creation system
License Proprietary
Website yoyogames.com

GameMaker Studio (formerly Animo until 1999, Game Maker until 2011, GameMaker until 2012, and GameMaker: Studio until 2017) is a proprietary game creation system created by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language.[1]

GameMaker accommodates the creation of cross-platform and multi-genre video games using drag and drop action sequences or a sandboxed scripting language known as Game Maker Language, which can be used to develop more advanced games that could not be created just by using the drag and drop features. GameMaker was designed to allow novice computer programmers to be able to make computer games without much programming knowledge by use of these actions.

Overview

Originally titled Animo, the program was first released in 1999,[2] and began as a program for creating 2D animations. The name was later changed to GameMaker, lacking a space to avoid intellectual property conflicts with the 1991 software Game-Maker.[3] GameMaker primarily runs games that use 2D graphics, allowing the use of limited 3D graphics.[4]

GameMaker is designed to allow its users to easily develop video games without having to learn a complex programming language such as C++ or Java through its proprietary drag and drop system.[5][6] These icons represent actions that would occur in a game, such as movement, basic drawing, and simple control structures. It is also possible to create custom "action libraries" using the Library Maker. Game Maker Language (GML) is the primary interpreted scripting language used in GameMaker, which is usually significantly slower than compiled languages such as C++ or Delphi.[7] To address concerns about speed, the YoYo Compiler ("YYC") was added in May 2016; YYC allows the game to be compiled into the target platform's native code.[8] GML is used to further enhance and control the design of a game through more conventional programming, as opposed to the drag and drop system.

GameMaker accommodates redistribution on multiple platforms.[9] The program builds for these platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Tizen, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.[10][11] However, a Windows desktop computer with system requirements equal to that of the game produced is required in order to develop the games along with a broadband internet connection.[12]

History of updates

This is a list of the major updates to GameMaker and GameMaker Studio.[13][14][15][16]

GameMaker update releases
Name Version Release Date Note
Animo (?) 0.X Summer 1999 Some version of GameMaker prior to 1.1 was named Animo, but it may have been before or after this version
Game Maker 1.1 November 15, 1999 The first public release, may or may not have still been named Animo. Did have built in programming language, did not use DirectX nor could it create EXEs
Game Maker 1.2, 1.3 Unknown
Game Maker 1.4 June 1, 2000 Final version of GameMaker 1
Game Maker 2.0 September 7, 2000 By the end of 2000, GameMaker had been downloaded about 40k times
Game Maker 3.0 2001 First DirectX use for drawing
Game Maker 3.1, 3.2 2001
Game Maker 3.3 April 3, 2001 Final version of GameMaker 3
Game Maker 4.0 July 2001 Rewritten engine, revised interface, red color icon change
Game Maker 4.1 December 2001 Multiplayer added, 270k downloads of GameMaker across 2001 total
Game Maker 4.2 April 2002 Major stability increases
Game Maker 4.3 November 2002 Final version of GameMaker 4
Game Maker 5.0 April 2003 Registration system added for optional paid features, data file resources, and timelines introduced
Game Maker 5.1 September 2003 Particle system and live resource changes introduced
Game Maker 5.2 December 2003 Data structure functions added, 1.7mil downloads in 2003
Game Maker 5.3 April 13, 2004 Final version of GameMaker 5
Game Maker 6.0 October 2004 Direct3D based, fonts implemented, sound engine rewrite
Game Maker 6.1 May 29, 2005
Game Maker 7.0 February 28, 2007 YoYo Games partnership introduced, after a November 2006 beta
Game Maker 8.0 December 22, 2009 Rewritten Sprite and Script editors[17] along with a logo redesign challenge[18] and subsequent controversy[19]
GameMaker 8.1 April 15, 2011 Name change (no space)[20]
GameMaker: HTML5 1.0 September 22, 2011 Allowed exports to HTML5[21]
GameMaker: Studio 1.0 May 22, 2012 First release of Studio, following a beta, with HTML5/iOS/Android exports added[22]
GameMaker: Studio 1.1 September 13, 2012 Revised audio system, ad libraries implemented for mobile and social media platforms[23]
GameMaker: Studio 1.2 August 27, 2013 YoYo Compiler and Shaders implemented giving major performance boosts[24][25]
GameMaker: Studio 1.3 May 29, 2014 Revised debugger, PS4 and Vita support[26]
GameMaker: Studio 1.4 August 8, 2014 GameMaker: Marketplace released, a storefront for development assets[27]
GameMaker Studio 2 2.0 March 8, 2017 Revised UI, monetization system, layer based level editor, Ubuntu/Xbox One/PS4 support. Name change to remove colon.[28]

Controversy

Reverse engineering

Several versions of the software made reverse engineering easy by packing resource data to the end of the executable with no encryption or internal obfuscation.[29] A decompiler was released specifically for decompiling games distributed with the early iOS runner.[30] Obfuscation programs were later developed and released to deter hackers from extracting the game resources from executable files built with the program.[31] YoYoGames later issued a formal cease and desist to the hackers warning against further infringement of their intellectual property posing as a financial threat to the company.[32] The latest version of the software, GM: Studio, makes it harder to decompile games given its compiled nature and it has built in obfuscation.[33]

Digital rights management

Screenshot showing the DRM image

In late 2012 and early 2013, YoYo Games released a version of their new Studio IDE for cross-platform development that would import games and destroy all of the image type resources for some legitimate purchasers of the software by superimposing a pirate symbol on top of the image.[34] This was due to a fault in their digital rights management software implementation which they use as a method of combating infringing copies of the software.[35][36] YoYoGames publicly stated they would remove the DRM at a later point in time,[37] but that other less-invasive DRM techniques would remain.[38]

Reception

The program currently holds a rating of 8.4/10 on Mod DB based on 196 user reviews; many cite its flexibility and ease of use as positives and instability, crashes, project corruption and outdated features as negatives.[39] Douglas Clements of Indie Game Magazine wrote that the program "[s]implifies and streamlines game development" and is "easy for beginners yet powerful enough to grow as you develop", though noting that "resource objects have to be gathered if unable to create" and that licensing between Steam and the YoYo Games website is "convoluted".[40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Game Maker Studio engine". Desura. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Unknown. "Old versions of "Game Maker"". Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Eric-Jon Rössel, Tairne (30 April 2010). "The Original Game-Maker". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Ford, Jerry (2010). Getting Started with Game Maker. Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781133168966. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Drag-and-drop Icons to GameMaker Language Reference" (PDF). Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "No coding required: How new designers are using GameMaker to create indie smash hits". PC Gamer. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Ford, Jerry (2009). Getting Started with Game Maker. Cengage Learning. p. 333. ISBN 1133168965. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Alexander, Mark. "GameMaker:Studio 1.2 - Shaders, YYC and more". YoYo Games. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ Evan Lewis (6 November 2014). "Learn how to make your own video games with GameMaker: Studio at RetroGameCon". Syracuse Media Group. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "This will let you say 'Happy Birthday,' 'Get Well Soon' with a video game". Alexa Ray Corriea. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Danny Cowan (1 October 2014). "GameMaker Studio gets Xbox One, Windows export this year". Joystiq. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "GameMaker: Studio". Valve Corporation. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Game Maker Pages". 2003-04-13. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  14. ↑ "Animo". bentibbetts.net. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  15. ↑ "Game Maker version history (1 through 6)". Imgur. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  16. ↑ "YoYo Games | Wiki: 'Some Facts'". 2008-05-26. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  17. ↑ "Game Maker 8.0 Released | GameMaker Blog". Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  18. ↑ "New Game Maker Logo Revealed | GameMaker Blog". Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  19. ↑ "Interview with Game Maker 8 Logo Creator | GameMaker Blog". Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  20. ↑ "GameMaker 8.1 is here! | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  21. ↑ "GameMaker:HTML5 Launch | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  22. ↑ "YoYo Games | News - YoYo Games launches GameMaker: Studio". 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  23. ↑ "YoYo Games Announces GameMaker: Studio update 1.1 | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  24. ↑ "GameMaker:Studio 1.2 - Shaders, YYC and more". YoYo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  25. ↑ "YoYo Games Announces GameMaker: Studio Update 1.2 Available Now | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  26. ↑ "GameMaker: Studio Update 1.3 Available Now! | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  27. ↑ "GameMaker: Studio 1.4 Features | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  28. ↑ "Introducing GameMaker Studio 2 | Blog | YoYo Games". Yoyo Games. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  29. ↑ "GameMaker 8.1 Decompiler Released". Game Jolt. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Game Maker iOS Decompiler Released". Game Jolt. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Game Maker Obfuscator – Now Supports Sprite Obfuscation". Game Jolt. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Serious Legal Issues with "Decompilers"". YoYo Games. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  33. ↑ Elliott, Jason (22 April 2013). HTML5 Game Development with GameMaker. Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1849694117. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  34. ↑ "Game Maker Studio DRM Misfires; Permanently Replaces Created Game Resources With Pirate Symbols". Techdirt. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  35. ↑ 27 November 2012 by David Hing (27 November 2012). "Game Maker accidentally brands customers as pirates | bit-gamer.net". Bit-tech.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  36. ↑ Chapple, Craig (29 November 2012). "Gamemaker anti-piracy bug destroys developer assets | Latest news from the game development industry | Develop". Develop-online.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "GameMaker Studio DRM Bug Trashes Legit Resources". Defy Media, LLC. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  38. ↑ "Game Maker DRM Permanently Vandalizing Paying Users' Games". Entertainment Consumers Association. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  39. ↑ "GameMaker: Studio Reviews". DBolical Pty Ltd. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  40. ↑ Douglas Clements. "'GameMaker: Studio' – Lord Over The Pixels". Indie Games Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
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