1 Introduction To GameMaker
1 Introduction To GameMaker
WITH GAMEMAKER
WHAT IS GAMEMAKER?
GameMaker is an application that allows novice programmers create games
without having to type or learn code. GameMaker provides a simple
environment that uses an icon-based system of events and actions to help
beginners start building games. The drag-and-drop programming technique
provides an easy way to learn about game development and allows you to
create complete games without having to learn a programming language.
Once you gain some experience using GameMaker to create programs, you
can start becoming familiar with the GameMaker Language (GML) to create more sophisticated programs
while learning how to code.
https://www.yoyogames.com/studio/download
For this course, we will be using the Lite Edition of GameMaker which is free.
Toolbar
Resources
Menu
The user interface includes a standard-looking menu and toolbar at the top of the screen, and a folder
tree on the left-hand side. This tree is where we will add all the different game resources that are used to
make GameMaker games.
RESOURCES MENU
The Resources Menu is where we will be adding resources (such as, sprites, sounds, backgrounds,
objects, and rooms) to our game. We will look at each of these resources and how to incorporate them
into our game as we move along through the lesson.
TOOLBAR
The Toolbar provides us with shortcuts that allow us to create some of the resources that we will be
using in our games, as well some of the standard commands we find in toolbars (save, open, etc.).
GAMEMAKER RESOURCES
SPRITES
Sprites don’t do anything on their own; they just store pictures of the different elements in the game.
Objects are the parts of the game that control how these elements move around and react to each
other.
ROOMS
Once your objects are created, in order to see them we will need to put them in a level. Levels in
GameMaker are made using rooms, and putting objects into a room defines where they will appear at
the start of the game. However, not all objects need to be there at the start of the game, and they can
be created on the fly as well (fireballs, for example).
Background images are another type of resource – like sprites, rooms, and
objects – that are used to improve the look of your game. Background images
are usually the same size as the game window and need to be assigned to a
room in order to be visible when the game runs.