Game Maker
Encyclopedia
GameMaker is a Windows
and Mac
IDE
originally developed by Mark Overmars
in the Delphi programming language
. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved. GameMaker allows users to easily develop computer games without the requirement of prior computer programming experience, while allowing advanced users to create complex applications much faster than possible with most other programming languages with its built-in scripting language.
The latest stable Windows release is version 8.1 and version 7 on Mac . Since its initial release in 1999, GameMaker gained many new features, notably 3D graphics support, as well as a significant user base, with YoYo Games providing free hosting for user-created games.
YoYo Games is currently undertaking a serious overhaul of the software in the form of GameMaker HTML5 and GameMaker Studio. These forthcoming versions of the software will allow development for other platforms such as iOS, Android, and Mac.
support, a separate runner to run games independently from Game Maker, or the ability to compile games into executable files.
Each major release added substantial new features and improved stability, while gaining steadily in popularity. In 2001, version 3.0 implemented DirectX for the first time, while version 4.0 (released July 2001) was rewritten from scratch, changing the interface significantly. Version 5.0 was released in April 2003, adding support for external data files and time lines. In version 6.0, released October 2004, Game Maker's graphics engine was rewritten using Direct3D
as a base, allowing for more complex operations such as easier alpha transparency and sprite rotation, as well as introducing 3D graphics functions. Overmars began work on version 7.0, which introduced the ability to extend its functionality, around the summer of 2006, and released it on 28 February 2007, through YoYo Games. Version 7 RC2 also introduced data encryption for executables created with the software due to concerns about program decompilation. Game Maker 8 was released on 22 December 2009, adding new features such as a revamped script editor window, improved image editor, and the ability to import and export resources from game source files.
feed making it clear he was reconsidering the logo's design.
In response to the criticism, a topic was posted on the Game Maker Community where users could contribute a new logo, and on December 9, a new logo was chosen.
such as C++
or Java
. However, it is possible to create add-ons for the games created with Game Maker. Such extensions, as they are known to Game Maker users, provide users such as advanced 3d via an Ogre Rendering Engine port, better sound, among others. Extensions to the main IDE are limited to the creation of new scripted drag and drop actions (see below).
GameMaker's primary development
interface uses a drag-and-drop
system, allowing users unfamiliar with traditional programming to intuitively create games by visually organizing icons on the screen. These icons represent actions that would occur in a game, such as movement, basic drawing, and simple control structures. Users also have the ability to create their own "action libraries" using the Library Maker.
For experienced users or those with computer programming experience, GameMaker contains a built-in scripting programming language called the Game Maker Language
(GML), allowing more complex games to be made with the program.
GameMaker aids in the creation of many types of games, including platform game
s, first-person shooter
s, third-person shooter
s, massively multiplayer online game
s and construction and management simulation games.
.
s, advanced drawing functions, 3D graphics, and networking multiplayer. On Windows, the Lite version contains most of the functionality that allows users to create games and share them either by creating stand-alone Windows executable files, or publishing them on YoYo Games' website. Games created with the Lite version display a small GameMaker advertisement during the loading of the game, while games made with the Standard version remove this.
On the original Game Maker for Mac, a trial version with all features unlocked could be used for ten hours before it required activation; there was no "Lite" version. However, on 8 December 2010, Game Maker for Mac Lite was released as a free download. The Mac Lite utility contains most of the Mac Standard version's functionality, but it prevents users from creating stand-alone Mac executables. (Therefore, in order to share games for free, a user would need to give the GMK source file to other users who have downloaded and installed Game Maker for Mac.)
The renaming from "Pro" to "Standard", which occurred with the release of GM version 8.1, caused a lot of discussion about whether or not the company is releasing another tier. This hypothesis was backed up with the company's 2011 "easter egg," showing the possibility to export games to multiple different platforms, including Apple's iPhone and HTML5.
adjustments and blending settings for sprites
and other shapes. By version 6.0 (Windows), Game Maker incorporated DirectX, allowing more advanced graphics functions. Version 7.0 (Macintosh) uses OpenGL
to render sprites.
Starting with version 6.0 (Windows), Game Maker added Direct3D
, allowing the use of limited 3D graphics. For versions 7.0 (Macintosh) and up, OpenGL is used for 3D graphics and also allows 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. Extension packages such as OGRE
can expand Game Maker's basic functionality. It also supports the ability to create particle effects
such as rain, snow and clouds, however not natively in 3D. Support for the editing of 32-bit PNG files was added in the 8.0 version of the software which has also enabled users to use images with alpha channels.
(GML) is the primary scripting language
used in GameMaker. It allows users to further enhance and control the design of their game through conventional programming, as opposed to the drag-and-drop
system. The syntax of GML borrows aspects from other languages such as C
, C++
and Java
, effectively making use of Object-oriented programming
.
Originally, GML was designed to supplement the drag-and-drop interface, allowing advanced users to add greater functionality to their games or programs. Newer versions of GameMaker actually use GML as their base, with all drag-and-drop functions as pre-written GML scripts.
GML is an interpreted programming language instead of a compiled language
. When GameMaker creates a stand-alone game, all GML (including drag and drop functions) is packed into the game executable. Every time the generated program is executed, an included interpreter carries out the commands indicated by the GML code. This has the drawback of making Game Maker created games able to be decompiled and reverse engineered, making encryption necessary. Being an interpreted language, GML is usually significantly slower than compiled languages such as C++ or Delphi.
GML also includes support for loading and using DLL
s. This allows functions and routines to be written in other programming languages such as C++
, Delphi, Pascal and others.
. GameMaker games can load and use DLLs
for additional functionality. The community has developed a variety of DLLs to extend GameMaker with things such as socket support and MySQL
connectivity. As of version 7, the new extension mechanism allows users to include DLLs, GML scripts and action libraries in pre-built extension packages.
System requirements for Game Maker 8.x:
System requirements for Game Maker 7.x:
System requirements for Game Maker 6.x:
Versions 6.x and the .exe files from those versions do not work with the Microsoft Windows Vista
or the Windows 7 operating system
, due to an incompatible compression implementation in its creation of executable files. Version 7 of the program, however, works correctly with Vista, as well as most supported functions in versions 5.x and prior. On 24 June 2007, Mark Overmars released a program to convert .exe files created with version 6 to work on Windows Vista.
announced his partnership with a company based in the United Kingdom named YoYo Games. The company, headed by CEO Sandy Duncan (ex Vice President of Xbox Europe), was founded to support the future development of GameMaker and to build a community for developers and casual gamers. The motive behind the cooperation is that it would bring improved development to the software as well as provide a better website for its users. This was done in part by creating a free hosting service for any GameMaker games.
s. YoYo Games also hosts the GMC (GameMaker Community) forums and publishes GameMaker since version 7. The YoYo Games website was launched on 28 April 2007, in its beta form.
The website has an instant play feature so people can play games online (similar to Adobe Flash
), and allows games to be downloaded if the individual creators choose so. The company also runs game-making competitions on the site.
made to discuss the program and games created with it. It also discusses more general game design topics as well as game graphics, sound, and game distribution methods. The current forum was created by Mark Overmars on September 18, 2003, a month after the first release and is now a subdomain
of the official YoYo Games website. On 15 June 2010, the GMC underwent an update to IPB
version 3.1 which brought new personal message features, Twitter
and Facebook
integration, and a new theme.
, (the runner), Maddening, They Need To Be Fed
, Simply Solitaire, Teka Teki, Prison Ball, Karoshi, Simply Poker Squares (and lite), Green Tech Plus (PSP only) and Sync Simple.
was being developed. The port had undergone many delays due to technical reasons. A version was made available for private beta testing.
On 4 December 2009, YoYo Games' Mac Developer resigned; however, work resumed on 27 January 2010.
On 14 April 2010, a release candidate for the Mac version was released.
On 11 August 2010, YoYo Games released Game Maker 7 for Mac alongside a new Macintosh games hub entitled the YoYo Games AppStore.
system. YoYo Games recently held a competition (Competition 05) in which the restrictions resembled those of a PlayStation Portable, and many rumors arose. Eventually, after over three months, an official announcement was made. YoYo Games also has begun a new competition (Competition 06) with restrictions similar to those of a PlayStation Portable.
On January 26th YoYo Games announced that they had finished development of their first PSP game.
On January 5, 2011, YoYo Games posted their interpretation of a formal cease and desist letter to their Glog. The post scolded the creators of a decompilation software which would allow users to bypass YoYo Games and independently publish their iOS apps, posing as a financial threat.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
IDE
Integrated development environment
An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...
originally developed by Mark Overmars
Mark Overmars
Markus Hendrik Overmars is a Dutch computer scientist and teacher of game programming known for his game development application Game Maker. Game Maker lets people create computer games using a drag-and-drop interface. He is the head of the Center for Geometry, Imaging, and Virtual Environments...
in the Delphi programming language
Programming language
A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved. GameMaker allows users to easily develop computer games without the requirement of prior computer programming experience, while allowing advanced users to create complex applications much faster than possible with most other programming languages with its built-in scripting language.
The latest stable Windows release is version 8.1 and version 7 on Mac . Since its initial release in 1999, GameMaker gained many new features, notably 3D graphics support, as well as a significant user base, with YoYo Games providing free hosting for user-created games.
YoYo Games is currently undertaking a serious overhaul of the software in the form of GameMaker HTML5 and GameMaker Studio. These forthcoming versions of the software will allow development for other platforms such as iOS, Android, and Mac.
Development history
Game Maker was originally titled Animo, a program specializing in 2D animation. Overmars released the first public version (version 1.1) on November 15, 1999. While this version of Game Maker had a built-in scripting language, which was not as complex as in more recent versions, it and the next few versions of Game Maker did not have DirectXDirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
support, a separate runner to run games independently from Game Maker, or the ability to compile games into executable files.
Each major release added substantial new features and improved stability, while gaining steadily in popularity. In 2001, version 3.0 implemented DirectX for the first time, while version 4.0 (released July 2001) was rewritten from scratch, changing the interface significantly. Version 5.0 was released in April 2003, adding support for external data files and time lines. In version 6.0, released October 2004, Game Maker's graphics engine was rewritten using Direct3D
Direct3D
Direct3D is part of Microsoft's DirectX application programming interface . Direct3D is available for Microsoft Windows operating systems , and for other platforms through the open source software Wine. It is the base for the graphics API on the Xbox and Xbox 360 console systems...
as a base, allowing for more complex operations such as easier alpha transparency and sprite rotation, as well as introducing 3D graphics functions. Overmars began work on version 7.0, which introduced the ability to extend its functionality, around the summer of 2006, and released it on 28 February 2007, through YoYo Games. Version 7 RC2 also introduced data encryption for executables created with the software due to concerns about program decompilation. Game Maker 8 was released on 22 December 2009, adding new features such as a revamped script editor window, improved image editor, and the ability to import and export resources from game source files.
Game Maker 8 logo controversy
On 27 November 2009, a new logo was announced on the YoYo Games Glog. The decision received substantial criticism via the Game Maker Community and YoYo Games Glog with thousands of comments posted in protest. Games mocking the logo were created as well. After the negative response, CEO of YoYo Games Sandy Duncan blogged and posted on his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
feed making it clear he was reconsidering the logo's design.
In response to the criticism, a topic was posted on the Game Maker Community where users could contribute a new logo, and on December 9, a new logo was chosen.
Design and uses
GameMaker is designed to allow its users to easily develop computer games without having to learn a complex programming languageProgramming language
A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
such as C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
or Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
. However, it is possible to create add-ons for the games created with Game Maker. Such extensions, as they are known to Game Maker users, provide users such as advanced 3d via an Ogre Rendering Engine port, better sound, among others. Extensions to the main IDE are limited to the creation of new scripted drag and drop actions (see below).
GameMaker's primary development
Game development
Game development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can...
interface uses a drag-and-drop
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
system, allowing users unfamiliar with traditional programming to intuitively create games by visually organizing icons on the screen. These icons represent actions that would occur in a game, such as movement, basic drawing, and simple control structures. Users also have the ability to create their own "action libraries" using the Library Maker.
For experienced users or those with computer programming experience, GameMaker contains a built-in scripting programming language called the Game Maker Language
Game Maker Language
Game Maker Language is a scripting language developed for use with a computer game creation application called Game Maker. It was originally created by Mark Overmars to supplement the drag-and-drop action system used in Game Maker...
(GML), allowing more complex games to be made with the program.
GameMaker aids in the creation of many types of games, including platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
s, first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
s, third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
s, massively multiplayer online game
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
s and construction and management simulation games.
Educational use
As a professor of the University of Utrecht, Mark Overmars developed GameMaker 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 languageGame Maker Language
Game Maker Language is a scripting language developed for use with a computer game creation application called Game Maker. It was originally created by Mark Overmars to supplement the drag-and-drop action system used in Game Maker...
.
Lite and Standard editions
Two versions of the GameMaker software are offered on Windows and Mac. The Lite versions are free to use, while the Standard editions require purchase. Lite locks out several advanced features and functions which are available in Standard, including the ability to use DLLs, particle systemParticle system
The term particle system refers to a computer graphics technique to simulate certain fuzzy phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to reproduce with conventional rendering techniques...
s, advanced drawing functions, 3D graphics, and networking multiplayer. On Windows, the Lite version contains most of the functionality that allows users to create games and share them either by creating stand-alone Windows executable files, or publishing them on YoYo Games' website. Games created with the Lite version display a small GameMaker advertisement during the loading of the game, while games made with the Standard version remove this.
On the original Game Maker for Mac, a trial version with all features unlocked could be used for ten hours before it required activation; there was no "Lite" version. However, on 8 December 2010, Game Maker for Mac Lite was released as a free download. The Mac Lite utility contains most of the Mac Standard version's functionality, but it prevents users from creating stand-alone Mac executables. (Therefore, in order to share games for free, a user would need to give the GMK source file to other users who have downloaded and installed Game Maker for Mac.)
The renaming from "Pro" to "Standard", which occurred with the release of GM version 8.1, caused a lot of discussion about whether or not the company is releasing another tier. This hypothesis was backed up with the company's 2011 "easter egg," showing the possibility to export games to multiple different platforms, including Apple's iPhone and HTML5.
Graphics capabilities
GameMaker primarily runs games that use 2D graphics. GameMaker's graphics capabilities underwent significant improvements with each major release version, allowing for additional functionality including more efficient alphaRGBA color space
RGBA stands for Red Green Blue Alpha. While it is sometimes described as a color space, it is actually simply a use of the RGB color model, with extra information. The color is RGB, and may belong to any RGB color space, but an integral alpha value as invented by Catmull and Smith between 1971 and...
adjustments and blending settings for sprites
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
and other shapes. By version 6.0 (Windows), Game Maker incorporated DirectX, allowing more advanced graphics functions. Version 7.0 (Macintosh) uses OpenGL
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
to render sprites.
Starting with version 6.0 (Windows), Game Maker added Direct3D
Direct3D
Direct3D is part of Microsoft's DirectX application programming interface . Direct3D is available for Microsoft Windows operating systems , and for other platforms through the open source software Wine. It is the base for the graphics API on the Xbox and Xbox 360 console systems...
, allowing the use of limited 3D graphics. For versions 7.0 (Macintosh) and up, OpenGL is used for 3D graphics and also allows limited support for simple 3D models. Converters make it possible to use more popular 3D formats such as .3ds
.3ds
3DS is one of the file formats used by the Autodesk 3ds Max 3D modeling, animation and rendering software.It was the native file format of the old Autodesk 3D Studio DOS , which was popular until its successor replaced it in April 1996...
, and .obj for use in a 3D project. Extension packages such as OGRE
OGRE
OGRE is a scene-oriented, flexible 3D rendering engine written in C++ designed to make it easier and intuitive for developers to produce applications utilizing hardware-accelerated 3D graphics...
can expand Game Maker's basic functionality. It also supports the ability to create particle effects
Particle system
The term particle system refers to a computer graphics technique to simulate certain fuzzy phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to reproduce with conventional rendering techniques...
such as rain, snow and clouds, however not natively in 3D. Support for the editing of 32-bit PNG files was added in the 8.0 version of the software which has also enabled users to use images with alpha channels.
Game Maker Language
Game Maker LanguageGame Maker Language
Game Maker Language is a scripting language developed for use with a computer game creation application called Game Maker. It was originally created by Mark Overmars to supplement the drag-and-drop action system used in Game Maker...
(GML) is the primary scripting language
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
used in GameMaker. It allows users to further enhance and control the design of their game through conventional programming, as opposed to the drag-and-drop
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
system. The syntax of GML borrows aspects from other languages such as C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
, C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, effectively making use of Object-oriented programming
Object-oriented programming
Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm using "objects" – data structures consisting of data fields and methods together with their interactions – to design applications and computer programs. Programming techniques may include features such as data abstraction,...
.
Originally, GML was designed to supplement the drag-and-drop interface, allowing advanced users to add greater functionality to their games or programs. Newer versions of GameMaker actually use GML as their base, with all drag-and-drop functions as pre-written GML scripts.
GML is an interpreted programming language instead of a compiled language
Compiled language
A compiled language is a programming language whose implementations are typically compilers , and not interpreters ....
. When GameMaker creates a stand-alone game, all GML (including drag and drop functions) is packed into the game executable. Every time the generated program is executed, an included interpreter carries out the commands indicated by the GML code. This has the drawback of making Game Maker created games able to be decompiled and reverse engineered, making encryption necessary. Being an interpreted language, GML is usually significantly slower than compiled languages such as C++ or Delphi.
GML also includes support for loading and using DLL
Dynamic-link library
Dynamic-link library , or DLL, is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems...
s. This allows functions and routines to be written in other programming languages such as C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, Delphi, Pascal and others.
Extension packages
GameMaker itself is not limited to the functions and abilities included in the Game Maker LanguageGame Maker Language
Game Maker Language is a scripting language developed for use with a computer game creation application called Game Maker. It was originally created by Mark Overmars to supplement the drag-and-drop action system used in Game Maker...
. GameMaker games can load and use DLLs
Dynamic-link library
Dynamic-link library , or DLL, is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems...
for additional functionality. The community has developed a variety of DLLs to extend GameMaker with things such as socket support and MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
connectivity. As of version 7, the new extension mechanism allows users to include DLLs, GML scripts and action libraries in pre-built extension packages.
System requirements
The following specifications reflect the system requirements of GameMaker's exported executable files. The GameMaker tool has unspecified, but significantly lower, requirements.System requirements for Game Maker 8.x:
- Windows 2000Windows 2000Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
or Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.5 or Mac OS X 10.6 - DirectX 8DirectXMicrosoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
or later - DirectX 8 compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memoryVideo memoryVideo memory is a term generally used in computers to describe some form of writable memory, usually RAM, dedicated to the purpose of holding the information necessary for a graphics card to drive a display device...
- PentiumPentium compatible processorA Pentium compatible processor is a 32-bit processor computer chip which supports the instructions in the IA-32 instruction set that were implemented by the Intel P5 Pentium processor family...
or equivalent processor - DirectX 8 compatible sound card
- 128 MB of memory or greater (noted only in official Game Maker help file documentation)
- 800×600 or greater screen resolution with 16-bit or 32-bit colors
- A Data Execution PreventionData Execution PreventionData Execution Prevention is a security feature included in modern operating systems.It is known to be available in Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems and is intended to prevent an application or service from executing code from a non-executable memory region. This helps...
(DEP) will block the execution of the Game Maker 8 development environment. DEP must either be disabled, set to essential Windows Programs and Services Only, or an DEP exception must be created for Game_Maker.exe
System requirements for Game Maker 7.x:
- Windows 2000Windows 2000Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, Windows 7 - DirectX 8DirectXMicrosoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
or later (Windows) or OpenGLOpenGLOpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
(Macintosh) - DirectX 8 compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memoryVideo memoryVideo memory is a term generally used in computers to describe some form of writable memory, usually RAM, dedicated to the purpose of holding the information necessary for a graphics card to drive a display device...
(Windows) or OpenGL compatible graphics card (Macintosh) - PentiumPentium compatible processorA Pentium compatible processor is a 32-bit processor computer chip which supports the instructions in the IA-32 instruction set that were implemented by the Intel P5 Pentium processor family...
or equivalent processor (Windows) or Intel processor (Macintosh) - DirectX 8 compatible sound card (Windows)
- 128 MB of memory or greater (noted only in official Game Maker help file documentation)
- 800×600 or greater screen resolution with 16-bit or 32-bit colors
System requirements for Game Maker 6.x:
- Windows 98Windows 98Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
, Windows MEWindows MeWindows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006....
, Windows 2000Windows 2000Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... - DirectX 8DirectXMicrosoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
or later - DirectX 8 compatible graphics card with at least 16MB of video memory (32MB or more recommended)
- PentiumPentium compatible processorA Pentium compatible processor is a 32-bit processor computer chip which supports the instructions in the IA-32 instruction set that were implemented by the Intel P5 Pentium processor family...
or equivalent processor - DirectX 8 compatible sound card
- 64 MB of memory or greater (noted only in official Game Maker help file documentation)
- 800×600 or greater screen resolution with 16-bit or 32-bit colors
Versions 6.x and the .exe files from those versions do not work with the Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
or the Windows 7 operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, due to an incompatible compression implementation in its creation of executable files. Version 7 of the program, however, works correctly with Vista, as well as most supported functions in versions 5.x and prior. On 24 June 2007, Mark Overmars released a program to convert .exe files created with version 6 to work on Windows Vista.
YoYo Games
On 26 January 2007, Mark OvermarsMark Overmars
Markus Hendrik Overmars is a Dutch computer scientist and teacher of game programming known for his game development application Game Maker. Game Maker lets people create computer games using a drag-and-drop interface. He is the head of the Center for Geometry, Imaging, and Virtual Environments...
announced his partnership with a company based in the United Kingdom named YoYo Games. The company, headed by CEO Sandy Duncan (ex Vice President of Xbox Europe), was founded to support the future development of GameMaker and to build a community for developers and casual gamers. The motive behind the cooperation is that it would bring improved development to the software as well as provide a better website for its users. This was done in part by creating a free hosting service for any GameMaker games.
Website
YoYo Games' website allows users to upload, share, and play their created games and those made by others. Users can also review and discuss these games, as well as games in development on the website. It also provides an extended help system and support for the sharing of digital assetDigital asset
A digital asset is any item of text or media that has been formatted into a binary source that includes the right to use it. A digital file without the right to use it is not an asset. Digital assets are categorised in three major groups which may be defined as textual content , images and...
s. YoYo Games also hosts the GMC (GameMaker Community) forums and publishes GameMaker since version 7. The YoYo Games website was launched on 28 April 2007, in its beta form.
The website has an instant play feature so people can play games online (similar to Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
), and allows games to be downloaded if the individual creators choose so. The company also runs game-making competitions on the site.
GameMaker Community
The GameMaker Community (GMC) is an online forumInternet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
made to discuss the program and games created with it. It also discusses more general game design topics as well as game graphics, sound, and game distribution methods. The current forum was created by Mark Overmars on September 18, 2003, a month after the first release and is now a subdomain
Subdomain
In the Domain Name System hierarchy, a subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger domain.- Overview :The Domain Name System has a tree structure or hierarchy, with each node on the tree being a domain name. A subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger domain, the only domain that is not...
of the official YoYo Games website. On 15 June 2010, the GMC underwent an update to IPB
Invision Power Board
Invision Power Board is an Internet forum software produced by Invision Power Services, Inc...
version 3.1 which brought new personal message features, Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
integration, and a new theme.
YoYo Games Store
In October 2010, YoYo Games announced that they were making a store that people could sell their games on for different platforms like iOS or PSP. The statement says the store will open "In the following weeks". the store includes only Game Maker for Mac, Skydiver Mach IISkydiver Mach II
Skydiver Mach II is YoYo Games' runner for different ports. That is, it is the game that they test their program, Game Maker, with for different ports. It was originally made by Chad Chisholm, but YoYo Games changed the graphics and sound to make it look better and because the original sound is...
, (the runner), Maddening, They Need To Be Fed
They Need To Be Fed
They Need To Be Fed, by Jesse Venbrux, and published by YoYo Games, is a 2D 360 degree platform game. It is like Super Mario Galaxy but 2D. The newest version can be bought on the iTunes Store for 99 American cents for iPad or iPod.-Gameplay:...
, Simply Solitaire, Teka Teki, Prison Ball, Karoshi, Simply Poker Squares (and lite), Green Tech Plus (PSP only) and Sync Simple.
Macintosh version
In 2008, Sandy Duncan announced a port of Game Maker for Mac OS XMac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
was being developed. The port had undergone many delays due to technical reasons. A version was made available for private beta testing.
On 4 December 2009, YoYo Games' Mac Developer resigned; however, work resumed on 27 January 2010.
On 14 April 2010, a release candidate for the Mac version was released.
On 11 August 2010, YoYo Games released Game Maker 7 for Mac alongside a new Macintosh games hub entitled the YoYo Games AppStore.
PlayStation Portable version
On 10 March 2010, YoYo Games CEO Sandy Duncan announced a new version of GameMaker that would be coming to the PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
system. YoYo Games recently held a competition (Competition 05) in which the restrictions resembled those of a PlayStation Portable, and many rumors arose. Eventually, after over three months, an official announcement was made. YoYo Games also has begun a new competition (Competition 06) with restrictions similar to those of a PlayStation Portable.
On January 26th YoYo Games announced that they had finished development of their first PSP game.
iOS version and controversy
On 24 September 2010, YoYo Games announced they were making an iOS version, compatible with Apple iPod, iPhone, and iPad. On 20 October, they submitted Skydiver Mach II, their first app to the iTunes store. , the iOS version is not yet available for public use, however, YoYo Games has released information regarding the requirements for GameMaker games running on the platform.On January 5, 2011, YoYo Games posted their interpretation of a formal cease and desist letter to their Glog. The post scolded the creators of a decompilation software which would allow users to bypass YoYo Games and independently publish their iOS apps, posing as a financial threat.
HTML5 version
YoYo Games also announced the runner also works with HTML5. This version will be be put into beta testing during September 2011. During the beta, it will only cost $100, but afterwards, the price will rise to $200.External links
- YoYo Games — Official website
- http://forums.yoyogames.com/ — Website forum
- Game Maker Community — Official forum
- YoYo Games Wiki — Official wiki