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GameMaker Cookbook

GameMaker Cookbook

By : Gardiner
5 (1)
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GameMaker Cookbook

GameMaker Cookbook

5 (1)
By: Gardiner

Overview of this book

GameMaker: Studio started off as a tool capable of creating simple games using a drag-and-drop interface. Since then, it has grown to become a powerful instrument to make release-ready games for PC, Mac, mobile devices, and even current-gen consoles. GameMaker is designed to allow its users to develop games without having to learn any of the complex programming languages such as C++ or Java. It also allows redistribution across multiple platforms. This book teaches you to harness GameMaker: Studio’s full potential and take your game development to new heights. It begins by covering the basics and lays a solid foundation for advanced GameMaker concepts. Moving on, it covers topics such as controls, physics, and advanced movement, employing a strategic approach to the learning curve. The book concludes by providing insights into complex concepts such as the GUI, menus, save system, lighting, particles, and VFX. By the end of the book, you will be able to design games using GameMaker: Studio and implement the same techniques in other games you intend to design.
Table of Contents (12 chapters)
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Preface
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for
Sections
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Free Chapter
1
1. Game Plan – Creating Basic Gameplay
1. Game Plan – Creating Basic Gameplay
Introduction
Animating a sprite
Moving your player
Adding projectiles
Creating hazards
Programming basic enemies
Setting up player health and lives
Creating scoring mechanism
Creating win/lose scenarios
2
2. It's Under Control – Exploring Various Control Schemes
2. It's Under Control – Exploring Various Control Schemes
Introduction
Creating 2D movement
Adding a Run button
Making your character jump
Using a point-and-click interface
Following the cursor
Setting up a controller
Utilizing analogue joystick acceleration
Adding tap control
Using swipes
Moving characters or objects by tilting a device
3
3. Let's Move It – Advanced Movement and Layout
3. Let's Move It – Advanced Movement and Layout
Introduction
Dragging onscreen objects
Dragging objects on a grid
Moving a character on a grid
Setting a path
Creating enemy pathfinding
Controlling a character with a mouse and keyboard
4
4. Let's Get Physical – Using GameMaker's Physics System
4. Let's Get Physical – Using GameMaker's Physics System
Introduction
Creating objects that use physics
Alternating gravity
Applying force via magnets
Creating a moving platform
Making a rope
5
5. Now Hear This! – Music and Sound Effects
5. Now Hear This! – Music and Sound Effects
Introduction
Importing and playing background music
Implementing situational sound effects
Adding sound emitters and listeners
Adjusting the listener orientation
Replicating the Doppler effect with emitters
6
6. It's All GUI! - Creating Graphical User Interface and Menus
6. It's All GUI! - Creating Graphical User Interface and Menus
Introduction
Setting up a basic HUD with code
Making your HUD scalable
Using the GUI layer in full screen mode with views
Adding a title screen
Creating splash pages
Adding a game over screen
7
7. Saving the Day – Saving Game Data
7. Saving the Day – Saving Game Data
Introduction
Creating game settings
Making a pause screen
Saving player selection and score
Encrypting and decrypting save data
8
8. Light 'em up! – Enhancing Your Game with Lighting Techniques
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8. Light 'em up! – Enhancing Your Game with Lighting Techniques
Introduction
Creating a room with a light switch
Lighting objects with a spot light
Changing day to night
Creating a flashlight
Making a flickering torch
9
9. Particle Man, Particle Man – Adding Polish to Your Game with Visual Effects and Particles
9. Particle Man, Particle Man – Adding Polish to Your Game with Visual Effects and Particles
Introduction
Using particles to simulate kicking up dust
Simulating rainfall
Creating an explosion
Adding screen-shake
Using slow motion
10
10. Hello, World – Creating New Dimensions of Play Through Networking
10. Hello, World – Creating New Dimensions of Play Through Networking
Introduction
Basic networking
Online play
Connecting a client to a server
Setting up asynchronous play for a turn-based game
11
Index
Index

Introduction

Game design trends, much like trends in fashion and music, are quite cyclical. There is currently a trend in game art, especially in indie circles, to give games a pixilated, retro feel but with modern game mechanics and effects. Many developers are trying to capture the look and feel of classic 8-bit and 16-bit games while simultaneously keeping the games modern using certain special effects. One of these effects is to give games lighting systems that can produce, in a way, realistic light effects, watered down as necessary to maintain the desired look.

This isn't entirely a new concept; some games from the 16-bit era had some basic lighting effects, though they were presented differently. Consider a couple of very popular games, such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super Mario World and Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Both of these games used the same hardware and were released one year apart, almost to the day.

Super Mario World contains many levels that take...

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