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GameMaker

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This article is about the software by YoYo Games for Microsoft Windows and macOS. For the software by Recreational Software Designs for MS-DOS, seeGame-Maker.For other uses, seeGamemaker.

GameMaker
Original author(s)Mark Overmars
Developer(s)YoYo Games
Initial release15 November 1999;25 years ago(1999-11-15)
Stable release
v2024.8.0 /3 September 2024;2 months ago(2024-09-03)
Written in
Operating system
Platform
Available in
LicenseProprietary
Websitegamemaker.io

GameMaker(originallyAnimo,Game Maker(until 2011)andGameMaker Studio) is a series ofcross-platformgame enginescreated byMark Overmarsin 1999 and developed byYoYo Gamessince 2007. The latest iteration ofGameMakerwas released in 2022.

GameMaker accommodates the creation ofcross-platformand multi-genrevideo gamesusing a custom drag-and-dropvisual programming languageor ascripting languageknown as Game Maker Language (GML), which can be used to develop more advanced games that could not be created just by using the visual programming features. GameMaker was originally designed to allow novicecomputer programmersto be able to make computer games without much programming knowledge by use of these actions. Recent versions of software also focus on appealing to advanced developers.[1]

Overview

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GameMaker is primarily intended for making games with2Dgraphics, allowingout-of-boxuse ofraster graphics,vector graphics(viaSWF),[2]and 2Dskeletal animations(via Esoteric Software's Spine)[3][4]along with a large standard library for drawing graphics and 2Dprimitives.[5]While the software allows for limited use of3D graphics,this is in form ofvertex buffer[6]andmatrixfunctions, and as such not intended for novice users.

The engine usesDirect3Don Windows, UWP, and Xbox One;OpenGLon macOS and Linux;OpenGL ESon Android and iOS,WebGLor2d canvason HTML5, and proprietary APIs onconsoles.

The engine's primary element is an IDE with built-in editors for raster graphics,level design,scripting,paths,andshaders(GLSLorHLSL).[7]Additional functionality can be implemented in software's scripting language or platform-specific native extensions.[8]In GameMaker Studio 2, users can choose whether to export the game as anNSISinstaller, or a.zipfile containing the game, the data.win file, and any files added under the "Included Files" tab in the editor.[9]

Supported platforms

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GameMaker supports building forMicrosoft Windows,macOS,Ubuntu,HTML5,Android,iOS,Amazon Fire TV,Android TV,Raspberry Pi,[10]Microsoft UWP,PlayStation 4,Nintendo Switch[11]andXbox One;[12][13][14]support forPlayStation 5andXbox Series X|Swas announced in February 2021[15]though an "Enterprise" license is needed to build games for these consoles.[16]

In past, GameMaker supported building forWindows Phone(deprecated in favor of UWP),Tizen,PlayStation 3,andPlayStation Vita(not supported in GMS2 "largely for business reasons" ).[17]

PlayStation Portablesupport was demonstrated in May 2010,[18]but never made publicly available (with only a small selection of titles using it).[19]

Between 2007 and 2011, YoYo Games maintained a custom web player plugin for GameMaker games[20]before releasing it as open-source mid-2011[21]and finally deprecating in favor of HTML5 export.

Prior to August 2021, users had to obtain a single-purchase license for one of five different platforms, excluding consoles, depending on the target platform they wanted to publish on (such as desktop or mobile). An annual license was required to publish for consoles, which was also contained in an all-encompassing annual Ultimate license that covered all supported platforms. Yoyo Games announced a change to the licensing approach in August 2021, allowing GameMaker to be used for free to learn, and eliminating the single-purchase options. Instead, it simplified the license scheme to only two tiers, one that supported publishing on all non-console platforms, and a higher tier that added in console platform publishing support at a lower rate than the prior Ultimate license. These changes were aided by the financial investment of Opera into YoYo Games to help reduce costs for GameMaker users.[22]On 22 November 2023, GameMaker announced that it would be "free for non-commercial use on all platforms (excluding console)," and the current subscription system would be replaced by a one-time license.[23]

GameMaker Language

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GameMaker Language (GML) is GameMaker's scripting language. It is animperative,dynamically typedlanguage commonly likened toJavaScriptand C-like languages.[24][25][26]

The language's default mode of operation on native platforms is via astack machine;it can also besource-to-source compiledto C++ viaLLVMfor higher performance.[27]On HTML5, GML is source-to-source compiled to JavaScript with optimizations andminificationapplied in non-debug builds.[28]

GML Visual

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GML Visual (originally called "Drag and Drop"[29]) is GameMaker's visual scripting tool.

GML Visual allows developers to perform common tasks (like instantiating objects, calling functions, or working with files and data structures) without having to write a single line of code. It remains to be largely aimed at novice users.[30]

While historically GML Visual remained fairly limited in what can be comfortably done with it,[31][32]GameMaker Studio 2 had seen an overhaul to the system, allowing more tasks to be done with GML Visual, and having it translate directly to code[33](with an in-IDE preview for users interested in migrating to code).

History

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GameMaker was originally developed byMark Overmars.The program was first released on 15 November 1999 under the name of Animo (at the time, it was just a graphics tool with limited visual scripting capabilities).[34]The first versions of the program were being developed inDelphi.[35]

Subsequent releases saw the name changed to Game Maker and software moving towards more general-purpose 2D game development.

Versions 5.0 and below have beenfreeware;version 5.1 introduced an optional registration fee; version 5.3 (January 2004) introduced a number of new features for registered users, includingparticle systems,networking, and possibility to extend games using DLLs.[36]

Version 6.0 (October 2004) introduced limited functionality for use of 3D graphics, as well as migrating the runtime's drawing pipeline fromVCLtoDirectX.[37]

Growing public interest led Overmars to seek help in expanding the program, which led to partnership with YoYo Games in 2007.[38]From this point onward, development was handled by YoYo Games while Overmars retained a position as one of the company's directors.[39]Version 7.0 was the first to emerge under this partnership.

The first macOS compatible version of program was released in 2009,[40]allowing games to be made for two operating systems with minimal changes.

Version 8.1 (April 2011) sees the name changed to GameMaker (lacking a space) to avoid any confusion[41]with the 1991 softwareGame-Maker.This version also had the runtime rewritten in C++ to address performance concerns[42][failed verification][contradictory]with previous versions.

September 2011 sees the initial release of "GameMaker: HTML5" - a new version of software with capability to export games for web browsers along with desktop.[43]

GameMaker: Studio entered public beta in March 2012[43]and enjoyed a full release in May 2012.[44]Initial supported platforms included Windows, Mac, HTML5, Android, and iOS. Additional platforms and features were introduced over the years following;[45][46][47][48]Late 2012 there was an accident with anti-piracy measures misfiring for some legitimate users.[49]

In February 2015, GameMaker was acquired byPlaytechtogether with YoYo Games. Announcement reassured that GameMaker will be further improved and states plans to appeal to broader demographic, including more advanced developers.[1][50]

November 2016 saw the initial release of GameMaker Studio 2 beta,[51]with full release in March 2017.[52]This version spots a completely redesigned IDE (rewritten in C#[53]) and a number of new editor and runtime features.

In August 2020, major update 2.3 was released, bringing a host of new features to IDE, runtime, and the scripting language.[54]

In January 2021,YoYo Gameswas sold toOpera Softwarefor roughly 10 millionUSD.The development team of GameMaker remains the same, and has not caused any major development changes to GameMaker Studio.[55][56][57]

In August 2021, YoYo Games announced that they are changing their licenses and will offer a free version of the GameMaker engine.[58]

In January 2022, YoYo Games changed GameMaker Studio 2's numbering scheme so the version corresponds to the year and the month it was released(For example,2022.1for January 2022).[59]

In April 2022, YoYo Games dropped theGameMaker Studio 2name in order to match its new version numbering scheme, changing it to simplyGameMaker.[60]

Reception

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The program currently holds a rating of 8.5/10 onMod DBbased on 223 user reviews; many cite its flexibility and ease of use as positives and instability, crashes, project corruption and outdated features as negatives.[61]Douglas Clements ofIndie Game Magazinewrote 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 betweenSteamand the YoYo Games website is "convoluted".[62]

References

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  1. ^abVinciguerra, David; Howell, Andrew (16 October 2015).The GameMaker Standard.CRC Press.ISBN978-1-317-51469-5.
  2. ^Kerr, Chris."GameMaker Studio 2 gets new low-cost 'Creators Edition'".Retrieved9 May2018.
  3. ^"GDC17: GameMaker Studios 2.0 Takes On Industry Titans | Broken Joysticks".Broken Joysticks.12 March 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2018.Retrieved9 May2018.
  4. ^"Skeletal Animation Sprites Using Spine | Blog | YoYo Games".Yoyo Games.Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2019.Retrieved9 May2018.
  5. ^"Drawing".docs2.yoyogames.com.Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2021.Retrieved9 May2018.
  6. ^"Drawing And Creating Primitives".docs2.yoyogames.com.Retrieved9 May2018.
  7. ^"2D Game Development Engine 'GameMaker Studio 2' Debuts on macOS".Retrieved9 May2018.
  8. ^"GameMaker Studio 2 gets an education edition".VentureBeat.23 May 2017.Retrieved9 May2018.
  9. ^"Compiling".docs2.yoyogames.com.Archived fromthe originalon 9 November 2021.Retrieved20 February2019.
  10. ^"YoYo Games expand their Linux support in GameMaker Studio 2 to the Raspberry Pi".GamingOnLinux.21 December 2020.
  11. ^Good, Owen (9 March 2018)."Undertale coming to Switch brings indie games' GameMaker Studio engine with it".Polygon.Retrieved9 March2018.
  12. ^Evan Lewis (6 November 2014)."Learn how to make your own video games with GameMaker: Studio at RetroGameCon".Syracuse Media Group.Retrieved2 December2014.
  13. ^"This will let you say 'Happy Birthday,' 'Get Well Soon' with a video game".Alexa Ray Corriea. 22 January 2014.Retrieved23 January2014.
  14. ^Moore, Bo (31 July 2014)."No coding required: How new designers are using GameMaker to create indie smash hits".PC Gamer.Retrieved15 January2015.
  15. ^"GameMaker Studio 2 launches support for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S | Development News".MCV/DEVELOP.25 February 2021.
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  21. ^"YoYo Website plans | Blog | YoYo Games".Yoyo Games.Archived fromthe originalon 30 June 2018.Retrieved9 May2018.
  22. ^Dealessandri, Marie (10 August 2021)."YoYo Games streamlines GameMaker licenses, offers new free version".GamesIndustry.biz.Retrieved10 August2021.
  23. ^"GameMaker Free for non-commercial use".twitter.com.22 November 2023.Retrieved22 November2023.
  24. ^Christian, Brian; Isaacs, Steven (28 December 2015).GameMaker Programming By Example.Packt Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-1-78588-847-2.
  25. ^Ford, Jerry Lee Jr. (1 June 2009).Getting Started with Game Maker.Cengage Learning.ISBN978-1435455214.
  26. ^Habgood, Jacob; Overmars, Mark (31 December 2006).The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners.Apress.ISBN978-1-4302-0159-5.
  27. ^"GameMaker: Studio introduces YoYo Compiler and cross-platform Shader support".Retrieved9 May2018.
  28. ^Elliott, Jason Lee (22 April 2013).HTML5 Game Development with GameMaker.Packt Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-1-84969-411-7.
  29. ^"What New Features Are Included In GameMaker Version 2022.3?".GameMaker.
  30. ^"Interview: James Cox of YoYo Games about GameMaker Studio 2 | This Is Xbox".This Is Xbox.Archived fromthe originalon 6 January 2020.Retrieved9 May2018.
  31. ^"Drag-and-Drop icons to GameMaker Language reference"(PDF).
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  33. ^"GameMaker Studio creators look back at 17 years of development".VentureBeat.4 September 2017.Retrieved9 May2018.
  34. ^Ford, Jerry Lee Jr. (1 June 2009).Getting Started with Game Maker.Cengage Learning.ISBN978-1435455214.
  35. ^"Game Maker Studio engine".Desura.Retrieved29 May2013.
  36. ^"Game Maker Pages".10 January 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 10 January 2004.Retrieved8 May2018.
  37. ^Ford, Jerry (2010).Getting Started with Game Maker.Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning.ISBN978-1-59863-882-0.
  38. ^Stanton, Rich (23 July 2015).A Brief History Of Video Games: From Atari to Virtual Reality.Little, Brown Book Group.ISBN9781472118813.
  39. ^Habgood, Jacob; Overmars, Mark (31 December 2006).The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners.Apress.ISBN978-1-4302-0159-5.
  40. ^Ford, Jerry Lee Jr. (1 June 2009).Getting Started with Game Maker.Cengage Learning.ISBN978-1435455214.
  41. ^Eric-Jon Rössel, Tairne (30 April 2010)."The Original Game-Maker".Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2014.Retrieved15 January2015.
  42. ^Ford, Jerry (2009).Getting Started with Game Maker.Cengage Learning. p. 333.ISBN978-1133168966.
  43. ^abRose, Mike."YoYo Games Releases GameMaker: HTML5 Tools".Retrieved8 May2018.
  44. ^"YoYo Games unveils GameMaker: Studio for cross-platform development".VentureBeat.22 May 2012.Retrieved8 May2018.
  45. ^"Game Maker Studio 1.1 released - csanyk.com".csanyk.com.6 September 2012.Retrieved8 May2018.
  46. ^"YoYo Games updates GameMaker: Studio to speed development time".VentureBeat.27 August 2013.Retrieved8 May2018.
  47. ^"GameMaker est disponible en version 1.3 et apporte un nouveau débogueur et le support des consoles de Sony".Developpez.com(in French).Retrieved8 May2018.
  48. ^"Welcome to GameMaker: Studio 1.4 | GameMaker Blog".18 June 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 18 June 2016.Retrieved8 May2018.
  49. ^Chapple, Craig (29 November 2012)."Gamemaker anti-piracy bug destroys developer assets | Game Development | News by Develop".Develop.Intent Media. Archived fromthe originalon 27 January 2013.Retrieved28 April2019.
  50. ^"YoYo Games is Acquired by Playtech plc | YoYo Games".26 March 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 26 March 2015.Retrieved8 May2018.
  51. ^"GameMaker Studio 2 enters beta".PCGamesN.Retrieved8 May2018.
  52. ^GameFromScratch.com, Copyright (9 March 2017)."GameMaker Studio 2 Released".www.gamefromscratch.com.Retrieved8 May2018.
  53. ^"GameMaker Studio 2: Remade to Stay Up-to-date - Gamesauce: Global Inspiration for Game Developers".www.gamesauce.biz.Retrieved8 May2018.
  54. ^Miller, George (20 August 2020)."YoYo Games launches GameMaker Studio 2 version 2.3".European Gaming Industry News.
  55. ^"Opera bought the owner of GameMaker for its new gaming division – Destructoid".20 January 2021.
  56. ^"Opera acquires YoYo Games for $10 million and launches Opera Gaming division | VentureBeat".20 January 2021.
  57. ^"Opera Acquires YoYo Games, Launches Opera Gaming"(Press release).
  58. ^Dealessandri, Marie (10 August 2021)."oYo Games streamlines GameMaker licenses, offers new free version".gamesindustry.biz.Gamer Network Limited, a ReedPop company.
  59. ^"Version 2022.1 Release &" Feather "Reveal".GameMaker.Retrieved29 July2022.
  60. ^"GameMaker Brand Guidelines | Download The PDF".GameMaker.Retrieved29 July2022.
  61. ^"GameMaker: Studio Reviews".DBolical Pty Ltd. 13 November 1999.Retrieved15 January2015.
  62. ^Douglas Clements."'GameMaker: Studio' – Lord Over The Pixels ".Indie Games Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2017.Retrieved19 January2017.
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