GameMaker facts for kids
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| Original author(s) | Mark Overmars |
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| Developer(s) | YoYo Games |
| Initial release | 15 November 1999 |
| Stable release |
v2024.13.0 / 8 April 2025
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| License | Proprietary |
GameMaker is a popular tool for creating video games. It's a special kind of software called a game engine. It helps you make games that can run on many different devices.
A person named Mark Overmars first created GameMaker in 1999. Since 2007, a company called YoYo Games has been developing it. The newest version of GameMaker was released in 2022.
You can make many types of games with GameMaker. It uses a special drag-and-drop system. This system lets you create games without writing much code. For more advanced games, you can use its own scripting language, called GameMaker Language (GML). GameMaker was first made for beginners. Now, it's also great for experienced game developers.
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What is GameMaker?
GameMaker is mainly used for making games with 2D pictures. This means games that look flat, like cartoons or drawings. It works well with different kinds of 2D art. You can use simple pictures or even animated characters.
The software has many tools for drawing and creating 2D shapes. While it can do some 3D graphics, these parts are for advanced users. They are not meant for beginners.
How GameMaker Works
GameMaker uses different technologies to show games. On Windows and Xbox, it uses something called Direct3D. On Apple computers and Linux, it uses OpenGL. For phones and tablets, it uses OpenGL ES. When you play games in a web browser, it uses WebGL or 2D canvas.
The main part of GameMaker is its IDE. This is where you build your game. It has tools for drawing pictures and designing levels. You can also write scripts and create special visual effects. You can add more features using GameMaker's scripting language.
Where Can Games Be Played?
GameMaker lets you build games for many different devices. These include Microsoft Windows computers and macOS computers. You can also make games for Ubuntu (a type of Linux).
Games can also be made for web browsers using HTML5. For mobile devices, it supports Android and iOS (for iPhones and iPads). It also supports Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
For game consoles, GameMaker supports PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. To make games for these consoles, you need a special "Enterprise" license.
In the past, GameMaker also supported other platforms. These included Windows Phone and PlayStation 3. However, these are no longer supported.
How GameMaker Licenses Work
Before August 2021, you had to buy a separate license for each platform. For example, one license for desktop games and another for mobile games. To publish on consoles, you needed an annual license.
In August 2021, YoYo Games changed its licensing. Now, you can use GameMaker for free to learn. They made it simpler with two main options. One option lets you publish on all non-console platforms. A higher option adds console publishing support. These changes made it easier and cheaper for users.
In November 2023, GameMaker announced another big change. It became free for non-commercial use on all platforms, except consoles. The old subscription system was replaced with a one-time license. This means you can learn and create games without paying, unless you want to sell them or publish on consoles.
GameMaker Language (GML)
GameMaker Language, or GML, is the special code language used in GameMaker. It's similar to other coding languages like JavaScript. GML is used to tell your game what to do.
When you run a game on a computer, GML works very fast. For web games, GML is changed into JavaScript. This helps the games run smoothly in your browser.
GML Visual (Drag and Drop)
GML Visual is GameMaker's visual tool for scripting. It used to be called "Drag and Drop." This tool lets you create game actions without writing any code.
You can do many common tasks with GML Visual. For example, you can make characters appear or make them move. It's perfect for new game developers.
In GameMaker Studio 2, GML Visual got a big update. Now, it's even more powerful. It can do more complex tasks. You can also see how your visual blocks translate into actual code. This helps if you want to learn to code later.
History of GameMaker
GameMaker was first created by Mark Overmars. It was released on November 15, 1999. Back then, it was called Animo. It was mostly a drawing tool with some simple scripting. The first versions were made using a software called Delphi.
Later, the program was renamed Game Maker. It became more focused on making all kinds of 2D games.
The first versions (up to 5.0) were free to use. Version 5.1 added an optional fee to register. Version 5.3, released in January 2004, added new features for registered users. These included special effects and the ability to connect games online.
Version 6.0 came out in October 2004. It added some limited 3D graphics features. It also changed how the game drew things on the screen.
As more people became interested, Mark Overmars partnered with YoYo Games in 2007. From then on, YoYo Games handled the development. Mark Overmars stayed involved as a director. Version 7.0 was the first version released under this partnership.
In 2009, the first version for macOS computers was released. This made it easier to create games for both Windows and Mac.
Version 8.1, released in April 2011, changed the name to GameMaker (without a space). This was to avoid confusion with an older software called Game-Maker. This version also had its core code rewritten in C++ to make games run faster.
In September 2011, "GameMaker: HTML5" was released. This new version could export games for web browsers.
GameMaker: Studio was released in May 2012 after a public testing period. It first supported Windows, Mac, HTML5, Android, and iOS. More platforms and features were added over time.
In February 2015, a company called Playtech bought GameMaker and YoYo Games. They promised to keep improving GameMaker. They also wanted to make it appealing to more advanced developers.
The beta version of GameMaker Studio 2 was released in November 2016. The full version came out in March 2017. This version had a completely new design. It also added many new features for creating games.
In August 2020, a big update (version 2.3) was released. It brought many new features to the software and its coding language.
In January 2021, Opera Software bought YoYo Games. The team that develops GameMaker stayed the same. This meant no big changes to GameMaker Studio's development.
In August 2021, YoYo Games announced that they would offer a free version of the GameMaker engine.
In January 2022, YoYo Games changed how GameMaker Studio 2 was numbered. Now, the version number shows the year and month it was released. For example, 2022.1 for January 2022.
In April 2022, YoYo Games dropped the "Studio 2" from the name. It is now simply called GameMaker. This matches its new version numbering system.
