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 |
v2024.4.1 / 21 May 2024
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| License | Proprietary |
GameMaker is a special computer program that helps people create video games. It was first made by Mark Overmars in 1999. Since 2007, a company called YoYo Games has been developing it.
GameMaker lets you make many different types of games. You can build games for computers, phones, and even game consoles. It uses a unique way to create games. You can either drag and drop pieces to build your game, or you can write code using a language called GameMaker Language (GML).
The program was first designed for beginners. It allowed people to make games without needing to know a lot about coding. Now, it's also powerful enough for experienced game developers.
Contents
What is GameMaker?
GameMaker is mostly used for making games with 2D graphics. This means games that look flat, like many classic arcade games. It supports different kinds of 2D art, including raster graphics (like photos) and vector graphics (like cartoons). You can also use 2D skeletal animations, which make characters move smoothly.
While GameMaker is great for 2D, it has some limited features for 3D graphics. These 3D tools are usually for more advanced users.
The program works on different devices by using special graphics tools. For example, it uses Direct3D on Windows computers and OpenGL on Apple computers.
GameMaker has a main window called an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). This IDE has tools to help you create everything for your game. You can draw your game's art, design levels, write code, and create paths for characters. You can also add more features using GameMaker's coding language.
What Platforms Can You Make Games For?
GameMaker lets you build games for many different devices. You can create games for:
- Microsoft Windows computers
- macOS (Apple computers)
- Ubuntu (a type of Linux computer)
- HTML5 (games that play in web browsers)
- Android phones and tablets
- iOS (Apple iPhones and iPads)
- Amazon Fire TV and Android TV
- Raspberry Pi (small, affordable computers)
- Microsoft UWP (apps for Windows devices)
- Game consoles like PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One
In February 2021, GameMaker also announced support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. To make games for these consoles, you need a special "Enterprise" license.
GameMaker used to support other platforms like Windows Phone and PlayStation Vita. However, these are no longer supported.
How GameMaker Licensing Works
Before August 2021, you had to buy a separate license for each type of device you wanted to publish your game on. 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 this. They made GameMaker free to use for learning. They also simplified the licenses into two main types:
- One license lets you publish games on all non-console platforms.
- A higher-level license adds support for publishing on consoles.
These changes were made easier because Opera, a web browser company, invested in YoYo Games. This helped lower the costs for GameMaker users.
Then, on November 22, 2023, GameMaker announced another big change. It became "free for non-commercial use on all platforms (excluding console)." This means you can make games for fun or learning without paying. The old subscription system was replaced with a one-time license for commercial use.
GameMaker Language (GML)
GameMaker Language, or GML, is the special coding language used in GameMaker. It's similar to other popular coding languages like JavaScript.
When you write GML code, GameMaker turns it into instructions your computer can understand. For games made for the web (HTML5), GML is changed into JavaScript code. This makes the games run smoothly in web browsers.
GML Visual
GML Visual is GameMaker's visual tool for making games. It used to be called "Drag and Drop."
With GML Visual, you don't have to write lines of code. Instead, you drag and drop visual blocks that represent actions. For example, you can drag a block to make a character move or to create a new object. This tool is great for beginners who are just starting to learn game development.
While GML Visual was once limited, it has been greatly improved in GameMaker Studio 2. Now, you can do many more things with it. It also shows you the actual code that your visual blocks create. This can help you learn how to write code yourself.
History of GameMaker
GameMaker was first created by Mark Overmars. It was released on November 15, 1999. Back then, it was called "Animo" and was mostly a tool for graphics with some simple visual coding. The early versions were made using a program called Delphi.
Over time, the program's name changed to "Game Maker." It became more focused on helping people make all kinds of 2D games.
The first versions (up to 5.0) were free to use. Version 5.1 introduced an optional fee to register. Version 5.3, released in January 2004, added new features for registered users. These included particle systems (like smoke or fire) and the ability to connect games over a network.
Version 6.0, released in October 2004, added some limited 3D graphics features.
As more people became interested, Mark Overmars partnered with YoYo Games in 2007. From then on, YoYo Games handled the development, with Overmars still involved. Version 7.0 was the first one released under this partnership.
In 2009, the first version for Apple's macOS was released. This made it easier to create games for both Windows and Mac computers.
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 allowed users to export games to play in web browsers.
"GameMaker: Studio" came out in May 2012 after a public testing period. It supported Windows, Mac, HTML5, Android, and iOS. More platforms and features were added later.
In February 2015, Playtech bought GameMaker along with YoYo Games. They promised to keep improving GameMaker and make it appealing to more developers, including advanced ones.
November 2016 saw the start of the GameMaker Studio 2 beta. The full version was released in March 2017. This version had a completely new look and many new features.
In August 2020, a big update (version 2.3) was released. It brought many new features to the program, its core functions, and the GML coding language.
In January 2021, Opera Software bought YoYo Games for about 10 million US dollars. The team that develops GameMaker stayed the same, so there were no major changes to the software's development.
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 officially dropped the "Studio 2" from the name. It is now simply called GameMaker, matching its new numbering system.
