GAMEMAKER FUNDAMENTALS : learn the gml programming to start making amazing games

Master the fundamental programming skills needed to create your own computer games in GameMaker. This book shows how to use GameMaker to build and publish cross-platform games. Each chapter covers a certain programming element, including layers, variables, and so on. You will also learn how to design levels in your games, draw sprites to populate your virtual worlds, and build GUIs for your menus and game interfaces. GameMaker Fundamentals also provides a thorough introduction to the GameMaker Language (GML). Practical example projects reinforce the concept discussed in each chapter. On completing this book, you will have a thorough understanding of how to create games from scratch using game design and programming principles using GameMaker and GML. What You Will Learn Review core programming features required for sound knowledge of GameMaker Master how to combine GML to orchestrate game actions Utilize GameMaker's layers to create exciting games Set up player control Who Is This Book For Those new to GameMaker or game programming in general; it assumes no prior knowledge or skill set. Table of Contents 4 About the Author 16 About the Technical Reviewer 17 Acknowledgments 18 Introduction 21 Welcome 22 Chapter 1: Variables 23 Basic Assignments 36 Advance Assignments 37 Useful Functions 37 Summary 38 Chapter 2: Conditionals 39 Basic Assignments 43 Advance Assignment 44 Useful Functions 44 Summary 44 Chapter 3: Drawing Shapes 45 Basic Projects 48 Advance Project 48 Useful Functions 48 Summary 49 Chapter 4: More Drawing 50 Basic Projects 62 Advance Projects 62 Useful Functions 63 Summary 63 Chapter 5: Input and Movement 64 Basic Projects 66 Advance Project 66 Useful Functions 66 Summary 67 Chapter 6: Objects and Events 68 Create Event 69 Mouse Events 69 Quick Summary of the Mouse Events 71 Destroy Event 72 Alarm Event 72 Draw Event 73 Step Event 74 Key Events 74 Collision Event 75 Draw GUI Event 77 Basic Projects 78 Advance Project 78 Useful Functions 79 Summary 79 Chapter 7: Sprites 80 Basic Projects 86 Advance Project 86 Useful Functions 86 Summary 87 Chapter 8: Health, Lives, and Score 88 Health 89 Lives 89 Score 90 Basic Projects 91 Advance Projects 91 Useful Functions 91 Summary 91 Chapter 9: Mouse 92 Cursors 94 Basic Projects 96 Advance Projects 97 Useful Functions 97 Summary 97 Chapter 10: Alarms 98 Delaying an Action 99 Basic Projects 100 Advance Projects 100 Useful Functions 101 Summary 101 Chapter 11: Collisions 102 Collisions 103 Collision Line 105 Basic Projects 107 Advance Projects 108 Useful Functions 108 Summary 108 Chapter 12: Rooms 109 Room Editor 109 Basic Projects 113 Advance Project 113 Useful Functions 113 Summary 114 Chapter 13: Backgrounds 115 Setting Up a Background 115 Parallax Effect 117 Basic Projects 121 Advanced Project 121 Useful Functions 121 Summary 122 Chapter 14: Sounds 123 Sound Effects 123 Music 125 Pausing and Resuming Audio 126 Basic Projects 127 Advanced Projects 127 Useful Functions 128 Summary 128 Chapter 15: Splash Screens and Menu 129 Splash Screen Example 129 Basic Projects 130 Advanced Project 130 Useful Functions 131 Summary 131 Chapter 16: Random 132 Random Numbers 133 Other Random Uses 134 Basic Projects 135 Advanced Project 135 Useful Functions 136 Summary 136 Chapter 17: AI 137 Basic Enemy AI 139 Enemy Shooting 140 Basic Projects 142 Advanced Projects 143 Useful Functions 143 Summary 143 Chapter 18: INI Files 144 INI File Contents 144 Loading Data 145 Saving Data 145 Basic Projects 146 Advanced Project 146 Useful Functions 146 Summary 147 Chapter 19: Effects 148 Effects 148 Effect Layer 151 Basic Projects 154 Advance Projects 155 Useful Functions 155 Summary 156 Chapter 20: Loops 157 Repeat Loop 158 While Loop 158 For Loop 158 Do Loop 159 Basic Projects 160 Advance Projects 160 Useful Functions 160 Summary 161 Chapter 21: Arrays 162 Array Example 162 Drawing Array Contents 164 Array-Based Shop 166 Basic Projects 170 Advanced Projects 171 Useful Functions 171 Summary 171 Chapter 22: DS Lists 172 Creating a DS List 172 Sorting an Array 173 Removing a Value 174 Adding a Value 174 Basic Projects 176 Advanced Project 176 Useful Functions 176 Summary 177 Chapter 23: Paths 178 Path Example 178 Creating a Path in Code 179 Drawing a Path 181 Basic Projects 184 Advanced Projects 184 Useful Functions 184 Summary 185 Chapter 24: Functions 186 Creating a Function 187 Calling a Function 188 Basic Projects 189 Advanced Projects 190 Useful Functions 190 Summary 192 Chapter 25: Tilesets 193 Setting a Tileset 193 Placing Tiles 195 Basic Project 196 Advanced Projects 197 Useful Functions 197 Summary 197 Chapter 26: Timelines 198 Creating a Timeline 198 Make a Timeline Play 202 Basic Projects 204 Advanced Projects 204 Useful Functions 204 Summary 204 Chapter 27: Views 205 Setting a View 206 Advance Projects 210 Useful Functions 210 Summary 210 Chapter 28: MP Grids 211 Setting a Grid 211 Adding Objects to a Grid 211 Basic Project 213 Advance Project 214 Useful Functions 215 Summary 216 Chapter 29: Sequences 217 Creating a Sequence 218 Setting a Scale Curve 224 Basic Project 228 Advance Project 228 Useful Functions 229 Summary 229 Appendix A: Game – Plane Game 230 Plan Out Main Game Features with a Pen and Paper 232 Source-Suitable Graphics and Audio 233 Set Up Splash Screen Room 234 Set Up Menu Room 238 Set Up Game Information Room 244 Set Up Gameover Room 246 Set Up First Level 249 Create HUD 256 Create Main Player 260 Create Player Weapons 262 Create Bonuses 269 Create Enemies 272 Create Enemy Spawning System 284 Collisions, Effects, and Audio 286 Appendix B: Programming Challenges 304 CHALLENGE 1 – Slowly Increase Score 305 CHALLENGE 2 – Mouse over Menu Buttons 306 CHALLENGE 3 – Planes on Menu 307 CHALLENGE 4 – Weapon Trail Effects 308 CHALLENGE 5 – Random Game Play 309 CHALLENGE 6 – Bonus Bird 310 CHALLENGE 7 – Voice on New Highscore 311 CHALLENGE 8 – Weather Effects 312 CHALLENGE 9 – Player Auto Move 313 CHALLENGE 10 – Music Control 314 CHALLENGE 11 – End of Level Boss 315 CHALLENGE 12 – Bonus Round 316 CHALLENGE 13 – Draw Score As Text 317 CHALLENGE 14 – New Enemy 318 CHALLENGE 15 – Sliding Menu Buttons 319 CHALLENGE 16 – Enemy Crash in Water 320 CHALLENGE 17 – Shield Bonus 321 CHALLENGE 18 – Room Fade In/Out Effect 322 CHALLENGE 19 – Laser Weapon 323 CHALLENGE 20 – Radar Showing Enemies 324 CHALLENGE 21 – Floating Score Text 325 CHALLENGE 22 – Knockback When Shooting 326 CHALLENGE 23 – Player Flash When Hit 327 CHALLENGE 24 – Read Score As Voice 328 CHALLENGE 25 – Mouse Cursor Change 329 CHALLENGE 26 – Shooting Cool Down 330 CHALLENGE 27 – Basic Weapon Upgrade 331 CHALLENGE 28 – Mega Weapon 332 CHALLENGE 29 – Hoop to Fly Through 333 CHALLENGE 30 – Coins Bonuses 334 CHALLENGE 31 – Logo Change Color 335 CHALLENGE 32 – Friendly Hot Air Balloon 336 CHALLENGE 33 – Water-Based Enemy 337 CHALLENGE 34 – Dangerous Blimp 338 CHALLENGE 35 – Difficulty Settings 339 CHALLENGE 36 – Fast Move Bonus 340 CHALLENGE 37 – Exploding Mega Bomb 341 CHALLENGE 38 – Combo Kill Effect 342 CHALLENGE 39 – Slowly Change Menu Button Size 343 CHALLENGE 40 – Double Damage 344 CHALLENGE 41 – Wobbly Logo 345 CHALLENGE 42 – Plane Player Crash 346 CHALLENGE 43 – Better Collison Detection 347 CHALLENGE 44 – Text with Border 348 CHALLENGE 45 – How to Play Information 349 CHALLENGE 46 – Shop System 350 CHALLENGE 47 – On-Screen Keyboard 351 CHALLENGE 48 – Name with Highscore 352 CHALLENGE 49 – Shoot Weapon to Target 353 CHALLENGE 50 – Create Lots of Effects 354 CHALLENGE 51 – Increasing Difficulty 355 CHALLENGE 52 – Quit Game Confirmation 356 CHALLENGE 53 – Fuel Control System 357 CHALLENGE 54 – Heat Seeking Weapon 358 CHALLENGE 55 – Character Selection 359 CHALLENGE 56 – Player Achievements 360 CHALLENGE 57 – Engine Sounds 361 CHALLENGE 58 – Hit Enemy Damage 362 CHALLENGE 59 – Mega Super Weapon 363 CHALLENGE 60 – Mini Helper Plane 364 CHALLENGE 61 – Moving Text 365 CHALLENGE 62 – Enemy Incoming Alert 366 CHALLENGE 63 – Menu Plane Effect 367 CHALLENGE 64 – Heat Distortion Effect 368 CHALLENGE 65 – Screen Shake 369 Appendix C: Purchasing 370 Logging in or Creating a New Account 370 Subscription Options 371 Free 371 Creator 372 Indie 372 Enterprise 372 Summary 372 Installing 374 Downloading 374 Staring a New Project 374 The IDE 375 Menus 375 File 376 Edit 376 Build 376 Windows 376 Tools 376 Marketplace 376 Layouts 376 Help 377 Source Control 377 Target 377 Assets 378 Sprites 379 Importing a Single Image 379 Importing a Sprite Sheet 381 Importing a Sprite Strip 384 Resizing Sprites 385 Sprite Origin 387 Fonts 388 Creating a Font 388 Objects 389 Assigning a Sprite 390 Events 392 Create 392 Clean Up 393 Step 393 Alarm 393 Draw 393 Mouse 393 Key Events 394 Gesture 394 Collision 394 Other 394 Asynchronous 395 GML Code 395 Sounds 396 Importing 396 Sound Settings 397 Rooms 398 Adding Instance 398 Background 400 Layers 402 Background 403 Instances 403 Tiles 403 Paths 403 Asset 403 Effects 403 Rooms Order 403 Paths 405 Functions 405 Sequences 406 Shaders 406 Tilesets 406 Timelines 406 Target 406 Naming Conventions 407 Index 409