Ben Tyers

GameMaker Fundamentals

Learn GML Programming to Start Making Amazing Games

Ben Tyers
Worthing, West Sussex, UK
ISBN 978-1-4842-8712-5e-ISBN 978-1-4842-8713-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-8713-2
© Ben Tyers 2023
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The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This Apress imprint is published by the registered company APress Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

The registered company address is: 1 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004, U.S.A.

Introduction

A note from the author:

Congratulations!

You are about to learn the basics of GameMaker and potentiallystart a career in game making.

This book is an introduction to the game-making process, an introduction to GameMaker, and other considerations when making your first game.

GameMaker is a powerful piece of software for making games. This book only covers the basics but is a great place to start. This book uses the updated 2022 edition.

Best of luck with your game-making endeavors.

Ben

Welcome

The purpose of this book is to provide you with some of the knowledge that I have acquired. I make no claim that I’m the best coder or designer, but I do have a proficient understanding that I would like to instill in other budding game makers.

The book is broken down into 29 main chapters and three appendixes: one that pulls together the knowledge you gained from the book to create a game, one offering programming challenges, and one covering how to get set up with GameMaker and its IDE.

The main chapters each introduce a separate programming concept and explain what it is used for and how it is applied, along with some examples. Each of these chapters then finishes with some assignments.

The game chapter details how to make a simple shooting game.

You are then presented with 65 programming challenges, each of which adds a new feature to the game you have just made.

Source Code

All source code in this book can be downloaded from github.com/apress/gamemaker-fundamentals.

Acknowledgments

Various Audio and Graphics Used in Game and Challenges: Permission Given to Use by Yoyogames.com. Please Do Not Redistribute These Assets.

Graphics:

Aeroplane: Pzuj/Opengameart.org – CC0

Animated Boy Sprites: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Arrow: oglsdl/Opengameart.org – CC0

Asteroids: Jasper/Opengameart.org – CC0

Bag: Flowly/Opengameart.org – CC0

Ball: Gothicfan95/Freepik.com

Barrel: Manenwolf/Opengameart.org – CC0

Beach Scene: Tgfcoder/Opengameart.org – CC0

Bee: Carriejanesart/Opengameart.org – CC0

Birds: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0 && CC-BY 4.0

Blue Character: Kenny/Opengameart.org – CC0

Boats: Kutejnikov/Opengameart.org – CC0

Bomb Sprite: Znevs/Opengameart.org – CC0

Boss Missile: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Boss Plane: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Bullets Set: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Buttons: Game Developer Studio/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Crosshair: hc/Opengameart.org – CC0

Caveman: Hapiel/Opengameart.org – CC0

Cloud: Bananaowl/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Clouds: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Crate: Rfc1394/Opengameart.org – CC0

Crocodile Character: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Dinosaur: Pzuj/Opengameart.org – CC0

Donuts: Game Developer Studio/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Eggs: Ogreofwart/Opengameart.org – CC0

Elements: Game Developer Studio/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Explosion: Stumpystrust/Opengameart.org – CC0

Extra Character Sprites: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Firenall: Cethiel/Opengameart.org – CC0

Firework: Jellyfish/Opengameart.org – CC0

Fuel Collectable: Freestockimages/Opengameart.org – CC0

Fuel Gauge: JM.Atencia/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Fish: Sylly/Opengameart.org – CC0

Forest: Ansimuz/Opengameart.org – CC0

Gems: Wenrexa/Opengameart.org – CC0

Grass Sky Backgrounds Images: Segel/Opengameart.org – CC0

Green Horn Zombie Sprites: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Green Zombie: Segel/Opengameart.org – CC0

Guns & Bullets Images: Kay Lousberg/Opengameart.org – CC0

Heart/Lives Sprite: Cdgramos/Opengameart.org – CC0

Missile Enemy: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Laser: Rawdanitsu/Opengameart.org – CC0

Missile: JM.Atencia/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Mountain Background Images: Ansimuz/Opengameart.org – CC0

Mountain Images: Ansimuz/Opengameart.org – CC0

Mouse Icons: Qubodup/Opengameart.org – CC0

Padlocks: Rawpixel.com/Freepik.com

Plane Game Background: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0 && OGA-BY-3.0

Rocks: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Rotating Coin Sprites: Puddin/Opengameart.org – CC0

Rpg Character: Curt/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Sea Background: Donte/Opengameart.org – CC0

Shinny Coins: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0 && CC-BY 4.0

Space Background: Satur9/Opengameart.org – CC0

Space Parallax Images: Ansimuz/Opengameart.org – CC0

Spaceship: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0 & CC0

Spiky Land Monster: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Star: Jellyfish/Opengameart.org – CC0

Tileset: Buch/Opengameart.org – CC0

Top Down Zombie Images: Riley Gombart/Opengameart.org – CC0

Underwater: Game Developer Studio/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Walking Green Monster Sprites: Bevouliin.com/Opengameart.org – CC0

Wall: Beaterator/Opengameart.org – CC0

Audio:

Beep: Thisusernameis/Freesound.org – CC0

Bird Sound: JackWilDesign/Freesound.org – CC0

Bell Sound: Se2001/Freesound.org – CC0

Coins (long) dj997/Freesound.org – CC-BY 3.0

Dance Music: Davejf/Freesound.org – CC0

Explosion Sound: Derplayer/Freesound.org – CC0

Firework: Rudmer_rotteveel/Freesound.org – CC0

Gun Sound: Mrrap4food/Freesound.org – CC0

Heavy Beet Music: Jpmusic82/Freesound.org – CC0

Machine Gun Sound: Pgi/Freesound.org – CC0

Melody Music: Drfx/Freesound.org – CC0

Menu Sound: Apenguin73/Freesound.org – CC0

Nuke Sound: Tristanluigi/Freesound.org – CC0

Ouch: Legnalegna55/Freesound.org – CC0

Ping Sound: Wilhellboy/Freesound.org – CC0

Plane Game Level Music: Rezoner/Opengameart.org – CC-BY 3.0

Plane Game Menu Music: Cynicmusic/Opengameart.org – CC0

Plane Game Sound Effects: Subspaceaudio/Opengameart.org – CC0

Random Sound 1: Mosrod/Freesound.org – CC0

Random Sound 2: Littlerainyseasons/Freesound.org – CC0

Random Sound 3: Elfstonepress/Freesound.org – CC0

Random Sound 4: Alanmcki/Freesound.org – CC0

Random Sound 5: Jeremysykes/Freesound.org – CC0

Rocket Sound: Derplayer/Freesound.org – CC0

Table of Contents
Chapter 1:​ Variables1
Basic Assignments14
Advance Assignments15
Useful Functions15
Summary16
Chapter 2:​ Conditionals17
Basic Assignments21
Advance Assignment22
Useful Functions22
Summary22
Chapter 3:​ Drawing Shapes23
Basic Projects26
Advance Project26
Useful Functions26
Summary27
Chapter 4:​ More Drawing29
Basic Projects41
Advance Projects41
Useful Functions42
Summary42
Chapter 5:​ Input and Movement43
Basic Projects45
Advance Project45
Useful Functions45
Summary46
Chapter 6:​ Objects and Events47
Create Event48
Mouse Events48
Quick Summary of the Mouse Events50
Destroy Event51
Alarm Event51
Draw Event52
Step Event53
Key Events53
Collision Event54
Draw GUI Event56
Basic Projects57
Advance Project57
Useful Functions58
Summary58
Chapter 7:​ Sprites59
Basic Projects65
Advance Project65
Useful Functions65
Summary66
Chapter 8:​ Health, Lives, and Score67
Health68
Lives68
Score69
Basic Projects70
Advance Projects70
Useful Functions70
Summary70
Chapter 9:​ Mouse71
Cursors73
Basic Projects75
Advance Projects76
Useful Functions76
Summary76
Chapter 10:​ Alarms77
Delaying an Action78
Basic Projects79
Advance Projects79
Useful Functions80
Summary80
Chapter 11:​ Collisions81
Collisions82
Collision Line84
Basic Projects86
Advance Projects87
Useful Functions87
Summary87
Chapter 12:​ Rooms89
Room Editor89
Basic Projects93
Advance Project93
Useful Functions93
Summary94
Chapter 13:​ Backgrounds95
Setting Up a Background95
Parallax Effect97
Basic Projects101
Advanced Project101
Useful Functions101
Summary102
Chapter 14:​ Sounds103
Sound Effects103
Music105
Pausing and Resuming Audio106
Basic Projects107
Advanced Projects107
Useful Functions108
Summary108
Chapter 15:​ Splash Screens and Menu109
Splash Screen Example109
Basic Projects110
Advanced Project110
Useful Functions111
Summary111
Chapter 16:​ Random113
Random Numbers114
Other Random Uses115
Basic Projects116
Advanced Project116
Useful Functions117
Summary117
Chapter 17:​ AI119
Basic Enemy AI121
Enemy Shooting122
Basic Projects124
Advanced Projects125
Useful Functions125
Summary125
Chapter 18:​ INI Files127
INI File Contents127
Loading Data128
Saving Data128
Basic Projects129
Advanced Project129
Useful Functions129
Summary130
Chapter 19:​ Effects131
Effects131
Effect Layer134
Basic Projects137
Advance Projects138
Useful Functions138
Summary139
Chapter 20:​ Loops141
Repeat Loop142
While Loop142
For Loop142
Do Loop143
Basic Projects144
Advance Projects144
Useful Functions144
Summary145
Chapter 21:​ Arrays147
Array Example147
Drawing Array Contents149
Array-Based Shop151
Basic Projects155
Advanced Projects156
Useful Functions156
Summary156
Chapter 22:​ DS Lists157
Creating a DS List157
Sorting an Array158
Removing a Value159
Adding a Value159
Basic Projects161
Advanced Project161
Useful Functions161
Summary162
Chapter 23:​ Paths163
Path Example163
Creating a Path in Code164
Drawing a Path166
Basic Projects169
Advanced Projects169
Useful Functions169
Summary170
Chapter 24:​ Functions171
Creating a Function172
Calling a Function173
Basic Projects174
Advanced Projects175
Useful Functions175
Summary177
Chapter 25:​ Tilesets179
Setting a Tileset179
Placing Tiles181
Basic Project182
Advanced Projects183
Useful Functions183
Summary183
Chapter 26:​ Timelines185
Creating a Timeline185
Make a Timeline Play189
Basic Projects191
Advanced Projects191
Useful Functions191
Summary191
Chapter 27:​ Views193
Setting a View194
Advance Projects198
Useful Functions198
Summary198
Chapter 28:​ MP Grids199
Setting a Grid199
Adding Objects to a Grid199
Basic Project201
Advance Project202
Useful Functions203
Summary204
Chapter 29:​ Sequences205
Creating a Sequence206
Setting a Scale Curve212
Basic Project216
Advance Project216
Useful Functions217
Summary217
Appendix A:​ Game – Plane Game219
Plan Out Main Game Features with a Pen and Paper221
Source-Suitable Graphics and Audio222
Set Up Splash Screen Room223
Set Up Menu Room227
Set Up Game Information Room233
Set Up Gameover Room235
Set Up First Level238
Create HUD245
Create Main Player249
Create Player Weapons251
Create Bonuses258
Create Enemies261
Create Enemy Spawning System273
Collisions, Effects, and Audio275
Appendix B:​ Programming Challenges293
CHALLENGE 1 – Slowly Increase Score294
CHALLENGE 2 – Mouse over Menu Buttons295
CHALLENGE 3 – Planes on Menu296
CHALLENGE 4 – Weapon Trail Effects297
CHALLENGE 5 – Random Game Play298
CHALLENGE 6 – Bonus Bird299
CHALLENGE 7 – Voice on New Highscore300
CHALLENGE 8 – Weather Effects301
CHALLENGE 9 – Player Auto Move302
CHALLENGE 10 – Music Control303
CHALLENGE 11 – End of Level Boss304
CHALLENGE 12 – Bonus Round305
CHALLENGE 13 – Draw Score As Text306
CHALLENGE 14 – New Enemy307
CHALLENGE 15 – Sliding Menu Buttons308
CHALLENGE 16 – Enemy Crash in Water309
CHALLENGE 17 – Shield Bonus310
CHALLENGE 18 – Room Fade In/​Out Effect311
CHALLENGE 19 – Laser Weapon312
CHALLENGE 20 – Radar Showing Enemies313
CHALLENGE 21 – Floating Score Text314
CHALLENGE 22 – Knockback When Shooting315
CHALLENGE 23 – Player Flash When Hit316
CHALLENGE 24 – Read Score As Voice317
CHALLENGE 25 – Mouse Cursor Change318
CHALLENGE 26 – Shooting Cool Down319
CHALLENGE 27 – Basic Weapon Upgrade320
CHALLENGE 28 – Mega Weapon321
CHALLENGE 29 – Hoop to Fly Through322
CHALLENGE 30 – Coins Bonuses323
CHALLENGE 31 – Logo Change Color324
CHALLENGE 32 – Friendly Hot Air Balloon325
CHALLENGE 33 – Water-Based Enemy326
CHALLENGE 34 – Dangerous Blimp327
CHALLENGE 35 – Difficulty Settings328
CHALLENGE 36 – Fast Move Bonus329
CHALLENGE 37 – Exploding Mega Bomb330
CHALLENGE 38 – Combo Kill Effect331
CHALLENGE 39 – Slowly Change Menu Button Size332
CHALLENGE 40 – Double Damage333
CHALLENGE 41 – Wobbly Logo334
CHALLENGE 42 – Plane Player Crash335
CHALLENGE 43 – Better Collison Detection336
CHALLENGE 44 – Text with Border337
CHALLENGE 45 – How to Play Information338
CHALLENGE 46 – Shop System339
CHALLENGE 47 – On-Screen Keyboard340
CHALLENGE 48 – Name with Highscore341
CHALLENGE 49 – Shoot Weapon to Target342
CHALLENGE 50 – Create Lots of Effects343
CHALLENGE 51 – Increasing Difficulty344
CHALLENGE 52 – Quit Game Confirmation345
CHALLENGE 53 – Fuel Control System346
CHALLENGE 54 – Heat Seeking Weapon347
CHALLENGE 55 – Character Selection348
CHALLENGE 56 – Player Achievements349
CHALLENGE 57 – Engine Sounds350
CHALLENGE 58 – Hit Enemy Damage351
CHALLENGE 59 – Mega Super Weapon352
CHALLENGE 60 – Mini Helper Plane353
CHALLENGE 61 – Moving Text354
CHALLENGE 62 – Enemy Incoming Alert355
CHALLENGE 63 – Menu Plane Effect356
CHALLENGE 64 – Heat Distortion Effect357
CHALLENGE 65 – Screen Shake358
Appendix C:​ Purchasing359
Logging in or Creating a New Account359
Subscription Options360
Free360
Creator361
Indie361
Enterprise361
Summary361
Installing363
Downloading363
Staring a New Project363
The IDE364
Menus364
Assets367
Sprites368
Importing a Single Image368
Importing a Sprite Sheet370
Importing a Sprite Strip373
Resizing Sprites374
Sprite Origin376
Fonts377
Creating a Font377
Objects378
Assigning a Sprite379
Events381
GML Code384
Sounds385
Importing385
Sound Settings386
Rooms387
Adding Instance387
Background389
Layers391
Rooms Order392
Paths394
Functions394
Sequences395
Shaders395
Tilesets395
Timelines395
Target395
Naming Conventions396
Index399
About the Author
Ben Tyers

is an expert GameMaker user, developer, coder, and trainer, with over 10 years of experience in GameMaker. He has authored several books on GameMaker for game application developers. He runs a popular gaming website, which features accessible games that can be played by gamers with physical disabilities, with around one new game added every month. He has learnt GML coding to a reasonable level and has picked up many skills, tips and tricks, and methodology for making games in GameMaker.

 
About the Technical Reviewer
Mark Alexander

A photo of Mark Alexander.

has been a technical writer for the last 12 years, starting his career working for YoYo Games in Scotland, where he was in charge of the GameMaker documentation for almost ten years. After that, he moved on to work at Asobo Studio in France, where he is doing the technical documentation for the Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK.

In his spare time – apart from reading sci-fi, collecting Lego, and playing video games – he creates and publishes small indie games and also creates assets for people to use in GameMaker. Any time he has left after that, he dedicates to the administration of the GameMaker Community Forum.

 
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