Start time in your timezone: Sat, Jul 19 2014 04:00 PM

Start: 07/19/2014 - 16:00

End: 07/19/2014 - 18:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT-7

The source code to Recreational Software Designs' Game-Maker has been released! To celebrate, let's make games using Game-Maker!

Since Game-Maker is DOS-based, fire up a DOS machine - use DOSBox and set the cycles to 16000 (or use a real machine if you have one!).

You can get Game-Maker here! The "runtime" folder has a working installation of Game-Maker that is ready to use. The "cd" folder includes some extra resources if you need those.

Resources:

The Demo game provides a tour of some of Game-Maker's features.

This video walks through the different editors.

The Tutor example game demonstrates different block (tile) effects.

Game-Maker is not a tool but rather a suite of tools, each one editing the individual files that make up a Game-Maker game. Instead of loading/saving an entire game from the Game-Maker menu, you open the necessary files (such as palettes and blocks) every time you open a tool, and then save the file when you're done with the tool. You should generally use the tools in order from left to right:

- The Palette editor lets you edit individual colors from a 256 color palette.

- The Block editor lets you define the game's graphics and change the behavior of background tiles (such as whether they are solid, and what to do when the player collides with them).

- The Monster editor lets you create animated "monsters" from the Monster Blocks (images) you've made, and define their movement and other properties, such as the power level - a higher powered monster will defeat a lower powered one.

- The Map editor lets you design levels, which are each made up of a 100x100 grid of tiles that wraps horizontally and vertically. You zoom in by clicking on the Z button and then the section of the level you want to view.

- The Character editor lets you define the player character's animations, controls, and movement. Controls work by playing animations for each assigned key/joystick movement. To create movement, place animation frames away from the center.

- The Image editor lets you import images for use as a title screen, intermission graphic, etc.

- The Sound editor lets you define sounds that are played by the Character for certain animations.

- The Integrator lets you connect the different levels together and define entrance/exit points between levels, creating the game's structure.

Let's see what you make with Game-Maker (or anything else for that matter)!

Feel free to join us on IRC! When you're done, click here to upload your game!

Games made for Game-Maker Source Release Jam / KotM #85