INTRODUCTION TO GAMING

GameMaker

What is a Game

A lot of Different Definitions Easier to Say What is NOT a Game

Movie is Not a Game No Active Participation Final Outcome is Fixed

A Toy is Not a Game You play WITH a toy, You Play a Game No Predefined Goals

A Drawing Program is Not a Game No Predefined Goals

A Puzzle is Not a Game Many Games contain Puzzle elements Puzzles are Static, Games are Dynamic – change as you

play

So What is a Game

A computer game is a software program in which one or more players make decisions through the control of game objects and resources, in the pursuit of a goal.

Does not include graphics, sounds, or movies These items make the game look nice but are

not essential to be a game

Computer Game

A software program Different from a board game or sports game

Involved Players Not something to watch Players are VERY Important – Must think about the

players when designing a game Kids games are different than Adult Games Create for your Audience

Is About Making Decisions Players Decisions can influence the rest of the

game Strategy is Important

Computer Game

Playing a Game is About Control Players should feel in control of the game

Includes Game Objects and Resources Objects - Main Characters, Cars, Planes, etc.

Players control some Game Objects Computer controls other Game Objects

Resources – Amount of food, Weapons, Gold Coins, etc. Resources can add interest to the game

Must have a Goal People want to WIN (Reach the Goal) Long Games should have Sub-Goals / Levels

Types of Games

Arcade Games Reaction speed is very important

Puzzle Games Cleaver Thinking is Needed

Role Playing Games (RPG) Steer a Character through the Game / Worlds

Strategy Games Real Time or Turn-Based Player determines Character Strategy

Management Games Building Games Managing Resources

Types of Games

Adventure Games Storyline is Critical

Shooter Games 1st Person Shooter 3rd Person Shooter Fast Paced Action and Reaction Speed

Sports Games Racing Games Simulator Games

Creating a Game

Develop / Create the Idea for your Game Write a short description 1st Game – Simple Design

Catch the Clown – An action game where a clown moves around a playing field for a period of time. The goal of the player is to catch the clown by clicking with the mouse on him. The clown will move faster throughout the game making it harder to catch the clown. Points are awarded each time the user catches the clown. Goal - High Score

Creating A Game

Design Document Create a more specific design of the game Identify the Needed Objects and Resources Sounds Control Game Flow Levels

Catch the Clown – Design Doc.

Game Objects Clown (moves around the game)

Bounces off the wall Player earns 10 points for clicking on the clown

Clown moves somewhere else and speeds up Wall (controls the area of the game)

Sounds Bounce – used when clown hits a wall Click – when the player clicks on the clown

Catch the Clown – Design Doc.

Controls Player controls game with Mouse (left mouse

click) Game Flow

When game starts Score is set to 0 Room with moving clown is shown

Game ends when player closes window Levels

This game has just one level Game gets harder as clown moves faster each

time he is “caught”

Creating the Game

Open “Game Maker” Click on the Game Maker Icon

Click on the “New” Tab

New

Creating the Game

Save Game 1) Directory - Student’s Jump Drive 2) Name: Catch The Clown

1) Drive Location

2) File Name

Resources Needed

Copy the necessary Resources to the Same Location on the Student’s Jump Drive Desktop Folder: “GameMaker Files” Copy to Jump Drive

Sound Files Image Files

Creating the Game

Add Game Objects Sprites

Clown Wall

Resources Menu Create Sprites

Resources

Adding Sprites

Name: sprClown Load Sprite Button

Find Clown.png in Resources Folder

Click “Open”

Name

Load Sprite

Drive

Open

Adding Sprite

OK

Add the Wall Sprite

Follow the Same Steps to Add the Wall Name: sprWall Picture File: wall.png

Resources

Left Column shows Resources of Game sprClown sprWall

Can click on Resources to Edit, Copy or Delete

Add Sound Effects

Resources Menu Create Sound

Name: sndBounce

Click “Load Sound” button

Resources

Load Sound

Add Sound Effects

Locate bounce.wav file on Student Jump Drive

Click OK to Select File Click OK again to Add Sound Effect

Bounce.wav

Add Sound

Add Click Sound Effect Follow the same steps to add the sndClick

sound effect Name: sndClick Sound File: click.wav

Green “PLAY”Arrow Test Sound

Play

Objects and Actions

We need to create game objects to play the game One (or more) instances of the game object

will be on the screen during the game Can have multiple instances of the object

Many wall instances to surround the game field Only one Clown

You have to tell game objects what to do / how to act React to “Event” – things that happen

Events

Things that can happen during the Game Create Event – Start of the Game Collision Event – When 2 instances collide

Clown collides with wall) Mouse Event – When user clicks the Mouse

Actions Responses to these Events

Create Wall Object Resources Menu

Create Object May need to set

window to Full Screen Name: objWall Sprite: sprWall

Resources

Name

Sprite

Create Wall Object

Make Wall solid Don’t allow other objects to go through it

OK

SOLID

OK

Create the Clown Object Use the same steps to create the Clown

Object Resources

Create Object Name: objClown Sprite: sprClown Does Not need to be set to SOLID

Clown Object

Specify Behavior of Clown Events Window Add Events for Clown to Respond To

Buttons indicate available actions / movements

Add Events

Actions

Add Create Event

What to do when the clown is created Start moving in an random direction

1) Add Event

2) Create Event

Create Event

Move Fixed – Drag to “Actions” Window

Moved Fixed

Create Event

Applies to Self Random Direction

Select ALL 8 Directions Do Not Include Middle button

Set Speed to 4

Click OK

Clown will start moving in a random direction when created

Create Collision Event

Add Event Button Collision Event

objWall

Create event for Colliding with the Wall

Add Collision Event

Create Collision Event

Drag “Bounce” button to “Action” window

Bounce

Create Collision Event

Settings are Fine Click OK

Add Sound Click “Main 1” tab

Main 1

Create Collision Event

Select “Play Sound” Button Drag it below the “Bounce” Action in Action

Window

Play Sound

Create Collision Event

Play Sound Sound – select sndBounce object Leave Loop Set to False (play only once) Click OK

sndBounce

OK

Events

Clown Object now has 2 Events Create Collision

Add Mouse Click Event

Add Event Mouse Button

Left Pressed (when user clicks left mouse button)

Add

Mouse

Add Mouse Click Event

Select “Score” tab “Set Score” Action

1) Score

2) Set Score

Add Mouse Click Event

Set Score New Score: 10 Click “Relative”

Adds new score to existing score

OK

New Score

Relative

Add Sound Action Add Click Sound Follow Steps Add Before to Add sndClick

Sound Main1 Tab Play Sound

sndClick Loop - false

Play Sound

Main 1

Add Move Random Action Move Clown to a New Location Select “Move” Tab

“Jump to Random” Default settings are Good – Click OK

Move

Jump to Random

Add Move Fixed Event

Clown Needs to Start Moving Again Move Fixed – Drag to “Actions” Window

Moved Fixed

Create Event

Applies to Self Random Direction

Select ALL 8 Directions Do Not Include Middle button

Set Speed to .05 Click “Relative” to increase

Speed

Click OK

Clown will start moving faster in a new direction

Clown Object Clown object is now Ready

Create Event Collision Event (with Wall) Left Mouse Click Event

Click OK

OK

Create the Room

Rooms (also called Levels) Resources

Create Room

Resources

Create the Room

Settings Tab Name: rmMain

Settings

Create the Room

Objects Tab Check

SnapX = 32 SnapY = 32 Our sprites are

size 32 so this makes it easier to set them at specific locations

Snap

Create the Room

Add One Instance of Clown to Room Clown is the Selected Object Click any Gray Square to add Clown

Create the Room

Add the Walls Click on Clown

Object Select objWall Click all outside

Gray Boxes to Add the Walls around the room

Click to Change

Create the Room

Room is Created Click Green Check to Close Room

Close

Play the Game

Game is Ready Sprites have been Added Sound Effects in Place Game Objects Designed Rooms (levels) Created

2 More Things to Do SAVE TEST

Save

File Menu Save

Will Save Changes to Jump Drive

Creates a GameMaker file Not a stand alone

game file (yet)

File

Test

Test it yourself Allow others to

test your games

Run Menu Run Normally Catch the Clown

Does it Work Correctly

Speed Up Close Window to

Quit

Run

Finishing Touches

Background Music Resources Create Sound

Name: sndMusic File Name: music.wav OK

Finishing Touches Background Music

Create a PlaySound Event Reopen Clown Object (double click clown object) Edit the “Create” Event (click on it)

Main1 Page Play Sound – sndMusic (Loop set to True)

Clown

Create Event Main1

Finishing Touches

Background Image Resources Create Background

Name: backMain Load Background

Select file: background.png

Open OK

Load Background

Finishing Touches

Background Image Add to Room Open Room Object – rmMain (double click on

it) Click “Backgrounds” tab

Room

Backgrounds

Finishing Touches

Background Image Click “off” Draw

Background Color Select File for

Background Image backMain

Make sure “Tile Hor” and “Tile Vert” are checked to repeat for the entire room

Background Color

Background Image

Create Executable File

Save Game again to Save Changes Create an Independent Game Program

File Menu “Create Application”

Create on Jump Drive

This allows the game to be installed and played without the GameMaker software.

Questions