Setting Up GameMaker Studio

ByWalter Wimberly

Installing GameMaker Studio

Here is a step-by-step guide for installing GameMaker Studio, based on the provided video transcript:

Step-by-Step Guide for Installing GameMaker Studio

  1. Navigate to the GameMaker Website:
    • Open your web browser and go to gamemaker.io. You might see “/en” in the address bar if you’re viewing the English version; if you need a different language, look for the flag icon to change it.
  2. Download the Installer:
    • Scroll down the page or look for the download button.
    • Click the download button.
    • Choose the appropriate download for your operating system: Windows, Mac, or Ubuntu (Linux).
    • The file will then begin downloading.
  3. Locate the Installation File:
    • Once the download is complete, find the install file in your downloads folder.
  4. Run the Installer:
    • Double-click on the install file.
    • Follow the steps presented by the installation wizard. The application will take a moment to unpack itself.
    • Continue to follow the steps as you would with any other software installation. Note that some steps may be unique to your specific machine.
  5. Launch GameMaker Studio (Post-Installation):
    • After the installation is finished, you will want to click on the GameMaker icon (e.g., on your desktop) to launch the application.

Glossary of Key Terms

  • 2D Game Engine: Software framework designed for the creation of two-dimensional video games, handling graphics, physics, input, and other game logic.
  • Assets Panel: The area in the GameMaker interface (typically on the right) where all game resources such as sprites, objects, rooms, sounds, and fonts are organized and managed.
  • Code Editor 2 (Beta): An updated version of GameMaker’s text-based script editor, which the instructor recommends enabling in preferences for an improved experience.
  • Commercial Projects: Games developed with the intent of being sold for profit, which may require a higher-tier GameMaker license.
  • Enterprise Tier: The highest pricing tier for GameMaker, typically required for selling games on consoles and offering the most comprehensive features and support.
  • Free Tier: The basic pricing tier for GameMaker, allowing users to develop and test games without cost, but requiring payment if they intend to sell their game.
  • GameMaker (gamemaker.io): The specific game engine chosen for the tutorial, known for its visual and text-based editing capabilities and multiple pricing tiers.
  • Inspector Panel: The area in the GameMaker interface (typically on the left) that displays and allows modification of the properties and settings of selected elements or assets within the game.
  • Live Wallpapers: A non-game project option available in GameMaker, indicating its versatility beyond traditional games.
  • Objects: Fundamental building blocks in GameMaker representing entities in the game world, such as players, enemies, or interactive items, that have properties and behaviors.
  • Professional Tier: An intermediate pricing tier for GameMaker, offering more features than the free tier, typically for commercial PC/mobile game development.
  • Project Name: The unique identifier given to a game being created in GameMaker, used for saving and organizing the project files.
  • RPG Tutorial: A pre-made game template provided by GameMaker, used as a starting point for this specific tutorial series, offering ready-made images and assets.
  • Scripts: Code written in GameMaker Language (GML) or created visually, which defines the behavior and logic of game objects.
  • Sprites: Two-dimensional images or animations used to represent visual elements in a game, such as characters, backgrounds, or items.
  • Text-based Script Editor: An interface within GameMaker that allows users to write game logic using code (GameMaker Language).
  • Ubuntu: A popular distribution of the Linux operating system, on which GameMaker can be installed.
  • Visual Editor: An interface within GameMaker that allows users to create game logic and design elements using a drag-and-drop or graphical approach, without necessarily writing code.
  • Work Area (Workspace): The central part of the GameMaker interface where users primarily interact with their game project, designing rooms, editing code, or modifying sprites.

Setting Up GameMaker Studio was originally found on Access 2 Learn

Assistant Professor

Walter Wimberly is an Assistant Professor at a regional college in Tennessee, teaching Computer Science in the Software Engineering track. He works as a student advisor, oversees curriculum changes, develops new courses, and manages the advisory panel.
Walter taught full time for about 7 years, before going back into “industry” as a full stack Software Developer for a dozen years. There he focused on web based projects coding in JavaScript/jQuery and utilizing the Bootstrap CSS Framework on the front-end, and coding in PHP, ASP/ASP.Net, SQL on the back-end.

Since he loves teaching, he taught as an adjunct web and digital media classes for eight (8) years, while working in industry, and has since returned to teaching full time.

He has been married for over 25 years, and is father to several special needs boys. As such, he is working on some projects to help others who have special needs to be self-sufficient, and support the care givers of those with special needs. Check out his Autism blog for more info.

Similar Posts

One Comment

  1. Pingback: Your RPG Room Setup in GameMaker - Access 2 Learn

Comments are closed.