GameMaker Studio is a popular game development engine with an easy-to-use interface and helpful features that make it a go-to tool for many game developers. The GameMaker Studio development process involves seven steps: planning, prototyping, asset creation, programming, testing and debugging, polishing, and publishing. Before developing a game, planning should establish a game design document, identify the target audience, and figure out the technical requirements. Prototyping allows developers to test and refine their game mechanics, while asset creation involves creating graphics, sound effects, music and more. Programming involves using GameMaker Studio’s scripting language to write code, testing and debugging ensures the game corrects errors, and polishing adds the finishing touches to the game. Finally, publishing to distribution platforms like Steam, Google Play or Appstore, starts the marketing campaign on social media and other channels.
Building Block by Block: The GameMaker Studio Development Process
Game development is a complicated process that involves a lot of different steps and approaches. One of the most popular game development engines is GameMaker Studio. With its easy-to-use interface and helpful features, it has become a go-to tool for many game developers. In this article, we will break down the GameMaker Studio development process block by block.
Step 1: Planning
Before starting any game development project, it’s essential to have a clear plan in place. This planning stage should include brainstorming ideas, identifying the game’s target audience, establishing a game design document, and figuring out the technical requirements for the game. It’s the stage where you dream up the world, the mechanics and desired user experience. One of the essential documents you must prepare before proceeding is the Game Design Document (GDD) which details the objectives for your game, outlining the mechanics, the conflict, art style, controls, audience and other elements.
Step 2: Prototyping
Prototyping is a crucial step in the game development process. It allows game developers to test and refine their game mechanics before starting full-on development. In GameMaker Studio, you can create a basic prototype of your game using placeholders for graphics and simple logic. You will test the mechanics and the feel of the game to ensure it is enjoyable and engaging.
Step 3: Asset creation
The next step in the GameMaker Studio development process is Asset creation. Assets are all the elements of your game that are not code, including graphics, sound effects, music, and more. In this step, you create the 2D or 3D visuals using software like adobe Photoshop or Blender, composing music in a digital audio workstation like FL Studio or Ableton, and sound effects in Audacity. Before creating the assets, it’s essential to ensure your game art design matches its gameplay and characters.
Step 4: Programming
GameMaker Studio has a powerful scripting language called GML that is used for programming the game. Programming involves creating code that is responsible for game mechanics, AI and more. It’s the process that brings the game to life as you add functionality and interaction to the mechanics. GameMaker Studio’s user interface makes it easy for beginners to understand the language, allowing you to assign different behaviors and interactions to different game objects with ease. For a more complicated game, coding becomes more complex to incorporate interaction between objects Gameplay, audio and visual elements, game state and transitions, and complex algorithms.
Step 5: Testing and Debugging
Once all the elements of your game are developed, it’s time to test it. You must ensure that the game works correctly and is enjoyable. GameMaker Studio provides inbuilt testing tools that allow developers to test the game from different angles. Testing includes both gameplay testing and technical testing to check for bugs and glitches in the game. Debugging identifies errors and fixes problems. Most games have debugging at every stage of the development process, but the most intensive is in this stage.
Step 6: Polishing And Publishing
Game development is all about polishing your game to make it appealing and engaging to your audience. It’s the step where you add finishing touches and refine it. Polishing includes adding game music, creating an intro, outro, a tutorial, and cinematics, among others. Once polishing is over, it’s time to publish. You can release the game on distribution platforms like Steam, Google Play or Appstore, then start setting up your marketing campaign on social media and other channels.
Conclusion
The GameMaker Studio development process is a challenging and engaging journey that requires creativity, perseverance, and dedication. Planning, prototyping, asset creation, programming, testing and debugging, polishing, and publishing are the essential building blocks that make up the game development process. By following this process and using GameMaker Studio, you can develop and publish games that people love to play.
References
https://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/features
https://developer.android.com/games/get-started/create-games
https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AlejandroLuongo/20210308/378893/Building_a_2D_Casual_Game_with_GameMaker_Studio_2.php
https://medium.com/game-development-path/gamemaker-studio-programming-tips-and-tricks-bcec63fbc457