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Game Maker platformer template


Kyrieru

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I've started working on a template for making platformers, which I'll be updating every so often. It will require Game Maker Studio to use.

If you have any requests for stuff you'd like to see in it, or questions about how certain things in it are being done, feel free to ask. I'll be modifying it to make it easier to use based on feedback, and I'll be doing a video tutorial series to show how to really use it, so feedback will be useful.
 

GoldBeetle

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

So I take it you're using Game Maker Studio now for your games? How much of a hassle was it to get things to feel right versus GM 8?
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

i'm sure i'll learn a lot...*focuses on enemy ai for now*
 

Lenneth

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

Great idea! I wish you used MMF2 as well XD But I guess nothing keeps me off learning GM too, isn't it...

Definetly gonna keep an eye on that.
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

So I take it you're using Game Maker Studio now for your games? How much of a hassle was it to get things to feel right versus GM 8?
Not much, the biggets hurdle was not using "interpret undefined variables as 0" which I used a lot. There were also some window functions that don't work anymore. Other than that, it's basically the same. Just functions here and there that are obsolete now.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

Not much, the biggets hurdle was not using "interpret undefined variables as 0" which I used a lot. There were also some window functions that don't work anymore. Other than that, it's basically the same. Just functions here and there that are obsolete now.
haaaaa kajio told me off for that, i hate having to initialise variables...im using a lot of them for my current project so im sticking to 8.1 for now (that zoom function on room edit is making designing large rooms a lot simpler)
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

haaaaa kajio told me off for that, i hate having to initialise variables...im using a lot of them for my current project so im sticking to 8.1 for now (that zoom function on room edit is making designing large rooms a lot simpler)
I have one script that initializes every variable that common objects use. So it's basically just something you put in the create event of everything.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

I have one script that initializes every variable that common objects use. So it's basically just something you put in the create event of everything.
i couldnt be bothered listing all the global variables i'll be using, especially since most are 0 until in use
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

i couldnt be bothered listing all the global variables i'll be using, especially since most are 0 until in use
Then frankly..you should probably give up on programming :\

You only need to list them once, and then you never have to do it again. There are far more time consuming things you're going to have to do than that.

Writing, "global.blank = blank" 10-40 times takes a few minutes at best.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

Then frankly..you should probably give up on programming :\

You only need to list them once, and then you never have to do it again. There are far more time consuming things you're going to have to do than that.

Writing, "global.blank = blank" 10-40 times takes a few minutes at best.
was bad enough writing my array haha

btw this has helped me refine my code...i was using check object before...
 
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BlueLight

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

i couldnt be bothered listing all the global variables i'll be using, especially since most are 0 until in use
Sorry for going off topic kyrieru but Azurezero, it seems your code might have a problem. Not saying that AI isn't complex but by that statement alone, it makes me think your over complicating it your logic.
Maybe you should have another programmer look at your logic and give you his oppion .
*BlueLight is a small class/efficiency freak!*

was bad enough writing my array haha
Don't you be making God variable, arrays sound like it's difficult!
*BlueLight loves his arrays!...and his arrayList<T> *
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

Sorry for going off topic kyrieru but Azurezero, it seems your code might have a problem. Not saying that AI isn't complex but by that statement alone, it makes me think your over complicating it your logic.
Maybe you should have another programmer look at your logic and give you his oppion .
*BlueLight is a small class/efficiency freak!*



Don't you be making God variable, arrays sound like it's difficult!
*BlueLight loves his arrays!...and his arrayList<T> *

well yeah, but i was referring to writing my blank array ready for me to put the games equipment in to it... it took an hour for me to have 40 sets ready for my to put stats into (they're all set to 0 for now)

as for AI, all i've learned is pathfinding code but im not sure how to apply it to enemies that walk on the ground... perfectly fine for floating enemies though
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

I'm still trying to figure out how to modify code to work with slopes too, slopes help keep the pace up when it comes to side scrollers
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

I'm still trying to figure out how to modify code to work with slopes too, slopes help keep the pace up when it comes to side scrollers
There won't be slopes in the basic template.

One of the problems that a lot of beginners developers have is that they try too hard to add in a bunch of different ideas, and they never learn how to design around something simple. When I finish the template, I wan't players to focus on level design, and the impact slopes have on gameplay isn't as nearly important as learning layout and enemy placement.

Slopes will be in a more advanced template.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

There won't be slopes in the basic template.

One of the problems that a lot of beginners developers have is that they try too hard to add in a bunch of different ideas, and they never learn how to design around something simple. When I finish the template, I wan't players to focus on level design, and the impact slopes have on gameplay isn't as nearly important as learning layout and enemy placement.

Slopes will be in a more advanced template.
yes but i can't use megaman blocks for everything :) and i wanted to figure out myself anyway... i'll never learn otherwise... pretty much got particles down though
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

yes but i can't use megaman blocks for everything :)
Yes you can. It's exactly this kind of thinking that's the reason I'm not including it. If you can't make a good game without slopes, you aren't ready to include them anyway.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

Yes you can. It's exactly this kind of thinking that's the reason I'm not including it. If you can't make a good game without slopes, you aren't ready to include them anyway.
its not me thats tired of it :) i don't want people to abandon my games because of it is all...so i wanted to learn a bunch of stuff
 
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Kyrieru

Kyrieru

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

its not me thats tired of it :) i don't want people to abandon my games because of it is all...so i wanted to learn a bunch of stuff
No player is going to abandon a game because it doesn't have slopes. The only slope you should be worrying about in the beginning is the difficult curve -__-

Also, if I spent my time learning how to program a bunch of crazy game mechanics, I never would have had time to learn the basics. You should be learning a bunch of stuff, but about level design, not programming. Remember that level design is a skill, like everything else.
 

azurezero

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

No player is going to abandon a game because it doesn't have slopes. The only slope you should be worrying about in the beginning is the difficult curve -__-
my shooter project died because i couldnt manage the easy stuff (as in literally...i couldnt make an easy but fun level, and things kept getting too hard way too quickly)
 

TentanariX

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Re: Game Maker platformer template

I am currently trying to get the hang of Zelda Classic and ZQuest; a zelda gmae designer engine. Im trying to figure out how to do a map of New Hyrule from ST. But I think I may be getting a lil ahead of myself and should focus on making a 'generic' zelda quest rater than jump in by trying to make my own epic story,etc. :x
 
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