Game Maker : Not just a game maker, can be used to make professional softwares too and its free

softhunterdevil

I always wondered ... If I could make my own softwares. Or If I could make my own games ... not as beautiful as F.E.A.R. but better than Mario.
I searched internet a lot ... only to find out ... professional commercial softwares or softwares that take the hell out of you. Now I found out the following two years back and loved it from the first use.
Currently Game Maker 6.1 is available at Game Maker Pages

Game Maker Pages
Beside draging and droping for novice users, there is GML (Game Maker Language) that gives user more flexible and powerful way of creating logic and interaction. Even the language is so easy that anyone can write it as normal english is spoken ... like draw_circle ... show_messgae ... etc.
Its far easier than BASICS, C, C++, VB.net, Flash, SQL, (Ya, I have learnt these as well) or any other programming language (Trust me). So you must give it a try.
This language supports OOPS concept (Object Oriented Programming). So there is concept of local and global variables also.
It supports dlls, multiplayer support (online communication), help file, screen modes, etc etc.
Game Maker Pages
There are few basic components that you need to deal wih in Game Maker
1. Sprite (images for games)
2. Backgrounds (background for games)
3. Sound (Sounds for sound effects and music)
4. Fonts (Different Fonts that you will deal with)
5. Object (Objects that will interact ... may have own sprites)
6. Timeline (Needed if something to happen at a point of time)
7. Motion Paths (Easy to draw complex movement paths)
8. Scripts (You can load external script or define yours)
9. Rooms (Multiple rooms for eg: multiple levels)
Game Maker Pages
There are many pre-defined drag and drop featues that makes it easy to make games.
There are some tutorial already made and examples with your download that helps you to understand it.
There is support forum that consist of game makers of young age starting from 19 to 91.... You can discuss and solve your problems.
Currently Game Maker 7.0 is coming up. It features extension mechanism which can be used to include only the needed files or resources in the game. How much I should praise about it ? Just click once and you are done.
Game Maker Pages
However, some extra features are available on registering. That includes particle system, blend modes, gradient drawings, etc.
Game Maker Pages
Last thing which I will post is a picture of one of my game which I will be posting on this forum soon ... Just making it more interesting now... It is as a proof of my 'gyan' above.

So, just check it once ... even if you have decided not to search for such softwares anymore. A click can change your life !!!
Game Maker Pages

__________________