Game Maker is a relatively simple program to use. It can generate simple 2-d games like pong or something as complicated as the original Doom. One of the simplest games to make is a Maze game, in which a player navigates through a maze on screen to get to an object. To start, open game maker and follow the following instructions.

1. First you will need sprites, for more on sprites, read the basic functions tutorial. Click on the create sprite option. I recommend starting by importing one of the preprogrammed sprites. This first sprite will be the playable character. You will also need an object to serve as a wall. There are several objects that will serve this purpose. Finally, you will need an object to navigate the maze to. This could be any of the objects in the preloaded content.
2. Once you have your sprites, you will need to make them objects. Click the create object option. A new window should appear. In the upper right corner, click "select sprite" and select your wall. You don't need to do much with the wall, except for checking the box that says solid. Close the window by licking the green check mark. Click "Create Object" and repeat the process for the object you navigate to.
3. Creating the playable character is slightly more difficult. Open a new object and select the appropriate sprite. Begin by making it solid. Next, click new event and select collision. Make the collision with the wall. In the drag menu next to the event panel, click and drag the button that looks like 8 arrows and drop it in the empty menu. Double click on it. This should open a menu, in which click the middle square, in the speed type 0, and deselect any arrows that are depressed. Exit the menu. Then, create a new event, select key press and then the up arrow key. Drag the same arrow button into the right panel and double click. Select the up arrow so that it is depressed, and in the speed, type 5. Close the menu. Repeat this process for the left, right and down arrow keys, with the corresponding direction in the movement button menu. Then select "New Event" and select Key release. Drag the movement button into the right panel and select the middle square and type 0 for the speed. Repeat this process for the other arrow keys, as before. Next, create another event, selecting collision. Select the wall object. In the actions menu, drag the movement button into the right panel and select the middle square and type 0 for the speed. Create another event for a collision with the object you navigate to. There are several things to do at this point, if you want to end the game, drag the text option, under the "Main 2" tab and type "You Win, Game Over!" or some similar statement in the menu. You could also advance to another level.
4. Advancing to another level: while in the collision with navigation object menu, drag from the "Main 1" tab the advance to next room button. You can add a transition into it if you want or not. Close the menu, you should be done with it.
5. 5. Creating rooms: You may first want to create a background for your room. Clicking creates background, you can import one of the preloaded ones if you wish, or use any other picture file. When you have a background, click "create a new room". When the menu opens, click the background tab and select your background. Click back to the object tab. Select your wall tool. First, while holding shift, drag along the border of the graph to create a border through which you cannot travel through as the character. Next, create your maze. Make sure all passageways are large enough for your character to pass through. Most sprites preloaded will fit into a 2-2 passage. When your maze is down, add the navigation object and the character at the opposite side of the maze. Click the green arrow. You have finished your first level. You can create more or you can play it by licking the green play button at the top. You can also save it as an executable by clicking file and save as executable.

By Hegemon

Date: February 26, 2010