by BRET HUDSON
[PACKT] PUBLISHING — Uriel Griffin is publishing a Game Maker educational book through [PACKT] Publishing, that will be released June 2011. The book is called the "Game Maker 8 Cookbook", which will have "recipes" that allow you to create certain effects in your Game Maker creations. The book will be released in both a physical copy and eBook, both will be the same price. You can pre-order this book at http://www.packtpub.com.
YoYo Games— The Game Maker's Companion has been released fully now. As announced on the YoYoGames Glog. The book is written by Jacob Habgood, with co-authors Nara Neilson and Martin Rijks. The book goes through the making of games in D&D, then shows you how to convert and D&D into professional GML.
You can check out the book on Amazon!
Along with the release YoYoGames has showed three YouTube videos from the book. The YouTube Videos give a nice look into what you will be creating.
The Game Maker’s Companion (Zool)
Shadows on Deck (Cut Scene)
Shadows on Deck Gameplay
GOOGLE BOOKS — Check out the book Here - Here you can check out a 52 page preview of the book. Which can help get you started using Game Maker.
Hello everyone! I'm here to announce the sequal to the ever so popular book, The Game Makers Apprentice. That's right! There is now another book coming right after the old one. In this book you go through opening GM, and then straight on to creating a platform engine. Starting with legs. The platform engine that you make is a really good one, it has wall sliding, hills, and other great things.
One major part of the game is recreating the old game Zool. If you are a Zool fan you may be excited to know that YOU can be creating your own Zool levels by the end of this book.
Be sure to check it out!
Also, I'm new here to the Gazette, so please, let me know in the comments on anything I can do better at,
Nikc-Nack
GAME MAKER GEEK will no longer be a series of 3 books, it's going to be a bit more than that. We've decided to release the some of the following books this year (1, 2 and 7):
1. First Steps
...Teaches you how to make your first game and use Drag and Drop.
2. Game Maker Language
...Teaches you the basics of GML.
3. 3-Dimensions
...Teaches you how to use 3D in Game Maker.
4. Online
...Will teach how to use the internet in your game. From loading web pages in Game Maker to things like MMORPG's.
5. Artificial Intelligence
...Teaches advanced AI creations
6. Physics and Mathematics
...Advanced Physics and Mathematics
7. Resource Creation
...Shows you how to make all the resources for your games. From spriting to composing.
8. Distribution
sssA guide of DO's and DON't when distributing games. Also a guide on HOW. Even covers selling games.
Each of these books are actually chapters. Each chapter varies in length. Some chapters may only be 20 pages, while others may be hundreds. More chapters may be added on to the end later on. We will be releasing each of these chapters individually. And when we're done, we're going to discontinue distribution of individual chapters and combine all of the chapters into 1 book which will be called GAME MAKER GEEK.
Why is GMIndie releasing each chapter individually?
Although it may seem like a strange thing to do (releasing individually), but actually its a great way for people to keep up on our progress as well as helping people NOW instead of later. People tend to like things in small pieces anyway.
You're probably thinking to yourself "Why bother? What a waste of time!!". Well you're wrong. We're about to do something nobody has done before. We're about to write a Game Maker book that has everything the others have AND more and give it away for absolutely free!
Who's writing this book?
Over 100 people are helping write this book! Here are some of the people who are currently helping write chapter 1 & 2: Brian Fetcher, Jonathan Martin, Frederick Watson, Russell Kay, Landon Podbielski, Kris Little, Sandy Duncan, Vlad Chekhov, Kevin Young, Zack Banack, Cole Marlar, Christopher Kerl, Trevor Swope, Rhys Andrews, Dan Fornace, Eugene Perry AND MANY MORE.
What is the current progress?
The book is approx 12% complete.
Do you want to help out?
We could use as much help as is available. We already have the first and second chapters nearly completed. This means that if you want to help, you're going to have to volunteer to help write books that are a bit more complicated than the first two. If you aren't an advanced user, forget it. We need the BEST of the BEST. If you think you've got what it takes, email me at BrianFetcher17@Gmail.com and we'll work something out. We want to make this amazing book. So pitch in. We could use the help.
Will the book be published?
We do plan on publishing the book when it is completed. We will be selling copies to try to get back some of the money we're spending to get it published. We're spending well over $1,000 to get the book proofread and edited by professionals from the publishing company as well as the costs for publishing more than 100 copies. Where are we getting our funds to pay for this? Some friends of my Dads are pitching in. But here's the catch. I have to pay them back. So I have to sell the published copies to try to raise the money back. I'm going to need to sell one heck of a lot of copies to do that. For now, until it is published, the book will be in eBook form.
Old screenshots from First Steps (Outdated, but close)
The video we released a few weeks ago is outdated. The layout has since changed.
Come on over and help us achieve greatness! We want to help provide advanced material for free for Game Maker users everywhere. Your work will be 100% voluntary. We cannot effort to pay our writers. Sorry. We're spending too much money getting it published.
If you know a friend of yours that doesn't know Game Maker. Send them over our way to be guinea pigs to test our material.
Share your thoughts - What's going through your mind right now? post a reply!
1. First Steps
...Teaches you how to make your first game and use Drag and Drop.
2. Game Maker Language
...Teaches you the basics of GML.
3. 3-Dimensions
...Teaches you how to use 3D in Game Maker.
4. Online
...Will teach how to use the internet in your game. From loading web pages in Game Maker to things like MMORPG's.
5. Artificial Intelligence
...Teaches advanced AI creations
6. Physics and Mathematics
...Advanced Physics and Mathematics
7. Resource Creation
...Shows you how to make all the resources for your games. From spriting to composing.
8. Distribution
sssA guide of DO's and DON't when distributing games. Also a guide on HOW. Even covers selling games.
Each of these books are actually chapters. Each chapter varies in length. Some chapters may only be 20 pages, while others may be hundreds. More chapters may be added on to the end later on. We will be releasing each of these chapters individually. And when we're done, we're going to discontinue distribution of individual chapters and combine all of the chapters into 1 book which will be called GAME MAKER GEEK.
Why is GMIndie releasing each chapter individually?
Although it may seem like a strange thing to do (releasing individually), but actually its a great way for people to keep up on our progress as well as helping people NOW instead of later. People tend to like things in small pieces anyway.
You're probably thinking to yourself "Why bother? What a waste of time!!". Well you're wrong. We're about to do something nobody has done before. We're about to write a Game Maker book that has everything the others have AND more and give it away for absolutely free!
Who's writing this book?
Over 100 people are helping write this book! Here are some of the people who are currently helping write chapter 1 & 2: Brian Fetcher, Jonathan Martin, Frederick Watson, Russell Kay, Landon Podbielski, Kris Little, Sandy Duncan, Vlad Chekhov, Kevin Young, Zack Banack, Cole Marlar, Christopher Kerl, Trevor Swope, Rhys Andrews, Dan Fornace, Eugene Perry AND MANY MORE.
What is the current progress?
The book is approx 12% complete.
Do you want to help out?
We could use as much help as is available. We already have the first and second chapters nearly completed. This means that if you want to help, you're going to have to volunteer to help write books that are a bit more complicated than the first two. If you aren't an advanced user, forget it. We need the BEST of the BEST. If you think you've got what it takes, email me at BrianFetcher17@Gmail.com and we'll work something out. We want to make this amazing book. So pitch in. We could use the help.
Will the book be published?
We do plan on publishing the book when it is completed. We will be selling copies to try to get back some of the money we're spending to get it published. We're spending well over $1,000 to get the book proofread and edited by professionals from the publishing company as well as the costs for publishing more than 100 copies. Where are we getting our funds to pay for this? Some friends of my Dads are pitching in. But here's the catch. I have to pay them back. So I have to sell the published copies to try to raise the money back. I'm going to need to sell one heck of a lot of copies to do that. For now, until it is published, the book will be in eBook form.
Old screenshots from First Steps (Outdated, but close)
The video we released a few weeks ago is outdated. The layout has since changed.
Come on over and help us achieve greatness! We want to help provide advanced material for free for Game Maker users everywhere. Your work will be 100% voluntary. We cannot effort to pay our writers. Sorry. We're spending too much money getting it published.
If you know a friend of yours that doesn't know Game Maker. Send them over our way to be guinea pigs to test our material.
Share your thoughts - What's going through your mind right now? post a reply!
This is currently the newest Game Maker book, though, it's still in production.
The thing that makes GAME MAKER GEEK book series so special is that GMIndie allows several (if not many) to help write the book. The first book is exactly 15% completed, yet it is still ready for a sneak peak preview! You'll find a preview video below.
So far the book offers both good guidance in fair sized text, good screen shots, exercises like word searches and cross word puzzles, read aloud audio version and more.
First Steps starts the reader at the very beginning, from the moment they download Game Maker! By the end of the book, you'll know your work area much better, know how to create a solid game engine, know DnD, know basic GML and know how to polish your game properly. GMIndie even threw in some tips on how to distribute your games.
Note: that isn't a lag. that's what happens when you use the middle mouse scroller
Coming July 2010
The thing that makes GAME MAKER GEEK book series so special is that GMIndie allows several (if not many) to help write the book. The first book is exactly 15% completed, yet it is still ready for a sneak peak preview! You'll find a preview video below.
So far the book offers both good guidance in fair sized text, good screen shots, exercises like word searches and cross word puzzles, read aloud audio version and more.
First Steps starts the reader at the very beginning, from the moment they download Game Maker! By the end of the book, you'll know your work area much better, know how to create a solid game engine, know DnD, know basic GML and know how to polish your game properly. GMIndie even threw in some tips on how to distribute your games.
Note: that isn't a lag. that's what happens when you use the middle mouse scroller
Coming July 2010
This book has not yet been released.
(see bottom for sources & credit)
The Game Maker’s Companion is the long-awaited sequel to The Game Maker’s Apprentice: the beginner’s guide to game development that has become a staple of the bedrooms and classrooms of hobbyist game developers all around the world. It picks up exactly where the last book left off, advancing your game development journey with a range of awe-inspiring Game Maker projects. This time the book focuses on the diverse theme of platform games: the game genre that defined the 2D era.
What You’ll Learn
Who this book is for
This book is for Game Maker’s Apprentice readers, along with other game developers in general.
About the Author
Jacob Habgood worked in the UK Games Industry for seven years, writing console games for Gremlin Interactive and Infogrames/Atari. During this time he contributed to a wide range of titles and lead the programming teams on MicroMachines (PS2, X-Box and Game Cube) and Hogs of War (PlayStation). Jacob is now a doctoral student at the University of Nottingham, researching the educational potential of computer games. As part of this research, Jacob runs clubs and workshops teaching children and teenagers how to make their own computer games, providing free activities and resourcesthrough his website: www.gamelearning.net.
Where do I pre-order this book?
It can be found on Amazon. U.S. / U.K.
The book will be available April 23, 2010. The current price is $32.57 / £24.01 with free SAH.
Sources & Credit: Game Maker Blog & Amazon
(see bottom for sources & credit)
The Game Maker’s Companion is the long-awaited sequel to The Game Maker’s Apprentice: the beginner’s guide to game development that has become a staple of the bedrooms and classrooms of hobbyist game developers all around the world. It picks up exactly where the last book left off, advancing your game development journey with a range of awe-inspiring Game Maker projects. This time the book focuses on the diverse theme of platform games: the game genre that defined the 2D era.- Introduces a platform game extension to Game Maker that allows sophisticated platform games to be programmed quickly and easily using drag-and-drop programming
- Shows you how to recreate classic ’90s games like Zool, using resources from the original game (and interviews with the original designer)
- Uses adventure-based platform games to teach you to create compelling storylines and convincing characters that will add enormously to the appeal of your games
- Includes the new 8.0 version of Game Maker and makes full use of its latest features, and offers inside information from the creator of Game Maker itself
What You’ll Learn
- How to use the platform game extension to create simple platform games
- How to create more elaborate platform games using Zool as a practical example
- How to make a level editor that allows you to play and edit your games at the same time
- How to create the basic game mechanics for a pirate platform game
- How to use storylines to provide flow and a sense of purpose to the game
- How to design game characters that have depth and believability
- How to modify game artwork for your own games
- Bring together a number of example levels alongside the story
- How to create simple hierarchies (using the WiiWare game Outnumb3r3d as an example)
- How to build a thrilling, action-packed conclusion to your game
Who this book is for
This book is for Game Maker’s Apprentice readers, along with other game developers in general.
About the Author
Jacob Habgood worked in the UK Games Industry for seven years, writing console games for Gremlin Interactive and Infogrames/Atari. During this time he contributed to a wide range of titles and lead the programming teams on MicroMachines (PS2, X-Box and Game Cube) and Hogs of War (PlayStation). Jacob is now a doctoral student at the University of Nottingham, researching the educational potential of computer games. As part of this research, Jacob runs clubs and workshops teaching children and teenagers how to make their own computer games, providing free activities and resourcesthrough his website: www.gamelearning.net.
Where do I pre-order this book?
It can be found on Amazon. U.S. / U.K.
The book will be available April 23, 2010. The current price is $32.57 / £24.01 with free SAH.
Sources & Credit: Game Maker Blog & Amazon
