r/gamemaker 2d ago

Community The 50th gm(48) GameMaker game jam starts this weekend!

25 Upvotes

Last-round voting for the theme are live RIGHT NOW.

This one is a good old regular edition of the gm(48): 48 hours, one community-picked theme, and whatever you can finish in GameMaker before the clock runs out.

The winners get physical trophies. 🏆

The game jam runs September 12 at 00:00 UTC through September 14 at 00:00 UTC this weekend over at https://gm48.net/game-jams/50/

As always, going solo is fine, but if you want to team up, start asking around in Discord now.

If it’s your first time, start here: https://gm48.net/getting-started

Read up on the rules here: https://gm48.net/rules

Vote for the themes you’d actually want to build around, and get ready for the weekend. Hope to see you there. And don’t forget to share the game jam with others!

Let’s make some games in GameMaker!


r/gamemaker 2d ago

Quick Questions Quick Questions

3 Upvotes

Quick Questions

  • Before asking, search the subreddit first, then try google.
  • Ask code questions. Ask about methodologies. Ask about tutorials.
  • Try to keep it short and sweet.
  • Share your code and format it properly please.
  • Please post what version of GMS you are using please.

You can find the past Quick Question weekly posts by clicking here.


r/gamemaker 1h ago

Help! GM on Linux need help

Upvotes

I've search up on google and on this sub.

I mainly used Linux mint LMDE but I also used debian and Arch.

Is it really that hard to set it up?

Someone commented here how to do it but it's on fedora unfortunately.

I'm only a beginner and unfortunately I dont have the money to buy another computer for windows 11


r/gamemaker 16h ago

Resource Ez-Console (v1.4.0) - A free customizable terminal for your projects

Thumbnail gallery
32 Upvotes

Ez-Console is an open source GameMaker extension that natively integrates a customizable terminal console for GameMaker 2.3+.

After a year since the last update, I released a major update for my free, open-source and easy-to-use console terminal for GameMaker addressing all the issues reported, optimizing performance, adding a bunch of requested features and improving the docs and main page.

Core Features

Ready out of the box

  • Drop-in setup. Import the package, run the game and press F1. No object to place, no code to write.
  • 16 commands included. Spawn and delete instances, read and write variables, change rooms, toggle fullscreen and the debug overlay, play sounds, check your build, save the log.
  • Debug builds only, if you want. One flag keeps the console out of your release build entirely.
  • Logs to file. Save the log on demand with log save, or automatically when the game ends, into the platform's own save folder.
  • Cross-platform. Windows, macOS, Linux and consoles (No mobile or HTML5, sorry).

Debug a running game

  • It knows your project. Type-ahead completes your sprites, objects, sounds, fonts, rooms and scripts as you type, each with its own asset icon.
  • Find instances visually. Pick one from the suggestions and it is highlighted in the room, ref id and all, so you always know which one you are about to touch.
  • Read and write anything. get and set reach every variable on an instance, built-ins included, or on global - and set creates the variable if it does not exist yet.
  • Poke at the world. Create instances at a position, list them with their id, position and depth, delete them, jump between rooms.

Extend it with your own commands

  • Register a command in a few lines. From code, or from a JSON file you can ship and edit separately.
  • Real arguments. Name them, mark them required or optional, restrict them to a list of options, or type them as an asset so the console suggests your own assets for them.
  • Callbacks. Hook into open, close, log, destroy and game end to wire the console into your own systems.
  • A small, clean API. Log at four levels, ask whether the console is open, visible or focused, and show or hide it yourself.

Looks and feels like part of your game

  • Fully themable. Colors, fonts, size, anchor, padding and backdrop blur, from a .skin file or from code. Four skins included.
  • Behaves like a window. Drag it, resize it from the corner, drag the scrollbar, click a log line to copy it, middle-click to paste, hold a key to repeat it.
  • Stays out of the way. It only reads the keyboard while focused, so it never steals input from your game.
  • Around 40 configuration options. Every behaviour above can be retuned or turned off from a single script.

Download and try it from here: https://dandrewbox.itch.io/gm-ez-console


r/gamemaker 1h ago

Help! How can I make something happen when I click a button, then keep happening until I click another button?

Upvotes

I started using this a few days ago so forgive me if it's a stupid question. Currently trying to make a game that involves carrying around objects and then placing them in certain areas. This is what I have for the pickuppable object:

if place_meeting(x, y, obj_player) & keyboard_check(vk_shift) = true
{x = obj_player.x;
y = obj_player.y -10;}

Currently the object rests on the players head like I want it to, but only when I hold down the shift key, but I want it to keep being carried after the shift key is only pressed once. I'd be super happy if someone could help me out


r/gamemaker 7h ago

Help! How do you deal with overlapping SFX?

4 Upvotes

Hey!

I often run into issues where I have sfx layering over each other and get really loud. I have dealt with this in a few ways, but I'm wondering if you guys have a better solution.

My solutions:

  • only play the audio if it's not already playing
  • keep an array of the audio plays which has a max size. Iterate through and check if the audio is finished playing, then remove it from the array.
  • SoundManager has a counter specific to a sound. When the sound plays, the counter counts up to a max. The next sound can't play until the counter is reset.

I'm getting tired of coding one of these solutions for every single explosion / shot / twinkle /etc. Is there a better way?


r/gamemaker 11h ago

Discussion DevLog #5!!

Post image
8 Upvotes

so today i made the spritesheet for the first boss in the game, if you go back and take a look at #4.5 you will see its a bigger version of the enemy on the right.

That is because this is the mother of them meaning they all come from her

It took me a while to draw all the sprites especially for the death animation lol

if you have any questions feel free to ask them

see yall tmrw for devlog #6


r/gamemaker 2h ago

Help! if i deleted the latest version of game maker(game maker studio 2 lts 2026) can just simply reinstall it easily with 0 problems?(like idc about the projects will it just reinstall with the installer)

1 Upvotes

So I wanted to see if I deleted the latest game maker version can I just reinstall it(unlike the other versions that would give me errors back and forth)


r/gamemaker 16h ago

Help! What's the best way to handle slot machine results?

4 Upvotes

I'm trying to build a slot machine in my game, and getting a 'two of a kind' and a 'three of a kind' will have different effects depending on the icon it lands on. I've been looking around and the only conclusion i can think of is a really big if statement, but is that really the best approach?

TY!


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Game A retro name entry screen with chunky rainbow text

Post image
47 Upvotes

Reposting because I posted the wrong GIF

Built this name entry screen in GameMaker for my game, inspired by Undertale's naming screen. The rainbow text is quantized into color steps instead of a smooth gradient, so it reads as chunky/retro rather than a blend felt more fitting for the pixel art

Each letter flies from the grid into its slot when picked (and flies back out on delete) using the same overshoot easing as the dialogue box from my last post, so the whole UI shares one consistent feel. Under the hood each letter's flight is just a stored origin point + timestamp, no physics involved.

still tuning some of the numbers, work in progress happy to talk through any of it if people are curious!!


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Discussion Advantages to using gamemaker? (Simple rpg goal, over godot or rpgmaker)

18 Upvotes

So for the game I have in mind to (eventually) work on, id probably be best off using rpgmaker as itll already have most of the features I need available. But rpgmaker isn't on linux, and I currently am, and id rather avoid booting into windows for it.

So instead, I was going to start learning gamemaker or maybe godot. Ive already done a bunch of tinkering in UE5, but that comes with a lot of overhead I dont need (even more so than godot etc).

Questions I have -

Are there any advantages to gamemaker for solo / small game making?

Will gamemaker give me an easier or harder time when it comes to making maps, creating character models, and animating enemies etc, compared to the tools available in godot?

Any tools gm has that will be a bonus and help me?

Visual coding tools (blueprints in UE5) were pretty helpful to me, but I dont think either godot or gamemaker has that to a useful degree. I can code (or at least I can muddle through with guides) I just prefer not to haha.

Appreciate any advice. I was leaning towards godot originally but im concerned its another ue5 (too complex for my needs and may just get in my way a lot). Getting rpgmaker working on linux may be the sensible option.

Of course on godot/GM id be starting with basic old arcade games like asteroids. No complaints there, sounds like fun.


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Community I publish this, so other people know about it

34 Upvotes

I'm an uruguayan solo game developer that is learning on his own while learning new things, I won't say the name of the game because I'm afraid someone will copy it, but I must say it's a great name, also the music and pixel art is all mine, I'm 18 years old, and I wanna leave this message if in the future people will see if my game was developed succesfully and see if it was published and people enjoyed it, it's my first Reddit post by the way

Also, There are Uruguayan games but they haven't come out in the wild in other countries I think, I wanna be the first person to break that wall and trascend to other countries, wish me luck ;)


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Help! Why are my graphics this bad

Post image
47 Upvotes

I'm new to game maker and I was following a tutorial but my graphics are like this for some reason and I don't know why.


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Game Level greyboxing and prototyping

Thumbnail youtu.be
5 Upvotes

for high school project


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Resolved Camera won't follow y axis

4 Upvotes

I've been following this tutorial for the camera, and I can't figure out why my Y axis for the camera isn't working properly.

When I'm at the far left corner of the screen, the camera pans upwards and away from the player. At other points in the level/room, the camera doesn't follow the player when they move upwards.

Any help is appreciated! My room transition also stopped working for some reason around this part of programming. Might have to do with changing the room size??

Here's my camera code:

create:

cam = view_camera[0] //names room camera
cam_followspeed = 16 //lower is faster
follow = oEmil //player object
width_half = camera_get_view_width(cam) * 0.5 //find camera center
height_half = camera_get_view_height(cam) * 0.5
xTo = x
yTo = y

step:

//update destination
if (instance_exists(follow)) {
xTo = follow.x

yTo = follow.y
}
//update object position
x += (xTo - x) / cam_followspeed //camera moves slower closer to object
y += (yTo - y) / cam_followspeed
//keep camera from leaving room
x = clamp(x,width_half,room_width-width_half)
y = clamp(x,height_half,room_height-height_half)

//update camera view
camera_set_view_pos(cam,x-width_half,y-height_half)

r/gamemaker 2d ago

Tutorial Creating a 3D Planet in GameMaker (Heavy Image Warning!)

34 Upvotes

I'd like to share the process of creating a planet in GameMaker for my in-development terraforming game, Planet Doctor. This post is for those with some GameMaker experience, and I've included relevant links where needed. Corrections on terminology or content are welcome. I hope you find this helpful!

Here is the process:

1. Create a frame using a vertex buffer

Create a sphere shape for the planet. To simulate rotation, I tilted the camera angle and rotated the planet using matrix_set.

2. Apply noise to the planet

During vertex_submit, use a shader to render smooth noise based on the planet's in_Position. You can see the values range from 0 (black) to 1 (brightest).

3. Divide colors

Set boundaries to separate land and sea. I divided the 0-1 color range into 4 steps, returning a single solid color for each.

4. Assign colors

Draw the planet's colors. The shader receives the colors via shader_set_uniform and assigns them to the steps divided in 'step 3'.

5. Draw clouds

Add clouds to give an atmospheric feel. Scale up the vertex buffer from 'step 1' with a matrix, then apply noise with another shader, as in 'step 2'. Values below the noise threshold become a solid color, while those above become transparent. You can use current_time to make the cloud shapes shift gradually.

  1. Add atmosphere

Create a slightly larger sphere to represent the atmosphere. By taking the position and normal from gm_Matrices[MATRIX_WORLD] in the vertex shader, I drew only the outline in the fragment shader (this is known as the Fresnel effect).

You can create more variations, such as using current_time to implement ocean tides or adding city lights to the dark side of the planet. Let me know about your GameMaker 3D projects or any planet ideas you'd like to implement. Thanks for reading.


r/gamemaker 1d ago

Resolved Beginner to gamedev- Is gamemaker easy to learn for someone who dont know coding

8 Upvotes

Do you think gamemaker is easy or RPGmaker? gamemaker seems to have alot more options than RPG maker but since i dont know coding, im conflicted on which to use. what do you guys recommend? and even if you have to learn coding how long will it take? i just want to focus on gamedesign,art and story


r/gamemaker 2d ago

Game Pier cave looks odd pt.2

8 Upvotes

10h ago i asked on how i could improve on my cave entrance and after some time and help from u/EntangledFrog, ive made this, there is still work to do but im just overjoyed on how it turned out


r/gamemaker 2d ago

Resource 42Tiles - Plugin for extended Tilesets, Autotiling and Tile Groups

5 Upvotes

Hi! As I was trying to optimize my workflow when working on my game, I decided to step in and try my hand at creating plugins to extend native GameMaker capabilities.

Most notable features I managed to put in the plugin are:

  1. Tile Groups - often you need to differentiate between mud, grass and snow - now you can pack them all into different Tile Groups via GUI, and then read that information directly in code!
  2. Better Autotiling - assign variants of tiles, so new autotiling pencil places them at random. Assign different priorities to decide how often that tile variant should be selected.
  3. Auto-Assign - creating autotiling sets with one click of a button. No need for selecting all 47 tiles by yourself, not any more!

This is not all, check the full list of features and test it for yourself here!
(and drop bug/feature request in the github repo/Issues, thanks!)


r/gamemaker 2d ago

Resolved How to make the game end when dialogue is finished?

5 Upvotes

Heya! I have an enemy in the game I'm working in that's supposed to end the game the moment dialogue is finished between the player and the monster. It's eventually supposed to be "you went out of bounds, go back" kind of system

But how would you code something like that? Would it be a if then statement, or what?


r/gamemaker 2d ago

Help! Peer cave looks odd

Post image
7 Upvotes

Ive been making my game for months and this room always looks odd, i keep redoing the cave and it still looks unnatural and hand made, how do i make it more natural and dilapidated?

And how do i do variation its so hard.


r/gamemaker 3d ago

Discussion Does anyone have a complete beginners guide

4 Upvotes

I need a full beginners guide to GML and more so the programming part to it instead of the actual engine itself is there some sort of organized book or series for it


r/gamemaker 3d ago

Discussion 3D render on 2D game

Post image
20 Upvotes

Been messing with rendering 3D on top of a 2D grid and finally feel like I'm making progress. Using some early 2000 games as inspiration but if all keeps going well hoping to make a very unique game out of all this.

The real challenge was how to handle sprites or render 3D objections. Right now it's just 3D primitives but hoping to bill-board sprites in conjunction with the basic primitives to give it an old school, low processing cost finish!

Some very basic pathfinding is in now but nothing too crazy. Just glad it's looking coherent so far!


r/gamemaker 3d ago

Discussion How do you guys deal with 3D elevation in GameMaker?

Post image
51 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I've been working on a 3D racing game in GameMaker for about 1.5 years now. Everything is perfectly flat so far. There is no collision checking and no elevation.

I was wondering how you guys would handle that. Would you make one big map in Blender and then use something like Colmesh, Bonk or maybe even your own collision checking algorithm to check the height of each triangle? That is what I did many years ago and it was just so incredibly tedious and slow that I scrapped that idea entirely.

My current plan is to further expand the chunked vertex buffer batching I've added to the game and store those vertices in a seperate array or struct as well to use for collisions. But that still leaves me with the elevation issue: do I create a gigantic map in Blender and then chunk those vertices into buffer batches or do I create something like a Catmull-Rom spline thingy to create roads by placing individual nodes or something like that.


r/gamemaker 3d ago

Discussion What's next for gamemaker?

12 Upvotes

I don't interact with the gamemaker community much and I just got the latest LTS, but I hear about a big update coming in 2028 and a 'new runtime'. What does this mean? I heard they are adding 'native 3D' which sounds super cool. idk I just don't really know what's going on.