First of all, you need to know about Windows file types and paths. If you don’t, you can look at our tutorial on File Types and Paths: HERE.

Now, you will need a sprite in the same folder as your game. Secondly, have a room and object in it ready. In the create event, add an execute code button to your object. Get the file path to your sprite and change the parts that say “file path here” in the code below to that path.

if(file_exists("file path here"))
{
sprite_index=sprite_add("file path
here", 1, true,true,false,false,0,0);
}
else
{
show_message("ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND!");
}

When you play the game you should see the sprite from your file in the game. If not, chances are that you forgot a ” or you saved the image as a .bmp when its file type says something else. Now to explain how this works. The “file_exists” function does as it says. It checks to see if that file is there. If it is, we use the “sprite_add” function to get the sprite and set sprite_index to that sprite.

The arguments for “sprite_add” are “file path, image number, precise, transparent, smooth, preload, x-origin, y-origin”. “preload” is an important one here. Preload is whether or not to add the sprite to memory. Adding it to memory slows down your game UNLESS, you have a BUNCH of objects loading it. Say, for example, you load the main character once. Since it only happens once, you shouldn’t need to set it to preload. However, if you have the bullets for the main character, you may want to set that to preload. You don’t want it to open the file and load it EVERY time a bullet is created. In that case, we set it to preload. For something like that, you would need to change your code above to the code below:

if(file_exists("file path here"))
{
global.mysprite=sprite_add("file path here",1,true,true,
false,true,0,0);
}
else
{
show_message("ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND!");
}

So, if we are setting the sprite for a bullet, I would have the above code run in the level-select room or some room before a bullet is created. Then, in the room where that bullet would be created, I would put this code in its create event:

sprite_index=global.mysprite;

You should have a basic idea of when to use preload and when not to. So, on to our next problem. What if we want other people to play this game? How would we get the file path for someone else’s computer? Luckily, Game Maker has a function for that! Throw the code below into the create event of an object and change the text that says “filename” to your sprite’s filename.(NOT THE PATH! Just the filename and file type.)

if(file_exists(program_directory+"\filename"))
{
sprite_index=sprite_add(program_directory+"\filename",1,
true, true,false,false,0,0);
}
else
{
show_message("ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND!");
}

We first have to create the game’s .exe to see if it will work. Then, run the .exe file. The reason is that “program_directory” gets the file path all the way up to the folder that the game is in. If you want to test it in Game Maker, you have to change the two “program_directory” to “working_directory”. “working_directory” get’s the file path to the folder that the .gmk file is in. Since it goes to the FOLDER that the game is in, all you have to do is add + and your filename.

So, what if we get tired of our old sprite and want to change it after a bit of time? No problem! Here is the code to do just that:

sprite_replace(global.mysprite,
program_directory+"\different filename",1,
true,true,false,true,0,0);

The arguments for “sprite_replace” are: “index (if you preloaded a sprite, it is the variable you set it to), file path, image number, precise, transparent, smooth, preload, x-origin, y-origin”. So, what if I preloaded a sprite that I don’t need now? Obviously you don’t want it taking up game speed. Luckily, Game Maker has a function for that too!

sprite_delete(global.mysprite);

This doesn’t delete the sprite you have in the file! It just deletes the data you preloaded earlier. In other words, it gets rid of the preload. Doing that makes your game faster since it isn’t still holding onto the data for that preload.

Now you can load external sprites! However, sprites are only one resource. You can also load backgrounds, sounds, objects, and even more stuff! Once you get the hang of loading sprites, the other resources are a piece of cake to add! So, I will briefly go over loading external sounds. I will go a lot faster on this one. First of all, the code (be sure to change my path to your path!):

global.mysound=sound_add(program_directory
+"\background_music.wav",1,true);

The arguments for “sound_add” are “file path, sound type (0=normal,1=background,2=3d,3=mmplayer), preload”. Now onto changing the sound.

sound_replace(global.mysound,program_directory
+"\different file path",1,true);

It is pretty much the same as sprite_replace. The arguments are “index (variable you set for preloading the sound), file path, sound type, preload”. Now to delete the preload for the sound:

sound_delete(global.mysound);

That is how you load external sounds! I’m not going to go over loading external backgrounds or anything else since it is pretty much the same thing. This tutorial really only scratches the surface. There is a LOT more to loading external resources! If you want to know more, just look it up in the Game Maker help file. I hope this tutorial helps you cut down on loading time!

-VGC Leader

Every file on your computer has something like a “map” leading to it. It is called a “File Path”. If you have a picture or text document on your desktop, right click it and click on “Properties”. You should get something like this screenshot:

Click to See Full Image.

To find the “File Path” to this file (in the picture on the left), you simply get the “Location” (number 1), add a “\”, get the “File Name” (number 2), and the file type (number 3). So, the file path for image on the left should be: “C:\Users\VGC Leader\Desktop\items.png”.

So, how is this a map you ask? I’ll show you! Find an image or text document on your desktop and get its “File Path”. Now, go to “My Computer” or “Computer” (it may be different depending on your computer type). Look at your “File Path”. Everything before the first “\” should be your first file name. In my screenshot it is “C:”. Your computer could be different. (Windows 7 users might see “Local Disk (C:)”) However, find the file with that name and open it. Now, after that “\” is the next file name. Open that file. Just keep following it until you reach the end. Eventually you should end up back on your desktop. So, you should sort of understand the path thing now. The reason I had you use your own file is that every computer is different.

Now for “File Types”! In my screenshot number 3 was the file type. As you know, everything is coded differently. The computer needs a way of knowing how to read that code. The computer finds that out by looking at a file’s “file type”. So, everything on your computer has a file type. Windows just hides it by default. If you want to see all of the file types (also known as file extensions) you need to enable them. Just go to “Control Panel” and find “Folder Options”. Open it and find the “View” tab. Scroll down the list until you find “Hide extensions for known file types”. Uncheck it and click on the “Apply” button. You should now be able to see the file types of the images and other things on your computer. (Simply re-check that to hide them again.)

File Paths and Types are very important in programming. If I make another tutorial that involves either of them, I’ll go over that part in more detail. This was just an introduction so that you won’t be completely lost in other tutorials should it come up.

So, open Game Maker, create a script, create an object, and create a room. Now go to your script and change its name to

“name”. Make sure it is that exactly. Now add this code that I will explain later:

show_message("Hi "+string(argument0));

Now, go to your object, add the create event, add an “execute code” button”, and add this code:

username=get_string("What is your name?"," ");
name(username);

You can now run this. Hopefully, you should get a pop-up box that asks you to enter your name and then shows another pop-up box that says “hi”. Now to explain this mess. When the game runs the object runs its code. It asks the player to enter some text and puts it into a variable. Then, it calls the script named “name” while giving the script the value in the “username” variable. Then, the script “name” runs. It shows a pop-up message with “Hi ” and its 0th argument in it. (You should know arguments from the “Functions” tutorial.) That is all there is to it.

Now for a bit larger of an example. This time we are just going to multiply two numbers. So, restart Game Maker. Make a script, object, and room again. Then, add the create event and the “execute code” button. Now, add this code:

num1=get_integer("Type in a number."," ");
num2=get_integer("Type in another number."," ");
mynum=mult(num1,num2);
show_message(string(mynum));

Now, go to your script and name it “mult”. Now add this code to it:

num=real(argument0)*real(argument1);
return(num)

You can run the game now! Hopefully, the game asked you for two numbers and then told you what the numbers are when you multiply them.

Now to explain all of this mess! When the game starts the object asks the player for a number. Then, it asks for another number. Then, it runs the script “mult” and gives the script the numbers that the person entered. The script then multiplies the arguments that the object gave it. Then, it returns the number to the object. The object then gets that number and shows it in a pop-up message. (Changing it into a string first so that it can display.)

Hopefully, you should now have an idea on how to use scripts. As your projects become larger, you will probably use more and more scripts. If you have any questions, just add a comment below.

-VGC Leader

So, if anyone would like to help us get some content up, by donating it, simply e-mail VGCLeader@vgcommand.com. Thanks a lot and good luck with your game making!

Also, the VGC Infobar has changed a bit too. The games in it are different now. Please tell me if you like these games or the old ones better!

Click to see full image.

Destroy as many enemy ships as you can while trying to stay alive yourself!

Click to see full image.
 

-Tutorial by: Willdabeast

Click to see full image.

  Protect your base from as many   invaders as you possibly can.

Click to see full image.
 

TLOZ: Mini-Game was a joke game I made. It was just a dumb game where you get to egg Gannon’s castle (from the Legend of Zelda). Many people liked it when I first showed it off so, I decided to post it online. After going online many more people liked it. So, here it is. This is the 2nd version of it. ( I updated some of the graphics but, it still isn’t too great.)

Tag was the first game Morce created. It is just like the game you used to play as a kid but on a computer now. This was the 5th release of his game so expect the graphics and controls to be a LOT better than the first two Maze Man games. The game sounds boring but, if you have a second player the game can actually keep you entertained for a long time.

Maze Man: Crazy Levels was the second game I ever made. It is another maze game but, a bit spiced up. It reminds me more of an obstacle course rather than a maze. Anyway, the gameplay is the only thing that really improved. The graphics and controls are as bad as ever.

Maze Man was the first game I ever made. It is a maze game where you simply press arrow keys around until you find your way out of the maze. It is also in 2d. It isn’t a very impressive game. I only keep it on the list to show people where we started off.

DOWNLOAD(language and blood warning) willdabeast Oct 6, 2009 1 3.63 MB

You can shoot dumb ninjas all you like! What more do I have to say?

Hard Part: