Weird Dragon's Game Maker Stuff

 

Examples, Tutorials and Games
made with different versions of Game Maker

This page includes games and examples created with Game Maker versions 4.2a to 6.1.
You can find my Game Maker 7 examples here.

The examples that are created with older versions of Game Maker
have remarks whether they work in later versions,
although I haven't specified which ones work in GM 7.
All GM 5 and GM 6 examples can be opened with GM 7, most of the GM 6 examples work in GM 7,
but the GM 5 ones will often require that you make changes in order to make them work correctly in GM 7.
Some examples need a registered version of Game Maker
there is a note in that case.

1) GM 6.1 2) GM 6.0 3) GM 5.3a 4) GM 5.2 5) GM 5.0 6) GM 4.3 7) GM 4.2a
8) Tutorials as documents for GM 5 and 6 (some of them work for earlier versions as well)
9) Stand-alone games
10) Music reading games (stand-alone)



New Option created summer 2008:
Do you have any comments, questions or suggestions to my examples, tutorials or other stuff?
Then you can submit a message on my message board here.
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The examples created with GM 6.1 works in GM 6.0
and the examples created with GM 6.0 works in GM 6.1
UNLESS something else is stated.

1) GM 6.1

GM 6.1

New Januar 2007: Pop-up message boxes
Many people have asked about how to make the inbuilt pop-up messages look much better.
Here are some examples on how you can make pop-up boxes look much more appealing:

This one is a zip file that contains 2 GM6 examples of using show_message as game information
and also using a transparent pop up box to pause a game:
From Host-A Hosting: message_as_info (4 Kb), from FileFront: message_as_info (4 Kb)

This one is a GM6 example showing how to center the text in a pop up message,
works only with registered GM6:
From Host-A Hosting: center_text_popup (2 Kb), from FileFront: center_text_popup (2 Kb)

This one shows a textbox where you can type your user name
and it shows a text box where you can click yes or no.
There is a background image and a coloured font:
From Host-A Hosting: pop_up_boxes (12 Kb)

New August 2006: Individual healthbars
This example shows how you can have an individual healthbar
for each instance of an object with many instances,
in this example for each instance of the enemy object "obj_enemy",
using the inbuilt Drag and Drop Action "Draw the healthbar".
There is also a healthbar for the player object "obj_player".
FileFront: multi health bars3 (28 Kb gm6 file), Host-A Hosting: multi_health_bars3 (16 kb zip file)
To check out my other healthbar examples for GM 6
scroll down on this page and find:
"Maximum health" in the GM 6.1 section and "Multi health bars" in the GM 6.0 section.

New July 2006: Cheat examples
Many people are asking how to make cheats.
Apart from making a possibility to cheat there is another important reason for making cheats,
and that is to make it possible to test your game at different stages,
so that you don't need to play from start to test the game when the score reaches 500.
There are many ways of making cheats. Here is a collection of 4 cheat examples:
1: Press a key 5 times then another key and get an extra life:
FileFront: cheat_1.gm6 (gm6 file 9 Kb)
2: Press a key and a box pops up so you can type a cheat code:
FileFront: cheat_2.gm6 (gm6 file 7 Kb)
3: Press 5 keys in a certain order and a box pops up so you can type a cheat code:
FileFront: cheat_3.gm6 (gm6 file 12 Kb)
4: Click with the mouse on certain wall objects and a box pops up so you can type a cheat code:
FileFront: cheat_4.gm6 (gm6 file 13 Kb)
All 4 examples collected in one zip file:
FileFront: Click here (zip file 12 Kb)

New July 2006: Maximum health
These two examples show how to make a healthbar that goes above 100,
"maximum_health_actions.gm6" shows how to do it with Drag and Drop Actions
"maximum_health_code.gm6" shows how to do it with GML code.
They come together in one zip file: click here (20 Kb)
New, New Year 2008 Same as above but
with a possibility to increase or decrease maximum health during game play: click here (20 Kb)

New July 2006: Fading examples
These examples show how to fade out from one room and fade in into another room,
includes how to fade the music.
There are two examples "fading_A.gm6" and "fading_B.gm6",
"fading_A.gm6" applies background_alpha and for that you need a registered GM version,
"fading_B.gm6" applies a big black sprite and works with a non-registered GM version.
Zip file containing both examples: click here (12 Kb).
Zip file containing only the version for non-registered users: click here (6 Kb).
Here is also a fading example on how to fade text in and out:
"text_fading.gm6"
useful for intro and credits.

New July 2006: Automatic Typing
This example shows how to make the game automatically type - one letter at a time -
whatever text was entered by the user in the textbox.
automatic_typing (.zip file 3 Kb)

New July 2006: Creating a fog
A simple way to create a fog using the inbuilt action in Game Maker 6.1: "Create an effect".
This example only works in Game Maker 6.1.
You need a registered version of Game Maker.
fog (.zip file 13 Kb)

New Nov 2005-July 2006: Multipple highscore tables saved in a bin file
If you have more than one highscore table in your game
then you can store the different highscore values in one bin file.
This example shows how to do that and include a slight encryption
when you save the highscore tables to the bin file.
multi_highscore_bin (.zip file 27 Kb)

New November 2005: Pause with menu
This example shows how to pause the game with a custom-made menu.
You need a registered version of Game Maker, zip file 8 Kb:
From FileFront pause_with_menu , From Host-A Hosting pause_with_menu


New November 2005: Pausing the game except the player
This example shows how to pause the game except the player.
You need a registered version of Game Maker, zip file 8 Kb:
From FileFront pause_except_player , From Host-A Hosting pause_except_player

New November 2005: Bingo Numbers
Picking a random number in the range 1-90 and display it on a board
then pick another one etc.
You need a registered version of Game Maker: bingo_numbers (.zip file, 4 Kb)

New July 2005: Highscore scripts for multipple highscore tables
If you have more than one highscore table in your game
you can apply textfiles to store the different highscore values.
These are the scripts that are mentioned further down under GM 5.2 "Two Highscore Tables".
This zip file contains two scripts "scr_highscore_save.gml" and "scr_highscore_load.gml".
After you have unzipped them you can import them in your game as scripts. Highscore_scripts_GM6.zip (2 Kb)
New November 2005: Multipple highscore tables saved in a bin file, look above.

New July 2005: Main Game With Menu as another Game
This is a game with a menu in a completely seperate window created as another game
that interacts with the main game via the multiplayer functions.
If you close one of the games both games will end.
You can either download a zip file that contains gm6 versions and exe versions of the games,
which makes it easier to see how it works:
Game_with_menu.zip (2915 Kb)
or, if 3 Mb is too much to download, a zip file that contains just the gm6 versions
in which case you must create an exe version (see the readme file) and place it in the game folder:
Game_with_menu_gm6.zip (8 kb)

New July 2005: mini_windows.zip (19 kb)
This zip file includes 2 examples with a dragable mini window inside a main game window.
This is an update to GM 6 of the version created with GM 5.3a (see below).

New July 2005: Blinking Cursor: blinking_cursor.zip ( 2 kb)
This example shows how you can include a blinking cursor when you type text.

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2) GM 6.0

New July 2005: Simple password example: password.zip ( 3 kb)
You type the password but on the screen you can only see stars like this: ******

New July 2005: Multi health bars:
FileFront multi_health_bars.zip ( 28 kb) Host-A Hosting multi_health_bars (28kb)
In Game Maker you can draw a health bar with the health bar drag and drop action.
That action can only draw the value of the inbuilt global variable called "health",
and yet it is possible to draw the value of different variables with that action,
and thus make multiple health bars or other bars.
This zip file contains two .gm6 examples that show how to do that.

New July 2005: Scrolling textboxes ( 71 kb)
A series of six examples with textbox windows.
Converted from 5.3a; below you can find the version created with GM 5.3a.
These examples were made with the idea of making a textbox
with text that can be scrolled.
The examples show different stages in the process.
The first one rather simple, the last ones more complicated.

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3) GM 5.3a

New August 2005: smart_walls_working.zip (11 kb)
This example is hard to explain.
There is a wall object that adjust it walls according to whether there are other wall objects aound.
This is accomplished with a sprite that has 47 sub-images
and a script that calculates which sub-image to display.
The example works with GM 6 as well.

New July 2005: Scrolling textboxes (71 kb)
A series of six examples with textbox windows.
This version only works with 5.3a but above you can find a version for GM 6.
These examples were made with the idea of making a textbox
with text that can be scrolled.
The examples show different stages in the process.
The first one rather simple, the last ones more complicated.

New July 2005: Highscore tables in exclusive graphics mode
highscore_exclusive.zip (20 kb)
Only for GM 5.3a, not relevant with GM 6
In exclusive graphics mode you can not use pop-ups
and the highscore table is a pop-up message.
Therefore many people have asked:
How do I make a highscore table in exclusive graphics mode?
This example shows how. There are both an example and a written tutorial included.
If you just want the written tutorial you can find it further down on this page.

New September 2004: mini_windows.zip (18 kb)
This zip file includes 2 examples with a dragable mini window inside a main game window.
This is for GM 5.3a. Check above (under GM 6.1) if you want a GM 6 version.

New April 2004: "Array.gmd" (zipped, 8 kb)
Works with GM 6 as well.
The purpose of this example is to show how you can make an array of animated sprites
that can be assigned to an object.


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4) GM 5.2

New March 2004: Two Highscore Tables: "Mini_Games.gmd" (zipped, 110 kb)
This shows how to make 2 highscore tables.
There are two games in one, each with there own highscore table,
a mini scrolling shooter and a platform game.
Works with both GM 5.2 and GM 5.3 but not with GM 6.
In order to make it work in GM6 you need to modify the scripts changing real values into string values.
Look above (under GM 6.1) for the scripts where that is done: Highscore_scripts_GM6.zip

New March 2004: Balloon Catcher Balloon_Catcher.zip (120 kb)
Works with GM 5.2 and 5.3,
with GM 6 there is quite a few changes needed: view variables, font settings, maybe more,
but the automatic save game method works fine in GM 6.
This is a game in progress. You fly around as a bird catching balloons.
The game was originally started as an example of how to make an automatic game save
using a save file name chosen by the user. So a few simple levels were made for that purpose.
Then I continued working on it making new levels. So far there are 6 levels.
In level 5 and 6 there are also mini views so you can see how that can be done
(for that you can also check my Mini View example).

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5) GM 5.0

New file oploaded March 2004: Mini View
Works with GM 5.x, but with GM 6 the view variables need to be changed.
This file contains two examples of how to make small camera views following different characters.
It was originally made as a request for such an example. Mini_View.zip (52 kb).
The two examples are similar, the difference is that one example is made with small sprites for the mini views
and the other example is made with scaled sprites for the mini views.

July 2003 Replay Tutorial 1-4
A tutorial with four examples showing how to make a replay movie of a game.
Actually 4 examples with 4 documentations,
the first one simple and the fourth one advanced
(besides showing how to make a replay movie it also shows usage of variables).
Works with GM 5.x, but not with GM 6
Download: ReplayTutorial.zip (183Kb)

Health bar example Health.zip (31 Kb), shows 2 kinds of health bars,
A) a health bar following the player object and B) a health bar following the view.
Works with GM 5.x, but for GM 6 the view variables need to be changed.

Updated June 2003: HealthHelp.zip (58 Kb)
Works with GM 5.x, not relevant with GM6
This is a health bar example as well as a "how to apply datafiles" example
with a readme file that works as a tutorial on how to work with datafiles
as a way to make different Game Informations for different parts of the game.
Thus the Game Information (pressing F1) is different in each room!!!
In the first room there are even two game information options (F1 and F2).
And the example also shows how to make a link to a website.

NEW June 2003: user_input.zip (234 Kb)
Works with GM 5.x, but not with GM 6
This mini game example is an example showing
possibilities of user input.
The user can create a character name and an empire name.
And the user can choose a difficulty level and choose the music.
There are also two buttons to turn the music off and on.
There is also a 36 pics rotating sprite that can shoot in the facing direction.

Signature.gmd, an example showing how to open a website
and how to open an e-mail link from GM.
It also shows how to change the mouse cursor into a pointing hand when it is above a link.
Signature.zip (28 Kb).
Runs in GM 5.x, in GM 6 the codes for setting the cursor on and off need to be changed.

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"Picture_Puzzle", with both a Danish and an English version
Here is a screenshot: Picture_Puzzle.JPG
Doiwnload: "Game_Editable_GM50_Picture_Puzzle.zip" (2.7 Mb zip file).
Works with GM 5.0 - 5.2, but not with 5.3 and not with GM 6
A standalone version of this game is found below.
(2.7 Mb zip file).

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How to swap objects that are nabours, includes a timer that can be set by the player: "Tour de Smiley",
works with GM 5.0 - 5.2; with 5.3 there is a path in the start that doesn't run;
that path runs well in GM 6, but in GM 6 the font settings need to be changed.

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6) GM 4.3
(made with one of these 2 versions: 4.3b or 4.3c)

February 2003: RoomToRoom example, RoomToRoom.zip (97 Kb)
an example showing how to move from one room to another,
so that you enter the next room at the correct place
corresponding where you left the former room.
Works with GM 5.0

Level editor examples created with GM 4.3c
The following 4 editor examples show level editing from different angles.
The examples are clones of a game called Sokoban,
which is game where you push boxes to storage places.
It is a simple idea and yet very fascinating.
There is an unlimited amount of new problems or puzzles you can create with that idea,
and therefore a possibility to make your own levels fits this game very well.
Here you will see different approaches with that idea.
All 4 editor examples can be opened in GM 5.0 and played there,
but if you do that there are some cautions (except Box Storage 4) to take care of, see below:

Box Storage 4.0 beta.
It is a Sokoban game with a level editor, all created with drag and drop actions.
"Box Storage 4", a game example with 10 levels, 5 normal ones and 5 you make yourself, DragDropEditor2.zip beta, check it out! Download: DragDropEditor2.zip

Box Storage 4 can be opened and played in GM 5.0

Box Storage 3.0a
A level editor example done with just drag and drop actions.
It has 10 possible levels, all editable.
Download: DragDropEditor.zip (188 Kb)
Click here for screen shots.

If you open Box Storage 3 in GM 5.0 you need to do the following in order to play it:
Open the folder "DragDropEditor" and remove all files EXCEPT "BoxStorage3.gmd".
Then you can play the game with GM 5.0 creating your own levels.
In the folder "Screen shots" you can find gif pictures of levels that you can create.

Box Storage 2.1a

This level editor example is created with one room in which all editable levels are loaded.
The game has 4 non-editable levels and 4 editable ones.
There is some GML coding besides drag and drop actions.
The zip file also includes a stand-alone version of the game.
Download: BoxStorage2.zip

If you open Box Storage 2 in GM 5.0 you need to do the following in order to play it:
Open the folder "BoxStorage2_gmd" and remove all files EXCEPT "BoxStorage2.gmd".
Then you can play the game with GM 5.0.

Box Storage 1.2a

This level editor example is created with seperate rooms for each editabe level.
The game has 4 non-editable levels and 4 editable ones.
There is some GML coding besides drag and drop actions.
The zip file also includes a stand-alone version of the game.
Download: SokoLevelEdit.zip

If you open Box Storage 1 in GM 5.0 you need to do the following in order to play it:
Open the folder "BoxStorageGmd" and remove all files EXCEPT "BoxStorage.gmd".
Then you can play the game with GM 5.0.

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Experimentation with 5 instances of the same object with 5 different behaviours: Behaviour
Works with GM 5.0

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7) GM 4.2a

 New Year 2003
A simple inventory example and tutorial:
Simple_Inventory.gmd as a zip file (32 Kb)

Note that this is a simple experiment,
it is NOT an advanced inventory at all,
but it does tell how to do a very simple inventory.

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This example works with GM 5.0

 

"18 basic notes"
A music reading game by Lars Peter Schultz
"18 basic notes.gmd" (zipped, 154Kb)
The game is in Danish but include a help file with an English translation.
Works with GM 5.0
See below for a stand-alone version

"E A D G", The four strings on the violin as notes in a staff.
A music reading game by Lars Peter Schultz
"E A D G.gmd" (zipped, 21 Kb)
The game is in Danish but include a help file with an English translation.
If you open this with GM 5.0 then REMOVE the "script" named "SaveLoadForklaring"
as that is NOT a script but information stored there
(which you can do in GM 4.2 and 4.3, but in GM 5 it would generate an error)
then it works in GM 5.0
See below for a stand-alone version

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8) Tutorials as documents
for GM 5 and 6 (some of them work for earlier versions as well)

These tutorials are all written as html documents

New July 2005: How to print an image or text
how_to_print_from_Game_Maker.zip (1 Kb)

New July 2005: Highscore tables in exclusive graphics mode
highscore_exclusive_tutorial.zip
This is for GM 5 as exclusive graphics mode is not relevant with GM 6.
In exclusive graphics mode you can not use pop-ups
and the highscore table is a pop-up message.
Therefore many people have asked:
How do I make a highscore table in exclusive graphics mode?
This tutorial shows how to do it step by step.

Very simple script tutorial for beginners
File Front: Basic Script Tutorial.zip Host-A Net: Basic Script Tutorial.zip
For both GM 5 and 6
This tutorial has two chapters:
Chapter 1 is small drills in making scripts and playing with them.
Chapter 2 is about getting more familiar with arguments.
It is kept VERY simple.

Mini Tutorial On How To Apply Ini Files
Mini_Tutorial_On_How_To_Apply_Ini_Files.zip.
For both GM 5 (from the version where ini files was introduced) and GM 6

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9) Stand-alone games

"Picture_Puzzle", has both a Danish and an English version:
"Game_Standalone_GM50_Picture_Puzzle.zip" 3.2 Mb zip file).
Probably works best on Windows 98.
There is an updated version that works on both XP and Vista here.

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10) Music reading games (stand-alone)

All games are free

 "18 basic notes"
A music reading game by Lars Peter Schultz

Old game, works best in Windows 98

"18 basic notes.exe" (zipped, 637 Kb)
The game is in Danish but include a help file with an English translation in case you want to check it out.
It can be played without any other program.

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"E A D G", The four strings on the violin as notes in a staff.
A music reading game by Lars Peter Schultz

Old game, works best in Windows 98

"E_A_D_G.exe" (zipped, 507 Kb)
The game is in Danish but include a help file with an English translation in case you want to check it out.
It can be played without any other program.

 

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Links:

"Game Maker" by Mark Overmars: Game Maker Website

Game Maker Community: Game Maker Community

GML, Game Maker Language:

GM Knowledge Base: http://gmkb.madladdesigns.co.uk/

This is a very good course on GML:
"Carl's Game Maker course" by Carl Gustafsson.
Carl Gustafsson's Game Maker Pages (click on Courses). 

Free file hosting:

Host-A Hosting a well-know host amongst Game Maker users.
Free file hosting. Very stable, no ads.

FileFront:  a commercial site focused on games.
Free file hosting. Very stable, have game related ads.


Other links:

! Freebyte Zip, Free ZIP program created by Freebyte http://www.freebyte.com/fbzip/

Reading PDF:

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Weird Dragon's homepage: www.weird-dragon.dk