I want to program a mouse (animal) whose direction is decided to be either left or right, then walks for about 1.5 seconds and that it is again decided whether he goes left or right. howéver, the mouse is only walking right, no matter how often i start the game or how long i watch it, it never goes left :(

this is the code vor the create-event:

and heres the code for the step event:

please help me!!

thank you in advance

i have been doing a chapter based game and i want to use game_change() since we are multiple people each working on one chapter. Tho, if i try game_change() it wont work. I included the data.win and the options file in the included files but it doesnt do anything. i know i have to export the game as a executable, but i tried it and its the same problem. Can anyone help?

I am completely new to game development and I am working on my first littles games. I already spent a few hours at my favorite café and did some good brainstorming on the games‘s basic concept, the core game mechanic(s).
Now, for one of the games I implemented the most basic code for a working prototype which reflects my basic needs to evaluate if the mechanics are actually fun or not.

My question is simply, how do you in your projects decide whether to go on with the game development or whether to rework the concept?

I have some trouble to overthink too much and rework maybe too much before I actually go on with the project. When is the game fun enough to actually go on?

Hello everyone, I'm still a beginner in my gamedev journey, still learning things before i make my official game, but i'm in a tough spot, when it comes to tilesets, because it always confused me how games like undertale, deltarune, or 2d games in general can create these really cool perspectives in their room design, and when i try to recreate it, it just looked wrong.

basically, im trying to achieve a stylistic approach in my game, mixing top down with some perspective elements to it, but i can't for the life of me recreate this in tilesets, or maybe it's not tilesets at all where you make it, idk.

to any expert on pixel art or tilesets, can you give me any advice on this? any advice helps.

So let's say I have a roaming enemy that randomly picks a coordinate to travel to, how can I make it pick another coordinate in case the position of the end of the path is the same as a wall? And how can I flip the image_xscale to match the direction it is going in when following a path?

I want to learn game development as a hobby, and I think GameMaker is a very good engine for that.

I've recently began working on a cutscene system for my game that would make development of cutscene faster for me! I was previously using sequences and had to hand animate everything, but with this new system I can essentially script out all the actions and events of the cutscene sequentially with functions and they will happen! It's still a WIP but I've made a simple cutscene using it so far.

Hi! After months learning coding and trying to understand what was the best engine for me three weeks ago i discovered Gamemaker and I am proud to say that for the first time i actually created something.
This is an RPG prototype, its not really special in any way or does it have some extreme game juice to it, but its the first time that i've finally started learning and finished something! This RPG is just a blueprint to understand how an RPG works and in the future i will add all my original ideas so that it will be no longer a "RPG blueprint" but my own original game.
I would really appreciate if you could try the game in the link to the game's page(it runs on HTML 5 so you dont have to download anything :) ) and also, for the curious ones, check out the source code in my GitHub.

Some disclaimers:

1. This is the first time that i use Itch.io, GitHub and i dont even have a month of experience with Gamemaker and gml code, so dont expect too much of a masterpiece but more like a test room
2. All the sprites are all placeholders, i just used the first things that i found or Gamemaker gave me
3. I know some things do not work/have not been implemented, like the enemy doesn't attack but he has his own turn, or the collision for the walls its not the best and you can sneak in between them
4. In the code there are probably things that i didnt use alredy like some enum's or the switch in the player Step event, those things will sure be implemented in the future

Any feedback would mean a lot for me, someone who is trying to become a professional with Gamemaker!

Github(source code): https://github.com/dastarstellar-dev/RPG-protoype
Itch.io(plays in the browser): https://dastar-stellar.itch.io/rpg-prototype

Exploration Controls:

• Movement: WASD keys
• Running: Hold Left Shift
• Interacting / Closing NPC dialogue: E key

Battle Controls:

• Navigate Options Left: A key
• Navigate Options Right: D key
• Confirm: Spacebar

I will absolutely upload all the changes for this prototype so if you are intered look forward for it! Thanks for the support, i really appreciate it

I've been learning 3D perspectives in game maker, but I have a big problem. I've been using a 2D Sprite as the player object, but I need help trying to billboard the sprite so it faces the camera at all times.

obj_3d:

//Draw Event

var matrix = matrix_build(x, y, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1);
matrix_set(matrix_world, matrix);


draw_set_alpha(0.5);
draw_set_colour(c_black);
draw_circle(0, 0, sprite_width * 0.2, false);
draw_set_colour(c_white);
draw_set_alpha(1);

matrix = matrix_build(x, y, z, 90, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1);

matrix_set(matrix_world, matrix);

draw_sprite_ext(sprite_index, image_index, 0, 0, image_xscale, image_yscale, 0, image_blend, image_alpha);

matrix_set(matrix_world, matrix_build_identity());

obj_camera:

//Create Event

cam = camera_create_view(0, 0, res_w, res_h);
fov = -70;
zNear = 3;
zFar = 3000;
view_enabled = true;
view_visible[0] = true;
view_set_camera(0, cam);

proj_mat = matrix_build_projection_perspective_fov(fov, res_w/res_h, zNear, zFar);
camera_set_proj_mat(cam, proj_mat);

xFrom = x;
yFrom = y;
zFrom = 100;

xTo = 0;
yTo = 0;
zTo = 0;

gpu_set_ztestenable(true);
gpu_set_alphatestenable(true);
camera_dir = point_direction(xFrom, yFrom, xTo, yTo

//Pre-Draw Event

view_mat = matrix_build_lookat(xFrom, yFrom, zFrom, xTo, yTo, zTo, 0, 0, 1);
camera_set_view_mat(cam, view_mat)

//End Step Event

xTo = obj_player_placeholder.x;
yTo = obj_player_placeholder.

I'm new to Gamemaker and video game creation in general. I'd like for it to detect objects that are solid so that I don't have to manually code the objects I want to be able to be collided with and can just switch solid on or off. There's probably a better way to make what I want, and if there is, it'd be nice to know!

I need a spriter that can do Deltarune-kind-of-styled pixel art. Also, my budget is 0, sooo. Just comment if you want to help; I NEED SPRITERS 💀

Need to give your game a fresh look? This will let you stylize your game assets with a high variety of styles. You can also turn your game thumbnail or any image into a cool animated GIF like the example, and it works with videos too. Everything is done with real image processing and shaders and no ai is used to generate or apply the effects. If you want to experiment with different vibes for your game, check it out: https://polyshades.itch.io/coolifier

You can also claim a free UI pack I'm giving away!

Hello everyone!

Recently, I have been experimenting with AI-assisted development workflows in GameMaker Studio.

Like many developers, I tried using AI tools for things like:

• writing GML;
• debugging;
• explaining code;
• automating repetitive tasks.

While these tools are useful, I noticed an interesting limitation:

AI models understand text very well, but a GameMaker project is not just a collection of text files.

A GameMaker project contains a lot of internal structure and relationships:

• objects reference sprites;
• rooms contain instances;
• scripts interact with other resources;
• assets use internal IDs;
• .yyp files describe how everything is connected.

Because of this, changing a single file without understanding the project structure can potentially create broken references or invalid resources.

This made me curious about a question:

How could an AI assistant understand a GameMaker project instead of blindly editing files?

Exploring the GameMaker project structure

I started researching how GameMaker stores and organizes project data.

The more I looked into it, the more I realized that a project is closer to a connected graph of resources than a simple folder of files.

For example:

• an object depends on sprites, events, and code;
• a room depends on objects and instances;
• resources are connected through IDs and references.

For AI tools, having access to this context is important.

Building an MCP server

To experiment with this idea, I created an open-source MCP server for GameMaker projects:

GameMaker MCP

GitHub:
https://github.com/yearningss/gamemaker-mcp

The goal is not to replace GameMaker tools, but to provide a way for AI assistants to better understand project structure.

The main challenges

1. Understanding project resources

The first challenge was creating a way to inspect GameMaker projects.

The system needed to understand resources such as:

• objects;
• sprites;
• rooms;
• scripts;
• shaders;
• configurations.

Simply reading files is not enough because the relationships between resources are important.

2. Making AI-assisted changes safer

One concern with AI tools is:

"What happens if the AI makes a wrong modification?"

A human developer usually understands the consequences of changing a resource.

An AI model may not.

Because of this, I focused on workflows that make changes easier to inspect:

• project analysis;
• validation;
• resource inspection;
• snapshots;
• safer operations.

The idea is that AI-assisted changes should be understandable and reversible.

3. Creating tools for AI agents

Traditional commands are often designed for humans.

For example:

edit file X

But AI agents need more context.

Higher-level operations are more useful:

inspect room contents

find objects using this sprite

check resource references

analyze project structure

The AI should understand the project, not only modify files.

Current features

The project currently includes:

• GameMaker project parsing;
• resource inspection;
• project analysis;
• validation tools;
• object and room operations;
• snapshot support;
• Igor build integration.

How this relates to gm-cli

I think GameMaker MCP and gm-cli solve different problems.

The GameMaker CLI is focused on the official workflow:

• project creation;
• Runtime management;
• building;
• publishing;
• automation.

This project focuses more on AI interaction:

• understanding project structure;
• giving AI assistants more context;
• safer project operations;
• MCP-based workflows.

They are not replacements for each other.

A possible workflow could be:

AI Assistant
      |
      v
GameMaker MCP
(project understanding)
      |
      v
gm-cli
(build / package / publish)
      |
      v
GameMaker

Why I think this is interesting

GameMaker is a good example of a larger challenge in AI development tools.

Modern engines contain a lot of hidden structure that is easy for humans to understand but difficult for AI models.

The future of AI-assisted development may not only be:

"AI writes code"

but also:

"AI understands the entire project."

This idea could apply beyond GameMaker to other development environments as well.

Questions for GameMaker developers

I would like to hear your thoughts:

• What parts of large GameMaker projects are the hardest to manage or automate?
• Would tools that understand project structure be useful in your workflow?
• What tasks would you trust an AI assistant to handle?
• What features would make AI tools actually useful for GameMaker development?

Thanks for reading!

When using variable name "message" it turns green. That's reserved for builtins right? I can't find it in docs, and middle-clicking it tells me nothing.

Pretty much what the title is asking for. I would prefer a video on Gamemaker on how to make tilesets. As far as buildings and interiors go, the video will show you what it is I'm looking for exactly. I'm making a platformer RPG and I need buildings and interior tilesets for my game. Any help would be wonderful. Video: Super Paper Mario Example

Which genre of games have you had the most success with as an indie game developer?

What do I do when I get an idea for another game while I’m currently working on one, and I really want to start working on the new idea instead?

Hi everyone! I'm making a game, and since it runs at a low resolution, my sprites end up looking a bit distorted/glitched. Does anyone know how to fix this?

I'll share my room settings, sprite settings, and the camera script/code I programmed.

Note: I already have "Interpolate colours between pixels" disabled.

-x-

How it looks in-game:

Room settings:

My sprite:

My camera (objCamera)
Create Event:
finalCamX = 0;
finalCamY = 0;
camTrailSpd = .25;

Step Event:
// Fullscreen
if (keyboard_check_released(vk_f8)) {
window_set_fullscreen(!window_get_fullscreen());
}
// Exit if there it's no player
if (!instance_exists(objPlayer)) exit;

// Get camera size
var _camWidth = camera_get_view_width(view_camera[0]);
var _camHeight = camera_get_view_height(view_camera[0]);

// Get camera coordinates
var _camX = objPlayer.x - _camWidth / 2;
var _camY = objPlayer.y - _camHeight / 2;

// Constrain cam to room borders
_camX = clamp(_camX, 0, room_width - _camWidth);
_camY = clamp(_camY, 0, room_height - _camHeight);

// Set cam coordinate variables
finalCamX += (_camX - finalCamX) * camTrailSpd;
finalCamY += (_camY - finalCamY) * camTrailSpd;
// Set camera coordinates
camera_set_view_pos(view_camera[0], finalCamX, finalCamY);

Room Start Event:
// Exit if there it's no player
if (!instance_exists(objPlayer)) exit;

// Get camera size
var _camWidth = camera_get_view_width(view_camera[0]);
var _camHeight = camera_get_view_height(view_camera[0]);

// Get camera coordinates
var _camX = objPlayer.x - _camWidth / 2;
var _camY = objPlayer.y - _camHeight / 2;

// Constrain cam to room borders
_camX = clamp(_camX, 0, room_width - _camWidth);
_camY = clamp(_camY, 0, room_height - _camHeight);

// Set cam coordinate variables
finalCamX = _camX;
finalCamY = _camY;

Me and my friend (the artist) have been working on a platformer for about a month now. I'm decently intermediate when it comes to gamemaker, so safe to say a large quantity of the code (especially physics when it comes to weird collision edge cases, moving platforms, etc) is not mine, and comes from tutorials, forums, etc, that I tweak for our usage. I still understand all the code and write the majority of it. We have about a year to make this game ( It's a school project for high school, we're 16, aiming for about 10 -15 minutes of gameplay) and I honestly want something that just works well. I don't really care for crazy optimization or fixing spaghetti code (even though I try to avoid it a lot). Anyways. Maybe I'll post the demo here. The footage below is basically all placeholder art, and stupid dialogue. Feedback appreciated, it's our first game. https://youtu.be/J66THcS6f-U?si=h3DrSUmaEacJHbwx Soundtrack too if anybody interested idkk https://icequake.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-trame-sonore-officielle

Weird question I know but I was going through my old files on my harddrive and found some old Gamemaker games I made in High School for class. For some reason I never exported them as .exe files so now they're just stuck in limbo as .gm81 files and I'd love to access them again after all these years. Any idea on how to get my hands on the GM8.1 or how to change the files into .exe?

Today I saw the video on yt about the new Runtime GMRT. I think is very interesting, cuz will add new thing for make real 3d. Basilar, obviously is not UE5, but is something.

Personally I’m very happy that gms is moving on 3d ways.

In today's AI mess, what is the best way to create a new game from start to finish?
I want to try out an idea I have

I'm currently making a 3d fps in GameMaker, and I'm trying to make it that for example you collect seven specific items, or kill all the enemies to progress to the next level. what do I do?

I am extremely confused about a weird bug I've encountered in my code where hitting corners gets the player object stuck inside collision, though not permanently?

Say I am moving right, and jump at the perfect time and hit the exact corner of a collision object. I am now stuck from moving up, down or right. But if I hit left? I'm no longer stuck. But sometimes it'll warp me in the direction opposite of where I am stuck if I press that key.

Initial attempted fixes include:
- Using move_snap(1,1) (Fixed very certain cases, but not all.)
- Ceiling positive and Flooring negative values in collision, separating positive and negative collisions. (Fixed it slightly, but again still happens. Made warping more common.)
- Moving all collision code to Begin Step. (Fixed nothing I think?)
- Positioning all collision code to the end section of said Begin Step. (Fixed horizontally? I think???)
- Checking all of my sprites to make sure they all have the same bounding box.
(They do, I've separated collisions and sprites for simpler animation code. The player object has two frames for collision and crouched collision.)

I'm wondering if its because I stretch my collision object over top of the tile map? Or could it be my framerate just being weird at 60?
I also seem to have this issue a lot less (In the IDE?) than people playing the game when I package it. I've seen people get stuck in blocks so much as to soft-lock themselves, however I've never seen that during development.

My code is bad, I know, don't mind the garbage near the top.
It is as follows:

As stated, I am confused.