Video Gaming Unit 5 - Planning and Creating
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2. Plan your Game:
After exploring Game Maker it's time for you to begin planning your own game. Download the planning proforma below (right-click > save) and complete it before moving on to the next step. Print and glue into Tech book.
planning.doc
3. Gathering Resources:
Some of this you will do while making your game but the more images and sounds you can find now the quicker the process will be.
There are many websites with Game Maker sprites available to download, including the Yo Yo Games site. I have downloaded many packs for use at school already.
Graphics
Sprites
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The main characters and building blocks of your games. Because of the special time periods of your games, you might have to make your own sprites rather than waste time finding them online. Luckily this is really easy (and lots of fun) to do within Game Maker. Click here for a sprite-making tutorial.
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Backgrounds
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Any picture, even a simple colour can be used for a background. Like sprites, you can do this in Game Maker but it's more effective if you use a graphics program like Paint Shop Pro or even Flash. You can add text also so they are good for a title screen. The default game screen size is 640 X 480 so that's how big you should make your backgrounds.
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Tile Sets
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For advanced users and especially for those who want to make platform games. Tile sets are cool because they can be used over and over in creative ways, blending in with the background and keeping a universal theme for your game. Because you don't use as many sprites they make your game smaller and faster to load. They look awesome but are very hard to make, so you will need to find an appropriate set to download from one of many sites out there.
Here's an example of a tile set:
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Sounds
Sounds, used appropriately, are a vital ingredient to the immersive gaming experience. Used carelessly though and they can ruin a game. Sometimes silence in a game can really be golden! Not everything needs to beep and bloop.
Game Maker lets you import WAV, MP3 and MIDI files. Generally WAV files are a little too big so stick with MP3s and MIDI files. MIDIs are best for background music but use sparingly. And just because you've found a MIDI theme from The Simpsons doesn't mean it's appropriate for your historically based game!
Apart from the sounds that come with Game Maker, there are many sites offering free sound effects, starting with the Yo Yo Games site. But at school we have the excellent Sound Pack which has pretty much anything you need. Otherwise, grab a mic, fire up Audacity and make your own sounds!
4. Begin Making!
We will have lots of lessons on Game Maker basics but I rely on you to take it to the next level. If you learn a new skill, share it with others. If you find a simple way of doing something let us know. And if you do want to really do something complex, work through some of the excellent tutorials that are on the Yo Yo Games site and even You Tube!
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