Making Your First Game in Game Maker Studio 2 from Pluralsight

Creating a video game has become easier than ever before. This course will teach you the basics of programming and using an IDE to create a side scrolling game with enemy AI, multiple levels, parallax backgrounds, and sound effects.

If so, Making Your First Game in Game Maker Studio 2 is the perfect course for you because you will learn how to create your very own side-scrolling video game.

In this Game Maker Studio 2 tutorial for beginners you will learn:

GameMaker Studio is a game engine perfect for making cross-platform and multi-genre video games through drag-and-drop visual programming. It is best for 2D game development, but has limited 3D capabilities compared to other game engines like Unity or Unreal.

No, unfortunately there is not a free version. But the GameMaker Studio 2 low-cost "Creators Edition" is about $39.

Yes! GameMaker Studio is relatively easy to learn compared to other game engiens like Unity or Unreal, as you can make a game without very much code or scripting. However, the games made in GameMaker are geneallly not as complex as with other game engines.

This course is a quick introduction to GameMaker Studio 2, so you don't need to have any prior experience!

You'll learn how to make your own side-scrolling video game by importing and creating assets, learning the basics of Game Maker Language and coding for games, programming AI, and much more!

You will need to install GameMaker Studio 2 to follow along and get the most out of this course.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Introduction to Game Maker Studio 2

Programming Objects

Attacking & Collecting Objects

Creating View Ports & Using Tile Sets

Adding Sounds & Parallax Backgrounds

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches programming fundamentals, which are core for game development

Provides hands-on experience in game design and development

Suitable for beginners with no prior game development experience

Focuses on 2D game development using the Game Maker Studio 2 engine

May not be suitable for users seeking to develop complex 3D games

Requires a paid license for the Game Maker Studio 2 software

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Making Your First Game in Game Maker Studio 2 with these activities:

Create a Collection of Game Development Resources

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Organizing your resources will help you stay organized and efficient during the development process.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Gather resources such as tutorials, articles, and code snippets.
Organize the resources into folders or a digital library.

Read Studies in Game Theory and Their Applications

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Reading this book will help you understand the foundation and theory on which your game will be built.

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Read chapters 1-4 of the book.
Write a summary of the main theories and principles discussed in the book.

Follow a Game Maker Studio 2 Tutorial Series

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Following a step-by-step tutorial series will help you gain practical experience and build a strong foundation in Game Maker Studio 2.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Find a reputable Game Maker Studio 2 tutorial series online.
Follow the tutorials and complete all the exercises.

Five other activities

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Write a Design Document for Your Game

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Planning your game and its design will give you a clear roadmap as you proceed through development.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Brainstorm ideas for your game and write a brief description.
Identify the target audience and genre for your game.
Create a list of the core features and mechanics of your game.

Practice Coding in Game Maker Studio 2

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Practice is key when it comes to programming. This will help you solidify your understanding of the syntax and structures.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Complete the first 5 tutorials in the Game Maker Studio 2 manual.
Create a simple game prototype using the skills you have learned.

Start a Game Development Project

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Building a game from scratch will provide hands-on experience and challenge you to apply your skills in a practical setting.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Choose a game idea and write a design document.
Create the game assets.
Code the game.
Test and debug the game.
Release the game.

Contribute to an Open-Source Game Development Project

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Working on an open-source project will allow you to contribute to the community and learn from others.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Find an open-source game development project that interests you.
Submit a pull request with your contribution.

Mentor a Beginner Game Developer

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Teaching others will help you master the fundamentals and deepen your understanding of Game Maker Studio 2.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Find a beginner game developer who is willing to be mentored.
Meet with your mentee regularly to provide guidance and support.

Career center

Learners who complete Making Your First Game in Game Maker Studio 2 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

A Game Designer plans and creates the overall gameplay and mechanics for video games. They work with programmers and artists to bring their ideas to life. This course will help you develop the skills you need to design and create your own video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Developer

A Game Developer is responsible for coding and programming video games. They work with game designers and artists to bring the game to life. This course will help you learn the basics of programming and game development, so that you can start creating your own games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Quality Assurance Tester

A Game Quality Assurance Tester is responsible for testing and identifying bugs in video games. They work with game designers and programmers to ensure that the game is functioning properly. This course will help you develop the skills you need to test and debug video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Quality Assurance Tester

Game Programmer

A Game Programmer is responsible for programming the core gameplay mechanics of a video game. This may include coding the physics engine, the player movement, and the enemy AI. This course will teach you the basics of programming and game development, so that you can start programming your own games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Artist

A Game Artist creates the visual assets for video games, including characters, backgrounds, and objects. They work with game designers and programmers to bring the game to life. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create your own game art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Game Tester

A Game Tester plays and tests video games to identify and fix bugs. They work with game designers and programmers to ensure that the game is functioning properly. This course will help you develop the skills you need to test and debug video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Game Producer

A Game Producer is responsible for managing the development and production of a video game. They work with the game designers, programmers, and artists to bring the game to life. This course will help you develop the skills you need to produce your own video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Game Writer

A Game Writer is responsible for writing the story and dialogue for video games. They work with game designers and artists to bring the game to life. This course may help you develop the skills you need to write your own game stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer

Game Animator

A Game Animator creates the animations for video games, including character animations, object animations, and special effects. They work with game designers and artists to bring the game to life. This course may help you develop the skills you need to create your own game animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Animator

Game Localization Specialist

A Game Localization Specialist is responsible for translating and adapting video games for different languages and cultures. They work with game designers and writers to ensure that the game is accessible to players around the world. This course may help you develop the skills you need to localize video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Localization Specialist

Game Audio Designer

A Game Audio Designer is responsible for creating the sound effects and music for video games. They work with game designers and artists to bring the game to life. This course may help you develop the skills you need to create your own game audio.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Audio Designer

Game Journalist

A Game Journalist writes about video games for magazines, websites, and other publications. They cover the latest news, reviews, and interviews. This course may help you develop the skills you need to write about video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Journalist

Game Community Manager

A Game Community Manager is responsible for managing the online community for a video game. They work with players to build a sense of community and to provide support. This course may help you develop the skills you need to manage a game community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Community Manager

Game Marketing Manager

A Game Marketing Manager is responsible for marketing and promoting video games. They work with game designers and producers to create marketing campaigns that will reach the target audience. This course may help you develop the skills you need to market and promote video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Marketing Manager

Game Level Designer

A Game Level Designer is responsible for creating the levels and environments for video games. They work with game designers and artists to bring the game to life. This course may help you develop the skills you need to create your own game levels.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Level Designer