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GameDev.tv Team and Reece Geofroy

Ever dreamt of creating your own RPG and mastering GameMaker?

Welcome to our GameMaker Top-down 2D RPG course, where you’ll unlock the full potential of GameMaker Studios 2.

Dive deep into the world of GML (GameMaker Language), master the Sprite Editor, and become a sprite sheet importing wizard. But it’s not just about coding—it’s about bringing your visions to life.

Read more

Ever dreamt of creating your own RPG and mastering GameMaker?

Welcome to our GameMaker Top-down 2D RPG course, where you’ll unlock the full potential of GameMaker Studios 2.

Dive deep into the world of GML (GameMaker Language), master the Sprite Editor, and become a sprite sheet importing wizard. But it’s not just about coding—it’s about bringing your visions to life.

You’ll learn to create fluid player movement, animate objects, and import sprites with ease. Tackle enemy AI and combat, turning complex challenges into captivating quests. Plus, we'll guide you through designing intuitive UI and pausing systems to ensure your game is as enjoyable to navigate as it is to play.

This course is perfectly tailored for beginners. If you’ve sketched out game ideas in your notebooks, wondering how to breathe life into them, this is your moment. All you need is a basic understanding of coding and a boundless passion for game development.

Advanced developers looking to publish on Steam or consoles will find invaluable insights too. Your instructor, Reece, has walked this path, launching a successful commercial 2D pixel game. Learn from someone who’s already turned their dream into reality.

Embark on this journey not just to learn, but to create. Turn your fantastic ideas into playable realities. It'll be challenging, enlightening, and, above all, a bunch of fun. Let’s build something extraordinary together.

Why us? Because we make the daunting doable. From crafting user-friendly UI and pausing systems to creating worlds players will never want to leave, we’re your cheat code to game development.

You’ll get full lifetime access for a single one-off fee. The creators are qualified and experienced with modelling and coding, so are able to explain complex concepts clearly, as well as entertain along the way.

And you’ll get access to our active Q&A where our Instructors, Teaching Assistants and Community are ready to help answer your questions and cheer on your success.

Ready to start your epic RPG coding adventure? Join us now and begin building your dream game in GameMaker today.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Master the fundamentals of gamemaker studios 2's coding language (gml) for dynamic game development.
  • Gain a solid understanding of gamemaker’s sprite editor to bring your characters and worlds to life.
  • Learn the process of importing sprite sheets effectively to enhance the visual appeal of your game.
  • Develop skills in creating fluid player movement that enriches the gaming experience.
  • Discover techniques for basic object animation and sprite importing to animate your game world.
  • Implement simple enemy a.i. and combat mechanics, making your game challenging and engaging.
  • Design intuitive user interfaces (ui) and pausing systems that ensure a seamless player interaction.
  • Translate your game ideas into playable realities, from concept to completion, with practical, step-by-step guidance.

Syllabus

Introduction & Setup

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Reece welcomes you to the course and gives and overview of what can be expected in this course.

Read more

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Get set up with Gamemaker to tackle this course the right way!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. A basic overview of the GameMaker Engine and Editor.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Lucy welcomes you to the course and gives you an overview of how to access community forums throughout this course.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Any time we change our project during a lecture we will commit that change to a public source control repository for students to access. In this video, we show you how to access that content.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all the fundamental skills we need to use Gamemaker!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Sprites are extremely important in creating any 2D game…let’s make your first one using the sprite editor!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create your first object, understanding what objects are and how they can be added to our game.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Getting creative lies in the coding of your projects, so we will be setting up our first piece of code to help teach the fundamentals of coding knowledge!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Create new code to liven up our scene and add your first real object to your game to see how a character can be created in Gamemaker.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s set up our first room and a basic camera to get us visually ready to make a functioning scene.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s get prepared visually with importing sprites and assets the right way!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all about Player Movement!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create real movement for our character and understand how to set up keyboard inputs!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Animation is a vital step to creating good games…this lecture will teach you how to get them set up correctly!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. This lecture we will implement collision objects to block our movement.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. We’ve learnt how to walk…now it’s time to run! Let’s create a sprinting movement option for our RPG.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s add a dodge roll movement to our character’s mechanics.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Movement is great, but our player can’t run forever! Let’s restrict certain mechanics with a stamina and exhaustion feature.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all about Combat & Enemies!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create a shooting mechanic to start us off in the theme of combat!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Design your first Health System with polished UI elements.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to damage your player and implement the mechanic of a game over on death.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create a bat enemy! With basic movement and simple attacking; this bat is perfect as an introductory enemy for beginners to grasp.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create a slime enemy! Learn how to create more advanced methods of movement for a whole new enemy type.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Enemies can be smart, but running through walls is downright impossible! Add collision and proper movement code to your enemy’s chase state.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Design an infinite amount of enemies with variable adjustments and sprite variations!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s implement damaging enemies to give our player a fighting chance.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all about Interactions & Items!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Implement a depth system to your game for a more realistic approach to drawing objects in a room.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create items to pick up and collect in a basic inventory system!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Create treasure chests you can interact with to collect more loot.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s use some of the items we have created in various ways!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all about Stages & Environments!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s solve the question of how to transition from 1 level to another!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Keep information through multiple levels through global variables!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Create new tilesets for customizing your rooms!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Design your levels with the implementation of tilesets.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s learn all about UI & Menus!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Add custom fonts to your games with this simple import trick!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s create readable signs and add dialogue to our game.

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Learn how to create your very own pause menu!

In this video (objectives)…

  1. Let’s finish off this course with a final lesson on exporting and customizing your game’s settings!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a comprehensive introduction to GameMaker Studio 2, which is a popular engine for creating 2D games without extensive coding knowledge
Starts with fundamental skills in GameMaker, such as sprite creation and object implementation, which are essential for building a solid foundation
Covers essential RPG mechanics like player movement, combat, and enemy AI, which are crucial for creating engaging and interactive gameplay experiences
Explores UI design and pausing systems, which are important for creating user-friendly and polished games that players will enjoy navigating
Uses GameMaker Language (GML), which is specific to GameMaker, so prior experience with other languages may not directly translate
Focuses on 2D game development, which may not be suitable for developers interested in 3D game creation or other advanced techniques

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Reviews summary

Gamemaker 2d rpg development

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and step-by-step approach to building a 2D RPG using GameMaker. Students particularly appreciate the clear explanations and the ability to follow along to create a complete game project from start to finish. The course is frequently praised for being well-structured and easy to follow, making it ideal for beginners with some basic coding knowledge. While primarily geared towards those starting out, some learners note that it provides a solid foundation in GML and GameMaker workflows.
Includes useful assets and project files.
"The provided assets were very helpful to just focus on the coding and concepts."
"Having access to the project files at each stage was invaluable for debugging."
"It's great that they provide the sprites and sounds needed."
Provides a good introduction to GML scripting.
"I feel like I have a much better grasp of GML basics after taking this course."
"The coding parts were explained well enough to get a solid start."
"It covers the essential GML concepts needed for typical 2D games."
Instructor explains concepts clearly and engagingly.
"Reece explains things clearly and makes the learning process enjoyable."
"The instructor is very knowledgeable and good at explaining complex ideas simply."
"Loved the instructor's teaching style and energy."
Teaches by building a complete game project.
"Building a full RPG project was incredibly motivating and helpful for learning."
"I enjoyed the hands-on approach of creating a game piece by piece."
"Learning by actually creating a working game makes the concepts stick better."
Ideal for newcomers to GameMaker and GML.
"This course is perfect for anyone new to GameMaker..."
"It's a great introduction to GameMaker and game development basics."
"As a beginner, I found this course incredibly helpful and easy to understand."
Walks you through building the game step-by-step.
"The course is laid out really well and easy to follow step-by-step..."
"The course is very clear and concise while giving you the fundamental building blocks you need."
"I was able to follow along and build a complete game from scratch..."
"Reece is a fantastic instructor. The step-by-step instruction is easy to understand for a beginner."
Might require basic coding knowledge as stated.
"While advertised for beginners, having *some* prior coding exposure is definitely beneficial, not just 'basic understanding'."
"A few sections moved quite quickly for me, requiring replays and extra research."
"Some concepts, particularly in GML, might be challenging for someone with zero coding background."

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 GameMaker 2D RPG: Craft Your Adventure from Code to Combat with these activities:
Practice Pixel Art
Improve your sprite creation skills to enhance the visual appeal of your game.
Show steps
  • Follow a pixel art tutorial.
  • Create a character sprite.
  • Animate the character sprite.
Review: GameMaker Studio 2 Official Handbook
Deepen your understanding of GameMaker Studio 2 with the official handbook.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on GML basics.
  • Study the Sprite Editor section.
  • Practice the examples provided.
Code Combat Challenges
Sharpen your coding skills by tackling coding challenges related to game development.
Show steps
  • Find coding challenges online.
  • Solve challenges using GML.
  • Refactor your code for efficiency.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Simple Mini-Game
Apply your knowledge by creating a small, self-contained game project.
Show steps
  • Design a simple game concept.
  • Implement core mechanics in GameMaker.
  • Add basic UI and polish.
  • Test and refine your game.
Document Your Game Development Process
Reinforce your learning by documenting your game development journey.
Show steps
  • Create a blog or journal.
  • Document your progress and challenges.
  • Share your insights and learnings.
Contribute to a GameMaker Project
Gain experience by contributing to an existing GameMaker project on platforms like GitHub.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source GameMaker project.
  • Identify areas for contribution.
  • Submit your contributions.
Review: The Art of Game Design
Improve your game design skills by studying the principles outlined in 'The Art of Game Design'.
Show steps
  • Read chapters on core game mechanics.
  • Analyze the lenses presented.
  • Apply the principles to your game projects.

Career center

Learners who complete GameMaker 2D RPG: Craft Your Adventure from Code to Combat will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Game Developer
A game developer is responsible for designing, coding, and debugging video games. This course directly helps aspiring game developers by teaching the use of GameMaker, a popular engine for creating 2D games. Learning GML (GameMaker Language), sprite editing, and animation equips you with the fundamental skills needed to build your own role playing games. The hands-on approach to player movement, enemy AI, combat mechanics, and UI design makes this course an ideal starting point for anyone looking to dive into the world of game development. The course, based on the syllabus, also teaches students to work with sprites, objects, rooms, and code, and how to implement player movement, making it a very practical resource for aspiring game developers.
Indie Game Developer
An indie game developer works independently or within a small team to create and publish their own video games. This course offers a solid foundation for indie developers by providing the skills to create a 2D RPG using GameMaker. The course content, concentrating on GML, sprite creation, and animation, directly translates into the ability to build and customize game mechanics. The insights into creating fluid player movement, implementing enemy AI, and designing user interfaces enables you to bring your unique game ideas to life. Learning from an instructor who has successfully launched a commercial game, as is the case here, provides invaluable real-world experience, crucial for succeeding as an indie game developer.
Game Designer
A game designer conceptualizes and designs the gameplay, rules, and story of a video game. This course helps game designers understand the practical aspects of game development by guiding them through the creation of a 2D RPG in GameMaker. You will learn about implementing core game mechanics such as player movement, combat systems, enemy AI, and user interfaces. By learning how to translate design ideas into playable realities, the course enhances your ability to create engaging game experiences. The course's coverage of UI and pausing systems is especially useful for any game designer.
2D Artist
A 2D artist creates the visual elements for 2D video games, including characters, backgrounds, and animations. As the course teaches the use of GameMaker's Sprite Editor and the process of importing sprite sheets, it provides a practical way to enhance your 2D art skills within a game development context. You'll learn how to bring your characters and worlds to life by understanding how to work with sprites and animations in GameMaker. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on creating fluid player movement and animating objects gives you insights into how your art will be used in the game, improving collaboration with developers. A 2D artist can benefit greatly from this, particularly if they are interested in learning about the game development process from start to finish.
Junior Programmer
A junior programmer assists in the coding and development of software applications, including video games. This course provides an excellent starting point for a junior programmer interested in game development, as it focuses on teaching GML (GameMaker Language). By learning how to create game mechanics, animate objects, and implement enemy AI, you gain practical experience in programming for games. Specifically, the course syllabus details the basics of variables, using sprite sheets, and coding characters, which will provide you with a solid foundation in many programming concepts. The step-by-step guidance offered in the course makes it easier to grasp complex programming concepts and apply them to real-world game development scenarios, which is an invaluable asset to any junior programmer.
Level Designer
A level designer creates the environments and stages within a video game. These areas are where the gameplay takes place. This course helps level designers understand the practical aspects of creating and implementing game levels using GameMaker. By learning how to design rooms, create tilesets, and implement level transitions, you will gain valuable skills in level design. The course’s syllabus on implementing tilesets and customization will be helpful for level designers. The course provides experience with designing stages.
UI Designer
A user interface designer focuses on creating intuitive and visually appealing interfaces for software and video games. UI design directly contributes to a seamless player experience. Because the course directly deals with designing intuitive user interfaces and pausing systems, it gives the UI designer insight on how to create engaging designs. You will learn how to implement and integrate their designs within a game engine. The course's coverage of menus and dialogue systems is particularly relevant. A UI designer who is involved in the design of video games may find this course particularly helpful.
Game Producer
A game producer oversees the development of a video game, managing the budget, schedule, and team. This course helps game producers understand the practical aspects of game development by guiding them through the creation of a 2D RPG in GameMaker. You will learn about implementing core game mechanics such as player movement, combat systems, enemy AI, and user interfaces. By learning how to translate design ideas into playable realities, the course enhances your ability to manage all members of a creative team. The course's coverage of UI and pausing systems may be particularly useful for those who want to work their way up to becoming a lead producer.
Animator
An animator creates moving images and visual effects for various media, including video games. As the course teaches object animation and sprite importing, it may be helpful to animators looking to expand their skills into game development. Learning how to work with GameMaker allows the animator to see how their creations are implemented and brought to life within a game engine. The course content, particularly the sections on player movement and combat mechanics, are especially handy for animators. Animators who want to understand how to make characters move more realistically should take this course.
Technical Artist
A technical artist bridges the gap between artists and programmers, ensuring that art assets are optimized and integrated correctly into a game engine. As the course covers sprite importing, object animation, and UI design in GameMaker, it may be useful for any technical artist working with 2D games. You'll learn how to work with art assets within a game engine and how to implement them effectively. The course content is particularly useful for understanding how to optimize art assets for performance and how to create visually appealing and functional user interfaces. The lessons on importing sprites are particularly helpful.
Game Tester
A game tester plays video games to identify bugs, glitches, and other issues that need to be resolved before release. Familiarity with game development tools and processes can make you a more effective tester. This course may be useful, as it teaches you to create a 2D RPG from scratch using GameMaker. As you learn about game mechanics, enemy AI, and UI design, you gain a deeper understanding of the elements that can cause issues during gameplay. This knowledge can help you identify and report bugs more effectively, making you a valuable asset to any game development team. The course syllabus includes information about basic game mechanics, such as player movement, stamina settings, and damage, all common areas for bugs to occur.
Narrative Designer
A narrative designer crafts the story, dialogue, and lore within a video game. While this course primarily focuses on the technical aspects of game development, understanding how game mechanics and player interactions work can inform your narrative design decisions. By learning how to create a 2D RPG using GameMaker, you gain a deeper understanding of how the narrative can be integrated into the gameplay. The course's lessons on creating user interfaces and dialogue systems is particularly relevant, and the course will discuss how to add dialogue to a game.
Sound Designer
A sound designer creates and implements audio elements for video games, enhancing the player's immersive experience. Even though this course focuses on visual and interactive elements of game development, understanding how these elements are created and implemented can help sound designers create more effective and impactful audio. By learning about game mechanics, player movement, and combat systems, you can gain insights into the types of sounds that would best complement the gameplay. Learning how to add music and sound effects will be useful for a sound designer.
Project Manager
A project manager oversees the development of a video game, ensuring that it is completed on time and within budget. Even though this course focuses on the technical aspects of game development, understanding the process of creating a game from start to finish can make you a more effective project manager. By learning about game mechanics, art creation, and programming, you gain insights into the various tasks and challenges involved in game development. This knowledge can help you better plan and manage the development process, ensuring that the team stays on track and delivers a high-quality product. The course should provide a project manager the fundamentals necessary to complete the assigned project.
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyzes data to identify trends and insights that can be used to improve decision-making. This course may be useful, as it provides a foundation in understanding how video games are developed. As you learn about game mechanics, player behavior, and game design principles, you can apply data analysis techniques to optimize gameplay, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately create more engaging and successful games. While not immediately obvious, data science can have a strong role in the collection and analysis of data in video games. With a strong foundation in both the technical and data science fields, it can lead to a successful career in game development.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in GameMaker 2D RPG: Craft Your Adventure from Code to Combat.
This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to GameMaker Studio 2, covering everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques. It is particularly useful for understanding the intricacies of the GameMaker Language (GML) and the Sprite Editor. provides a structured approach to learning GameMaker, making it an excellent reference for both beginners and experienced developers. It offers additional depth on topics covered in the course.
Provides a comprehensive overview of game design principles, offering valuable insights into creating engaging and enjoyable games. While not specific to GameMaker, it provides a framework for thinking about game mechanics, player experience, and overall game design. It is more valuable as additional reading to broaden your understanding of game design. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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