Moving, Shooting, and Debugging in GameMaker from Coursera

This course is the second course in the specialization about learning how to develop video games using GameMaker on Windows or Mac. Why use GameMaker instead of using C# and Unity or C++ and Unreal*? Learning to develop games with GameMaker is much easier than learning to program in C# or C++ AND learning Unity or Unreal. If you just want to continue learning how to develop games in a more "gentle" way, this is a great starting point.

This course assumes you have the prerequisite knowledge from the previous course in the specialization. You should make sure you have that knowledge, either by taking that previous course or from personal experience, before tackling this course. Throughout this course you'll continue building your foundational GameMaker knowledge by exploring more GameMaker and game development topics.

Module 1: Learn how to implement player and movement and learn about collision masks

Module 2: Learn how to shoot projectiles and control firing rate

Module 3: Learn how to debug both Visual games and Code games

Module 4: Learn how to add health to your games

* I do have Coursera Specializations called C# Programming for Unity Game Development and C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development for those more advanced topics.

What's inside

Syllabus

Player Movement

In this module, you'll learn how to move the player's avatar. You'll also learn how to clamp the avatar so it stays in the screen, and you'll learn about collision masks and bounding boxes.

Shooting

In this module, you'll learn how to add shooting to your games, including support for controlled firing rate and spam firing.

Debugging

In this module, you'll learn about the debugging process and you'll learn how to debug GML Visual and GML Code games

Getting Healthy

In this module, you'll learn how to add health to your games, and you'll also learn how to make one object move toward (chase) another object

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Applicable for those already familiar with this course's prerequisite

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in GameMaker development

Teaches industry-standard GameMaker methods

Focuses on player and object movement, as well as essential game loop concepts

Provides guidance on debugging code visually and in code format

Covers fundamental game mechanics like health and object interaction

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 Moving, Shooting, and Debugging in GameMaker with these activities:

Attend a GameMaker workshop to enhance your skills

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Accelerate your learning by participating in a GameMaker workshop led by experienced professionals, providing you with hands-on guidance and expert insights.

Browse courses on GameMaker

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Find and register for a GameMaker workshop that aligns with your interests.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the activities.
Engage with the workshop instructors and other attendees.

Participate in a GameMaker game development competition

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Put your skills to the test and gain recognition by participating in a GameMaker game development competition.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Find and register for a GameMaker game development competition that aligns with your interests.
Develop your game idea and create a prototype.
Submit your game to the competition.

Implement player movement in GameMaker

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Practice implementing player movement in GameMaker to solidify your understanding of the concepts covered in Module 1.

Browse courses on Player Movement

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Create a new GameMaker project.
Add a player object to the room.
Create a script to control player movement.
Test the player movement in the game.

Four other activities

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Learn advanced debugging techniques in GameMaker

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Expand your debugging skills by exploring advanced techniques in GameMaker, which will be valuable for troubleshooting and improving your game development process.

Browse courses on Debugging

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Identify online tutorials or documentation on advanced debugging in GameMaker.
Follow the tutorials to learn about debugging tools and techniques.
Practice debugging your own GameMaker projects using the techniques you've learned.

Implement health and damage systems in GameMaker

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Reinforce your understanding of health and damage systems in GameMaker by implementing them in your own game projects.

Browse courses on Health

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Create a new GameMaker project.
Add player and enemy objects to the room.
Create scripts to manage health and damage.
Test the health and damage systems in the game.

Develop a game prototype with shooting mechanics

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Challenge yourself by creating a game prototype that incorporates shooting mechanics to apply the concepts learned in Module 2.

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Design the game mechanics and level layout.
Create the game assets (e.g., sprites, backgrounds).
Implement the shooting functionality in GameMaker.
Test and refine the game prototype.
Share your prototype with others for feedback.

Develop a complete GameMaker game with multiple levels

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Challenge yourself by creating a complete GameMaker game with multiple levels, which will provide practical experience and solidify your understanding of the course concepts.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Design the game concept, mechanics, and level structure.
Create the game assets, including graphics, sound effects, and music.
Implement the game mechanics, level progression, and user interface.
Test and refine the game.

Career center

Learners who complete Moving, Shooting, and Debugging in GameMaker will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Developer

Game Developers are responsible for creating the visual, functional, and audio elements of video games. This course can build a foundation for a career as a Game Developer by teaching foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills are essential for creating engaging and enjoyable video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Programmer

Game Programmers write code and create algorithms to design and develop video games. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Game Programmer by teaching foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills are essential for creating the code that drives the gameplay and mechanics of video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall gameplay, story, and visuals for video games. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a Game Designer by teaching foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills are essential for understanding the technical aspects of game development and creating engaging and enjoyable gameplay experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

QA Tester

QA Testers play and test video games to find bugs and ensure that they meet quality standards. This course can help build a foundation for a career as a QA Tester by teaching foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills are essential for understanding the technical aspects of game development and identifying and reporting bugs.

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UI/UX Designer

UI/UX Designers create the user interfaces and user experiences for video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring UI/UX Designers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement and health management. These skills can help UI/UX Designers understand the technical aspects of game development and create user interfaces that are both visually appealing and functional.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation and instructions for software and hardware products, including video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Technical Writers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills can help Technical Writers understand the technical aspects of game development and create documentation that is clear and concise.

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Customer Support Representative

Customer Support Representatives provide technical support and assistance to users of software and hardware products, including video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Customer Support Representatives by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills can help Customer Support Representatives understand the technical aspects of game development and provide support to users who are experiencing problems.

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Game Animator

Game Animators create the animations for video game characters and objects. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Animators by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement and health management. These skills can help Game Animators understand the technical aspects of game development and create animations that are both visually appealing and realistic.

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Level Designer

Level Designers create the levels and environments for video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Level Designers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, and health management. These skills can help Level Designers understand the technical aspects of game development and create levels that are both challenging and enjoyable.

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Game Producer

Game Producers oversee the development and production of video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Producers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills can help Game Producers understand the technical aspects of game development and manage development teams effectively.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the development and execution of projects, including video game development projects. This course may be helpful for aspiring Project Managers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills can help Project Managers understand the technical aspects of game development and manage projects effectively.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications, including video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Software Engineers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, debugging, and health management. These skills can help Software Engineers understand the technical aspects of game development and create robust and reliable software.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and patterns. This course may be helpful for aspiring Data Analysts by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, and health management. These skills can help Data Analysts understand the technical aspects of game development and collect and analyze data to improve game performance and user experience.

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Game Writer

Game Writers write the stories and dialogue for video games. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Writers by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement, shooting, and health management. These skills can help Game Writers understand the technical aspects of game development and create stories and dialogue that are engaging and immersive.

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Game Artist

Game Artists create the visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and objects. This course may be helpful for aspiring Game Artists by providing foundational knowledge of GameMaker, including player movement and health management. These skills can help Game Artists understand the technical aspects of game development and create visual assets that are both visually appealing and functional.

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