Building a Crafting Game, with GameMaker from Udemy

Hi there.

This course is all about developing a crafting game, in GameMaker. We'll learn to code with GameMaker Language and develop our game from the ground up.

About the Instructor

Hi, I'm Gurpreet S. Matharoo. I've been teaching game development for years, and making games for longer. I've taught over 5 courses on Udemy, published numerous tutorial posts on my blog, and regularly create free tutorials on my YouTube channel, GameMakerStation. I also work at YoYo Games as the Technical Writer for GameMaker.

About the Course

Whether you're a beginner with no coding background, or a game developer looking to gain more experience; this course will help you get where you need to be. We're gonna go through many practical lessons, learning something new at each step.

Here are some things we'll be learning in this course:

GameMaker Language basics
Player movement with pickaxe
Resolution handling
Breaking objects with pickaxe
Setting up data with arrays and enums
Stacking inventory using data structures
User interfaces
Crafting systems
and more.

This course is based on v2.2 of GameMaker Studio, but includes updated lectures communicating the structural changes introduced in v2.3.

Support

You'll be given a download to the finished project, along with all the resource files used. You can simply use the given images to build the game, so that you don't have to create your own sprites.

I'm looking forward to you joining the course. Let's start our journey.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Create your own 2d games
Learn how to code
Add juicy animations to your game

Use data structures for your inventory systems
Build a crafting system with gml
Make user interfaces with object hierarchies

Create your own 2d games
Learn how to code
Add juicy animations to your game
Use data structures for your inventory systems
Build a crafting system with gml
Make user interfaces with object hierarchies

Syllabus

Introduction to GameMaker

This is the course promo you see on the landing page.

In this lecture, we make ourselves familiar with the GameMaker interface, and learn about its components.

GameMaker games are structured around events, which are an integral part of objects -- so let's see what they're all about!

Our first step to coding in GameMaker is to learn about functions, which are used to give commands to the engine!

In this optional quiz, you will be answering questions related to Functions.

Math is an important part of coding, but you don't want raw values floating around your code! Let's use variables to clean up our arithmetic operations.

In this optional quiz about variables, answer some questions to test your knowledge!

Functions are used to give commands to the engine, but you don't want to be running all functions all the time! Let's use conditions to control when a block of code runs.

Answer a few questions about conditions in this optional quiz.

The v2.3 update to GameMaker Studio brought a major change to how Scripts work, so here's what you need to do in order to avoid errors

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches GameMaker Language basics, which provides a strong foundation for those new to game development and coding, allowing them to build their own 2D games

Includes updated lectures communicating the structural changes introduced in v2.3, which helps learners avoid errors and stay up-to-date with the latest features

Explores player movement, resolution handling, and user interfaces, which are essential elements in crafting engaging and interactive 2D games

Covers topics such as data structures for inventory systems and crafting systems, which are useful for creating more complex and engaging gameplay mechanics

Based on v2.2 of GameMaker Studio, which may not reflect the latest features and improvements available in newer versions of the software

Taught by Gurpreet S. Matharoo, who works at YoYo Games as the Technical Writer for GameMaker, which means learners will benefit from his expertise

Reviews summary

Build a crafting game in gamemaker

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in GameMaker Language (GML) and the engine itself, making it suitable for beginners. Students appreciated the step-by-step approach to building a complete crafting game, highlighting the practical projects and clear explanations. Many found the sections on inventory systems and crafting mechanics particularly useful. While the course was originally built on an older version, the instructor includes updated lectures addressing GameMaker v2.3 changes, though a few students noted minor adjustments might still be needed on their end. The instructor is generally responsive to questions.

Good for beginners, might lack depth for others.

"The pacing is excellent for someone new to game development or GameMaker."

"Moves at a comfortable speed, not too fast or slow."

"As an intermediate developer, I found some parts a bit basic, but the crafting sections were still useful."

"Could use a bit more depth on optimization or advanced GML techniques, but it's framed as a beginner course."

Includes info on changes in GM v2.3.

"Appreciated the updated lectures covering the structural changes introduced in v2.3."

"The instructor made an effort to address the v2.3 script changes, which was helpful."

"While there are updates for v2.3, some minor adjustments might still be needed in certain places."

"Good that they mention the v2.3 stuff, saves some headaches."

Instructor is generally helpful with questions.

"The instructor was responsive in the Q&A section."

"Got my questions answered fairly quickly when I ran into issues."

"Instructor support was decent when needed."

"He seems active and willing to help students."

Detailed implementation of key mechanics.

"The sections on creating the inventory and crafting systems were excellent and very detailed."

"Learning how to use data structures for the inventory was a standout part of the course."

"The crafting UI lectures were clear and easy to implement."

"Finally understand how to manage items and crafting recipes effectively."

Centered around building a complete game project.

"Building a full crafting game from start to finish was incredibly rewarding."

"I loved that we weren't just learning concepts, but applying them immediately to the game."

"The project structure helped solidify everything I learned..."

"Getting the finished project files was super helpful."

Establishes core GameMaker Language skills.

"I'm a total beginner to GameMaker, and this course really helped me understand the basics of GML."

"Gives you a good grasp of the language needed for game dev..."

"Coming in with no coding experience, I found the explanations of functions, variables, and conditions easy to follow."

"The course does a great job of introducing you to GameMaker and its scripting language."

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 Building a Crafting Game, with GameMaker with these activities:

Review GameMaker Language (GML) Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of GML syntax, data types, and control structures before diving into the course. This will make it easier to follow along with the coding examples and exercises.

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Read the official GameMaker Language documentation.
Complete a basic GML tutorial.
Write simple scripts to practice syntax.

Read 'Learn to Program with GameMaker Studio 2'

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Supplement your learning with a beginner-friendly guide to programming in GameMaker Studio 2. This will provide a solid foundation in programming concepts.

View Games as Transformative Experiences for... on Amazon

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Read the introductory chapters on programming concepts.
Follow along with the example projects in the book.
Experiment with different programming techniques.

Read 'GameMaker Studio 2: The Complete Guide'

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Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to GameMaker Studio 2. This will provide a broader understanding of the engine's capabilities and features.

View GameMaker Studio 2 Introduction To Game Design... on Amazon

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Read the introductory chapters on GameMaker's interface.
Follow along with the example projects in the book.
Experiment with different features and settings.

Four other activities

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Practice GML Coding Challenges

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Sharpen your GML coding skills by completing coding challenges related to game mechanics. This will help you apply what you've learned in the course to solve practical problems.

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Find GML coding challenges online.
Attempt to solve each challenge independently.
Review solutions and learn from mistakes.

Expand the Crafting Game with New Features

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Solidify your understanding of the course material by adding new features to the crafting game. This will challenge you to apply your knowledge in a creative and practical way.

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Brainstorm new features to add to the game.
Plan the implementation of each feature.
Code and test the new features.
Refactor code for better organization.

Create a Tutorial on a Specific GameMaker Technique

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Deepen your understanding of a specific GameMaker technique by creating a tutorial for others. This will force you to explain the concept clearly and concisely.

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Choose a GameMaker technique to focus on.
Research the technique thoroughly.
Write a clear and concise tutorial.
Create example code and visuals.
Share the tutorial online.

Contribute to a GameMaker Open Source Project

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Gain experience working on a real-world GameMaker project by contributing to an open-source project. This will expose you to different coding styles and project management practices.

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Find a GameMaker open-source project on GitHub.
Review the project's code and documentation.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Building a Crafting Game, with GameMaker will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Programmer

A Game Programmer uses code to bring video game concepts to life. This individual uses game engines, programming languages, and game development principles. As a game programmer, you are able to add animations, create user interfaces, implement crafting systems, and handle player input and movement. The course's coverage of GameMaker Language basics, inventory systems, and practical lessons are particularly relevant to the daily tasks of a game programmer. This course helps a game programmer to learn how to create 2D games and code in GameMaker Language, which is valuable for building the core mechanics of a game.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Developer

A Game Developer brings video game concepts to life through coding, design, and testing. This individual needs a deep understanding of game engines, programming languages, and game development principles. This course helps a game developer learn how to create 2D games and code in GameMaker Language, which is valuable for building the core mechanics of a game. As a game developer, you are able to add animations, create user interfaces, implement crafting systems, and handle player input and movement. The course's focus on GameMaker Language basics, inventory systems, and practical lessons are particularly relevant to the daily tasks of a game developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Indie Game Developer

An Indie Game Developer works independently or in a small team to create and publish their own games. They often handle multiple aspects of game creating, from design and coding to art and marketing. This course empowers an indie game developer to create their own 2D games using GameMaker, a popular choice for indie projects because it enables you to control every aspect of development from the ground up. An indie game developer can use this course to learn coding, add animations, implement crafting and inventory systems, and design user interfaces. The modules on player movement, pickaxe creation, and resource foraging directly translate into the development of engaging gameplay.

See salaries and explore the career path for Indie Game Developer

Hobbyist Game Developer

A hobbyist game developer is a person who makes games in their spare time for fun. This course teaches the hobbyist game developer how to code, add animations, implement inventory systems, and design user interfaces. The modules on player movement, resource foraging, and pickaxe creation directly translate into the development of engaging gameplay. This course helps the hobbyist game developer create their own 2D games using GameMaker.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hobbyist Game Developer

Game Engine Scripter

A game engine scripter implements game mechanics, artificial intelligence, and user interfaces using scripting languages specific to the game engine. This course provides a strong foundation in GameMaker Language and gameplay logic. As a game engine scripter, you will find practical lessons on player movement, pickaxe mechanics, and interaction with breakable objects invaluable for creating engaging gameplay. Also, learning to create crafting systems, manage inventory, and design user interfaces enables a game engine scripter to contribute significantly to the player experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Engine Scripter

Gameplay Programmer

A Gameplay Programmer focuses on implementing the core mechanics and interactive elements of a video game. They work closely with game designers to bring their ideas to life through code. This course provides a strong foundation in GameMaker Language and gameplay logic. As a gameplay programmer, you will find practical lessons on player movement, pickaxe mechanics, and interaction with breakable objects invaluable for creating engaging gameplay. Also, learning to create crafting systems, manage inventory, and design user interfaces enables a gameplay programmer to contribute significantly to the player experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gameplay Programmer

Game Development Educator

A game development educator teaches others how to make games. This course helps the educator learn how to create a crafting game in GameMaker and to teach the student how to code. As a game development educator, it helps to have direct experience in making a game yourself. The course's modules on player movement, resource foraging, and pickaxe creation directly translate into the development of engaging gameplay, and enhances the educator's ability to teach these concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Development Educator

Game Designer

A Game Designer conceptualizes and designs the gameplay mechanics, rules, and overall experience of a video game. They need a strong understanding of game design principles, player psychology, and level design. This course enables the designer to go deeper into the actual implementation of a crafting game in GameMaker. As a game designer, you are responsible for the look and feel of the game. This course helps you use data structures for inventory systems and build crafting systems. Understanding player movement, user interface, and other similar components helps a game designer make sure that the vision of a cohesive, well-designed game is met.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates learning experiences. Using this course, an instructional designer can create learning experiences for aspiring game designers. The course covers the basics of game design and also trains the user to learn about GameMaker Language and create user interfaces, which may be useful for creating in-game menus or heads-up display features. Modules on inventory systems and crafting mechanics teaches the user about the underlying data and logic and how to develop instructional content for the same.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

User Interface Designer

A User Interface Designer is responsible for creating intuitive and visually appealing interfaces for video games. They need a strong understanding of user experience, visual design, and interaction design. By taking this course, a user interface designer can create user interfaces with object hierarchies. The course covers the basics of game design and also trains the user to learn about GameMaker Language and create user interfaces, which may be useful for creating in-game menus or heads-up display features. Modules on inventory systems and crafting mechanics teaches the user about the underlying data and logic that drive different aspects of user interface design.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming in game development. They develop tools and workflows to streamline art creation and integration into the game engine. This course may be useful for a technical artist to learn about the practical implementation of game mechanics in GameMaker. A technical artist can understand how art assets are used within the game engine by exploring topics such as animation, object breaking, and user interfaces. The course also helps the technical artist learn about scripting and data management and how to integrate their work into the game for optimal performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Game Asset Developer

A game asset developer creates and integrates artwork and other assets into the game. This course may be useful for a game asset developer to learn about the practical implementation of game mechanics in GameMaker. A game asset developer can understand how art assets are used within the game engine by exploring topics such as animation, object breaking, and user interfaces. The course also helps the developer create a better portfolio that has a higher chance of being competitive.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Asset Developer

Metaverse developer

A Metaverse Developer builds immersive worlds and environments. While not a direct path, taking this coruse might help a Metaverse developer develop a deeper understanding of game development principles and coding practices within the context of the gaming industry. A Metaverse developer may use the skills learned in this course to apply principles to game development, enhancing their problem-solving skills and understanding of real-time systems. A Metaverse developer will also learn about player movement, resource foraging, inventory systems, and crafting mechanics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Metaverse developer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While not a direct path, using this course helps a software engineer develop a deeper understanding of game development principles and coding practices within the context of the gaming industry. Software engineers may use the skills learned in this course to apply software engineering principles to game development, enhancing their problem-solving skills and understanding of real-time systems. A software engineer will also learn about player movement, resource foraging, inventory systems, and crafting mechanics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quality Assurance Tester

A Quality Assurance Tester is responsible for identifying and reporting bugs and issues in video games. This course allows a quality assurance tester to better understand the inner workings of a game and to identify potential problems. A quality assurance tester could use the knowledge gained from this course to discover complex bugs related to player movement, crafting systems, or inventory management. The course also introduces the concept of game development from the ground up and adds context to the testing processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Tester

Building a Crafting Game, with GameMaker

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Build a crafting game in gamemaker

Activities

Career center

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