Game Maker 7 - F A Q, + where to get old versions of GM Options

[Chronic]

Please DO NOT reproduce this FAQ at another forum or site (including blogs/glogs). Linking to it is fine.

Registration

Do I need to buy a new key to use Game Maker 7 Pro?
No. You can upgrade your previous Game Maker 5 or 6 key for free at the YoYo Games site. Contact the Help Desk and request an upgrade.

When I try to upgrade my old key I get an error!
Relax. YoYo Games is still working out the kinks in its system. Go read a book, play a game, or read up on the new features in the manual. Come back in 30 minutes or so and try it again. If it still doesn't work, wait a bit longer, and come back again. Hopefully, the bugs will be worked out in a day or two.

The computer i am trying to register Game Maker 7 on does not have an internet access, can i still register?
YoYo Games is in the process of setting up an offline activation service which will be available soon. Please check regularly at the YoYo Games Glog regarding this [direct link].

I am having problems when registering Game Maker 7, where can i get help?
Please send an email to admin@yoyogames.com and politely describe your problems to them.



Errors Running Game Maker 7

I get a Softwrap File Error 3 when trying to load Game Maker 7
To fix this problem, please follow the steps below.

1) Navigate to this directory on your computer: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\
2) Right click the folder Documents
3) Select Sharing and Security
4) Under the section Network sharing and security, place a check mark in the box next to Share this folder on the network.
5) Apply changes. If at this point you get an error, repeat steps 4 and 5 again.

(You'll notice that Documents folder has changed to Shared Documents)

6) Game Maker 7 should now run as normal.

Note: After you have ran Game Maker 7 at least once, you should be able to reverse this process and still continue to use Game Maker 7 as normal.

For further information read here.

I am having trouble with Game Maker 7 on Windows Vista
There have been a number of problems reported regarding this, please read the following topic for more help: http://forums.gamemaker.nl/index.php?showtopic=279460



Other FAQs

Do I need internet access to use Game Maker 7 Pro?
No. You will only need internet access during the activation process.

How many computers can I install Game Maker 7 Pro on?
You may use it on three (3) computers, according to the license agreement.

Can I use Game Maker 7 with Windows 98?
No. Game Maker 7 only works on Windows 2000 and above.

Why is the text in the Action (D&D) tabs missing?
You are probably running a 64-bit version of Windows XP or Vista. This is a known problem, currently without a solution.

What is the difference between Lite and Pro versions?
In other terms, Lite means you have not registered Game Maker 7, where Pro means you have.

Is it possible to hide the YoYo Games logo at the bottom of the Game Maker 7 editor?
Yes this is possible. From the File Menu and select Preferences. On the General tab, click Don't show website image in the main window.

Can I still download previous versions of Game Maker?
Yes. Previous version of Game Maker can be downloaded at the Old Versions page found here: http://wiki.yoyogames.com/index.php/Old_Game_Maker_Versions

Will I be able to continue development of my game with Game Maker 7?
Yes. Game Maker 7 can open .gm6 files, however there are some known incompatibilities.

Where can I find status updates on Game Maker and YoYo Games? Is there a source from the developers?
Yes. You can find information about Game Maker on YoYo Games' Glog.

I am unable to claim my GMC username at the YoYoGames
There are a number of possible issues here.

1) You have just recently registered at the GMC and the details of your membership here are not yet in the YoYo Games database.

To solve this you will need to sign up again at YoYo Games as soon as possible, this will ensure that you keep your same username.

2) You have recently changed email address at the GMC and are trying to use this to claim your username.

Try using the email address that you previously used. If you no longer have access to this address, you will need to contact YoYo Games at support@yoyogames.com and politely describe your problems to them.

Game Maker 7 makes my game exe files around 1mb larger, why?
The game exe was compressed under Game Maker 6 but that was removed in Game Maker 7 for Vista compatibility. Also to make it possible for people who wanted to create shareware games, to let it be wrapped with another system as many companies require. The increase in size should be unnoticeable when compressed in to a zip or similar.


(Thanks to 1800askgeek for the bulk of this FAQ which has been reworded)

[Chronic]

I should point out that until i'm told differently, the email address for YoYo Games listed above should be used.

As with all sections of the FAQ, if you have some appropriate information to further help people, please reply here with it.

Also, If there is anything you would like to see added thats not already covered, please also reply.

[IuriPsyke]

The GM7 have the "Alpha Channel" option in Image Editor?

Example: I can import .png images with alpha channel in GM7?!?!?

[Stormcloud17]

How can I unregister my copy?
This is not possible.

Can I use the code on different computers?
The license allows you to either use the code on a single computer, potentially used by multiple users, or on up to three computers if you are the sole user of the program on these computers.

What does one do in order to temporarily upgrade on a computer without using up one of the 3 computers on one's license? Seems rather backwards to not be able to unupgrade.

[1800askgeek]

If you legitimately use the license on three computers, and then get a new computer you will not be penalized... according to Sandy Duncan. This was in my original topic, but I guess it's gotten dropped from this copy since then.

[Stormcloud17]

So it really doesn't matter how many computers I upgrade, as long as it's only for my own personal use?

[ghostgirl]

Well, it *does* matter, because you'll probably need to contact them to get your license fiddled when you need to add a new computer because you threw out one of your three. (This is standard with renewable licenses - after a certain point you have to personally contact the provider in order to keep renewing.)

So if you tried to upgrade 20 computers in one day, they'd say 'Hang on a second, this doesn't make sense' and stop letting you do it.

[Snake Logan]

When I was reading the download page on YoYo, I initially thought "Oh no! They really have ruined GM!" By the way they worded the description, it sounded like they completely downgraded GM Unregistered into a second-rate program (I say Unregistered because I hate the subtitle "Lite." It sounds as if Dr. Phil is marketing their product). Their choice of words scared me into thinking "Should I download it or not?" I know other people are thinking the same thing, and the infantile posters who dominate this forum are not helping. For this reason, something like this should be added to the FAQ:

Has the unregistered version lost any functionality with the transition to GM 7?

Only two things have switched from being free to being exclusive to registered users: Including files in executables and playing movies. GM 6 files that use these features will not work in GM 7 Lite (unregistered). Otherwise, GM 6 files are fully compatible with GM 7, and even allow the use of GM 7's new features. In addition, YoYo was nice enough to give Lite users a previously registered-only feature: screenshots! (This can only be done with the F9 key. To assign this action to an object, you must have Pro edition.)

Thanks,
Snake

This post has been edited by Snake Logan: Mar 2 2007, 09:41 PM

[PLAY: More]

Help on the registration:

If you have a real GM6.x key, enter it on yoyogames on the conversion part (surf around) and enter the email you used to sign up at yoyogames!
Edit: @running_couger: the room transitions have changed. Read the manual.

This post has been edited by PLAY: More: Mar 3 2007, 06:07 AM

[correojon]

March 12th, 2007 at 05:26 pm
correojon…we’re testing the offline activation tomorrow. it should definitely by available by midweek.

You might want to update the faq with this.

[Da Bee]

When I put in my email address to get my account name from here at YoYo games, it says the email address isn't recognised. It's the same one as here, I checked several times. But it says it isn't the address associated with my Gamemaker forums name.

[correojon]

offline registration is now working

[GMmarine]

When I put in my email address to get my account name from here at YoYo games, it says the email address isn't recognised. It's the same one as here, I checked several times. But it says it isn't the address associated with my Gamemaker forums name.

If you changed it, you need to use your old email address. Also, I'm glad another FAQ is trying to help the... GM users in need.

[Seeker]

The link to the GM7 features list is somewhat hidden (it says 'known incompatibilities'). Many have expressed their frustration on not being able to find the information in order to make a purchase decision, and many are saying that not many changes have occurred in GM7 when there clearly have been. So I'm posting this information for greater visibility.

What is New?

Version 7.0 of Game Maker has a number of important changes over version 6.1. In particular there is a new extension mechanism. Below the most important changes are described.
Incompatibilities

Version 7.0 uses an adapted file format. As a result file names now have the extension .gmk. The new version can though still read .gm6 files created with the previous version and it is fully compatible with such files.

There is a minor incompatibility in the use of room transitions. In previous version transitions could also be used between frames in the same room. This is not longer possible. Transitions can only be used between rooms. But the number of transitions is considerably extended.
Extension packages

The major improvement of version 7.0 of Game Maker is the mechanism of extension packages that has been introduced. Extension packages can either add new collections of actions to Game Maker or they add new functions using DLL or GML files. A new item has been added to the resource list in which the user can indicate which extension packages to use. These are then automatically integrated in the system. Actions are shown in the object form and functions are colorcoded in the script editor, show in the list of functions. Extension packages can have help files that are automatically included in the help menu. Also all required files are automatically added to the game executables.

Three extension package are default provided.

    * GM Printing. Adds a large number of functions for printing shapes, text, sprites, screenshots, etc. and contains dialogs to select the printer and set printer preferences.
    * GM Transitions. Adds over 60 room transitions to the program.
    * GM Windows Dialogs. Adds functions to create most of the standard Windows dialogs for messages, input boxes, file selection, etc.

It is rather easy to create your own extension packages. There is a special program available for this. See the page http://www.yoyogames.com/extensions for more information on how to do this. The extension mechanism sort of replaces and enhances the current DLL mechanism (which remains available).
Publishing games

A publish button has been added to the toolbar. This will take you to our site were you can easily make your finished game available to the public.
Splash screens

The splash screen mechanism has been considerably enhanced. Splash screens, like videos and images are now default shown in the main game window. There are many new options, e.g. to change the scaling. Also other image formats can be used. And rich text files can now contain images.
Game information

The game information is now default shown in the game window and can be closed with the close button.
Separate close button event

It can now be indicated whether or not the Close button must behave like the escape key or not. If not, there is a new event in the Other events that happens when the user clicks on the Close button. So you can now assign different behavior to the Close button and to the escape key.
Room transitions

The room transition mechanism is changed and extended, giving you more control over the transitions and adding many new transitions, like fade-ins, pushing the images, blending room images, rotations, etc. It is now even possible to define your own scripts to do the transitions (but this is rather advanced stuff). An extension package with additional room transitions is provided.
Data structures

A number of additional functions have been provided to deal with data structures. For example, data structures can now be copied, there are functions to write data structures to a string and read them back. This string can then used to e.g. save the datastructure to a file. Also there are more functions for grid data structures to e.g. copy and add parts of grids.
Including files

The mechanism to include files in the executables has been considerably extended. For each file it can now be indicated under what filename it must be stored and where it must be stored. There is a choice now whether or not to include the files in the editable version of the game. Also there are functions to export the files at a different moment than the start of the game.
Adding sprites and backgrounds with alpha channel

There are now functions sprite_add_alpha() and sprite_replace_alpha() to add or replace a sprite from a file that has an alpha channel (such as png files) to get nicer transparancy effects. Similar functions exist for backgrounds.
New registration mechanism

Version 7 uses a new registration mechanism. The free and registered version are now called the Lite and Pro Edition. There is an improved online purchase process that immediately upgrades the program after the payment is made. Old version 5 and 6 registration keys can be exchanged for version 7 activation codes.
Other changes

There are a number of other changes and additions. Here are some of the important ones.

    * The selected direction(s) in the Move Fixed action are now colored red.
    * When running a game the loading bar is shown considerably earlier such that it is clear the game is running.
    * Renamed all actions for more easy reference (compatible with the book).
    * When adding or replacing sprites and backgrounds or when using splash images, many different file formats can now be used, including jpg, tif, bmp, gif, png, etc.
    * In the image editor there now is a command (Ctrl-A) to select the whole image.
    * A toolbar button was added on the main form to save the game as stand-alone executable.
    * In the constants list in game settings, buttons were added to move them up or down in the list and to insert a constant above the current one.
    * Function message_position(-1,-1) now sets the message box to the screen center.
    * Print buttons were added in the script and code editor.
    * Save and print buttons were added to the debug info forms.
    * Events were added that happen when an instance lies outside a view or intersects the view boundary.
    * The form showing errors in the game is enhanced and allows for copying them to the clipboard.
    * Functions random_set_seed(seed), random_get_seed(), and randomize() were added.
    * In the image editor you can now jump to next/prev subimage of a sprite.
    * Global variables can now be declared using the keyword globalvar. After this declaration it is no longer necessary to add the word global and a dot in front of them.
    * During game play F9 now takes a screenshot unless this is switched off in the global game settings.
    * Added functions draw_line_width(x1,y1,x2,y2,w) and draw_line_width_color(x1,y1,x2,y2,w,col1,col2) to draw lines with a width.
    * d3d_start() and d3d_end() now return whether successful.
    * You can now set the variable cursor_sprite to automatically draw a sprite at the cursor location.
    * Increased the maximum number of arguments to DLL functions to 16.
    * In the options under Other you can now indicate version information for the game that will be embedded in the executable.
    * Added functions sprite_save(ind,subimg,fname) and background_save(ind,fname) to save the resources as bitmaps.
    * Added a variable program_directory that stores the location of the game executable.
    * Added a constant c_orange.

Corrected bugs

The following bugs were corrected.

    * Solved the problem that sometimes led to corrupted files. Version 7 will read files that were previously marked as being corrupt.
    * A problem with limited real precision was solved. This hould also solve problems with functions dealing with the date and time.
    * A bug in timelines was corrected when duplicating to an earlier moment.
    * Bitwise assignments now work correctly and give no syntax errors.
    * show_message() actions and function now keep the box in the screen center.
    * Using snow effects and explosion effects together now works correctly.
    * A vulnerability to obtain information from a running game was removed.
    * Debug info forms no longer keep jumping to the top position.
    * Game Maker and the created games now work correctly under Windows Vista. As a result though the file size of the games has been considerably increased.
    * When copying something in the code editor the font is now correct and color coding is applied.
    * Backgrounds no longer loose their settings when a new image is loaded.
    * An off-by-one error in drawing filled rectangles was solved.
    * The game window is now made visible before executing create events.
    * Solved a bug in the function median().
    * Solved a crash when resizing a grid.
    * Comparing and finding values in grids now works correctly for string values.
    * Editing a non-transparent sprite will no longer sometimes turn it transparent in the preview.
    * Solved a bug in collision checking with scaled instances.
    * Solved a bug in collision checking with e.g. lines and rectangles that were not on integer coordinates.
    * Function file_bin_open now create the file if it does not yet exist.
    * Added checks in the object_set_parent function to avoid cycles.
    * Solved an error in the bounce action with diagonal bounces.
    * Corrected a bug in the rain effect when the room was higher than 1000 pixels.
    * Corrected a bug that instances without sprites would contstantly get Outside Room events.
    * Corrected a bug when dragging actions between Object and Timeline form (it is no longer possible).
    * Increase the minimal height of the background form to make it impossible to hide the OK button.
    * Corrected a bug with addressing variables in an instance after it changed object during the same step.
    * Corrected a bug that (de-)activating instances without a sprite could work wrong.
    * Corrected an error in drawing a path with 0 length.
    * Solved a bug that the Exit Event action inside a Repeat block did not exit the event.
    * Corrected the position of the loading bar for the game.
    * Corrected an error in removing instance outside a room in the room editor.

[Jenner]

This may sound kinda stupid (great start..) but there is something I have been wondering about. Is it possible for a non gm-user to open a exe file there has been made with the registred version of gm7, and uses some registred functions? If it is, why cant I just use a not-reg. version of gm7, and test my games by createing an exe, and then play them? If its not, I really dont wants to register, because then my not-reg. friends cant play my exe.s.

Im confused. - Jenner

[fire_soul453]

This may sound kinda stupid (great start..) but there is something I have been wondering about. Is it possible for a non gm-user to open a exe file there has been made with the registred version of gm7, and uses some registred functions? If it is, why cant I just use a not-reg. version of gm7, and test my games by createing an exe, and then play them? If its not, I really dont wants to register, because then my not-reg. friends cant play my exe.s.

Im confused. - Jenner

you dont need game maker to play a game maker exe
anyone with directx, windows and a 3d card can play your exe
you dont have to register if you dont want to.
although the source code file will need the registered version if it has registered stuff in it

This post has been edited by fire_soul453: Apr 8 2007, 12:58 AM

[Liveandlearn]

Am I allowed to ask this here?

Right. I registered, and a gamemaker window that was registered appeared. When I opened another gamemaker window, the registering window came up, I knew I would use that code thing here, and I pasted it in. But how do I submit the code into the system and get a registered version?

[bryann380]

Been a while since I posted on here. Anyways...

I forgot the email address I used to register 6.1 . I don't even know what my registration code is. Will I need to buy a new code for v7 or is there another way I can find out what the v6 code is?

[Big J]

I believe you will have to buy a new code.

When I got my GM6 code, I copied it to a text file, and saved it on my USB drive.

Well, after you buy your GM7 code, store it somewhere, whether it be in a text file, an image file, or write it down on paper and keep it somewhere safe.

[bahamut1993]

Okay, tell me this: Where can I download GM6? I accidentaly deleted it, and I don't want to start using GM7.