138 replies to this topic

[KurtBlissZ]

I been very impressive by all these examples and games made with game maker. Anyone made there career making games and how munch game maker has helped you get better at it also in different programing languages? I think making games will either be my hobby or a career but I'm not sure.

Edited by kurtbliss, 01 May 2011 - 01:01 AM.

[Knuked]

You know I'm not aware of anyone actually making a career out of using just GameMaker. I believe 2DCube just got hired onto a company not to long ago, he's a pretty well known GameMaker user. I do believe that GM helps you understand other languages. I started with GM and I've made my way into C++ and C# easier than my first initial attempts a long time ago. It really all depends on the individual! Start it off as a hobby, release some things and go from there Kurt

[Revel]

I doubt I will end up in a video game career, but without Game Maker I would never have learned C++ (which also resulted in more knowledge of how computers work). I'm either going into computer engineering or computer science, but probably wont end up doing video games specifically.

[Manuel777]

I would of loved to make game design my career, but it gets difficult in the other corner of the world.. even if it wasnt the case, i would of probably not made a career about it.. but thats just my opinnion, i know some guys (like the above mentioned, Jesse venbrux, aka: 2DCube) who made a carreer and now they are actually working on the video game industry.

Another really good option nowadays is to be an indie; that is to make an AWESOME game in wherever program/languaje you like, and then sell it to a publisher, or sell it by yourself online. thats what im planning to do, once i make a game i believe its worth some bucks (wich is probably not going to happen too soon )

As of other languajes; i started with GM back on the 05' ,ever since then i started looking for other languajes, like C++ to develop my games, with no luck. It wasnt until (mmm letme think) late 09 when i found AS3 (Flash) and started making simple stuff on it. Later then, i started learning a bit of XNA/C#
Since before using GM i had completely no idea on how to make any kind of game, i barely knew the basics of a programming languaje (if, else, for, etc) GM was the key bridge that allowed me to move on and make games, wich is what i wanted in the beggining!

Ps: I should clearify that i found game maker by googling something like "Make Games" i was soo clueless back then!

Edited by manuel777, 02 May 2011 - 06:54 AM.

[Sinaz]

I have been a professional in the industry since 2000. I started as an artist working for a developer called MassMedia, Inc near L.A. producing next gen console games.

I discovered Game Maker in 2005. Using GM and getting some informal training from my engineer colleagues ramped me up to the point where I could do my own research and code my own games.

For the most part, I used GM to prototype new ideas and present them to the senior members. Ultimately, it gave me the ability to change tracts in my career from artist to designer. Today, I am a senior designer at Telltale Games in San Rafael, CA and I owe a lot of that to Game Maker. In fact, it was a few of my Game Maker demos that caught Telltale's attention. Not that they were adventure games-- but that they were games that I designed and executed on my own.

I still use GM for the sheer ease of use and rapid development. I think GM is a great tool for learning and developing low-fi games. If anything, it is a powerful foundation to have leading into either an educational or a professional career-- so long as you do something with it.

Game development is highly competitive. If you think you want to get into the business, then you will want to make a commitment and be prepared to fight tooth and nail for a position. Good luck to those that do.

[RedOctober]

I share many of the same views as Sinaz when it comes to Game Maker.

I personally discovered GM in 2002, since then I've never released any completed game. GM for me has been an educational tool. It has taught me basic programming conventions, structure and a reasonable understanding of how programs execute code. This is beneficial because it gave me an advantage before formal learning.

I'm currently in university studying information technology with a major in games development.

[KurtBlissZ]

I have been a professional in the industry since 2000. I started as an artist working for a developer called MassMedia, Inc near L.A. producing next gen console games.

I discovered Game Maker in 2005. Using GM and getting some informal training from my engineer colleagues ramped me up to the point where I could do my own research and code my own games.

For the most part, I used GM to prototype new ideas and present them to the senior members. Ultimately, it gave me the ability to change tracts in my career from artist to designer. Today, I am a senior designer at Telltale Games in San Rafael, CA and I owe a lot of that to Game Maker. In fact, it was a few of my Game Maker demos that caught Telltale's attention. Not that they were adventure games-- but that they were games that I designed and executed on my own.

I still use GM for the sheer ease of use and rapid development. I think GM is a great tool for learning and developing low-fi games. If anything, it is a powerful foundation to have leading into either an educational or a professional career-- so long as you do something with it.

Game development is highly competitive. If you think you want to get into the business, then you will want to make a commitment and be prepared to fight tooth and nail for a position. Good luck to those that do.

Hey could you show any of your prototypes you showed and say what games they were for?

[Sinaz]

Hey could you show any of your prototypes you showed and say what games they were for?

I cannot. The prototypes are no longer my property. They belong to Mass Media and/or THQ now.

Although, on Tuesday, my boss told me that 'Pongsterbation!' was one of my games that got me an interview, simply because I bothered to have such an idea and make it for the world to see.

[Desert Dog]

You know I'm not aware of anyone actually making a career out of using just GameMaker.

Hpapillon is the only GM user I know for sure who makes her living selling games, most of which are done in GM, and the ones that aren't, are ports (I think?) re-programmed by others for cross-platforming.

[ugriffin]

MoaCube (www.moacube.com) is another example of a developer that uses GM to release 'professional' stuff.

[theweirdn8]

Yup HP is a good develeoper. She makes her living off of her little rpg adventure games. Also MoaCube, I'm not sure if he makes his living off of it.

[Desert Dog]

Yup HP is a good develeoper. She makes her living off of her little rpg adventure games. Also MoaCube, I'm not sure if he makes his living off of it.

Yeah, for moacube I don't think he's(they're) making a living off it, 'yet'.
In the same 'not yet' group, I'd put studioeres.. Immortal Defense did o.k. sales wise (as far as I'm concerned, it did brilliantly!), but his next game is a 4 year WIP, and looking good. Hopefully that'll do really well for him.

Steve Ince is another game dev professional who used GM to release a game independently, Mr. Smozzles goes Nutso.

And let's not forget the Mr. Chubigans(vertigogaming.net)

The endlessfluff team (endlessfluff.com) recently earned the distinction of getting the first(?) GM game on Steam.

So yeah. Get inspired! Who wants to work for a game company anyway, make your own stuff.

[Revel]

So yeah. Get inspired! Who wants to work for a game company anyway, make your own stuff.

I just like the idea of a steady income but that's just me

[Desert Dog]

So yeah. Get inspired! Who wants to work for a game company anyway, make your own stuff.

I just like the idea of a steady income but that's just me

I didn't get this from the horses mouth so take it with a pinch of pepper if you wish, but TeeGee did work for a game dev company&had a steady income.. developing a game for them, which went on to be very successful.

Then he got sacked.

Edited by Desert Dog, 06 August 2011 - 04:26 AM.

[ugriffin]

He got sacked during a corporate restructuring, and he personally admits that if he had been in the place of his boss he would've done the same.

[Revel]

So yeah. Get inspired! Who wants to work for a game company anyway, make your own stuff.

I just like the idea of a steady income but that's just me

I didn't get this from the horses mouth so take it with a pinch of pepper if you wish, but TeeGee did work for a game dev company&had a steady income.. developing a game for them, which went on to be very successful.

Then he got sacked.

You have the risk of being sacked from any job.

Edited by Revel, 06 August 2011 - 04:42 AM.

[thatshelby]

Like a number of others, I plan to.

I recently moved on from GM. It is perfect for prototyping, but I have picked up FlashPunk and hit the ground running. I'm almost finished with my first game, too. I'm hoping to make some nice flash games and get a sponsor, maybe get a few hundred dollars to purchase a computer along with some of my saved money. From there I will develop iOS games, or whatever's hot next generation.

Nothing concrete, not at all, just a musing, but I think it could happen.

[Desert Dog]

You have the risk of being sacked from any job.

Yeah, but the video game industry isn't exactly something you can just float from job-to-job so easily in, although maybe this varies from country to country (of city-to-city). Where as something like IT, as an arbitrary example, is something you'll generally find plenty of jobs going in.

I'm just saying that the 'idea' of a steady income isn't necessarily a reality in the game development industry.

[chance]

Let's not forget NAL. He's making his living with GameMaker. Not by just selling his own games, of course. But YoYo hired him for his GM skills/experience (among other reasons).

[KurtBlissZ]

I don't why I think one of the first FPS was started in some kid in his basement but I couldn't find it on the net if anyone knows what I'm talking about?

At least for me GM is just a hobby. I couldn't see myself willing to paying money for any game on yoyogames. I normally just like to see what other people did with game maker.