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Poll: The Best

What was your favourite game?

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#1 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 06:55 AM

As I continued to explore the offerings of Game Maker studio (and work on my Squares Sequel on the side), I came to the realization that game maker is over 10 years old. It began in 1999, so that makes it 13 . In that time, the PS2 came and went, Duke Nukem Forever came out, and many, Many games have been made using the software. So that had me thinking.

What exactly are the best Game Maker games ever made?
Who are the best Game Makers?
What where the best moments?
What where the most lol worthy moments?
What were your best moments in a Game Maker game?

You see, in the game industry we always talk about each era, calling the one we are in a "Console generation". This is the era when particular game hardware is on the market and the various games and moments in games that helped define said generation. However, we rarely hear of such generational shifts in the PC side of the industry. Rarer still do we, the game makers, pay atention to this on our end.

Now we, the Game Maker community stand at a cross roads. The product we so dearly love has matured and is now ready to bring in a new audience. One made up of professional developers, artist and the more casual audience. We also are entering a much bigger arena. HTML5 may already be the area Game maker could be the most popular, and that isn't getting into the mobile and desktop scene. In short, Game Maker is entering a new era for a new generation.

So to mark this shift, I say we as GMC members celebrate our history by compiling a list of the very best Game Maker has to offer. And I say we begin with the bread and butter of what this site is all about. The Games.


To start this series of post, I want to compile a list of the 50 most influential Game maker games. The games that will be on this list must meet the following criteria:
  • Must be designed show what Game Maker is truly capable of (eg pushed game maker to the limits, while still being playable)
  • Be highly regarded in the community as examples of stellar game design (and thus an inspiration to other fellow game makers)
  • May have made a name for itself both inside/outside of the Game Maker Community.
  • MUST be an original creation by the creators and not based on existing/licensed games (no Simply Solitaire or fan games).
  • Play counts, while important, are not the sole determining factor for a games popularity. A game has to make this list based on its reputation in the community and not by the number of people who have played it.
  • After the games have been compiled, there will be a poll to determine who gets to the top.

If you are interested in helping me compile this list, you have the choice of doing the following:
  • Post a response in this forum. It is the least you coud do.
  • Contact me via twitter (it is in my signature) and leave a message.
  • Sign up for the Mazimadu forums and start a discussion. I will be listening.

If you are posting a game here, please follow the below structure when posting a game:
[b]Game:[/b] Name of game, author, year
[Picture of game, no greater than 600x600]
[b]Description:[/b] Games over all goal game play and what makes it special
[b]Best part/Fun fact/Achievement:[/b] The games crowning moment.

Thanks for reading. I can't wait to get started.

Edited by mazimadu, 13 April 2012 - 01:44 AM.

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#2 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 07:39 AM

To begin, I will kick this of with a few off my personal favorites:

Game: Seilkus by clysm(tapeworm) (2003)
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Description: This game is the poster boy for Game Maker and is apparently what all GM games are trying to be. What else can be said about this game that has not already been said.
Best part: Hugging your girlfriend at the games end.


Game: The Cleaner by Darthlupi (2005)
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Description: Master Game Maker Darthlupi's magnum opus. Travel the stranger side of the universe to hunt down the ones who killed your wife in this platform-space shooter hybrid.
Best part: Beating the cat boss (pictured above).


Game: SOLDEXUS created by Pneophen(2007)
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Description: One mans journey to get his life back, as well as Deaths stolen goods. This game is hardcore Metroidvania at its finest.
Best part: Finishing the game.

Edited by mazimadu, 08 April 2012 - 07:23 PM.

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#3 Timothyfoster

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 08:36 AM

Seilkus brings back so many memories :) that game is a classic!

Additionally, some of my favourites are:

Death Worm
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Battleships Forever
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Desktop Deathmatch
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Skydiver - My friend and I used to jam this game for hours!
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Focus
No pic soz
-- But still a very good game!
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#4 True Valhalla

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 10:39 AM

How do you judge the "top 50 GameMaker games"? By plays? By fame? By earnings?

If you want a truly comprehensive and worthy list, you need to define the bounds.
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#5 Erik Leppen

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 11:54 AM

I don't get these kinds of topics. First of all, "best" is personal and undefineable. Any sensible answer will include either personal tastes, or "averages" or statistics. Second, why ask for what can be looked up? Look on YoYo's Sandbox. People have voted on games there for years. Games with more stars, more plays or more comments are generally better. Games have been featured (so those are the best of the lot according to YYG moderators). Games have entered competitions over there. The winners are considered the best games by YYG judges. Also there are several "best 100 GM games in 10 minutes" videos on Youtube.

There has been a recent GMC topic about different GMCs alongside this one. Look them up, browse for the games section and look for games with many replies/reviews. Those are considered "best" by members of those communities.

Also we have a review board just over here. The reviewed games are reviewed for a reason - at least someone considered them worth reviewing.

There's lots of sources for you to find an answer to this question yourself. :)

Edited by Erik Leppen, 08 April 2012 - 11:54 AM.

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#6 masterofhisowndomain

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 12:03 PM

rinkuhero, a member here, did a compilation video of "100 Game Maker Games in 10 minutes" which carries out the same purpose as any attempt to define the best games - it gave people an insight into what GM could do. It can be found here: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=bdgQyOIyWPY
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#7 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 04:02 PM

How do you judge the "top 50 GameMaker games"? By plays? By fame? By earnings?

If you want a truly comprehensive and worthy list, you need to define the bounds.


Good point. This list really shouldn't be subjective, else it would turn into one big flame war.

The games on this list should be games that either show what Game Maker is truly capable of (eg pushed game maker to the limits, while still being playable), serve as examples of stellar game design (and thus an inspiration to other fellow game makers) or made a name for itself both inside/outside of the Game Maker Community.

While all the games must (alright, may) be fun to play, play count and earnings should not factor into this. Else every game released commercially by Yoyo Games would be on this list (more views = more popularity = unfair advantage). Also, each game MUST be an original creation by the creators and not based on existing/licensed games, so no Simply Solitaire or Mario clone 257.

This list of games are going to serve as milestone games for Game Maker, I can't stress this enough.
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#8 chance

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 05:56 PM

Good point. This list really shouldn't be subjective...

But (as Erik Leppen suggested above) that's unavoidable. People generally agree whether a game is well-constructed, has good controls, quality graphics/music, etc. But picking the "best games" involves personal taste. So of course the list will be subjective.

For example, look at the games reviewed in the Reviewer's Choice Forum. Those are generally all high-quality games, but people's opinions run the gamut from "best" to "mediocre".... and everything in between.

Leave this topic open long enough, and just about every good game will eventually be nominated by someone as being the "best". :wink:
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#9 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 06:07 PM

Additionally, some of my favourites are:
Battleships Forever
Posted Image

Desktop Deathmatch
Posted Image

Focus
No pic soz
-- But still a very good game!


On Battleships forever: When I first saw this game I thought it was going to be in the vein of Return to Sector 9, one of my favorite games. What I got was completely different. A brilliant blend between tower defense and RTS mechanics, with customizable ships, IN SPACE!

On Desktop Deathmatch: I haven't actually played this one, so I can't speak on its behalf. However, when one thinks of Online action games made with GM, I think A D R E N A L I N E by Bryans. It has all the features you would expect from an online action game and is very fun to play. Also, check out Gang Garrison 2. Not only is it a full 8-bit conversion of TF2, it is also made with game maker.

On Focus: Haven't played it either. I will when I get the chance and want to see why this game stands out.
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#10 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 06:34 PM

Death Worm
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Also on Deathworm: Interestingly, this game later inspired this flash game:
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Not sure i can say the same about this game
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#11 DanRedux

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 06:59 PM

I think the best way to find the milestones is to find the first game ever really finished in Game Maker (maybe that Purple RTS from way back), then chronologically find games that were better. Then you can see how Game Maker grew.

This way the list won't be filled with recent games, and it will feel more like real milestones.

For example, Death Worm was good, but was it better than Hovertank 3D?

You could also create a "GameMash" type website that displays 2 games, and the user clicks on the better one, then gets presented with 2 new games.. In a turing style, the best game will slowly bubble to the top, but this allows you to present a huge variety of games, thousands if you had the patience.
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#12 ugriffin

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 07:29 PM

Some of 2DCube's games are pretty good. Karoshi and They Need To Be Fed come to mind.

Srehpog's Ark 22 always deserves recognition, as well as Umbrella Adventure.
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#13 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 07:44 PM

I think the best way to find the milestones is to find the first game ever really finished in Game Maker (maybe that Purple RTS from way back), then chronologically find games that were better. Then you can see how Game Maker grew.

This way the list won't be filled with recent games, and it will feel more like real milestones.

For example, Death Worm was good, but was it better than Hovertank 3D?

You could also create a "GameMash" type website that displays 2 games, and the user clicks on the better one, then gets presented with 2 new games.. In a turing style, the best game will slowly bubble to the top, but this allows you to present a huge variety of games, thousands if you had the patience.


While I like the idea of using the turing style, I would need to first compile the games that meet the criteria (graphical fidelity, game design, fun factor, popularity and reputation) before voting would begin. Also, knowing this community, the more popular games would end up topping the list regardless of how well they met the criteria. The chronological style works better since it shows how Game Maker grew.

PS: Hovertank 3D is going on the list. Personally, while I don't think it was better than Death Worm, it did prove that you could make a great 3d game with GM that is actually fun.


Some of 2DCube's games are pretty good. Karoshi and They Need To Be Fed come to mind.

Srehpog's Ark 22 always deserves recognition, as well as Umbrella Adventure.

At least 2 2DCube games will be on this list (Jesse Venbrux is without a doubt one of the best developers in the community and will appear in the Best GM developers post after this) and so will Ark 22. We gotta show some zelda-love.

Edited by mazimadu, 08 April 2012 - 07:48 PM.

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#14 Desert Dog

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 07:46 PM

For example, Death Worm was good, but was it better than Hovertank 3D?

Actual technical terminology is, did you prefer it over Hovertank 3d?

Leave this topic open long enough, and just about every good game will eventually be nominated by someone as being the "best".

Well, I don't necessarily see what's wrong with that. I liked Mazimuda, and Timothyfoster's posts about their 'best' GM games.
The only question is, is this better suited for the Games in General discussion forum or not.

Some of my best games would be:
Magi Name of game, author, year
[Screenshots can be seen here: http://moacube.com/games/magi/ ]
Description: Feels like One Must Fall.. strategy edition. Customize your Wiz, upgrade, and send massive fireballs, summon imps, and all sorts of other cool stuff.
Fun fact It's addicting as heck.
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#15 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 07:56 PM


Leave this topic open long enough, and just about every good game will eventually be nominated by someone as being the "best".

Well, I don't necessarily see what's wrong with that. I liked Mazimuda, and Timothyfoster's posts about their 'best' GM games.
The only question is, is this better suited for the Games in General discussion forum or not.

I thought about that when I started this and concluded that it should be hear instead. I believe that the games that will make this list are the games that anyone who uses Game Maker must know. These are the games that had some effect on us as a community and are recognized/remembered based on there reputation among fellow Game Makers. If it were placed in the General discussion forum, it would be treated as just that, just another "General discussion". If we intend to have others take Game Maker seriously we should not be afraid to allow the community objectively look at the games created and point newcomers in the right direction.

That is why this discussion must remain here.

ADDITION!

Game:Clean Asia! by Cactus(2007)
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Description: One in many awesome shooters (while my favorite game is Fractal Fighter, this is more approchable than Ad Nauseam 2 and easier on the eyes that Seizure dome), created in Cactus' retro graphic style.
Fun fact: This game and many others got Cactus #42 in TIME's 50 Best Websites 2010.

Game:Punishment by messhof(2005)
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Description: While Veteran game developer Mark "Messhof" Essen is now known for his approachable retro style games, he was infamous back in 2005 when he released this little demon. Punishment remains one of the hardest games I have EVER played and is one of the few that I have NEVER finished. I do not know a single person who has beaten this game, making it a testament to Messhof's sadistic sense of design.
Fun fact: Messhof currently working on NIDHOGG, a game that has won him the NUOVO Award at GDC 2011.


Game: Iji by Ultimortal(2010)
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Description: Described by Zarley11 as The best Platform - Action/RPG created with Game Maker! Nuff said.

Game: Dominos 2: Winter edition by Ultimortal(2007)
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Description: My personal all time favorite Game Maker game. GMPhysics has been around for years, but only this game not only fully makes use of it, but goes above and beyond by pushing the library to its limits.
Best part: The snow surfing levels.
Fun fact: The Squeal is currently available for iOS under the name Domino's Adventure.


Game: Caveman Craig By RhysAndrew(2008)
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Description: A nice blend between RTS and platformer, perspective all in a delightfully cartoonish stone age world.
Best part: Defeating the T-Rex with your army for Cavemen.

MOAR ADDITION!!
This time I am adding game series to the list since a single game from these will not do the list justice. Also, we rearly get game series on the GM Community.


Game: Jumper series by YoMamasMama(2004-2008)
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
Description: Way back in 2004, this game was one of the most popular Game Maker games as well as one of the hardest. With solid controls and stellar level design, this game is remembered fondly by those who played it. Remembered specially by those who beat it.


Game: Johnny series by MrKubus(aka Sparlatacus) (2004-date)
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Description: While these games may not look nice (and many of them don't even play well and are quite bad), the Johnny series makes it solely based on its reputation. This series is not only famous/infamous for its bad graphics and terrible controls, but also for its crazy art direction, high doses of nightmare fuel, weird music choices and reliance on some very strange logic to solve its puzzles. If you haven't played these games I recommend playing the fangames made by Tapeworm (http://www.autofish....ojects.html#jo.)
Best part: Discovering that you can catch and jump from ledges, with your nose. or was that a beak?


MODERATOR EDIT : You have been double and triple posting throughout this topic, and you have been a member long enough to know that this is against the rules. Use the EDIT button, please, or I will close the topic.

Edited by Nocturne, 08 April 2012 - 09:46 PM.

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#16 chance

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 09:19 PM


Leave this topic open long enough, and just about every good game will eventually be nominated by someone as being the "best".

Well, I don't necessarily see what's wrong with that.

Nor do I. I was just pointing out the inevitable result from these types of topics. They grow without bounds, to include (mostly) good games... and even some real stinkers.

Game: Johnny series by MrKubus(aka Sparlatacus) (2004-date)

And lo... it has come to pass, even as we speak. :tongue:
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#17 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 10:34 PM

Game: Johnny series by MrKubus(aka Sparlatacus) (2004-date)

And lo... it has come to pass, even as we speak. :tongue:

I actually had no intention of including this game. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the GMC had (and continues to have) tons and tons of really bad games. However, none of these games ever hold the level of infamy this series has. The Johnny Series is the Best of the Worst and is technically a milestone in game makers history. A milestone that belongs in the gutter, but still a milestone.
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#18 orange08

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 11:16 PM

Game: Dominos 2: Winter edition by Ultimortal(2007)

It's not made by Ultimortal, it's made by marbs...
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#19 mazimadu

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 11:56 PM

Sorry, mods got to that before I could fix it. Now I cant repair it without double posting.

Also I am adding the following

THE MANIPULATOR created by Virtanen
THE ULTIMATE CHUCHU created by scream681
Robbie Swifthand and the Orb of Mysteries
ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF BOB created by Polystyrene Man
FROZZD, Karoshi, and THEY NEED TO BE FED created by 2Dcube
Painajainen by Tuukka Virtanen
Sand Box of God by Mr. Chubigans

Thats it for now, I will get back to this later. Need to eat.

Edited by mazimadu, 08 April 2012 - 11:56 PM.

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#20 Desert Dog

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Posted 09 April 2012 - 01:37 AM

Sorry, mods got to that before I could fix it. Now I cant repair it without double posting.


? Why can't you hit the Edit button?

I'm actually downloading the Domino's, winter edition now. Seen it before, never tried it, but now I want to.
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