16 replies to this topic

[darrenh]

Hey!!
i think i have mastered the dragging the boxes thing, but i was starting to learn gml yesterday i keep practicing for 5hrs+ a day and i was woundering how i can get better at it.
where should i start?
what type of game should i create first?

[Super]

GML is practically the same thing as DnD. Just follow the same logic.

[darrenh]

GML is practically the same thing as DnD. Just follow the same logic.

but its got a bunch of other stuff i cant get my head around please guide?

[Swifty]

I'd definitely suggest going Here and downloading the "D&d Actions And Their Code Equivalents" file.

As Super has said, anything you've done in Drag and Drop can be done in code. So I'd recommend using the .pdf file you downloaded above, and going to one of your games you've made in DnD(drag and drop) and converting each event from DnD over to gml code, using the .pdf file to guide you. If you run into any problems post in the Q&A section, you should get fast replies. If you slowly transition out of DnD and into gml code, you'll do fine!

Swifty

Edited by Swifty, 27 June 2012 - 11:42 AM.

[darrenh]

I'd definitely suggest going Here and downloading the "D&d Actions And Their Code Equivalents" file.

As Super has said, anything you've done in Drag and Drop can be done in code. So I'd recommend using the .pdf file you downloaded above, and going to one of your games you've made in DnD(drag and drop) and converting each event from DnD over to gml code, using the .pdf file to guide you. If you run into any problems post in the Q&A section, you should get fast replies. If you slowly transition out of DnD and into gml code, you'll do fine!

Swifty

its a bunch of pictures?

[Jack Indie Box]

maybe your getting stuck on structure, terminology or syntax.

What you should do, is either do some of the tutorials on this forum already or just start your own game.

here are some tips:
when your in a code block("execute a piece of code") you can right click or press f2(in most recent version of gm, not sure which) and you will be given some quick useful code snippets that you can use. these are like if statements, if else statements, switch statements and many types of loops. if you do not know what they are(which you probably wont) you should google them or look in the game maker help file(press f1)

the help file(f1) is where you will get most of your help. but you may not understand some of the terminology at first.

its a bunch of pictures?

if that isnt what you want, but you want a program to tell you what a drag and drop action is in code then use: this or this

Edited by Jack Indie Box, 27 June 2012 - 11:14 AM.

[Chronic]

Read the help file, Its the best guild you'll find.

Also in a the Studio 1.0.253 update there was a tutorial added "Code a game".

[Swifty]

I'd definitely suggest going Here and downloading the "D&d Actions And Their Code Equivalents" file.

As Super has said, anything you've done in Drag and Drop can be done in code. So I'd recommend using the .pdf file you downloaded above, and going to one of your games you've made in DnD(drag and drop) and converting each event from DnD over to gml code, using the .pdf file to guide you. If you run into any problems post in the Q&A section, you should get fast replies. If you slowly transition out of DnD and into gml code, you'll do fine!

Swifty

its a bunch of pictures?

Okay try thank link again I've updated it or click here: http://lucb1e.com/gm...o_gml_Ver 7.pdf

Read the help file, Its the best guild you'll find.

Also agreed here, the help file is the best guide you will find. However if you're having trouble finding the gml code for certain DnD actions use the .pdf I linked you to get you started. Once you know the right gml function, you can look it up in the help file to read all about it and all the other functions that relate to it.

Swifty

Edited by Swifty, 27 June 2012 - 11:46 AM.

[chance]

i keep practicing for 5hrs+ a day and i was woundering how i can get better at it.

You'll generally find many (maybe most) skilled GML coders learned the basics of programming in school first. Once you have a basic understand of how programming languages and algorithms work, learning another language like GML is very easy.

So that's where I'd recommend you start -- school classes, if they're available. Learning the basic concepts from a programming teacher may not be required, but it's very valuable. It'll give you the logic and problem-solving skills for any language you want to learn later.

But keep experimenting with GML on your own, at the same time.

Edited by chance, 27 June 2012 - 12:05 PM.

[@Alex@]

I've got a couple of gml guides available in my signature but their nowhere near complete and the beginners guide is a bit outdated (Rewrite in the works). But just look in the tutorials sections theirs loads of guides that take you through GML step by step and a bucket load more that teach or show specific aspects.

[RaythXC]

i keep practicing for 5hrs+ a day and i was woundering how i can get better at it.

You'll generally find many (maybe most) skilled GML coders learned the basics of programming in school first. Once you have a basic understand of how programming languages and algorithms work, learning another language like GML is very easy.

So that's where I'd recommend you start -- school classes, if they're available. Learning the basic concepts from a programming teacher may not be required, but it's very valuable. It'll give you the logic and problem-solving skills for any language you want to learn later.

But keep experimenting with GML on your own, at the same time.

I agree with this. I found my PHP and a few other languages have similar syntax to GML and it's helped me. Also just check the helpfile you can usually find what you want. At least it's a good helpfile unlike some you can find out there that give very vague descriptions of everything,

[land of games]

gml is easy enough where you dont need to take classes.
I tought myself because I live in a rural community so we dont have much in class selection
just keep practicing.
I actully watched youtube video tutorial...... and the one day I realised that I knew the basics of gml, and went from there.

[username303]

I agree with land of games.

GML is not a very hard language to learn, but it is by no means easy to master. I am self taught, and it took a lot of work to figure it out. It is important to learn a lot about programming CONCEPTS, not just programming in GML. The help section does wonders for learning about GML specific syntax, and I still use it every time i code. (i have a bad memory)

The day that I really feel like i got a grip on GML was the day I was able to read the pseudo-code for a complex pathfinding algorithm (Dijkstra's algorithm) and convert it to GML. For me, programming is more about the concepts behind the code than the syntax of the code itself.

Don't give up!

[chance]

gml is easy enough where you dont need to take classes.

Yes, anybody can learn GML on their own. That wasn't the point about taking programming classes.

Formal programming classes can teach you techniques and paradigms you may never imagine on your own. Classes can teach you good programming practices and how to avoid common mistakes many self-taught programmers make. And lastly, classes can improve your innovation, imagination, and creative problem solving skills.

So it's a shame classes aren't available in your area. But for anyone who has access, I strongly recommend you take them. Even just a few beginner/intermediate courses will make lots of difference.

Edited by chance, 02 July 2012 - 12:37 PM.

[CrazyGuyGames]

Friend here is your solution, first download GML buddy.
http://sandbox.yoyog...36-gml-buddy-v3
This can translate all the D&D to GML using game maker's interface, there are some extra actions too, but remember is not exactly how game maker works.
Then download my GML example, and chek the help in game maker
http://sandbox.yoyog...l-for-begginers
This should help you, notice that the example, was made quite long ago, when I wasn't that good for GML, but this have helped a lot of users so.

[Terrified Virus]

GML is practically the same thing as DnD. Just follow the same logic.

I would disagree with this, as many functions/statements are based on DnD, but there are also many other more advanced functions.

[Yal]

Press F1 while in Game Maker (not while running a game). Complete guide of the GML (spare the deprecated but still functionable bits).