Destron

PLAY HERE

This is a performance demo more than anything, so I would like feedback on how it runs for you. I get excellent performance with Chrome and Firefox, however the particles choke IE to death. WebGL is set to auto detect. I will be adding a "low performance" option that uses animated effects instead of particles.


Controls are simple, aim with the mouse and shoot with the left mouse button.

Your country is under attack from invading forces and its up to you to stop them. Shoot down the paratroopers before they can land, and the occasional drone will swoop in and try to bomb you.

The only playable level at the moment has no balance to it, as I just put it together to test everything, so the enemies come at random and sometimes overwhelm you, and sometimes don't come fast enough, and for testing the firing rate is higher than it will be in the final version. If enemies manage to touch down they will plant a bomb on your turret. After 4 hits by either drone bombs or planted bombs then its game over.

Each shot fired costs you points, you earn points by killing enemies. You also lose points if landed enemies manage to escape off the screen. Points will be used to open up additional levels, and repair damaged turrets. The levels will all have 3 objectives ala 3D Mario games, so each level will need to be played 3 different times each some of which include boss battles. If a turret is destroyed you will have to fix it to continue, if all your turrets are destroyed the game is over. You will also have power ups to help you, and the game will have achievements and online high score lists, all of which is still to come.

Remember, this is a demo of sorts so its not balanced at all. Just blast away and let me know how it performs for you and what browser you are using, and let me know what you think!

SCREENSHOTS

OK, so I have never really dealt with trying to save a surface as an external image before, but that is what I am trying to do right now. I want to be able to draw a surface and export it as a JPEG image. Right now this is the method I am using:

var exp;
exp = surface_create(1728,1296);
surface_set_target(exp);
draw_clear_alpha(c_black,0);\
//draw stuff here
surface_reset_target();
surface_save(exp,filename_change_ext(get_save_filename("Image files (*.jpeg)|*.jpeg",""),".jpeg"));
surface_free(exp); 

OK, this works, and creates a JPEG image that I can open in Paint and Windows Photo Viewer, but when I try to open it in Photoshop I get this error:

Could not complete your request because an invalid or unknown JPEG marker type is found.

Any idea how to save this properly?

Current Episode: Episode 2 May 2, 2012

iTunes link is live, You can find us here: http://itunes.apple....ast/id520411559

GameMaker Podcast is a new podcast related to GameMaker as well as topics that can benefit the GameMaker user. On every show we will talk about the community news, discuss topics in the game industry that may directly affect GameMaker users, talk about tips, programs or resources that may benefit developing programmers and talk about some the the great games or WIP projects that are going in in the community. We will also have interviews from time to time and include anything we get from the community.

We want to send the message loud and clear that this is a community podcast so we want to hear from you! If you send us questions we will do our best to get them answered, if you want us to discuss a specific topic then we will.

Right now we plan to publish the podcast bi-weekly and we will adjust the time frame if needed, but each show will be over an hour in length so we feel this is a good starting point.

Finally we published out very first episode today which you can find below:

Episode 1 - April 18, 2012


Episode 2 -May 2, 2012


We welcome your comments, good or bad, so that we can work to improve the show. Feel free to post here or contact us via one of the methods below!

If you wan to submit content, come on the show to talk about your project, talk about a special subject, or want to suggest topics for us please email us.

iTunes link is live, You can find us here: http://itunes.apple....ast/id520411559

The Podcast is hosted by: tingler,Destron, and zakaos.
You can find our official website at http://gamemakerpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @GM_Podcast
Email us at gmpodcast@gmail.com
Our Official RSS feed is http://www.gamemakerpodcast.com/feed

This example\tutorial will show you how to use the new asynchronous functions in Game Maker HTML5 and Game Maker Studio to communicate with a PHP script stored on your web server and interact with a MySQL Database. I tried to make this example as simple as possible to edit and modify for your own use.

Some benefits of using MySQL for storing game data include:

Game Data is always safe (No worrying about changing devices, PC crashes, etc)
The same MySQL database can be shared between the game and your website
Achieve Rockstar style integration between your game and your website with ease.
Allow your website and game to share functions.
Build your own custom achievement system and allow players to show it off on your website
Create "gamer cards" based on real time game data with ease
Collect data and statistics about game data and usage with ease.

The example PHP script includes the following functions:

Create a user account
Authorize User account
Save game to database
Load game from database

To try this out for yourself you will of course need a PHP enabled web host with a MySQL database. The example includes full documentation in 3 different PDF files, a quick setup guide to get you up and running quick with a sample database, detailed explanation of the PHP file for those who don't know PHP, and a detailed explanation of the Game Maker file. To try this example, or even edit it for your own use you don't need to know PHP, you just need to know how to follow directions.

The archive includes the PHP script, documentation, the .gmz project file to load in GMS or GM:HTML5, a compiled version in HTML5 ready to upload to your server, sample SQL file to import for quick setup, and a password font.

You can see a live sample HERE

With the live example you can login with the username Admin and the password Password, you can create an account, and you can save and load data.

You can Download the project HERE

If you would like to see something added (additional PHP functions for example) let me know.

EDIT: I don't check this topic, and the board does not always email me when someone replies, so if you need help and I don't respond to your post please PM me.

• Title: User Login/Game Saving Using PHP/MySQL/Asynchronous
• Description: Detailed example of how to create a user account, log in, and save/load info using async functions.
• GM Version: :GMHTML5: :GMS:
• Registered: Yes
• File Type: .zip (The only approved archive), .etc (other formats are OK, but you MUST include a ZIP or .gm6/k file
• File Size: 1.44MB
• File Link: My link
• Required Extensions: None
• Required DLLs: None

Summary

You can view the example live here: VIEW LIVE EXAMPLE

This is a detailed example of how to use Asynchronous functions to communicate with a PHP script. This example shows you how to create a new user account, login to said account, save information to the database, and pull that information back out of the database and load it in the game. You do not need to know PHP to use this, you just have to understand what edits to make to the included PHP file and that is completely detailed through comments in the files themselves and the included PDF.

If it is warranted, I will continue to develop and add functions to this example.

The archive includes:

The .gmz project file for GM:HTML5 or GMS
The sample complied website
The PHP script that contains the functions you will call
A .sql file with a sample database to get you running fast for experimentation.
3 PDF files, a Quick Setup guide, A guide that details all the PHP code, and a guide that details the GM parts.

Required:
PHP/MySQL enabled Webhost
Ability to create and modify a database on your webhost
FPT client
Notepad or other NON rich text editor (I suggest notepad++)
Ability to read



You can view the example live here: VIEW LIVE EXAMPLE

Potential additions:
* Reset user password via email
* Function that pulls more than one row of data
* Example of a "High score" list.
* Anything else you would like to see added.