_174504

My problem seems simple at the surface, but though I have been using game maker for years, I have been unable to resolve it myself insofar. Briefly, the issue that I encountered is this:

I have been working on a game for a while, but put it down for a while so I could get the most out of AP month . I just picked it back up, and decided to finish it. The game utilizes a very large and detailed map (6144x6144 room size), as well as story elements. Therefore, I use the built in GM saving feature to create and load save files. When the character in the game dies, the game is supposed to load the save file. However, it freezes instead.

Observations:
--The save file is where it is supposed to be. When I delete the file and re-save, I get the same loading issue.
--Other games created with game maker save and load just fine.
--My laptop has 1GB of dedicated graphics and an Ivybridge processor, so it should not have trouble running GM.
--When deleting lots of variables and cutting the map down to 1/8 of the size, I still get the same loading issues.

Thanks for any help you may provide. Maybe this is not a programming issue, but I don't know where else to place it. Is there an alternate way to save, say ini files or something? I can provide an image of the frozen screen, but that wouldn't help much. If need be I can supply an exe.

I am working on a game (my first, it so happens), and thought I would share it with others who are more experienced in game development so that I might receive some helpful feedback. This does not yet have a name, but I am trying to think of one...
If you are drawn to this game already and want to play it, you may skip the entire description and follow this link:
link

Images:



I have been working on this for about two months, off and on, though progress is slow because of massive amounts of homework (anyone taking APUSH might sympathize). There is, as previously stated, no title. Aspects of the game that would reveal major story elements were removed; dialogue and characters and such. This is far from finished, and is subject to change. It was influenced by games like Hero Core, though not all inspiration was drawn from these sources, and the game is unique in its own way. There is no music because I don't know how to make it...
Some enemies are missing from certain areas (these are the areas where there are no monsters trying to kill you. Oh and the first boss (that would be the robot that is considerably stronger than all the other robots) is unfinished. Come to think of it, everything is subject to change.
I made all of the graphics myself so please try not to complain about them...
The game might lag a bit on older computers when using the map item, see below for map usage. The game has to generate the map whenever it is opened (the map that is) and it also constantly checks for changes while open...
I think thats it, I hope that I followed all the rules..


Controls:
Arrow Keys: move
X/Z: Flip/shoot
Space: Map
Click inside window and drag to move it (I am very proud of this, being new to GML and all)
Also the lighting shouldn't affect frame rate (I am very proud of this too)
Thats it i suppose, please give constructive criticism as this is my first game...

Updates
12/20/11-- Update 1/29 Section 1- Minor bug fixes, Boss 1 Change
             - When monsters/attacks hit you the character flickers and does not suffer hp draining
             - The First boss was completely re-worked
             - Weapon changing was added, but is still incomplete, to change weapons shoot boxes at save areas
             - Weapon changes affect character appearance only, though later weapons will actually changes
             - Note that not all weapons will be immediately available, they will be unlocked as you defeat bosses
             - Weak circular robots that fly around and occasionally shoot no longer leave jet trails
             - Enemy attacks that split in four when they hit walls (round energy ball things) can now be killed with your gun, but then split into 8 parts
             - Other minor graphical changes