From: stone-andy@cs.yale.edu (Andy Stone)
Newsgroups: rec.games.programmer
Subject: Re: GAME.MAKER
Date: 18 Nov 92 17:41:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: TIGER.1ef2ddINNe18
Distribution: rec
Organization: /homes/majors/stonea/.organization
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In-reply-to: spurcell@galadriel.mcd.intel.com's message of 18 Nov 92 08:12:51 GMT


In article <SPURCELL.92Nov18001251@galadriel.mcd.intel.com>
spurcell@galadriel.mcd.intel.com (Stacy Purcell ~) writes:

>   Have any of you ever used GAME MAKER from Recreational Software
>   Designs? It is supposedly software to aid in creating arcade games
>   and adventure games, sort of a video game construction kit.
>
>   It seems like it might be useful for amateurs like myself who are
>   interested in game design. According to the ad opposite page 54 in the
>   November 92 issue of Computer Gaming World,

>     "GAME.MAKER requires an IBM AT compatible 286, 386, or 486 with a color
>      VGA monitor and mouse. Joystick optional."

>  The ad also offers the following information.

>    "A technological breakthrough by Recreational Software Desings lets you
>     do the impossible. Now you can create 256 color VGA computer games
>     without programming.

>      +Design unlimited number of animated monsters and good guys
>      +Animated characters walk, run, fly, hop, pop from scene to scene
>      +Design your own sounds
>      +Make arcade and adventure games as unique as your imagination
>      +Modify and enhance GAME.MAKER games"

>   So, has anyone tried this product? If so could you comment on its
>   good and bad points.

>   thanks,
>   -stacy

	Yes, I've used Game-Maker quite extensively.  In fact, I've
probably used it more then anyone else, because I also wrote it!
Although in most cases my testimony would be suspect, in this case, it
really is not.  Why?  Because there is NOTHING ELSE to compare it to --
there isn't any competing product to steal our sales.  Also, realise
that I COULD have pretended that I was not involved in the project, and
applauded it profusely, but I feel that the product stands solidly on its
own...
	Basically, I designed Game-Maker to allow people who know absolutely
nothing about programming or game theory to create action adventure, 
action role playing (ie, the character can increase his/her/its hitpoints,
get more damaging weapons, etc), or shoot'em up style games!  Apogee's
Commander Keen is a good example of the style of game play, except that
Game-Maker uses entirely 256color VGA, while Keen is 16color EGA.
   	EVERY aspect of a game is defineable in Game-Maker.  Sections
accessible from a main menu let the user create palettes, picture blocks,
monsters, characters, background scenes/worlds, and sounds.  Games created
using these tools can be played from the main menu, or converted to an .exe
format and distributed as ShareWare to the world.  A single game can have
30 scenes, each one over 60 times the size of the screen.  Player's move
inside a scene via a smoothly-scrolling background (This is the New
Technology part.  I am unaware of any other VGA game which utilises the FULL
SCREEN and allows smoothly scrolling backgrounds).  Unlike many
non-professional attempts, everything in a game is defined by the creator.
You can draw all the graphics of the game, creating original characters,
monsters, and scenes.  You can then define strengths, movement patterns, and
death sequences for the monsters and characters.  Characters can also have
starting hitpoints, lives, inventory, and money.  Scenes are made up of
a 100x100 grid of blocks each of which can be solid walls, one-way doors,
monsters, animations, objects, and can have gravity in 8 directions.
	For the artistically uninclined, we have included lots of pictures,
and a utility which will "steal" pictures from .gif files.

The Drawback:
	You will not be making 3-man year professional games.  We purposely
did not make the product for Game companies (except prototyping)...It does
make darn good ShareWare, and I think it is being used by several companies 
to create a "marketing video game" (Whatever that is--we'll have to coin a 
new term: "infogame" maybe?).   Order from KD software 1-800-533-6772. 
About 89$.

****  I know that this might be construed as an advertisement, so before
I am flamed, I have two statements to make:

	1:  This is a reply (ie I was asked).
	2:  Game Maker is a completely new product type.


							Andy Stone.
						stonea@MINERVA.CIS.YALE.EDU
-- 
                                                  |  Andy Stone |