Learn To Code by Making Video Games - No Experience Needed!

GameMaker 2.3 introduces a new asset browser and folder-based organization, renames scripts to functions with argument support, and adds sequences and animation curves for keyframe animations.

Discover how events drive game logic in Gamemaker Studio, using create, destroy, step, and alarms to trigger code at the right times.

Access built-in properties in GameMaker Studio 2 to control objects and sprites, including visible, solid, persistent, alarms, width, height, origin, collision mask, gravity direction, and current x and y positions.

Begin coding with one line of code in the step event to move the character every frame at 60 frames per second using the y position.

Initialize variables in the create event and use them for movement with the equals sign. Recognize case sensitivity, reserved words, and descriptive, human-readable names.

Learn to use if statements, else if, and else to control game behavior in a step event, deciding movement, speed, and actions based on conditions like x > 500.

Learn to read error messages and diagnose issues in your game. Fix common errors such as uninitialized variables, case sensitivity, missing objects, and creation order to keep your project running.

Master how functions return data in GameMaker Studio by using random and random range, catching returns with variables, and leveraging diverse return types from strings to sprites.

Create your first game by building a circle sprite and a clickable score system with alarms. Set 60 fps, use room width and height, win at six, and restart.

Plan a retro arcade space shooter by outlining gameplay, assets, and systems first; build step by step from a single object to a multi-level game with score, lives, and boss.

Import the player ship sprite from the resources and set up a new space shooter project in GameMaker Language. Prepare for movement code and lasers in upcoming steps.

Create a player ship sprite, set a fly speed, and enable 60 fps arrow-key controls to move the ship along the x and the y axes with key down events.

Leverage built-in properties like room width, room height, and sprite x/y offsets to constrain player movement with if statements, ensuring boundaries adapt to room size.

Learn to map movement keys in GameMaker Studio by using keyboard_set_map to translate virtual keys to wasd, enabling w, a, s, d movement without copying code.

Add sound effects to your game by importing assets and calling audio play sound on key presses (z or spacebar) with a laser sound, non looping, 16‑bit stereo, volume 0.5.

Learn to draw thruster flames on a ship by taking over the draw event, using a flame sprite and bounding box coordinates to show flames when moving up or down.

Learn to script enemy movement by making ships descend the screen with a set speed, then move toward a random bottom point, and destroy themselves when they exit the room.

Destroy the enemy ship by reducing health on collision and switching to a 4 by 4 explosion sprite sheet when health reaches zero, then destroy the ship after the animation.

Add three player lives, trigger explosion on death, reset the ship to its start position, and deduct a life while maintaining score for a level restart.