Game Maker Help Thread!

[halibabica]

To get started, you'll need Game Maker.  The full version is $25, but you can download a free one that's more limited.  You don't need the full version to edit graphics.  Once you have the program (and Spelunky's source), you can change its looks to your heart's content.

[banna8]

Hi, I was wondering if it was possible to make an object move along a moving path. Like if I where to make a characters feet move along a walking path, while stile staying underneath the body of the character (another object). Or do I have to just make an animated sprite for the foot and have it be pinned underneath the character. however this second option would be very tedious, as I plan on allowing the player to change shoes and stuff, and if the feet could follow a path, i could just change the sprite using a global variable.

[halibabica]

I assume this is for that Rayman thing you were working on.

I'd set the feet to stay a certain distance from the body and move to follow it when that distance grows.  So the feet would try to stay at oBody.x+8 or something, and if it wasn't in that exact position, it'd increase it's xVel or yVel until it was.

That's the basic idea of it, but I can imagine it taking a lot of refinement not to look absolutely wacky.

[Zambaku]

I'm having a bit of trouble with one of my new enemies. It's 32x32 and sometimes when it spawns it dies right away due to lack of space. How do I go about making it spawn in a place with enough space?

Also, I can't get it's movement right. It just keeps walking of ledges, instead of turning. And when it bumps into a wall it just continues to try and walk through it instead of turning =/

The monsters step code:

Code:

if ((x > view_xview[0]-36 and x < view_xview[0] + view_wview[0] and
        y > view_yview[0]-36 and y < view_yview[0] + view_hview[0]))
{
moveTo(xVel,yVel);

yVel += myGrav;
if (yVel > yVelLimit) yVel = yVelLimit;

if (collision_point(x+16, y+16, oSolid, 0, 0))
{
    hp = 0;
}

if (hp < 1)
{
    scrCreateBlood(x+14+rand(0,4), y+14+rand(0,4), 4);
    repeat(4)
    {
        instance_create(x+14+rand(0,4), y+12+rand(0,6), oBone);
    }
    if (global.currLevel == 13) instance_create(x+16, y+16, oPotion);
    if (countsAsKill)
    {
        if (isRealLevel()) global.enemyKills[20] += 1;
        global.tomblords += 1;
        global.kills += 1;
    }
    instance_destroy();
}

if (isCollisionBottom(1) and status != STUNNED)
    yVel = 0;

if (attackTimer > 0) attackTimer -= 1;
if (whipped > 0) whipped -= 1;
   
if (status == IDLE)
{
    if (counter > 0) counter -= 1;   
    if (counter <= 0)
    {
        status = WALK;
    }
}
else if (status == WALK)
{
    if (counter > 0) counter -= 1;
   
    if (facing == LEFT)
    {
        if (isCollisionLeft(1) or
            (oPlayer1.x > x+16 and abs(oPlayer1.y-(y+32)) < 16 and counter == 0))
        {
            sprite_index = sDragonWalkR;
            status = TURN;
            counter = 30;
        }
        else if (oPlayer1.x < x+16 and abs(oPlayer1.y-(y+16)) < 32 and attackTimer == 0)
        {
            status = ATTACK;
            sprite_index = sDragonFire;
            image_index = 0;
            xVel = 0;
        }
        else xVel = -1;
    }
    else if (facing == RIGHT)
    {
        if (isCollisionRight(1) or
            (oPlayer1.x < x+16 and abs(oPlayer1.y-(y+32)) < 16 and counter == 0))
        {
            sprite_index = sDragonWalkR;
            status = TURN;
            counter = 30;
        }
        else if (oPlayer1.x > x+16 and abs(oPlayer1.y-(y+16)) < 32 and attackTimer == 0)
        {
            status = ATTACK;
            sprite_index = sDragonFireR;
            image_index = 0;
            xVel = 0;
        }
        else xVel = 1;
    }
}
else if (status == TURN)
{
    xVel = 0;
}
else if (status == ATTACK)
{
    xVel = 0;
    image_speed = 0.5;
    attackTimer = 100;
    if (image_index >= 7 and image_index <= 12)
    {
        if (facing == LEFT)
        {
            obj = instance_create(x+8, y+12+rand(0,4), oFireBall);
            obj.xVel = -rand(3,5);
        }
        else
        {
            obj = instance_create(x+24, y+12+rand(0,4), oFireBall);
            obj.xVel = rand(3,5);
        }
    }
}
else if (status >= STUNNED) status = WALK;

if (isCollisionSolid())
    y -= 2;

if (facing == LEFT)
{   
    if (status == WALK) sprite_index = sDragonWalk;
    else if (status == IDLE) sprite_index = sDragonLeft;
}
if (facing == RIGHT)
{   
    if (status == WALK) sprite_index = sDragonWalkR;
    else if (status == IDLE) sprite_index = sDragonRight;
}
}

[halibabica]

Try examining how other similar enemies behave.  For example, Hawkmen don't walk off of edges, so you could look in its step event to find the way to prevent that.  Likewise, cavemen will turn around when they bump into a wall, so find the code in their step event that makes them do so.  You could also look at the entity generating script to find the restrictions the game sets on making Tomb Lord appear so it only shows up where it's safe.

[Sparkle]

I HAVE A QUESTION:
Without having Game Maker Pro, would I be too limited to have it connect to the internet?

[Kegluneq]

I don't get the question.
If you mean "Can I only use the lite version when connected to the internet?" then no. There are no restrictions as to when and where you can use it, only what you can make.

If you mean "Can I use certain game making features that use the internet (like multiplayer games)?"  then yes, lite can do that too!

[Sparkle]

YAY! thanks, it was the second question. and sorry, I wasn't sure how to word that properly xD

[DrWhoFan82]

Where can I find the software to modify this game?

[Sparkle]

you can go to yoyo games' website, and download "Gamer Maker"

http://yoyogames.com/gamemaker/windows Download the "Lite" version if you want the free one :3

[Straucher]

How would I add my own custom objects and categories to the level editor?

[halibabica]

It's complicated.

1. Add the new object category variables to the list in oLevelEditor's create event.  You'll see a bunch already there called blockArray, trapArray, etc.  You'll need one of those and a number for each object in the array.  You'll also need a symbol for each object you add.  Spelunky already uses most of the letters and numbers, so you'll need to dive into some special ASCII characters to avoid dropping other objects.  Finally, you'll need another variable added under the array lists to go with the BLOCKS, ENEMIES, TRAPS, and ITEMS variables.

2. Add a press-number event to oLevelEditor for your new array.  You can copy one of the existing ones and just change the variables inside to match those of the array you're adding.

3. In oLevelEditor's step event, copy+paste another of the drop select script blocks and change the variables needed.

4. In the Level Editor scripts, add your objects and the symbols they use to scrCreateTile, scrCreateTileObj, and scrSetCursorTile.

If you do all that correctly, you'll have a new drop array that can place objects in the level.

If that sounds too hard, you can always just use the Editor Plus mod which already has almost everything you could ask for anyway.

[Straucher]

I'll take a shot at it.

[Bae]

So hi guys

Mars and I are making a game in GM and are using the same engine that Derek adopted for spelunky, only we're having trouble getting the player character to work right

Mars says its something to do with the mask but I don't really understand GM terms so I'm just going to explain it in my own words and probably get corrected later

Here is a screen cap of the problem: http://i43.tinypic.com/nfmfkl.jpg

Basically the collision box is really really tiny, the one being used was meant to go with a 16x16 mario sprite that was present in the engine so our sprite is sunken into the floor and hangs off of stuff by his shoulders. The main problem here is that we can't figure out how to change the collision box, Mars said he couldn't find any mention of the mask or whatever anywhere in the code, so if anyone could help figure that out it would be greatly appreciated.


Also Mars is having issues with player attacks but I still dont understand the problem so I'll have to ask about that later.

[Wonkyth]

If Mars wants to upload any relevant pieces of code, in text form, I'd be more than happy to apply my mammoth brain to the problem. =P