Form and Function in 2D Game Design
Additional Object Features
(Using the "hit the ball" example included with Game Maker)
Bounce and Gravity
In addition to changing the movement, speed and direction of an object, it is possible to bounce and curve an object's path. To do this,
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go to the Objects folder and select properties for the ball_object
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Add the event "collision"; with wall_object; and the action "bounce against solid objects"
- Note that the wall_object is checked SOLID, and the ball_object is not! That is because we are bouncing the balls against the wall objects but NOT each other.
- Try both settings of "precise" and "not precise". Also try bouncing against different shaped objects (flat vs. round) with these variations.
- go to the ball_object's event "create" and add the "set the gravity" action
- applied to self, give it a downward direction (270) and a gravity of .5 and test. Notice the curve to the bounce and how it eventually overcomes the gravity effect.
- Try the same with the "relative" option checked. Both the
direction and gravity strength will be affected but both will eventually
be overcome by the strength of the bounce.
Outside of Boundry with Wrap
- delete the wall objects from the room; delete the "collision" event from the ball_object
- select the "other" event "outside room"; select the action "wrap when moving outside"
- select "in both directions" from the action box
Modifying the Room
Characteristics of the room can be set by selecting ROOM properties. Under the Settings tab, you can set the room size, shape, and caption for the room. A background image must be loaded as a Background resource before it can be used in a room. From the Background tab, it can then be assigned to a room.
GIF Animations
GIF and sprite animations are a way to encapsulate number of still images into a single sprite.
CREATE THE SPRITE ANIMATION CYCLE
- Create or load a series of animation frames as a GIF file
- modify colors of an existing series of animation cels
- Explore GIF examples from Game Maker resources
CREATE AUTOMATIC and INTERACTIVE MOVEMENT WITH ACTIONS
- Create object with an animated GIF file as a sprite
- Give movement actions to the object in the "create" event
- Give navigation actions to the object with animation
- Change the animated GIF file with each navigation direction movement
Navigating Rooms
- Create 2 rooms
- Create 2 control sprites: Start and Return
- go to next room
- go to previous room
- restart room
- go to different room
More Events and Actions
More Events
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More Actions
- Create instance
- change speed
- change direction
- random position
- change instance
- change sprite
- play sound stop sound
Operational Actions
- IF statement true
- Block structures
Commonly Used Actions
Navigation- Multiple Rooms
Navigation - Positions - room to room, within room
Sound- play one off sounds - buttons, events
Play Background Music - Play looping audio or MIDI per each room.
Rollover Sprite Change. Mouse events, over, down, up for navigation (ready, set, go)
Exercise
Create a GameMaker game that's composed of two rooms. The first room has one object on it that causes the game to go to the second room, which has an animation cycle (i.e. GIF file) or is moving around on the screen. The second room should also animate forever, unless an object in the room is clicked on to cause the game to go back to the first room.
- Create an object that says "START"
- navigate
For extra credit
- PLAY SOUND on the START object
- PLAY SOUND on the STOP object
- PLAY background music in each room
Assignment: REVIEW Chapter 3 - Game Maker's Apprentice - Galaxy of Possibilities
CONCEPT DOCUMENTS DUE NEXT WEEK!!