Game Maker Lite 8.1

Overview

If you are a creative person and would like to do something fun for a change, then how about developing a game for the computer? For that, you do not need to have advanced graphics or coding knowledge, but rather the right software for the job.

Game Maker is an IDE for Windows and Mac OS currently under the licensing of YoYo Games. Its potential? To help game aficionados everywhere develop computer games without any previous experience. Rest assured that the program comes with tutorials and you will receive all the help you need while developing your very first game.

Installation

The installation process is unsophisticated and undemanding. Download the kit and install the application in less than one minute. The software presents both a free and a paid version, to which you can upgrade any time you want. The minimum requirements for installing the game are as follows: a monitor able to display 600x600 resolution, 3D graphic card with 32RAM and DirectX 8 compatible, DirectX 8 compatible sound card, DirectX 8 or higher installed on the computer and just 15MB space on the hard drive.

Interface

The interface can be displayed in the simple as well as the advanced mode, the latter having more functions and options. When you open the program for the first time, you will notice a tutorial and some tips on the screen to the right of the display. However, you can select whether you want to see the tutorial while developing games. On the left of the interface, there is a window where you can select the backgrounds, paths, objects, timeline, sounds, etc, for the game you are about to create. The same options can be found in the main menu and the quick buttons located right under the main menu. The rest of the interface is composed of a window that allows you to see what to add to the game.

Pros

The strong point of this software application is that it is very flexible, proving again that there are multiple ways to do one thing. Using the Game Maker is also easy, as all steps to creating a game involve the classic drag-and-drop techniques. Moreover, it can help you create both 2D and 3D mini game applications.

Cons

Some users claim that Game Maker tends to take a lot of the computer’s resources. Well, it goes without saying that there is a reason why the minimum system requirements need to be met, given that you are building a whole new game, folks!

Alternatives

There are several applications that can be considered alternatives to Game Maker. The most popular ones are: Tutuloo Game Maker, Grit Game Engine, Power Game Factory and Game Develop.

Conclusion

If you are expecting to create a complex game such as Skyrim or Heroes of Might and Magic, this is not the right program for you. On the other hand, if you want to develop mini games without knowing much or even nothing about coding, Game Maker is the right software for the job.