For more details on the giveaway, read the official post at Touch To Play.

Competition closes at the end of May, 2012.

GameMaker Studio Giveaway is taken from: GameMaker Blog

They’re all fairly well known, some more than others. Most can be found on the YoYo Games lists for Highest Rated and Most Played, though not all. You’re welcome to use YYG or a search engine unless you’re feeling like a GM expert. In that case, go ahead and try it with knowledge alone. But please, initially at least, do not post answers in the comments section. Just gives people a chance to try it themselves before having to get help.

A Microsoft Excel (2003 or later) version of the crossword can be found here. I’ll provide answers, probably through an edit to this post in a week or two.

Anyway, here it is (click it for full size)!

Game Maker Cryptic Crossword is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Although the idea is plausible and there are always lots of volunteers in the beginning the initial thrill wears off in just a few short weeks.  If a strong group is not built up by then the projects slowly deteriorate until it is just a small group of elite leaders that are talking to the wall. Here is a look at just a few of the many problems that plague these so called “Community Games”.

1. Lack of proper leadership
Although from the outside it just looks like the position with all the glory and the honor (and the mod powers!), the leadership position plays a very critical role in the overall out come of the game. Too often the leaders of these projects are relatively inexperienced in creating games, much less leading a group of lots of people. More experienced members who would have the knowledge and technical know-how to run such a project realize all the responsibility involved and generally tend to run in the opposite direction.

2. If you want it that way then why not you do it?
A problem I have encountered in many of the games out there is large groups making decisions, that are generally not their business. For example, why should the sprite makers and artists choose what program the sound and music crew must use to make music? It doesn’t really affect them. The musicians, who are hopefully experienced in their field should be able to make a decision themselves, independently from the rest of the community. Why should the people outside the music department get a say in something that does not affect them, but it will affect the musicians, and possibly make them leave.

3. Activity Levels
The activity and devotion of members in the project is easily one of the top deciding factors in the overall speed of the game. As with most projects (including community games) activity and enthusiasm is always exuberant in the beginning of the game.  Unfortunately after the initial rush activity levels start to diminish. This is partially because people get bored with the game or perhaps just wanted to see how it is progressing without contributing. It could also be because at the beginning of the project, there is not a lot which can be done. Leadership roles are still being established and story lines are being written. The challenge is having something for everyone at all times that people can work on.

Another interesting angle that the GMCG is taking is to name a weekly “Top Contributer”. They are also thinking of awarding actual prizes to members as a way of saying thanks as well as an incentive to other members. However, we have yet to see a prize given out. I find this also very true with media groups that try to produce weekly or monthly projects. Viewers like the idea initially, but since they only want to tune in (or read it as the case may be) now and then, the people that run it get discouraged after and give up.

4. Group Decisions
Although some game projects just set up a monarchy and have one person call all the shots, that doesn’t really hold with the spirit of a community game. Alternatives include having a small group of “leaders” that make decisions for members, or having all-out community votes. Unfortunately community votes take lots of time and that can bore members that just want to work on the game. One of the alternatives to having votes or monarchs is to have community discussions or “meetings” if you will. The people that are working on the game will all go on a set chat room at a predetermined time and discuss the aspects of the game, as well as the pros and cons of new ideas. One of the downfalls though is that people are spread out over many timezones and have different schedules which makes it hard for everyone to get their fair say.

5. On-Lookers
As with many group events, there are always people that sit on the sideline and watch before they jump in and do it. While having “contributor of the week” and giving out cash (or other forms of) prizes are good, that is not always enough to get people to join in. Group leaders need to think of creative ways to get these people “off the bleachers” (or computer chairs in this case) and into the project.

The Issues behind “Community Game Projects” is taken from: GameMaker Blog

“Instead we will use our new name “TAILWARE”. You all know
that life would be so much easier with a tail, so you gave you one. Tailware will of
course feature the content of its predecessor, ProdigyGM, however.”

The magazines layout has seemed to downgrade from the previous issue, with issue 5 reverting back to a simpler black and white style. The content was written in a similar style to previous versions of the magazine which involved some rather bland writing that sometimes appeared to be opinionated:

“This game is waaay better
than Realm One Online, Whispered Scroll Online, Goomba
Online, and Realm One Online. Yes, you heard me!”

The issue features an interview with Ben who is the creator of Processing. A face off between Game Maker and Processing was then featured, with Game Maker taking the winning position. The issue also featured other unprofessional things, such as Nathans personal attack on GMTV for featuring him in their top 5 fails from episode 6. The magazine also features some nice reviews of some various games and other previews and interesting articles.

Prodigy GM Magazine Rises From The Dead is taken from: GameMaker Blog

But wait, hold your horses – do you think that our good friend Nate is responsible for this? The explanation to this seemingly miraculous event is simple: he had outside help from somebody insane enough to help him.

So, here’s some bits from the stuff HCG wrote, without further ado:

As  you all may  know,  I am  currently  learning  Java and C++. This may be a surprise to you all but C++ and Java’s syntax closely  resembles  the syntax  for GML.

Oh my god!

I am sick and tired of new games on YoYo and the GMC. Why may you ask? Well I meant, not all of them. A good amount of them. There are many users posting games that have been called: “Unnamed Platformer,” “Unnamed RPG”, “Unnamed TDS”. Why make a game, without a name? How about you get a name  for  the game before the  release?

I still don’t know what “Adbarlian Castles” means…

When you call a game Unnamed,  it makes it seem like its an example/tutorial edit.

Your games have names – and they still seem like example/tutorial edits!

Wowza! There are now 2 interview gm sites. I recall last issue, we spoke of the 1st one.

In a very positive light indeed.

Review for “Coredase” – if I can read this horrible font right:

Finally, a game that strays away from all the violence and harmful nature.

Sounds like a decent review so far…

…I gave this game an overall rating of 6 stars not only because he’s my friend, but because this game is truly a masterpiece.

Once again, the Prodigy Game Magazine presents unbiased opinions (as if reviewing their own games wasn’t enough). Hey – it’s what they he promised us with issue 1:

“We are not politically correct at all. We give out intense news, previews, and reviews.”

Intense, indeed!

The rest of the magazine is the usual stuff: interview, another review… a few typos there and there. Somewhat readable.

The world is coming to an end.

Prodigy Game Magazine becomes a semi-decent publication is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Much to the surprise of many the magazine was released on-time every Friday for its first 11 weeks.   Things however started to slip with two missed release dates and then a switch to a release ‘most Fridays‘ which lasted just four more issues culminating with a Christmas Special.

The magazine won the “Most exciting launch of the year” category at GameMaker Blog’s 2008 awards with 56% of the vote and came third in the “Best periodical publication” category behind MarkUp and GameMaker Tech.

On the content front GMWeekly was very different from previous established magazines focusing mainly on community news and later in its life game reviews and was much shorter in length.  And far more similar to GMB!

Robin Monks and Dan Eggers (of GMB) discussing GMweekly in Episode 4 of GMKing’s podcast

I have not seen Darren Poole online since the magazine stopped producing.  When I asked him in November where he thought GMWeekly would be in three months (this month) he said “Hopefully the publication should be still around. Maybe people will become bored of it, but we’ll just have to see. I’m becoming increasingly busy now, with GCSE tests looming and A-levels on the horizon. Though I still think that my determination will carry the magazine forward. Crikey – in three months, I would be releasing Issue #27 or there abouts!”

Am proud to have registered a domain on behalf of another failed Game Maker magazine, although I should point out that Darren did pay me for it.  Here’s a tip – if you set up a Game Maker magazine don’t ask me to get a domain for you – it will inevitably fail.

With the announcement from Tom Russell last month that due to real life issues he will no longer be publishing his Quarterly (yes GMB missed this news) that leaves just MarkUp and GameMaker Tech as (once again) the only producing GameMaker magazines.  Lots of tried but so far no one has succeeded in creating a successful long term competitor to these two established publications.

Related articles on GameMaker Blog:

• Interview with GMWeekly creator Darren Poole (November 2008)
• 2008 Review: Game Maker Magazines
• A look at the different Game Maker magazines (from April 2008)

Gone and (not?) forgotten: GMWeekly is taken from: GameMaker Blog

• Russell’s Quarterly 5
• GMNews looking at their market
• GMhut
• Suggest Questions for GMTV to give to Sandy

This edition of the Audcast ran for about 8 minutes in length while covering important topics at a reasonable rate. The quality of the Audcast was great!

Gmking Audcast #6 is taken from: GameMaker Blog

However a discount coupon will be placed on the Game Maker Community enabling users to receive a $3 discount on the increased price.

New Game Maker price $25 is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Thanks KC_LC! is taken from: GameMaker Blog

So we at GameMaker Blog wish you a happy new year. Or something.

(This post was scheduled to be published at New Year server time, like last year.)

Happy new year! is taken from: GameMaker Blog