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

Tweaks so far include increased support for the discussion of non-Windows development. Subforums such as “Work In Progress” now bare three separate sections for Mac, Windows, and HTML5. This is a positive step towards the growing list of supported Game Maker platforms being better incorporated with the forum.

Three new subforums have also been introduced that focus on students using Game Maker, indicating YoYo may be wishing to further target university students and budding game developers in the coming years.

The most controverisal addition to the restructuring is the new “Off-topic” section. Some members are voicing concerns that the introduction of this subforum could dilute posting in other areas. It is generally believed that off-topic forums web-wide tend to distract veteran members from contributing to on-topic areas of websites.

Further changes to forum names and sections will continue to take place in what may be the biggest change to the website since YoYo Games took over management of the GMC. It is likely to remain a big talking point in the days to come.

GMC Faces Major Restructure is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Participants are encouraged to use an optional theme, and a special handicap has also been chosen this time to add an additional challenge. Both teams and solo entrants may compete, with the final results being judged by the community. A variety of prizes have been contributed by GMC forum members, and an official prize from YoYo Games is also expected.

For more information, head over to the GameMaker Community discussion topic.

GMC Jam #6 – 72 Hour Competition is taken from: GameMaker Blog

The basic GameMaker Studio program will cost $99 and will enable created games to be exported for Windows and Mac.

Exporters for additional supported platforms, at launch iOS, Android, HTML5 and Nokia’s Symbian, will cost an additional $200 each.

Those who have purchased GameMaker HTML5 will automatically receive access to GameMaker Studio with the Windows, Mac and HTML5 export options. As GameMaker HTML5 can currently be purchased for $99 this gives a potential saving of $200 over the cost of buying this level of GameMaker Studio package directly when it becomes available ($299 = $99 basic program + $200 for the HTML5 export).

With a $99 basic version I wonder whether we will see development of the standalone “GameMaker 8.1″ and Mac versions cease?

GameMaker Studio Pricing Revealed is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Although the email was initially sent out only to those who had previously bought GameMaker HTML5 to gain access to the beta you do not need to have an account which has been used to purchase the HTML5 version. Therefore anyone can sign up to the GameMaker Studio beta here.

General release of the program, which with the inclusion of various modules, will be able to push out a single game to Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and as well as the cross platform HTML5 format is expected in March 2012. Writing on Twitter Game Maker founder Mark Overmars confirmed that those who have “bought GameMaker HTML5 will get a discount on GameMaker Studio that is considerably more than you paid.”

GameMaker Studio Beta is taken from: GameMaker Blog

YellowAfterlife‘s Yellow.IndieIs.Me features GameMaker scripts as well as updates from the projects he is working on. The blog is currently updated every weekday.

GameMaker developers YoYo Games are looking to hire someone to take up a “senior position” to oversee day to day activities at the Dundee-based company. The job advert also reveals that YoYo Games currently employee 18 people in their office at the University of Abertay Dundee but expect this to grow to “at least 25″ this year.

Community Links: Venbrux Interview, Yellow.IndieIs.Me, YoYo Games Recruiting is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Boxes & Circles Don’t Make Good Characters
Creating a walking cycle (or even just requesting one) is apparently too much for some people. Instead we end up seeing endless amounts of games that substite legitimate character design with colored gliding boxes and rolling balls. Sure, at first it was cute controlling a cube with eyes. But this is 2012; I think after years of lazy character development, those offenders can try a little harder at some actual graphical work. By all means, if a sphere or box is a legitimate part of your game design, go for it. Just be warned, its easy to tell when a feature was considered, and when it was slapped together.

Default Resources
A default load screen and default icons are really offputting. They are designed as placeholders that can later be changed, and nothing more.
As much as we all love the program, you’ve failed your job as a game designer if you haven’t solidly masked that its made in Game Maker. Its another case of graphical laziness. Developing an icon only takes minutes with a free tool like GIMP. And the loading bar can be turned off if you really can’t be bothered whipping a custom one up. The same goes for GM dialogues– don’t use the default messages unless you want to tell the world you are incapable of creating popup windows.
Be sure not to use default sprites either. They are there for initial experimenting with GM. No project worth sharing has ever been made with default sprites and backgrounds.

Windowed Mode
There is a time and place for using full screen, and it isn’t utilized as much as it should be. There is no problem in using windowed mode. Its easier to work with, and depending what kind of game you make it may be the best option for you. I am currently working on an exploration game, and windowed mode is what works best for me. But in the Game Maker world there are a lot of games, especially 3D works, that missed the opportunity to go full screen. It only takes a few lines of code to adjust room sizes or views to any resolution, and adjusting GUI elements to sit correctly on any screen is a matter of simple X and Y positioning.
We really need to embrace full screen more. It will make your game appear more professional, and the end user will appreciate a more immersive experience (its hard to ‘get into’ a game in windowed mode, being constantly reminded you are looking at a computer screen).

Psuedo-Companies
There is a strange obsession with creating game companies in the GMC. New users are often guilty of this more than anyone else. You don’t need to create a logo, or a business name, or assemble a team of people you’ll never end up using (seek help only when you need it, team requests should be used sparingly). Don’t create a phoney website for a non-existent unregistered gaming company. Don’t put fake trademarks on your software (protip: trademarks aren’t free, so stop with the TM symbols). If you want an identity associated with your work, use your username or your real name. Or how about linking to a YouTube channel where you can post videos of your game when its out?
In a nutshell, splash screens and bogus company names don’t make you look credible. Since most people abandon their GM projects and teams, its best to leave any “business” details for later– and only if you plan to stick to it and produce more software. And if you want to protect your work legally and freely, copyright can instantly be applied to your work. You can also use a free Creative Commons license, if your game is freeware or opensource. As for trademarks, you don’t need them.

Short Stories
As indie developers, we have to do all the work ourselves. Sound, graphics, programming, design, and everything inbetween. And we all strive to finish our game and get it out there for the public to see. Sadly the one area that often suffers for this is the game storyline. Its typical for a GM project to feature an unsatisfyingly small amount of levels, or even have an unfinished storyline. It doesn’t matter how good everything else in the game is if the duration of play is only ten minutes.
It is hard to get people to download and play your game, and you get one chance to make an impression. Do you think they will come back to play the update after you finish the storyline a month later? Yeah, keep dreaming.
The flip side to this is having a long storyline that sucks; this isn’t a problem for GM games usually, but its worth putting that warning out there anyway.

Don’t fall into the crowded depressing world of cheap Game Maker creation flops. Tools like Game Maker make it easy to do a bad job. Its takes a good job to reach an audience of players. Its easy to cut corners; its not to create a decent game in an over-saturated indie world.

5 Game Maker Cliches to Avoid is taken from: GameMaker Blog

Casual Connect – Hamburg – Feb 7th-9th
YoYo Games is a sponsor of the Mobile social and casual gaming industry conference where they will be showcasing GameMaker Studio.

After attending the event last year interest expressed by one company in HTML5 social gaming lead to YoYo Games CEO deciding to push forward with work on GameMaker HTML5.

Mobile World Congress – Barcelona – Feb 27th – March 1st
Sandy will be at Scottish Government Stand at the mobile phone industry exhibition.

Games Developer Conference – San Francisco – March
Stand 2332 has been booked by YoYo Games to show off GameMaker:Studio at the world’s largest game developers conference.

Games Britannia Festival – Sheffield – July 2nd-8th
Sheffield’s MAGNA Science Adventure centre will host the inaugural Games Britannia videogame education festival. YoYo Games is a sponsor.

Photo: Minnesota Historical Society

YoYo Games Out and About is taken from: GameMaker Blog

The procedurally generated shooter is available both on Desura and as a direct DRM-free download at the lower price (the game is normally on sale at $7.99).

IndieGameReviewer.com has perhaps the most detailed review of the game which praises the games appearance but recounts of repeated tunnel section and enemy graphics.

Probably best to stay away if flashes aren’t for you!

Koya Rift 75% Off This Week is taken from: GameMaker Blog

YoYo Games are sponsoring this years Global Game Jam, a worldwide 48-hour game creation contest based around a yet to be revealed theme.

Special coupon codes which give two months access to GameMaker: HTML5 are being distributed to Jam organisers so that participants can use the software for their game. Those who enter will also receive a future 50% discount of the (as yet unrevealed) price of GameMaker:Studio.

Global Game Jam claims to be the world’s largest game jam event and last year more than 1,500 games were submitted from entrants in 44 countries. The 2012 event takes place this coming weekend, starting Friday afternoon. To find a local participating site visit http://globalgamejam.org/locations.

Last year’s event was sponsored by rival easy game creation tool GameSalad.

Free GameMaker:HTML5 for Global Game Jam 2012 Participants is taken from: GameMaker Blog