Today YoYo Games has announced the latest addition to their game development tools called GameMaker: Studio. This new addition is a more efficient, lightening-fast cross-platforn game development tool where developers can create a game using a single code base and then export it to multiple platforms.
Other game development engines and tools like Unity3D have similar features where, with Unity3D, you can create a 3D game and export it to multiple platforms such as Android and iOS. GameMaker is also quite popular thanks to its relatively simple, almost drag-and-drop style of game development. Now you’ll be able to create games and export them to a variety of platforms and app stores as well as Facebook and as a web-based game.
If you are interested in some examples of what GameMaker can do, just look up YoYo Games on the Google Play store and you will most likely find at least one title you’ve tried out. They were all made with GameMaker.
Along with this announcement comes a new licensing partnership as well. HandyGames, developers of some rather popular games like Guns N’ Glory, have jumped on board with GameMaker: Studio and have licensed the software for future titles. It should be interesting to see what HandyGames comes up with using GameMaker: Studio. Further details can be found in the full press releases located below. There are two of them.
Developer Websites: YoYo Games | HandyGames
YoYo Games Launches GameMaker: Studio for Fast and Easy Cross-Platform Games Development
Create Awesome Games in Record Time; Publish to Web (HTML5), Facebook and Multiple “App Stores” Natively
Dundee, Scotland – May 22, 2012 – YoYo Games today launches GameMaker: Studio, a fast and easy to use 2D games development tool. GameMaker: Studio has been developed with usability and efficiency at its core, allowing developers to create games in a single code base and then export and run them natively on multiple formats including HTML5, Facebook, Android, iOS, Symbian, Windows and OSX.
GameMaker: Studio offers a powerful, yet simple to use drag-and-drop integrated development environment with a built-in games-oriented scripting language that considerably increases games development productivity. GameMaker: Studio is a best-of-breed platform that caters to entry-level novices and seasoned game development professionals equally.
“GameMaker: Studio is the next evolution of GameMaker technology,” said Russell Kay, chief technology officer at YoYo Games. “Almost eight thousand developers participated in the GameMaker: Studio beta and have been instrumental in helping us deliver a tool that is ideal for independents and professional development teams.”
“Users of GameMaker: Studio can realize productivity gains of 80 percent or more compared with native coding,” said Michael Dailly, head of development at YoYo Games. “Fully functional prototypes can be created in just a few hours while full games can be ‘app store’ ready in just a matter of weeks. Multiple outputs make deployment across all popular formats simultaneous and seamless.”
GameMaker: Studio features include:
· Export native iOS and Android packages
· Produce ready-to-run HTML5 web code for Facebook or web publishing
· Export native executables for Windows and Mac
· Native source control environment
· Powerful scripting language and internal customizable code editor
· Native physics support
· Internal image editors
· Advanced IDE that includes path and timeline editors
GameMaker: Studio easily integrates platforms and systems to create a seamless experience for developers. Extension packages can be added to GameMaker: Studio for the integration of social networking, advertising and payment systems among other desired functions. Additional export platforms for GameMaker: Studio will be announced soon.
The base price for GameMaker: Studio is $99 (includes Windows and OSX exports). HTML5 export is an additional $99. iOS and Android exports are $199 each. An upgrade to GameMaker: Studio (including HTML5 export) for existing GameMaker: HTML5 customers is free. License fees are per version, no subscriptions required. GameMaker: Studio is available for download now at www.yoyogames.com.
YoYo Games has published multiple hits created with GameMaker: Studio including “Reflexions” – recently hitting No. 1 on iTunes and on multiple App Stores as well as holding the No. 3 paid app spot on Google Play – “Rick O’Shea” which achieved more than one million downloads across various App Stores globally and “Simply Solitaire” which hit No. 1 in multiple App stores during the launch of the iPad.
YoYo Games Announces GameMaker: Studio Partnership with Award-Winning Development Studio HandyGames
Leading Mobile Development Studio Leverages GameMaker: Studio to Create High Quality Games and Publish to Multiple “App Stores” Fast
Dundee, Scotland – May 22, 2012 – In conjunction with today’s launch of GameMaker: Studio, YoYo Games announces a licensing partnership with award-winning German games development studio HandyGames. HandyGames uses GameMaker: Studio to create high-quality games in a single code base and then export and run them natively on multiple formats including HTML5, Facebook, Android, iOS, Symbian, Windows and OSX.
HandyGames developers participated in the recent GameMaker: Studio beta program and already have one major project underway – a role playing game that introduces an innovative new approach to the genre.
“We have known about GameMaker for years, but once we heard about a cross platform GameMaker product, we knew we needed to be involved right away,” said Markus Kassulke, chief executive officer of HandyGames. “Our experience with the beta convinced us the tool was extremely efficient and powerful. We also met with the team at YoYo Games to discuss GameMaker: Studio and the future product vision and we very much like where it is headed.”
GameMaker: Studio offers a powerful, yet simple to use drag-and-drop integrated development environment with a built-in games-oriented scripting language that considerably increases games development productivity. GameMaker: Studio is a best-of-breed platform that caters to entry-level novices and seasoned game development professionals equally.
“YoYo Games is proud to have HandyGames on board using GameMaker: Studio for cross-platform games creation,” said Sandy Duncan, chief executive officer at YoYo Games. “In just a short matter of time we expect to start seeing innovative and successful new titles on worldwide “app stores,” on Facebook and across the Web, all created with GameMaker: Studio.”
