S0FIU1HRE REVIEWS
REVIEWED BY IsttVIN UUKO
Gamemaker DKMMMtt
Computer: Commodore 64 Publisher: Activision 2350 Bayshore Frontage Road Mountain View, CA
ever had
94043 Medium:
Disk
Price:
829.95
Ifyou've an idea for
Using a programming formula that a logical, easy-to-use construction kit,
the
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programming
abilities,
are truly original and personalized. booting
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your
editing routines, to make games that After
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doubted
that can be put together in any num own bits and pieces, using the several
m
but
filled with bits and pieces of games ber of ways. Or, you can design your
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a game
proved successful in Designer's Pen cil, author Gary Kitchen has fashioned
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Gamemaker
double-sided
disk, you arrive at the editor. Mere are
is for you
the paths to the various libraries and editors as well as the main program editor. In a window at midscreen are all the programming lines you'll need,
arranged in alphabetical order so that you may scroll through them quickly to find the one you want. Once you've found the line, click
the joystick button to move it to the actual program area below, then push your stick forward or back to find the
and share them with friends who do
next line you need.
not own Gamemaker.
Should your selected line call for a
Or better yet, enter your best effort
variable or a sprite, that part of the line is highlighted until you lill in the
in Activision's contest! The rewards
for winners of the contest include
information, such as screen coordi
both money and publication. I'm sure
nates or spritename. It is as easy as it
my game, where you shoot arrows at
sounds,
and
the pre-written
com
race cars and get a quacking sound at
mands save you both time and syntax
creating.
errors.
works the same. The enlarged grid
From here, you may access the li
The
background
editor
every hit, will be the one—but go ahead and send yours in, anyway.
makes fine detail possible, and allows
How good can the games be? It's
braries that are contained on the Hip
you to make sure that outlines are
anybody's guess. Experiment Strive
side of the disk: a library of sprites,
completely closed before filling them
for greatness. If you've ever had an
sound effects, backgrounds, and mu
with color.
sic. I suggest you page through these
To me, the creation of sounds and
idea for a game but doubted your pro gramming abilities, or if you've ever
libraries first to familiarize yourself
music is stilt a mystery. Yet, in hop
wondered how
with them. Or, if your idea calls for
ping around the editors with a joys
game
something not contained in a library,
tick, I
then Gsmettmker is worth your con
you may go to the appropriate editing
sounds and incredible music. Fortu
mode and create your own sights and
nately, for others like me who may
In fact, although the name belies it,
sounds.
have a tin ear, the library of sounds
1 think it is as valuable for dissecting
and music is quite simple.
as it is for construction, allowing you
The sprite editor is familiar, con sisting of an enlarged grid where the
was able to create credible
are
the elements of a
combined
into
a
whole,
sideration.
Any game elements you create can
to take a game apan and examine it
joystick
be saved to your own library disk, and
piece by piece. Perhaps it should have
clicks and movements, as well as a
any game created can also be saved to
been called GamemakeiiCume Vn-
"life-size'' image of the sprite you're
disk. This way, you can write games
Maker.
sprite
36
is
constructed
APRIL/MAY'86
with
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