Chapter 21: Creating a Game with the 3D Gamemaker

In the previous chapter, we walked through the steps required to install 3D Gamemaker. Now that it’s installed, we’ll use it to develop a 3D shooter. The software comes with a variety of prebuilt environments and 3D models that can be used in your creations. We’ll use tanks as the combatants and a space environment for the scenery.

Getting Started

When you open 3D Gamemaker, a screen like that in Figure 21.1 is displayed. This screen allows you to choose between Standard and Beginner modes of operation. For the example in this chapter, you can choose Standard.

Figure 21.1: 3D Gamemaker allows you to choose Standard or Beginner operation.

Note

The graphics/models used in the 3D Gamemaker examples are included with the full release version of the software. The demo version on the CD-ROM does not include all of these graphics. You can follow the examples by substituting any model you would like because we are interested in the concepts of creating the game as much as the game itself. If you would like to follow along exactly, you can upgrade to the full version, which is a very cost-effective option for beginning developers.

After selecting Standard mode, a second window will appear (see Figure 21.2). From this window, you can choose Make Game, the top selection on the list.

Figure 21.2: Choose Make Game from the menu.

The next window that is displayed is the standard IDE for the 3D Gamemaker. You’ll see a series of icons across the top of the screen. Each of these icons represents a step in the creation of a game. Click the first icon. You’ll see something like Figure 21.3.

Figure 21.3: 3D Gamemaker comes with several default types of games.

From the list of displayed genres, choose War. This will display a new screen with available environments. Choose Corridors2 or something similar. Figure 21.4 displays the selection.

Figure 21.4: You can select from any of the prebuilt environments.

The next step is to click the next icon in the list. This time it looks like a joystick. This icon allows you to select from characters to control in the game. We’ll use a tank. In Figure 21.5, you can see the selection being made.

Figure 21.5: We’ll control a tank in the game.

Like the previous steps, after selecting the character, you move on to the icon to its right. This icon allows you to select the bullets that will be fired from your character. You can choose the Frag Bomb from the list (see Figure 21.6).

Figure 21.6: The Frag Bomb being selected.

After making the selection, you can move to the right again. This icon will allow you to pick your enemies in the level. Figure 21.7 displays the options, and you can choose Green Cobre from the list.

Figure 21.7: The available enemies.

Once again, select the icon to the right of the previous one. You can choose Gray Shell from the bullets (see Figure 21.8).

Figure 21.8: Available bullets in the 3D Gamemaker.

Choose the icon to the right, which allows you to select the obstacles that will be placed throughout the level. You can choose Debris from the list, as can be seen in Figure 21.9.

Figure 21.9: The Debris obstacle for the level.

The next icon will allow you to choose the end of level boss. From the enemies, you can select Dark Tank (see Figure 21.10).

Figure 21.10: Dark Tank is the end of level boss.

Game items can be selected from the next level. We’re going to add Energy boxes to the level that can be picked up by your tank. See Figure 21.11 for the selection.

Figure 21.11: You can add energy pick-ups to the game.