GameMaker Studio 2: An IDE for 2D Games Now Available for Linux
We often inform / explore games for GNU / Linux, and at other times we usually inform / explore software solutions to create games. In this opportunity, we will continue with the second and specifically about "GameMaker Studio".
"GameMaker Studio" is a valuable and robust Gamer 2D IDE, which can now be used in GNU / Linux, due to the launch of a Beta en .deb format, which makes it interesting to be downloaded and tested.
BennuGD: A Cross-Platform Video Game Programming Language
Free and open alternatives to GameMaker
Given the, "GameMaker Studio" It is not free or open, first we will mention some free and open technological solutions in this area with their respective links to their official websites, so that we are all well informed of the existing alternatives available on GNU / Linux.
BennuGD
“BennuGD is an open source video game development language, with a modular design thought to facilitate the portability of the projects carried out in it, making this language one of the best. BennuGD only officially supports Windows, Linux and GP2X Wiz, but it has been ported to other platforms, including * BSD, Mac OSX, Android, iOS, Wii (Homebrew), Dingoo A320, GP2X, GP32, PS2 (Homebrew) or the first Xbox (Homebrew). In addition, it offers simple solutions for sound and graphics operations. And although it is not as easy as GameMaker, it is not as limiting as this one. "
Godot Engine
"Godot Engine is an open source and multiplatform application, which has advanced features for the development of 2D and 3D games. Godot Engine brings together a series of powerful tools specialized in the creation of games, which gives us the opportunity to create games on Linux without having to reinvent the wheel. Godot Engine source code can be viewed and cloned here, it is provided under the very permissive terms of the MIT License. In addition, it is totally free and you do not require any type of royalties."
Top 5: Other free, open and free alternatives
GameMaker Studio: An advanced IDE for creating 2D games
What is GameMaker Studio?
According to the official website of "Gamemaker Studio" it is briefly described as:
"A more advanced environment for 2D game development."
Although, later they detail the following about it:
"GameMaker Studio 2 is a complete development environment for creating games. It includes a complete set of tools and allows you to create games for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. It is the fastest way to create and export a game to any platform."
Features
Among its general characteristics or current functionalities, the following can be highlighted:
- Enables a cross-platform workflow: Since, it allows to develop games on Windows, MacOS and now Linux. And also, it allows to export the games created directly to the desktop of Windows, MacOS, Ubuntu, Android, iOS, tvOS, fireTV, Android TV, Microsoft UWP, HTML5, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S.
- Facilitates the creation of games: Thanks to its technology called Drag and Drop (DnD ™), which basically allows you to create games with just drag and drop code elements so you don't have to develop any code. Although, it allows one of a proprietary programming language called GML which is based on the C programming language.
- It has an excellent room editor: Which offers good design tools and camera controls, among many things, for example, to be able to order objects within the stage and draw the "sprites" directly without the need for an object.
To expand your knowledge of its characteristics, you can visit this link.
What's new in the new Beta version for Linux
While his current stable version available for Windows and MacOS goes by the number 2.3.3, current beta version available for Linux comes with the number 2.3.4. Its developers report the following about this beta version:
"This may seem like a small version due to the size of the notes, but there are actually a lot of changes in the IDE since version 2.3.3. Please note, this is a very early beta and therefore we are already aware of certain issues and bugs."
Between the errors that are mentioned are the following:
- The debugger does not work.
- Cleaning the project cache may fail.
- The IDE hangs when copying any text 7 times or more.
- The installer does not establish any file associations.
- It is also not possible to establish file associations manually later.
- For now, games can only be built for Ubuntu (not for other platforms).
For more information about the current beta version for Linux you can explore the following link.
More about GameMaker
For more information on "GameMaker Studio" the following links can be explored directly:
Summary
In summary, as can be seen when it comes to creating (developing) 2D Games on and for our Alternative Operating Systems based in GNU / Linux, because there are very useful native and multiplatform technological solutions (Windows and MacOS), like the known "BennuGD and Godot Engine" among many others free, open and free. However, as in every area of the Linux software interesting commercial, proprietary and closed alternatives emerge, such as "Gamemaker Studio" which is a valuable and robust Gamer 2D IDE, which can now be used on GNU / Linux, which makes it interesting to download and test.
We hope that this publication will be very useful for the entire «Comunidad de Software Libre y Código Abierto» and of great contribution to the improvement, growth and diffusion of the ecosystem of applications available for «GNU/Linux». And do not stop sharing it with others, on your favorite websites, channels, groups or communities of social networks or messaging systems. Finally, visit our home page at «DesdeLinux» to explore more news, and join our official channel Telegram from DesdeLinux.