Quick, don't think about cats!

I like it

Can you guess what the original image was from?

Yep, it's from the Wii's/Metroid Prime's start-up screen.

Well, if you want to get started right away, I recommend using Game Maker: Studio because of it's user friendly interface and relatively robust scripting language (GML, or Game Maker Language). A free version is available on both their website and Steam, and the Pro version is usually 100$, but it is frequently on a 50% discount, so not that expensive. The export modules get pretty costly, but that's something to worry about much later. And in terms of tutorials, many people make a bunch of them in good quality and quantity on YouTube. YoyoGames even provides a documentation for GML, its functions and its variables if you ever get stuck or curious.

Anyways, this might seem like a bit of an info dump/advertisement, but I just really think GM:S is a great tool for beginners. Then again, someone else might recommend Unity or something similar, as I've never used it before.

Well, game dev is kind of a slope the way I understand it. First, you make a few freeware games over X years, you gain a certain following and then, if you feel comfortable enough with that, you make your first "big" commercial game which might make some measly amount of profit. Then, depending on how you feel about the success of that game, you can either go back to free or continue to sell games. And if you're persistent in learning the trade and you advertise your games well, you should be reasonably successful.

That's how I understand it at least. And right now, I'm assuming that you're at the stage where you should be making your very first "picking sticks" game.   

I got accepted into a university and am starting a four year long coop software engineering program in September! :D

Can we make the <rant></rant> thingies into a real thing please?

I made her lean back and forth a bit, and it looks way better already, thanks!

Made an animation to see if it would look good in game. What do you guys think?

Stream is over, but if you want me to stream again, tell me!

Hey people!

I'm going to be performing a test on my twitch channel to verify things like stability/sound/ability to keep up with chat and stuff. I'm also going to be messing around in game maker for about an hour, so if you want in on the fun, be sure to click the link bellow!

My stream is here!

It's gonna be starting at about 8:45 atlantic.

Why is this not a thing yet? Is it really that hard to implement?

http://www.scenariogenerator.net/

just read an article about this on RPS. maybe we could try it if we end up playing any of the games it supports?

I 100% support this, it seems like an excelent idea!

I'm considering buying something like an alienware area 51 and pay it off over maybe six years or something. I'd have it during university and I would make close to minimum payments during that time and once I get a job after that I can pay it off completelly in lke one or two years. How does that sound?

pc games need to be poorly optimized so they can more fully utilize the hardware available, so that the pc master race folks don't feel like they wasted money by buying like 30 gpus.

I lold

yeah well 2D developers (indies) are just shit programmers

*Raises hand* 

Yeah, mx11 laptops have been taken off the Alienware website for quite a while, so I knew it was old. And I know specs and background programs are a big variable that is not easily accounted for. I was just wondering why developers don't make the choice to be modest about the graphic capabilities of the general consumer, or at least consider making a "make everything ugly but super fast" switch, and turn off every shader that is not mandatory or something. I'm tired of not being able to play games even on min settings.

As a side note, a list of major performance drags for PC would be nice as a kind of resource. And a question: is there such a thing as "RAM speed"?

I also agree about the 2D thing. Spelunky, I'm looking at you.

This is something I've been noticing for a while now. PC games, or PC ports of games, consistently require much higher specs than the average personal computer has in order to run smoothly at 60fps, even on the lowest of graphic settings. I have an Alienware Mx11 and I can't even run Borderlands 2 at more than 30 fps. Why do games keep being released with such high expectations of the user's hardware?

On a side note, this is part of the reason why people who think the "PC master race" is a thing seem like idiots to me.

This is addicting. I should not have clicked that link.

I'm willing to chat, but by chat do you mean talk or type? Either way is fine.