Game Maker
What is it?
Did you always want to design computer games? And you don't want to spend a lot of time learning to become a programmer? Then you came to the right place. Game Maker is a program that allows you to make exciting computer games without the need to write a single line of code. Using easy to learn drag-and-drop actions you can make professional looking games in little time. Games with backgrounds, animated graphics, music and sound effects. And once you get more experienced there is a built-in programming language that gives you full flexibility. What is best, Game Maker can be used completely free of charge. And you can use the games you produced in any way you like. You can even sell them!
Game Maker by Mark Overmars is (more or less) free, and has already been used for the creation of lots of games, some of them rather impressive. Its built-in features support arcade games and "classics" best (built-in features for score points and lives), but you can use it for any kind of 2D game, and meanwhile 3D games too.
While Game Maker was originally never intended to create 3D games, some fans proved it can be done, and with version 6.0, Mark Overmars officially added 3D support, for registered users only.
Game Maker used to be completely free, since version 5.0 it is a sort of shareware. It will never expire, but registering (originally $18, meanwhile $20) will give you some added functions:
As usual, registration will be valid for all 5.x versions.
Game Maker is certainly more difficult to learn than the more specialized programs, but it is well-supported, well-documented and has a lively community. The number of games created with it is legion. Mark Overmars himself offers nearly a hundred on his game page for download, and the sample games he includes are impressive, too. If you are willing to invest some time in learning this program, there is no better choice for your 2D needs.
