A community-driven update for Legacy Game Maker 8.1

Setup updated

We have a new update ready for download. You can get the new version in the Downloads tab.

room:
- fixed a crash when selecting a sound field
- fixed a crash when moving instances that have specific fields set and then undoing

Setup updated

We have a new update ready for download. You can get the new version in the Downloads tab.

setup:
- setup no longer attempts to install a font (it fails anyway)
- setup no longer bundles the visual c redist, has to be downloaded separately
- as a result of the above changes, the setup no longer requires admin provileges

joystick:
- [elpoep] fixed a bunch of documentation errors
- [elpoep] added rumble support

audio:
- [Zasus] error for preloading a sound now displays the sound name
- [Zasus] added loop point getters
- fixed pack creation requiring a backslash at the end of the path
- fixed pack loading crashing if the file doesn't exist
- fixed a mysterious crash that would happen in a project with zero sound resources

core:
- [TsukiruP] new function draw_sprite_tiled_extra
- [TsukiruP] rectangle_in_rectangle now works with flipped rectangles

room:
- right click grid size textfields to pick from common sizes
- added info/warning boxes to each object tool
- added a preference to remove such warning boxes
- fixed cleanup/replace tools only working on the current object rather than the selection
- fixed several actions not updating the object name textfield
- clarified the right click preferences

Setup updated

We have a new update ready for download. You can get the new version in the Downloads tab.

core:
- Fixed a bug that caused string_better to always output .00000000

Website Launched

Today we're launching the official 8.2 Project Website!

We've been cooking something for a while and we think it's ready for public preview. Here you can find news, updates, and links to all the important parts of the Project.

Setup Update

We have a new update ready for download. You can get the new version in the Downloads tab.

core:
- new functions get_system_region, get_system_language
- new functions draw_self_blend, draw_self_ext
- new function file_create
- new function clerp2
- new functions for dealing with included files
- new function font_add_winui for using font files in like the show_message box
- new functions get_open/save_filename_ext for more control
- new functions string_justify,string_wrap
- new function ds_map_write_ini
- fixed the draw self variations crashing when the instance has no sprite
- fixed the battery level returned when you have no battery
- fixed dumb bug in move_wrap
- fixed the default font being broken when using core
- fixed crash when a string is given to string_better
- string_better now returns up to 16 decimal digits

room:
- fixed errors when misdetecting constants in creation code
- fixed misdetection of xy fields when arrays are used in fields
- fixed a crash in the object replace tool
- fixed test run button when using 'portable' gm82
- fixed unwanted zooming when typing digits
- added a preference for using pre-1.2 mouse controls
- added room centering buttons for instances
- added a new tool 'gigaknife'
- made right click actions more sensical
- merged the object tool buttons

dx9:
- fixed surface_reset when using an appsurf

live:
- added a stub extension that can be swapped to in release builds of your game

video:
- added support for using with the Audio extension

What is 8.2?

8.2 is an unofficial, unendorsed, open-source improvement patch for Game Maker 8.1 that we have been chipping away at since 2019. Main changes include:


  • New gm82 plaintext file format designed for source-control and external tools
  • New room editor designed from the ground up with dozens of new features
  • Fields, a new visual way to use type-checked creation code with the new room editor
  • File watcher to allow quick reloading from disk when using source control
  • Many improvements to the basic IDE layout and functionality
  • New ability to swap the order of create events and instance creation code
  • New drag-and-drop actions for Draw Self, User Event, Inherited Event and Inherit Object
  • Option for setting the default room settings when adding rooms
  • Re-added support for Bitmap fonts in the IDE and Games
  • Improved performance significantly when saving and loading projects
  • Improved test run times: we measured 600% faster testing in some projects
  • Improved compression of Game data (around 5-10%)
  • Dozens of custom-built native extensions extending the functionality of the Game Runner
  • Removed one frame of in-game input lag
  • Removed unnecessary DirectPlay installation prompt in Windows 10
  • Fixed memory leak in the image editor that causes a crash after some time
  • Fixed massive Game slowdowns when joysticks are disconnected from the system
  • Fixed Game slowdowns and stuttering on Windows 10 by adjusting the thread scheduler
  • Fixed IDE access violations and unpredictable corruption of program files
  • Fixed foreign text turning into mojibake when loading a v8.0 gmk file
  • Fixed Game crashing when the computer is locked
  • Fixed the IDE and Games running out of memory too early
    •

    The Team behind 8.2

    Floogle
    IDE and Runner Reverse Engineer, Extension Programmer, Tool Programmer

    renex
    Extension Programmer, UI Designer, Tool Programmer


    The new 8.2 Extensions and Tools

    As part of the project, we have a collection of extensions and tools built in GML and C++ to extend the capabilities of the Game Runner. Here's a primer:


  • Alpha
    Apply transparency effects to the Game Window. Supports color-key and direct alpha mode.
     
  • Anvil
    Shader Linter and Compiler for DX9. Supports Studio-like GLSL, ShaderToy and HLSL9. Requires DirectX 9, and outputs ready-to-use code and packed shaders.
     
  • Audio
    New sound extension based on Cute Framework. Supports Wav and Ogg formats with sound instance control and automatic music fading options. You can also use builtin Sound Resources added through the IDE.
     
  • Chunk
    Load parts of rooms saved to chunk files using the New Room Editor.
     
  • Console
    Open and manipulate a real Console Window, with extensive input and mode support.
     
  • Core
    Large collection of helper functions, and central solution for running and connecting the other extensions. Most of the 8.2 extensions require Core, and Core also fixes a few buggy built-in functions with invisible replacements.
     
  • Drag
    Accept files when they're dragged onto the Game Window.
     
  • DirectX 9
    Upgrade your Game's visuals with Shader Programs and fast Vertex Buffer support.
     
  • GEX
    Tool for automatically building and installing Extensions, used for rapid development.
     
  • GLTF
    Load and render complex animated GLTF models with ease in your 3D Games using DirectX 9.
     
  • Joystick
    Wrapper for SDL2 Joystick. Replaces the builtin functions with a much more powerful api, with support for up to 16 concurrent joysticks of almost any model.
     
  • Live
    Edit rooms in realtime using a live connection to the New Room Editor.
     
  • Network
    Handle Memory Buffers and TCP/UDP Sockets. Also supports basic HTTP functionality.
     
  • Room
    A new room editor for the gm82 project format with dozens of new features. Required for using the new Fields feature, as well as instance and tile scaling, rotation and blending.
     
  • Sound
    A FmodEx wrapper extension replacing the builtin sound api with a powerful sound engine with support for dozens of audio formats and advanced realtime effects. Currently stuck in a commercial license limbo, and provided mostly for compatibility with old projects.
     
  • Video
    Add Full Motion Video cutscenes to your Game, with support for multiple video tracks and rendering to surfaces. Includes a Video Encoder tool, and a Video Player for the custom rv2 format.
    •

    Setup Wizard

    This is the recommended option.

    Download Setup Wizard

    Installs 8.2, Examples, Documentation, the new 8.2 Room Editor, the Model Viewer tool, and both Video Encoder and Video Player tools.

    Portable Version

    Get the program files directly.

    Download "Portable"

    Note that you'll need to manually associate any of the included tools and the program will still use the Windows Registry to store preferences.

    Microsoft Visual C Runtimes

    If you run into issues about "msvcrt140.dll" or similar, please install the following update package from Microsoft.

    Download VC_redist.x86.exe

    Note: Requires administrator privileges to install.

    GitHub Organization

    We have a GitHub org where we store all the source code used to create the various extensions and components for the 8.2 Project.

    8.2 Project on GitHub

    Personal Repositories

    Various legacy or satellite components of the Project are stored on our personal GitHub pages. You can find links to those below.

    renex Floogle

    Discord

    Join our Discord community!

    8.2 ProjectJoin

    There, you can get help and support directly from the developers and users of the 8.2 ecosystem, and also find a showcase of other projects using it.


    Links

    Here are some interesting projects created with 8.2.

    Mushroom Kingdom Fusion
    An unofficial, non-profit Mario fan-game crossed over with many other video game franchises.
    elpAudio
    Simple audio player using FMOD. Supports custom visualisers, plugins, Discord Rich Presence and themes.
    renex² engine
    A modern fork of various IWBTG engines, designed to utilize the new 8.2 features.
    WannaFest 22
    Developed by Cherry Treehouse for Fangame Marathon 2022's Blind Adventure event, WannaFest 22 is a fast-paced rollercoaster through hidden gaming gems of the past!
    I Wanna Be The Guy Remastered
    This is a faithful remaster of the original I Wanna Be The Guy, aiming to balance the spirit of the original game with the desire for consistent physics like the fangames that came after while fixing some of the jank.
    Boll Deluxe
    A crossover fan game with Mario and Sonic, in which you progress through Mario-styled levels as various Mario or Sonic characters (plus a couple of guests).