Games Development Software

[Bill Bixby]

Can't decide whether this is any different/better/more user-friendly than Scratch.

[Si]

They said no

lol you expected no less. 

[bahhumbug]

I've gone through the supplied tutorial and created a game which worked fine on the machine on which it was created.  Not sure of specs of this machine but it's supposed to have same graphics card as the HPs
 
Tried to run it on a couple of the new HPs and get a graphics card error msg.
 
Here's the requirements:

To be more precise, Game Maker requires a resonably modern PC running Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, or later. A DirectX 8 (or later) compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of memory is required for most created games. It requires a screen resolution of at least 800x600 and 65000 (16-bit) colors (preferably full color). Also a DirectX 8 compatible sound card is required. Make sure you have the most recent drivers installed. Game Maker requires DirectX version 8.0 or later to be installed on your computer. (You can download the newest version of DirectX from the Microsoft website at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/.) When designing and testing games, the memory requirements are pretty high (at least 128 MB and preferably more, also depending on the operating system). When just running games, the memory requirements are less severe and depend a lot on the type of game.

[bahhumbug]

The machine this was created on and run successfully on is a HP Compaq 6000 Pro SFF with an NVidia GeForce 310 graphics adapter  (this was a replacement for a water damaged machine after Xmas)
 
The HPs in the last installation were dc5800s with an ATI Radeon 3470 adapter
 
I'll have another go at this tomorrow but I'm sort of going with the
 

what flippin use is making this finally available to us if the machines you supply won't run it?

option.

[Outlaw27]

Got the same problem.  Game will run on a teacher laptop but not on a Dell 780 or the core issue HP workstations.  Was it not tested on these workstations??

[Si]

Maybe thats why they haven't announced it yet.  I have a funny feeling Culkan here is our Northgate/C2k guy.  Northgate haven't a clue how to get this working on the HPs so they leaked this out for us techs to work it out. 

[Paul]

why would be getting training on it?

[Stephen]

We dont get training, we are meant to use the force to work things out . Anyway that is what management must think!

[Si]

got my fruity little game working on a Dell E5500 and a Dell GX520 workstation so far.  Will test on a HP machine whenever I get one free.  One thing though...how can pupils test their work when they can't work with executables?  They are going to have to loosen up pupils priveleges if this is going on the system.

[Si]

Ok, I've found out the reason why games created don't work.  run dxdiag and check the display tab.  Most of the C2k PCs don't seem to have direct3d enabled.  The ones that have run the .exe just fine.

Have no idea how to enable it since its greyed out for me.   

[bahhumbug]

Good spot.  You've been working again, haven't you?
 
Better call the Devil then and let them know.  Maybe they can enable it.

[Outlaw27]

Have that here. Northgate are working a batch file which will enable this on all workstations

[Si]

I bet we just saved them hundreds of man hours finding that out for them.  Send the cheque in the post pls. 

[Stephen]

However does it mean when they enable it something else will break??

[bahhumbug]

Just noticed that it seems they've done the necessary and Gamemaker now runs on the 5800s (well on 1 of tham anyway - I'll check a couple of others later)