Is a GameMaker Studio Map Editor Achievable for 3D?
Absolutely, creating a 3D map editor in GameMaker Studio is indeed achievable. Now that we’ve established that, let’s dive into the process of making the magic happen.
Last update: 13th December 2023
Introduction
Creating a complete 3D map editor in GameMaker Language (GML) can be a complex and extensive project. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll cover the basic framework to get you started.
If you require resources, can be found on my website under Resources > GameMaker Resources.
Please note that you require a solid grasp of the GML Language. Creating a fully-featured 3D map editor is a significant undertaking, and this guide will provide a simplified overview to help you understand the fundamentals. You can expand upon these concepts to create a more comprehensive editor.
1. Setting up your Project
Launch GameMaker Studio 1.4.9999 Professional Edition.
Create a new project and choose the appropriate settings for your 3D game.
You may wish to set the sleep margin to 15.
2. Creating the Map Editor Interface
Design a basic user interface (UI) for your map editor. You can use the built-in GUI features in GameMaker, such as sprites for buttons, draw text to create labels, and text boxes, to create your UI.
3. Initialising the Map Editor
Create a camera object for your map editor. Let’s name it:
obj_cameraIn the Object’s Create Event, set up the necessary variables, such as camera settings, grid size, and map data structures.
Initialise a 3D camera for navigating and viewing the map.
4. Handling User Input
In the Object’s Step Event, handle user input for camera movement, tile placement, and other map editing actions.
5. Importing Assets
Importing 3D Models, textures and other game assets
GameMaker Studio only understands the .d3d format for understanding model files.
An example of a .d3d file has the following syntax:
obj_building.d3dSupported file formats and best practices
Organising assets within the editor
6. Loading and Unloading Models
text to be here
7. Rendering the Map
a nice write-up
8. Terrain and Environment
9. Saving and Loading Maps
Implement functions to save and load map data to/from files using file_text_... functions.
10. Performance and Optimisation
11. Testing and Debugging
12. Additional Features
Depending on your game’s requirements, you can add features like selecting and deleting tiles, different tile types, and more.
This guide provides a basic foundation for creating a 3D map editor in GameMaker. As you become more comfortable with GML and the GameMaker engine, you can expand upon this foundation to create a more feature-rich map editor tailored to your game’s needs.