Tips for starting your journey as a game developer using GameMaker – Opera GX

Independent developers like Gagonfe started from scratch and now share some tips on how to use one of the most versatile tools on the market, available in Opera GX

Every gamer has dreamed of putting down the controller and becoming the creator of their own adventures. However, the task of taking on the role of game developer can be daunting for those who have never tried it. That’s where GameMaker comes in. Opera  GX , the browser for gamers, and GameMaker offer aspiring developers an easy-to-use tool, making it intuitive and more accessible to take the next step towards this goal. A great example of what is possible on the platform is Gabriel Gonçalves, also known as Gagonfe.

Gagonfe, a 23-year-old Brazilian game developer, already has many successful games in his portfolio — six of which you can find on  GX.Games , an online store available through Opera GX. Like other gamers who became developers, Gagonfe started from scratch, believing it would be difficult to specialize in the field (spoiler: it wasn’t). Below you can check out some tips Gagonfe shared to start learning and have fun along the way.

Download GameMaker

GameMaker is a completely free game engine that offers free tutorials, assets, and the option to publish games on all platforms using the same code. Download it  here  and try it out for yourself.

“GameMaker is surprisingly easy to get started with, even if you have no programming knowledge.” – Gagonfe

Don’t be afraid

If gamers—or beginners in general—think that creating games is rocket science, they’re wrong. With GameMaker they can develop their own games without any experience and without any academic background, which doesn’t mean they won’t have to learn a thing or two along the way, of course—more on that later.

“I’m a living example of this. I have no specialization and here I am, giving tips on game development. Isn’t that amazing?!” – Gagonfe

No pressure

With GameMaker, learning how to create video games can be fun. However, if your goal is to make money quickly, frustration will set in. Beginners need to take it slow, enjoy the journey ahead, and soon you will be releasing your first games. One step at a time.

“I wasn’t trying to make a living from game development to begin with. But because it was fun, I never stopped and then it became a reality. I feel like I would get frustrated quickly if that was my goal from the start because it’s not something that comes naturally. Again, it’s a very long process and if you can only think about the end goal, you won’t be able to overcome the little obstacles that are right in front of you.” Gagonfe

Be disciplined

Some people have half an hour a day to learn, others a whole day. GameMaker offers tutorials that will allow beginners to produce their first game in just 15 minutes, but the real key to success is perseverance. 

“So you really have to analyze your situation and see what works best for you and most of all have the discipline to stick with it, step by step, because game development is a journey that never ends.” – Gagonfe

Never stop learning

As we said before, with GameMaker there is no need for an academic degree to create games, but to get good at it you need to be prepared to learn on your own and keep improving your skills all the time. 

“You will have to study a lot. There are many things to learn in game development, from marketing to localization, from enemy behavior to environment, from inputs to menus, from user interface to gameplay. So perseverance, learning and studying are key factors to becoming a good game developer, day after day.” – Gagonfe

What’s next for Gagonfe?

Gagonfe’s releases include Doomed to Hell, Colourfor Recolor and Archaeogem, all available on the GX.Games store.

After creating between 15 and 20 games in just a few years, Gagonfe has no intention of stopping. He just announced his next game, Rocket Rats, and is already working on something special for next year. If you want to know more about the developer, feel free to visit his  website .

About GameMaker 

GameMaker is a faster, more user-friendly, cross-platform game engine. GameMaker enables artists and creators to build games within a single codebase and publish natively to multiple platforms including Android, iOS, HTML5, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Windows Desktop, macOS, and Ubuntu. GameMaker has been downloaded over 12 million times. The team behind it is based in Dundee, Scotland. GameMaker was acquired by Opera in January 2021.