Action Game Maker
Action Game Maker, known as アクションゲームツクール in Japanese, is an game development platform developed by Gotcha Gotcha Games. It belongs to the Maker (ツクール) series, which provides user-friendly tools to create games without coding experience.
Development and engine
[edit]Scheduled for release on Steam in 2025, Action Game Maker uses the Godot Engine, an open-source game engine known for its versatility and graphical quality. This is a shift from the proprietary engines previously used in the Maker series and enables creators to add richer visual effects, dynamic animations, and varied gameplay mechanics.[1][2]
Features and creative potential
[edit]One of Action Game Maker's primary strengths is its extensive library of assets and customization options, including premade character sprites, background templates, music, and sound effects. These assets serve as a starting point, but the software encourages creativity through adjustable parameters and open import options, allowing users to inject unique art styles, animations, and sound.
The platform includes intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces for level design, AI behavior settings, and game physics adjustment, giving users granular control over how enemies move, how players interact with objects, and how scenes transition.[3][4]
Action Game Maker builds on the scripting system of Pixel Game Maker MV by utilizing Godot's core functionalities. Actions like displaying text or gauges are now directly tied to Godot’s systems, offering developers more flexibility and dynamic control. The introduction of additional features above the Godot's system improves interactivity and ensures compatibility with GDScript, providing a smoother workflow while maintaining accessibility for both visual and code-based development.[5]
User experience and community involvement
[edit]Designed for both beginners and experienced developers, Action Game Maker simplifies the process of sharing creations within its community through direct publishing options, letting creators showcase their games on Steam or distribute them independently. It is anticipated that the platform will support a variety of languages, widening accessibility and encouraging global collaboration and feedback.[6]
At the 2024 BitSummit Drift event, Action Game Maker attracted attention through its teaser trailer, signaling strong interest from the indie development community. The platform’s focus on creative freedom with professional-grade tools is expected to appeal to hobbyists and indie developers alike, aiming to establish a community around sharing assets, tips, and user-created mods.[7]
Comparisons and legacy
[edit]As the latest installment in the Maker series, Action Game Maker builds on the legacy of RPG Maker and its spiritual successor Pixel Game Maker MV, which made game creation accessible to countless users since their releases. While previous entries focused heavily on role-playing mechanics, this entry's focus on action gameplay marks a notable expansion for the Maker series. This shift also aligns with the growing popularity of indie action games on platforms like Steam, where players and developers can experiment with styles that blend nostalgic and modern game design.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "ツクールシリーズ最新作『アクションゲームメーカー』2025年発売。Godot Engineを採用しさまざまな機能を利用してACTが作れる". 電撃オンライン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "『ツクール』シリーズ最新作『ACTION GAME MAKER』が2025年発売を目指しPC向けに開発中。ゲーム開発未経験者でも自由度の高いアクションゲーム制作を楽しめるコンストラクションツールの最新作 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "ツクールシリーズ最新作『アクションゲームメーカー』2025年発売。Godot Engineを採用しさまざまな機能を利用してACTが作れる". 電撃オンライン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "Steam：ACTION GAME MAKER". store.steampowered.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "ACTION GAME MAKER - Producer Letter #4: ACTION GAME MAKER Visual Scripting - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Kaan Serin (2024-07-12). "The future of action games looks a whole lot weirder thanks to Action Game Maker, a new tool from the team that fuelled cult classic RPGs like Omori". gamesradar. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "『ツクール』シリーズ最新作『ACTION GAME MAKER』が2025年発売を目指しPC向けに開発中。ゲーム開発未経験者でも自由度の高いアクションゲーム制作を楽しめるコンストラクションツールの最新作 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ V, Amber (2024-07-12). "RPG Maker devs to release Action Game Maker, a Godot-based toolkit that doesn't require programming". AUTOMATON WEST. Retrieved 2024-11-03.