GameMaker Project: Move the Player

Beginner GameMaker Assignment

Name: ________________________________ Period: ________

Your Goal

Your job is to create a GameMaker project where a player can move around the screen using the arrow keys.

By the end of this assignment, you should be able to move your player left, right, up, and down.

What You Will Learn

How to create a GameMaker project.
Your project name is PX_lastname_MoveThePlayer.
Your project needs to be saved under under 2026_27KleinCollins\your class name

Create 2 files:
file one: PX_lastname_MoveThePlayer.png (Screen print of the program inside the game maker ide)
file two: PX_lastname_MoveThePlayer.mp4 (Video of you playing the game. I need at least 7 seconds)
Be sure to drop off the two file into your google drive for class under 2026_27KleinCollins\your class name
Drop your two files into google classroom.

How to create a sprite.
How to create an object.
How to place an object in a room.
How to use the Step Event.
How to detect keyboard input.
How to change the player's position.

Project Requirements

Item	Name or Setting
Room	`rm_game`
Player Sprite	`spr_player`
Player Object	`obj_player`
Movement Speed	4
Controls	Arrow Keys

Step 1: Create Your Project

Open GameMaker.
Create a new game project.
Name the project PX_lastname_MoveThePlayer.
Make sure you are creating a 2D GameMaker project.

Step 2: Create the Player Sprite

Create a new sprite.
Name it spr_player.
Draw a simple square, circle, character, or other shape.
Save the sprite.

Tip: Your sprite does not need to look fancy. A simple colored square is fine.

Step 3: Create the Player Object

Create a new object.
Name it obj_player.
Assign spr_player as its sprite.

Step 4: Add the Step Event

Add a Step Event to obj_player.

Enter the following code:

// Player movement speed
var move_speed = 4;

// Move left
if (keyboard_check(vk_left))
{
    x -= move_speed;
}

// Move right
if (keyboard_check(vk_right))
{
    x += move_speed;
}

// Move up
if (keyboard_check(vk_up))
{
    y -= move_speed;
}

// Move down
if (keyboard_check(vk_down))
{
    y += move_speed;
}

Step 5: Create the Room

Create a new room.
Name it rm_game.
Use a room size close to:

Width: 960
Height: 540

Drag obj_player into the room.
Place the player near the center of the room.

Step 6: Test Your Game

Run the game and test each key.

Key	What Should Happen?
Left Arrow	Player moves left
Right Arrow	Player moves right
Up Arrow	Player moves up
Down Arrow	Player moves down

How the Movement Code Works

GameMaker uses the player's x and y position to decide where the player appears on the screen.

Code	What It Does
`x -= move_speed;`	Moves left
`x += move_speed;`	Moves right
`y -= move_speed;`	Moves up
`y += move_speed;`	Moves down

Remember: In GameMaker, smaller Y values move an object upward and larger Y values move an object downward.

Student Checklist

☐ My game starts without errors.
☐ My player appears on the screen.
☐ My player moves left.
☐ My player moves right.
☐ My player moves up.
☐ My player moves down.
☐ My player continues moving while I hold a key.
☐ My project is saved.

Challenge Activities

Finish the basic assignment first. Then try one or more of these:

Change the movement speed from 4 to 6.
Add WASD controls.
Change the player's sprite.
Change the room background.
Keep the player from leaving the room.
Add an obstacle.
Add collision detection.

Final Result

When you are finished, you should have a simple game where the player appears on the screen and moves in four directions using the arrow keys.

This movement system will be used later in larger games such as maze games, collection games, adventure games, and top-down games.