PX_lastname_Breakout - GameMaker Breakout Lesson

Project Name

Your GameMaker project must be named:

PX_lastname_Breakout

Replace lastname with your own last name.

Example:

PX_Smith_Breakout

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Create sprites and objects in GameMaker.
Move a paddle using keyboard input.
Make a ball move automatically.
Make a ball bounce from walls and the paddle.
Create multiple brick objects.
Detect collisions between objects.
Destroy a brick when the ball hits it.
Keep track of the player's score.
Detect when all bricks have been destroyed.
Test and debug a GameMaker project.

The Goal

You will create a simplified version of the classic Breakout arcade game.

The player controls a paddle at the bottom of the screen.

A ball moves around the room and bounces off:

The left wall
The right wall
The top wall
The player's paddle

When the ball hits a brick, the brick will be destroyed. The player receives points for each brick destroyed.

The goal is to destroy all the bricks.

Part 1 - Create the Project

Open GameMaker.
Create a new GameMaker project.
Save the project using the required filename.

PX_lastname_Breakout

Checkpoint 1:
Show your teacher that your project has been created and named correctly.

Part 2 - Create the Sprites

Create the following sprites:

Sprite	Purpose
spr_player	Paddle controlled by the player
spr_ball	The moving ball
spr_brick	Brick that will be destroyed
spr_wall	Walls around the playing area

Suggested Sprite Sizes

Paddle: 96 × 20
Ball: 16 × 16
Brick: 64 × 24

For the ball sprite, set the origin to Middle Center.

Part 3 - Create the Objects

Object	Sprite
obj_player	spr_player
obj_ball	spr_ball
obj_brick	spr_brick
obj_wall	spr_wall
obj_controller	No sprite

Part 4 - Create the Room

Create a room called:

rm_game

Suggested room size:

Width: 1024
Height: 768

Place the paddle near the bottom of the room.

Place the ball slightly above the paddle.

Place several rows of bricks near the top.

[BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK]

[BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK]

[BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK] [BRICK]


                 BALL


                PADDLE

Your game must contain at least 15 bricks.

Part 5 - Paddle Movement

Select:

obj_player

Add a Step Event.

Enter:

var move_speed = 8;

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

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

Optional A and D Controls

var move_speed = 8;

if (keyboard_check(vk_left) || keyboard_check(ord("A")))
{
    x -= move_speed;
}

if (keyboard_check(vk_right) || keyboard_check(ord("D")))
{
    x += move_speed;
}

Understanding the Paddle Code

keyboard_check() determines whether a keyboard key is currently being pressed.

This statement moves the paddle left:

x -= move_speed;

This statement moves the paddle right:

x += move_speed;

Part 6 - Keep the Paddle on the Screen

Add this underneath your movement code:

x = clamp(x, sprite_width / 2, room_width - sprite_width / 2);

The clamp() function prevents the paddle from moving outside the room.

Checkpoint 2:
Run the game and demonstrate that the paddle moves left and right but cannot leave the room.

Part 7 - Create the Ball Movement

Select:

obj_ball

Add a Create Event.

speed = 6;
direction = choose(45, 135);

The choose() function randomly selects one of the supplied values.

Understanding Direction

          90
           ↑

180  ←           →  0

           ↓
          270

0 = Right
90 = Up
180 = Left
270 = Down

Part 8 - Ball and Paddle Collision

Select:

obj_ball

Add a Collision Event with:

obj_player

Enter:

vspeed = -abs(vspeed);

This forces the ball to begin moving upward when it hits the paddle.

Improved Paddle Collision

You can make the ball change direction depending on where it hits the paddle.

var difference = x - other.x;

hspeed = difference / 8;
vspeed = -abs(vspeed);

Hitting the left side of the paddle sends the ball farther left. Hitting the right side sends it farther right.

Part 9 - Create the Bricks

Place several instances of obj_brick into the room.

Example:

XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX

Each X represents one brick.

Minimum requirement:

3 rows × 5 bricks = 15 bricks

For an additional challenge:

5 rows × 8 bricks = 40 bricks

Part 10 - Ball and Brick Collision

Select:

obj_ball

Add a Collision Event with:

obj_brick

Enter:

vspeed = -vspeed;

instance_destroy(other);

One of the most important commands in this project is:

instance_destroy(other);

This command destroys the brick that the ball collided with.

Understanding instance_destroy()

GameMaker uses:

instance_destroy();

to remove an instance from the game.

Inside the ball-and-brick collision:

instance_destroy(other);

The word other refers to the other object involved in the collision.

In this case, the other object is the brick.

Part 11 - Add a Score

Create:

obj_controller

The controller object does not need a sprite.

Place one instance of obj_controller in the room.

Add a Create Event:

score = 0;

Add Points for Destroying Bricks

Return to the collision between the ball and the brick.

vspeed = -vspeed;

score += 10;

instance_destroy(other);

Every destroyed brick is worth 10 points.

Part 12 - Display the Score

Select:

obj_controller

Add a Draw GUI Event.

draw_set_halign(fa_left);
draw_set_valign(fa_top);

draw_text(20, 20, "Score: " + string(score));

The player's score should now appear near the upper-left corner of the game screen.

Part 13 - Ball and Wall Collision

Place obj_wall objects around:

The left side
The right side
The top of the room

Do not place a wall across the bottom if you want the player to be able to lose the ball.

Set obj_wall as a Solid object.

In obj_ball, create a Collision Event with obj_wall.

move_bounce_solid(false);

Part 14 - Losing the Ball

Select obj_ball and add a Step Event.

if (y > room_height + 50)
{
    room_restart();
}

If the ball travels below the room, the game will restart.

Optional Challenge - Add Lives

Instead of immediately restarting the game, create a lives system.

Inside the controller Create Event:

score = 0;
lives = 3;

When the player loses the ball:

lives -= 1;

Check for Game Over:

if (lives <= 0)
{
    room_restart();
}

Part 15 - Detect When All Bricks Are Destroyed

In the Step Event of obj_controller, enter:

if (instance_number(obj_brick) == 0)
{
    show_message("YOU WIN!");
    room_restart();
}

The function:

instance_number(obj_brick)

counts how many brick instances still exist in the room.

When there are zero bricks remaining, the player wins.

Part 16 - Test Your Game

Your finished game should allow the player to:

Move the paddle.
Bounce the ball off the paddle.
Bounce the ball off the walls.
Hit bricks.
Destroy bricks.
Earn points.
Lose the ball.
Win when all bricks have been destroyed.

Debugging Checklist

Paddle Does Not Move

Make sure the keyboard code is inside the Step Event.

keyboard_check()

Ball Does Not Move

Check the ball's Create Event.

speed = 6;

Bricks Do Not Disappear

Check the Collision Event between obj_ball and obj_brick.

instance_destroy(other);

Ball Passes Through Bricks

Check:

Collision masks
Sprite sizes
Ball speed
Collision Events

Score Does Not Increase

Verify that your brick collision contains:

score += 10;

Required Features

Correct project filename.
Player-controlled paddle.
Moving ball.
At least 15 bricks.
Ball-to-paddle collision.
Ball-to-wall collision.
Ball-to-brick collision.
Brick destruction.
Score system.
Score displayed on the screen.
Ball-loss system.
Win condition.

Challenge 1 - Different Brick Colors

Create several types of bricks:

Red bricks
Blue bricks
Green bricks
Yellow bricks

Challenge 2 - Strong Bricks

Create bricks that require two hits before being destroyed.

Brick Create Event:

health = 2;

Ball collision:

other.health -= 1;

if (other.health <= 0)
{
    instance_destroy(other);
}

Challenge 3 - Different Point Values

Brick	Points
Red Brick	10
Blue Brick	20
Green Brick	30
Gold Brick	50

Challenge 4 - Power-Ups

Add power-ups that sometimes appear when a brick is destroyed.

Larger paddle
Smaller paddle
Faster ball
Slower ball
Extra life
Multiple balls

Challenge 5 - Sound Effects

Add sound effects when:

The ball hits the paddle.
The ball hits a wall.
A brick is destroyed.
The player loses the ball.
The player wins.

Challenge 6 - Multiple Levels

Create several rooms:

rm_level1
rm_level2
rm_level3

Each level should become more difficult.

Vocabulary

Term	Definition
Sprite	The graphic representing an object.
Object	A GameMaker resource containing game behavior.
Instance	A specific copy of an object placed in the game.
Collision	When two objects touch.
Event	Something that causes code to execute.
Step Event	Code that repeatedly executes while the game runs.
Create Event	Code that executes when an object instance is created.
instance_destroy()	Removes an object instance from the game.
instance_number()	Counts how many instances of an object currently exist.
keyboard_check()	Checks whether a keyboard key is being pressed.
speed	Controls how fast an object moves.
direction	Controls the direction an object moves.
hspeed	Horizontal speed.
vspeed	Vertical speed.
score	Stores the player's score.
clamp()	Restricts a value to a specified range.

Review Questions

What is the purpose of instance_destroy()?
What does other mean inside a Collision Event?
What event should normally be used for continuous keyboard movement?
What variable controls horizontal movement?
What variable controls vertical movement?
What does instance_number(obj_brick) return?
Why do we check whether the number of bricks equals zero?
What happens when the ball's vspeed changes from positive to negative?
What is the difference between an object and an instance?
Why is collision detection important in a Breakout game?

100-Point Grading Rubric

Requirement	Points
Correct project filename PX_lastname_Breakout	5
Room properly designed	5
Paddle sprite and object	5
Paddle moves correctly	10
Paddle stays inside room	5
Ball sprite and object	5
Ball moves automatically	5
Ball bounces from paddle	10
Wall collision works	5
At least 15 bricks	10
Ball detects brick collisions	10
Bricks are destroyed correctly	10
Score increases	5
Score displayed	5
Win or ball-loss condition	5
TOTAL	100

Final Checkpoint

Before submitting your assignment, demonstrate the game to your teacher.

Your teacher should see:

Paddle movement
Ball movement
Collision detection
Brick destruction
Score changing
Win condition

Submission

Submit your GameMaker project according to your teacher's instructions.

Your project must be named:

PX_lastname_Breakout

Before Submitting

Save your project.
Run your game one final time.
Make sure there are no error messages.
Confirm that bricks disappear when struck.
Confirm that the score increases.
Confirm that the game can be won.

Final Goal

Create a working Breakout game that demonstrates:

Project Name

Learning Objectives

The Goal

Part 1 - Create the Project

Part 2 - Create the Sprites

Suggested Sprite Sizes

Part 3 - Create the Objects

Part 4 - Create the Room

Part 5 - Paddle Movement

Optional A and D Controls

Understanding the Paddle Code

Part 6 - Keep the Paddle on the Screen

Part 7 - Create the Ball Movement

Understanding Direction

Part 8 - Ball and Paddle Collision

Improved Paddle Collision

Part 9 - Create the Bricks

Part 10 - Ball and Brick Collision

Understanding instance_destroy()

Part 11 - Add a Score

Add Points for Destroying Bricks

Part 12 - Display the Score

Part 13 - Ball and Wall Collision

Part 14 - Losing the Ball

Optional Challenge - Add Lives

Part 15 - Detect When All Bricks Are Destroyed

Part 16 - Test Your Game

Debugging Checklist

Paddle Does Not Move

Ball Does Not Move

Bricks Do Not Disappear

Ball Passes Through Bricks

Score Does Not Increase

Required Features

Challenge 1 - Different Brick Colors

Challenge 2 - Strong Bricks

Challenge 3 - Different Point Values

Challenge 4 - Power-Ups

Challenge 5 - Sound Effects

Challenge 6 - Multiple Levels

Vocabulary

Review Questions

100-Point Grading Rubric

Final Checkpoint

Submission

Before Submitting

Final Goal

Objects + Movement + Collision Detection + Brick Destruction + Scoring