Build with Blocks

This activity is included in an 8-part, 1 hour series to learn Game Maker. Short, focused topics with guided practice will give you practical experience building useful logic for creating games.

Begin Game Maker 2

Learn Build Mode Camera & Block Controls

🟢 EASY

In this activity, you will explore the controls needed to navigate while building an Experience in Game Maker and the basics of terraforming with blocks by accessing them in the Library.

Once you know how to use the build mode camera and build with blocks, you'll be ready to place and manipulate objects in Activity 3.

Launch Game Maker

Open the Experience created in Activity 1 or start a new one.

Practice Some Build Mode Camera Controls

Controls:

Keys

Mouse

Zoom in/out

Press W / S

Scroll wheel

Move camera left/right

Press A /D

Hold + Move ⬅️➡️

Move camera up/down

Press Q / E

Hold + Move ⬆️⬇️

Turn camera left/right

Press ⬅️/ ➡️ keys

Hold SPACEBAR + Right Button + Move ⬅️➡️

Turn camera up/down

Press ⬆️ / ⬇️ keys

Hold SPACEBAR + Right Button + Move ⬆️⬇️

Orbit around a point in front of you

Hold SPACEBAR + Left Button

Modifier: Sprint a camera control

Hold SHIFT + use other controls with keys

Hold SHIFT + use other controls with mouse

Find Blocks

Open the Library (press L) and add blocks to your quick access bar (above the Library):

Click the Blocks tab at the top of the library to filter options and only show blocks.
Drag and release a few blocks into slots in quick access bar. Close the library (press L) and click on any block in the quick access bar or use the corresponding number shown in each slot to select a block to use.

Undo/Redo if Needed as you practice the controls below

CTRL + Z to undo
CTRL + Y to redo

Use the Free Brush (default) to practice basic block building controls

Basic Controls

Place

Remove

Replace

Hold left ALT +

Place Layer (no modifiers)

Hold right ALT +

Modifiers

Line or Rectangle Shape (on any block surface)

Hold [basic control] + drag & release

Line of Blocks (vertical)

Hold [basic control] + SHIFT + drag up & release

Rectangle of Blocks (vertical)

Hold [basic control] + drag to base shape + SHIFT + drag up & release

Test Other Block Brushes & Adjust Size

Notice when placing or removing with other brushes, the center of the shape snaps to the surface (blocks may be placed underground).

Brushes other than the Free brush will only build a vertical column in the brush shape.

Diamond - easy to climb shape
Cube - man-made structures and blocky terrain
Sphere - natural terrain

Follow Up

Now that you know how to build with blocks, you can block out the 3D space for your Experience, create terrain details and paths to guide players.

Learn how to add objects into your world in Activity 3.

➕ Relevant Resources

There are a lot of new things to explore with blocks including how they're used to build 3D interactive space and how they are used to create the aesthetics of your game.