Windows 8 is here!

YoYo Games recently launched GameMaker: Studio™ support for Windows 8 giving all existing GameMaker: Studio STANDARD, PROFESSIONAL and MASTER COLLECTION customers access to the Windows 8 export for free. We also launched an exciting competition giving developers a chance to win $500 for publishing Windows 8 games. In addition, we began offering heavy discounts on GameMaker 8.1 customers to upgrade to GameMaker: Studio. But, it doesn’t stop there. We’re attempting to make it irresistible for you to publish a Windows 8 game and are now offering you a $50 rebate on your registration to the Windows Store for simply publishing a game created with GameMaker: Studio and telling us about it by December 31, 2012. See details and rules below.

Windows 8 is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on and GameMaker: Studio makes it easy to prepare your new or already-released games for publishing on the Windows Store. Take advantage of all of our exciting Windows 8 offers before it’s too late.

How to Redeem
Email the following information to: windows8launch@yoyogames.com by 12/31/2012:

1. Name
2. Mailing Address
3. GameMaker: Studio License Key:
4. Windows Store Publisher/ISV ID#:
5. Windows Store App Deep Link:
6. App Name and Publication Date:

 
GAMEMAKER: STUDIO AND WINDOWS 8

For detailed information on how to get started with GameMaker: Studio for Windows 8 please visit: http://wiki.yoyogames.com/index.php/Windows_8_Platform_Overview. For information on how to publish your GameMaker: Studio project on the Windows Store in three easy steps, please visit http://wiki.yoyogames.com/index.php/Submitting_to_Windows_Store

YoYo Games Generation App Challenge Competition for Windows 8 – We’re giving away cash prizes to developers that publish GameMaker: Studio games to the Windows Store by December 8. For more information on prizes and how to enter, please visit http://www.yoyogames.com/competitions/windows-8.

Heavy Discounts on Upgrades to GameMaker: Studio – We’re offering GameMaker 8.1 customers heavy discounts for upgrading to GameMaker: Studio. An upgrade to GameMaker: Studio STANDARD is $25 and an upgrade to GameMaker: Studio PROFESSIONAL is $50 via www.yoyogames.com. The promotion is valid through the end of the calendar year.

Terms and Conditions

Description of Offer
Offer good only to YoYo Games registered users of GameMaker Standard, Professional or Master Collection that are legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C. aged 18 or older. Must be U.S. Windows Store registered members and publish an approved Windows 8 application in the Windows Store registered for U.S. distribution by 11:59 PM PT on December 31st, 2012.  The email entry sent to windows8launch@yoyogames.com with the information stated below must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on December 31st, 2012 .  
 
E-Mail Entry Information:
o    Name (matches your Windows Store account):
o    Mailing Address (where the gift card will be shipped-not used by Microsoft for any other purpose)
o    GameMaker: Studio License Key:
o    Windows Store Publisher/ISV ID#:
o    Windows Store App Deep Link:
o    App Name and Publication date:

Confirmation process:  The final determination of (i) the eligibility for participation of any U.S. Windows Store Registered member, (ii) the verification of a published app shall be made in the sole discretion of YoYo Games and Microsoft. Publication subject to validation and compliance with Windows Store terms and conditions. In the event of any delays due to volume of submissions immediately on to the entry date, Microsoft will determine, in its sole discretion, the eligibility of any submission(s) received after the designated time on the entry date.

Offer Restrictions and Limitations: Offer good only to the first 600 eligible to qualify. Limit one $50.00 Visa Card per Windows Store ID, per Windows 8 application. This offer is non-transferable. This offer ends on December 31st, 2012 or while supplies last. Taxes if any are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Any gift returned as non-deliverable will not be re-sent. Please allow 4-6 weeks for shipment of your gift.  Your Visa Gift card will be shipped to the name and address provided in your email entry.  Microsoft and YoYo Games reserve the right to modify or cancel the terms of this offer at any time.  Due to government ethics and procurement laws, employees of government agencies (including but not limited to military and public education institutions) are not eligible to participate. It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in offers and promotions like the “Windows Store Rebate Offer.” Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for your violations of laws, or for disputes arising between and employee and their employer related to “Windows Store Rebate Offer.” Microsoft and YoYo Games employees are not eligible to participate in this offer. Microsoft and YoYo Games reserve the right to disqualify any person who they believe is not complying with these offer Terms, and / or, who is acting fraudulently with the intent to avoid offer restrictions or other limitations. All entrants are required to comply with the GameMaker EULA.

Innovative HTML5 Social Game Showcases the Power, Functionality and Quality Possible with Cross-Platform GameMaker: Studio Technology

Players Can Access the Same Game with Facebook Login from Any Device

YoYo Games today unveils “Grave Maker,” a social game available now on Facebook, Android tablets and HTML5 Web formats that is also coming soon for iPad. “Grave Maker” has served as a prototype throughout GameMaker: Studio’s development as a test bed for implementing a variety of features that makes GameMaker: Studio the most versatile and efficient game development environment available. Grave Maker is one of the first social games to allow players to login with their Facebook credentials and access the same game across platforms allowing them to pick up where they left off, from the device of their choice.

“Grave Maker” represents the best in social game design. Players can farm undead minions from werewolves to banshees, farm fauna and flora and unlock a host of cosmetic items to decorate their graveyards. Players can also add structures to enhance their graveyards, from creepy crypts to mysterious mansions. Grave Maker is a hybrid of traditional social farming and defence titles, placing players in a world where they must farm and harvest an army from their graveyards and then put that army to work by defending the graveyard from waves of angry villagers. “Grave Maker” is free to play and features 30 profound levels of content.

“Grave Maker is the culmination of all our research and experience in developing games with GameMaker: Studio and as such, is the most complex game we’ve made so far,” comments Stuart Poole, head of publishing at YoYo Games. “We’re sure that with its innovative cross-platform, single-account profiles, high production values and deep gameplay, Grave Maker will be a hit and grow far beyond its roots as our pet project for testing GameMaker: Studio’s features.”

To celebrate the successful launch of GameMaker: Studio on Steam, YoYo Games announces the YoYo Games Steam Workshop Competition which gives  members of our community three chances to win $1000!

Months October, November and December of 2012 will each host a  competition where the best game, decided by both the Steam GameMaker: Studio community and YoYo Games, will take home the grand prize!

To enter the competition all you have to do is create a game in GameMaker: Studio and upload it to the GameMaker: Studio Steam Workshop with the current months competition tag (“YoYoCompOct2012”, etc).

So if you have a great game idea, make sure and submit your entries before the 1st of November for a chance to win the October prize.

October Prize – Submit by November 1

November Prize – Submit by December 1

December Prize – Submit by January 1

For more information and competition rules click here.

Critically-Acclaimed and Highly-Anticipated Indie Darling Launches Today 

DUNDEE, Scotland and SAN FRANCISCO – October 23, 2012 – YoYo Games today announces that Dennaton Games’ "Hotline Miami" has been developed using GameMaker. The announcement comes as the indie cult action game launches with critical acclaim, underlining the power of GameMaker technology.

"Hotline Miami" puts players in the shoes of a murderous antihero on a vengeful rampage in an alternate 1989 Miami. Dripping with excess and style, "Hotline Miami’s" top-down action takes cues from films such as “Drive” and “Cocaine Cowboys.” Dennaton Games, the two man team consisting of Jonatan “Cactus” Söderström and Dennis Wedin has a long history of working with GameMaker.

"GameMaker is fantastic. I honestly am not sure I would even be able to make games if it weren't for GameMaker,” said Jonatan “Cactus” Söderström, co-creator of Hotline Miami.

“Hotline Miami” has garnered significant accolades including Rezzed “Game of the Show” from Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun and the “Most Fantastic Game Award” from Fantastic Arcade 2012. It has also been an “Official Selection” at both Indiecade 2012 and Darkcade 2012.

“Hotline Miami” reviews are beginning to appear with the first being a perfect 10/10 from Eurogamer.

“It’s hugely rewarding to see cutting edge titles like Hotline Miami being created with GameMaker,” said Sandy Duncan, chief executive officer at YoYo Games. “Hotline Miami follows in the footsteps of other indie developer smashes such as Derek Yu’s “Spelunky” and Vlambeer’s “Super Crate Box.” These are cult hits where gameplay comes first, showcasing the versatility and power that GameMaker’s intuitive approach and deep functionality provide.”

For more information about "Hotline Miami," please visit www.hotlinemiami.com.

To celebrate the launch of GameMaker: Studio on the Steam Software Store and publishing for Windows Store, for a limited time only YoYo Games is providing an upgrade from GameMaker 8.1 to GameMaker: Studio.

From now until the end of December 31st, 2012, users with a GameMaker 8.1 licence will be able to upgrade to GameMaker: Studio Standard for $25 and GameMaker: Studio Professional for $50.

In order to upgrade customers simply enter a GameMaker 8.1 licence key into the licence upgrade section when purchasing either the Standard or Professional version of GameMaker: Studio from the YoYo Games website www.yoyogames.com.