[English translation by clysm. You can see the original Estonian version here. -ed.]
When and how did you discover Game Maker?
In January 2002, I found a page describing game making programs. For Game Maker, it said "But this is the easiest program for making games..."
Have you used any other game creation programs?
A little. I worked with AGI for a couple months, and after that I found AGS, but I wasn't able to get comfortable with it. Then I found Game Maker. I've looked at 3DRad and The Games Factory, but I didn't make anything with them. With AGI, I made an Estonian adventure game called "Tallinn."
What games or other projects have you made with (or for) Game Maker?
Most of my games I made in the Estonian language, and you can find them at
www.zone.ee/muddy/games.php3. The more popular games are Ökofarm1 and Ökofarm2 (economics games where the goal is to successfully grow crops), Tornimäe (a small strategy game), and KalaRalli, which is my largest project and my only game that's not freeware. KalaRalli is a fishing game that has sold pretty successfully.
I have only three games that are in English, and you can find them at
www.zone.ee/muddy/eng.htm.
Medieval Clash
What are your favorite Game Maker games?
There are a lot of good games, but I don't have any to mention specifically. I haven't found a Game Maker game that stayed on my hard drive more than a week.
What are your favorite games NOT made with Game Maker?
The Settlers series. Settlers 2 is truly a high-class game. Parts 3 and 4 are unfortunately not up to the same standard. I'm also a fan of many other older strategy games (WarCraft 2, AOE).
What advice would you give new Game Maker users or those who would like to improve?
Beginners shouldn't take on tasks that are too difficult. That usually ends a skilled Game Maker user's progress in frustration. I always recommend two things: Read Game Maker's Help and study examples.
What elements of a game are most important to you and why?
- Originality. Copying an existing platform or maze game is pointless, since improving on the original would be very difficult.
- Support for many computers. Someone who makes a game on a 2GhZ computer needs to consider that the game will be played by people with 200MhZ computers.
- Certainly original graphics. Using graphics from other games usually results in just a bad clone.
- Completion. A game that has one small error is a game with errors, and errors in games can easily make people lose their desire to play.
Why do you make games? What is your primary inspiration, motivation, or both?
I always make games that I'd want to play myself. Praise from players is certainly supportive, too.
Do you have other artistic pursuits other than game development? If so, what?
No. I tried a freeware architecture modeling program called DesignWorkShop Lite and made a house with it over a couple days-
http://www.zone.ee/muddy/arhitektor.jpg, but I can't count that as artwork.
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