For the most part, all of the big-name console developers have tried their hand at giving the everyday Joe a fun and approachable way to make their own games. Sony and Media Molecule released Dreams last year, Microsoft dropped Project Spark back in 2014, Nintendo released a couple of games that gave us the keys to make our own 2D Mario levels and even snuck some impressive game creation tools within the Nintendo Labo series of kits. Then just a few weeks ago, Nintendo announced Game Builder Garage, a new standalone game that’s looking to get aspiring designers and programmers' feet wet.
Game Builder Garage appears to use a bit of the framework that helped shape the same creation tools we saw with the Toy-Con Garage in the Labo series, but from the preview we sat in on last week with Nintendo, it appears to offer more possibilities than we could have imagined.
Let's take a quick tour of the things we learned following our preview session:
What in the world is a Nodon?
Nodon are essentially the pieces of your puzzles, the bricks that built the walls in your home and the cement that holds them together. Nodon are actions and elements that can be placed into your creation to tell it exactly what you want it to do and there all sorts of different Nodon that do particular things! If you want to make a character, you'll place down a Nodon, and if you want to make that character jump by pressing the B button, you'll place another Nodon and attach that to your character's Nodon. Over 80 different Nodon are available to play around with in Game Builder Garage and each one has a cute little monster-like aesthetic! You can also have around 500 Nodon set inside your project, so the ceiling for creativity is pretty high.
Can you share your games in Game Builder Garage?
Unlike in the Labo Toy-Con Garage, each game you create in Game Builder Garage will come with a custom Game ID that can be shared online for players to download. If you have your Switch account linked to Facebook or Twitter you’ll be a ble to directly share a Game ID through those social media platforms as well. You can also just share your Programmer ID with other players to give them access to the entire library of games you’ve uploaded to the server.
This sounds like it could be a bit of a pain having to share a friend code style ID over and over again, but thanks to the fact GBG supports mouse and keyboard, you'll always only be a few clicks away from trying out another new creation.
Unfortunately, there won’t be an in-game hub to browse and find new games like Nintendo has done in the past with a game like Super Mario Maker 2 either. You’ll have to find a Game ID online outside of the Switch, or by acquiring a game ID from a friend. You’ll also be able to distribute code through local wireless play as well, which sounds perfect for the classroom full of budding game developers! We're hoping Nintendo takes advantage of their social outlets to share and praise some of the more unique creations that come out of GBG.
Will we have to create our own game before we can download and play others?
If you’re looking to pick up GBG purely to play other user’s creations, be aware you’ll have to play through a tiny bit of the game’s lessons before you’re granted access to user-generated content in the Free Programming Mode, but no, you won't have to make your own game.
Nintendo said it’ll only take a couple of minutes before you have the download feature unlocked, however, they strongly recommend you spend some time with the lessons as it will give you the benefit of learning how to modify other players' games and build your own. You don't want to deny yourself from potentially becoming the next Miyamoto, do you?
How will music and sound effects work?
Anyone expecting a music creator on the level of Mario Paint may be a bit disappointed, as there isn’t an in-depth music creator, but the game features a large number of music tracks that are selectable with a Background Music Nodon. You can only have one of these particular Nodon active at a time, but this Nodon can have multiple audio layers playing at once and you can raise and lower the speed of the overall track as well.
It’s difficult to tell how much you’ll be able to manipulate music, but we imagine players will find plenty of ways to create their own music in-game outside of the BGM Nodon as there is also a Sound Nodon, that can play one of the many in-game sound effects whenever you’d like. Multiple of these Sound Nodon can be placed throughout your creation, and their speed and pitch can be adjusted as well. Theoretically, a player could create music with them in a similar manner to how players have created music box style levels in Mario Maker (just as one fan did when they recreated DOOM Eternal in the Labo VR Kit's Toy-Con Garage and added some of Mick Gordon's soundtrack).
What’s the barrier to entry?
Game Builder Garage is very much geared toward the player who knows nothing about building their own games. As long as you can read and have an appetite for creativity, you’ll be in luck! Game creation can sound pretty daunting, but the game comes packed with a load of lesson plans to help show you the ropes as well.
What can we expect from the lessons packed into the game?
There are three full Lesson plans contained within Game Builder Garage and each of these will teach you about different Nodon, give you examples on how to use them, and then test your knowledge periodically throughout each of the courses.
Each lesson is themed around how to build a certain game, one of which is a side-scrolling shooter, another is a multiplayer game of tag. In total, Nintendo says you can expect to spend 8-to-10 hours to complete the entirety of the game’s lessons but can go back and give yourself a refresher when needed as well, though.
Not every Nodon will be utilized and explained within the game's lessons, but there is an in-game encyclopedia known as the Nodopedia that will give you info on how each of the Nodon functions. It’ll be up to you to figure out how and where to incorporate some of them into your games!
Will there be DLC?
Nintendo has stated that they have no plans at this time of releasing extra downloadable add-ons of any kind for Game Builder Garage. Everything you need to build and create will be contained right inside the game.
Can we expect to find any Nintendo IP cameos or references?
As much as we’d love to uncover a secret fly-swatting mini-game, or use a tune from Koji Kondo as a background track for one of our games, Nintendo said we won't find any references to other Nintendo IP like Mario, or Zelda. Even though a Part Time UFO cameo would just make sense if you ask us!
Game Builder Garage is all about learning how to make games from the minds at Nintendo, but won’t feature their characters or worlds as a blueprint. Who’s to say you won’t be able to create those game styles or tunes yourself though and share them online?
Can I design multiplayer games? Can I design games with a friend?
Up to 8 Joy-Con can be used with Game Builder Garage at a given time and it will be up to the creators to determine how they’d like to utilize the tools at their disposal. Beyond the simple thought of button inputs, however, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the other features of a Joy-Con to potentially incorporate more people into your play session. Someone could theoretically create a game of hot potato using the motion in a singular Joy-Con or a game of musical chairs where the Switch plays and stops music randomly on its own. The number of players will only be limited by the experience that you create.
Then let’s say you and a friend want to tackle a project together, (maybe you take on the programming but your friend wants to tackle the art side) you can, but with some restrictions. There’s no way for two users to both edit a game in real-time, but if you want to take turns making edits with a friend, you’ll just need to share your new game code with a friend when you make a revision. It could get a little messy, but there’s also a Comment Nodon that allows you to leave little notes about bugs or ideas anywhere in your program for someone else to read.
Can you create your own sprites and character models?
From what we could tell, there won’t be any way to upload assets or images into the game, but you’ll be able to use an in-game drawing tool to create your own 2D backgrounds, characters, and more. We didn’t see this in motion either, but we’ve been told you’ll be able to create animations as well that you can set however you’d like.
While not everyone out there may want to start off designing their own games from the get-go, we're glad to see Nintendo is putting such a focus on the lessons and learning side of things with Game Builder Garage. The ability to share your creations gives even more reason for everyone to get out there and get creative too! We're anxiously awaiting all of the WarioWare and Rhythm Heaven style mini-games the internet is going to cook up.
Game Builder Garage launches on Switch on 11th June. Let us know if you're planning to pick this up next month!
Comments 35
I wonder if the Button Nodon has logic for a half-press.
I'm glad this is coming out, it'll let me build what I always wanted to on labo vr garage. But this time it'll have different graphics.
I love creator games, so I have tons of ideas i'd like to make!
@NikHogan
Don’t waste your energy on such a limited tool. Learn python/pygame, or an html5 framework like phaser...
It’s very, very Nintendo! Very cool and friendly mixed with some nuisances in between.
Looking forward to jump into this game with my nephew, the creative brain of the family.
yeah i keep seeing on the website that you can build up to 71 games but how big will each game be? how many levels can you make each game? 10? 20? you have hands on with the game. do you know? thanks.
@SenseiDje Not who you replied to, but I don't have the energy to learn Python etc. I like these sorts of games though as they are easy to use and still produce good results.
@NikHogan do not listen to that person. i am going to get it. it looks really fun. i think you can build simple games and play others games that people make. graphics are NOTHING, compared to fun factor and if you have fun with it. that is all that matters. so have fun.
@SenseiDje
Everyone learns Computer Science at a different pace. Some people find it easier to start off with coding blocks rather than actual coding, such as GameMaker Studio and Scratch.
I want this weird Labo Guy as the next Smash fighter. Btw what‘s his name?
@SenseiDje glad you seem to have experience, but some people prefer more casual ways to make games like warioware DIY or GBG. rather than tossing yourself in the wild with coding you have to learn and research on your own
@everyone who answered me :
You are all right, pace an will are personal.
Thoses game creator are really fun and often very clever but have un breakable limitations. Maybe it safer to consider them like educational tools to master gameloop, quick mockup or even PoC, before feel confident and aim for more !!
If I can make robotron and defender clones then I'll be one happy guy
If Nintendo isn’t going to make a new Advance Wars can someone at least please do it in this game?
There are a lot of alternatives to programming games, but like SmileBASIC and Fuze, GBG will give access to program for the Switch HW without having to invest in a dev kit.
I had SmileBASIC on the DS and wrote a basic Simon game (the four ‘buttons’ used were Mario, Pac-Man, a Space Invader, and the Galaga ship).
Too bad the Labo stuff isn't directly supported.
But hopefully, the IR Nodon is good enough to make some of them work.
It would be great if they could have Bike Nodon, Wheel Nodon, House Nodon, Piano Nodon ETC, as input options.
@SenseiDje I work as a game designer and this attitude is just plain wrong. These kinds of games are wonderful and open new possibilities to people who would have never learned to program traditionally. Game design and programming are two very different things.
Also, the limitations of an engine matter waaay less than you think. A good game designer can make a good game even just with pen and paper (or Flash, or Unreal, or Game Maker, or Dreams etc.). And the best way to learn how to make games is making as many games as possible. So every creative game helps.
@rottame ...and this gives access to program for the Switch HW without a dev kit (along with eShop programs like SmileBASIC and Fuze).
@SenseiDje Telling someone to try Python or any other difficult coding language is not the way how they should understand coding. This program is perfect for anyone who just want to try to make games. It also makes you sound kind of a douchebag. So don't be that guy.
@rottame yeah just look at games like:
The Binding of Isaac (which started as a flash game)
Pokemon Gold & Silver ( two regions in 1 gb game!)
& many more examples of limitations in video games being their strength. Pushing games to their limits is the most challenging task for any game developer and it only helps if you have more limitations. Just look at Dreams, that "game" failed because it allowed too much. It became overwhelming for many and such the hype soon died off.
Ugh....I wanted to use my own music...
...
I guess I could...since I have a launch Switch. >.>
...
Eh, I dunno. I want to know how large my game can be, I don't wanna start on something and then hit a wall because my game is too big or something.
Totally getting this.
I fancy making a calculator or a infra-red security system.
Actually, I do want to make some sort of Laser Tag / Quasar Laser game.
I wonder if you can train the IR for shapes (bit of machine learning?)
8 player multiplayer?
Hell yeah!
@broskiplays : I find that limitations are better for my creativity (and jack-of-all-trades, master of none skill set ). My proudest creation in WarioWare: D.I.Y. was a game where you are faced with a number of scenarios in first person (seven possible scenarios with five possible outcomes), where you need to respond to the scenario with one of the fingers from your hand.
Thumb - When a car is passing by, use your thumb to signal for it to stop.
Index finger - A screen counts down from 3, 2, and then it's your turn to respond with your index finger to indicate "one".
Middle Finger - A ghost in a rastacap and sunglasses performs a rude gesture (smacking his hands against both sides of his crotch while poking out his tongue). He'll lower his glasses and appear offended when you give him a taste of his own medicine.
Ring Finger - A screen asking "Will You Marry Me?" appears before you.
Pinkie - Another hand will appear on the screen. Tapping it will prompt it to raise its pinkie. Raise yours too and the two hands will bind, forming a pinkie swear.
The other two scenarios are just variations of the Index and Ring finger scenarios, except that they're interrupted by the ghost in the rastacap. Either way, I wrung as much as I could out of the software to make the game as varied as possible (as D.I.Y. didn't lend itself too well to games with randomised possibilities).
Yeah I really miss music 2000 on the PlayStation it was an amazing tool at the time to create tunes.
Really looking forward to this. Already planning a game with my girls in which you are a hamster trying to escape your cage. They’re very excited about it and I’m hoping doing one together will inspire them to do more on their own. I don’t expect them to be game designers, but I want them to be more than computer “users” and have some understanding of what’s going on under the hood.
I explored game programming back in the 90s and my friends and I even formed a company that became a licensed developer for the Jaguar. But I went in a completely different direction after that dissolved
"Nintendo has stated that they have no plans at this time of releasing extra downloadable add-ons of any kind for Game Builder Garage. Everything you need to build and create will be contained right inside the game."
Kind of weird to see this when the eShop page says there are in-game purchases.
Up to 8 players multiplayer and an affordable price point? I'm totally in
@broskiplays
Python isn’t difficult and hugely documented.
And with it you will actually learn something. Not « using a game maker the way dev wants you to make game »
I’m not That guy.
But anyway.
Feel free to compare.
@rottame hey. I enjoy limits to force myself to adapt as everybody. But learning within thoses limits is always always waste of time.
@SenseiDje You seem to think programming and game design are the same thing. They are not. The core concepts of building a game are the same in every engine. Game Builder Garage won't help you become a programmer, but can make you become a better game designer.
@RupeeClock That Would Actually be Really Cool
@OmriOn
Realistically, the implementation would be that the button state is continuously held.
Buttons are digital, they have a binary state with no in-between.
Honestly, I can’t wait for someone, somehow to recreate a whole game with this thing.
@rottame : I’m 100% with you on this.
If everyone is happy to use the tools within the authorized scope of feature, why can’t this be fun ??
And time consuming too.
Sorry if I wasn’t obvious...
I’m a sucker for thoses game makers, but too often I rage against such or such arbitrary limits...
Why can’t thoses games be shared without owning the garage ??
@Nontendo_4DS That'd be a ton of fun!!
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