Most wanted/least wanted in MMF3

As well as what everyone else has said, i would think it might be handy to have game templates. Sure a lot of experienced people wouldn't need them but it would ease newcomers in quite well.

Perhaps a better tutorial system as well - the MMF2 included tutorial is okay but is very basic. Tutorials for several types of games or applications could be included to teach whilst the user gets to do follow along. I don't think new users should have to go to youtube to learn the basics really.

Quote from Redsquirrel

As well as what everyone else has said, i would think it might be handy to have game templates. Sure a lot of experienced people wouldn't need them but it would ease newcomers in quite well.

Perhaps a better tutorial system as well - the MMF2 included tutorial is okay but is very basic. Tutorials for several types of games or applications could be included to teach whilst the user gets to do follow along. I don't think new users should have to go to youtube to learn the basics really.

I have to agree. I wish there was a more solid education/learning system other than some here and there tutorials. Heck, I'd pay for a monthly issue of Klikdisc like the magazines back in the day where I'd type by hand he code so I could learn what the program was doing.

Quote from happygreenfrog

a high-quality release would be at least 10x better than a buggy 2013 release.

Ok, well a 2013 release of at least a screenshot (lol) would be fantastic, if they're not releasing it in any shape this year. I'd just like to see some evidence after waiting so many years.

Waiting 1~2 years with rumors and wishes while MMF2 is under constant development does not seem like "waiting so many years" ;p

Hi, I'm new to the forum but I did use Clickteam products ways back to the KNP and first TGF.

What I really want for MMF3 are (I believe) not hard to make at all and should make life easier for us developers.

1. Rename-able Flag
The alterable value can be renamed, so why don't flag? Why should we have to remember it be numbers?

2. Build-in ENUM system
Again, I know veteran Klikers can remember most used values by heart. But why can't we have to remember it at all?
Would it be easier to name the direction as 'DIR_RIGHT' and 'DIR_LEFT' despite the number 0 and 16?

Quote from SiXX

1. Rename-able Flag
The alterable value can be renamed, so why don't flag? Why should we have to remember it be numbers?

And just to add to this, infinite flags/alt.values. I really hate using the value-add extension since it doesnt have an add to/subtract function.(You have to compare the external value to itself then (+1/-1) to subsitute adding/subtracting action, which makes the event look 3x longer. Same thing with advance global values extension, except it doesnt have a spread value.)

These both perform the "Add to", but I think you can tell which one people would rather use..
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Value-Add

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Active

I really wish I could just revise the way the action is written. It can be rewritten as "Set "A"("Active") to "A"("Active")+1. We already know we're using the Value-Add extension and an alterable, so there's no reason to have "Ext. Alt.Value", and we already know it references the fixed value, so elimnate alt("Value-Add". Fixed "Active"). It still won't be better than the add-to, but just a simple rename would help tons. I'm not an expert at coding, but I believe it deals with this little segment here, so i'll try fiddling with that.

ACTION(
	/* ID */			0,
	/* Name */			"%o: Set Ext. Alt. Value %1 of %0 to %2",
	/* Flags */			0,
	/* Params */			(3,PARAM_OBJECT,"Object",PARAM_STRING,"Extended Alt. Value's Name",PARAM_NUMBER,"New Value")
) {
	object* p1 = (object*)Param(TYPE_OBJECT);
	char* p2 = (char*)Param(TYPE_STRING);
	float p3 = Long2Float(CNC_GetFloatParameter(rdPtr));


	if ( p1 && !(p1->hoFlags & HOF_DESTROYED) )
	{
		variable_map::iterator i = rdPtr->pVariableMap->find( Object2Fixed(p1) );
		if ( i == rdPtr->pVariableMap->end() )
		{
			i = rdPtr->pVariableMap->insert( objvar_pair(Object2Fixed(p1), variables()) ).first;
		}


		float_vars::iterator j = i->second.floats.find(p2);
		if ( j == i->second.floats.end() )
		{
			j = i->second.floats.insert( float_var(p2,p3) ).first;
		}
		else
		{
			j->second = p3;
		}
	}
}

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Quote from SiXX

2. Build-in ENUM system
Again, I know veteran Klikers can remember most used values by heart. But why can't we have to remember it at all?
Would it be easier to name the direction as 'DIR_RIGHT' and 'DIR_LEFT' despite the number 0 and 16?

This is irrelevant; there should not even be a reason to need to do this in the first place

Quote from oasuke

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It's been placed on GitHub:
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I'll add a couple of interface wishes to this list. IMO, MMF2 needs a visit with a good "beautician". A beautiful UI update would help its success in today's market. It is looking very dated--at least on the surface. Another thing that seems to add to that outdated feeling is little usage nuances are missing. As an example, I can't use the Tab key to go from input box to input box in the properties area. Tabbing like that is second nature to any application that I am now using today.

Now, I don't want to start a flame war about the Ribbon Bar. Some people love it and others hate it. I'm one that loves it and I would like the option to use one in MMF3. If a ribbon bar could be added, maybe there could also be a switch that would turn it off for those who don't care for it. For my own purposes, I can visualize how nicely various areas could be accessed using a ribbon. It would also give me more space on my 13" Macbook Pro screen.

MMF2 is a great program. It is one of the few of its genre that has stood the test of time. Even without a lot of in depth changes to the actual user system, a new look would make for a more noticeable product. I suspect that MMF3 is a long way off. All of the compilers are the work of the day so it is asking a lot of a couple of people to create all of the compilers and a new version of the software.

Despite it all, I'm happy using MMF2. I came back specifically for the compilers (I've been asking for those since the Windows Mobile and PalmOS days).

Oh, almost forgot. DOCUMENTATION, in depth documentation. I mean, something that explains all of the functions--fastloops, alterable variables, fixed variables. Underneath the hood and how to use every feature of MMF2. Yes, Francois, I do read the documentation! I always LOVED the large manuals that accompanied software. Doesn't happen any more, but pdf works and certainly should be included.

TIA for reading and responding kindly. -Rachel

I will never buy another Clickteam product again if they adopt the ribbon interface. It is truly awful, and I really cannot understand why Microsoft are so determined to force it on people.

Huh? The strength of the ribbon interface is that it's very flexible and and can be made to look plenty of different ways. A ribbon can even look just like a perfectly regular toolbar if that's what you want. Doesn't have to eat up tons of vertical space if that's what you worry about for some reason.

Though most developers waste a bit too much space on the screen with the ribbon, it's tabbed and organized by category, and supports more useful controls than the old style toolbars did. The MMF2 toolbar is just a clutter anyway, how many really knows by heart what most of the buttons does in all the editors? I just disabled mine completely and use custom keyboard shortcuts for the options I actually use. If MMF had a ribbon, I'd probably hide it just the same. It sounds very silly of you to ditch every CT product because of a (non-)issue like this.

No software will ever be everything you want it to be, but if there's a ribbon, you can get used to it even if you don't like it completely (or hide it). I mean, you are using MMF2's event editor / event list editor, right (both are pretty good examples of using horizontal and vertical space inefficiently)? An improved non-grid based event editor that uses the space better would make up for a ribbon (which doesn't even have to be bad) ten times over. Pick serious reasons to use or not use a tool. Like, does it allow you to create what you want to create?

I can live with the ribbon but please don't windows 8efie it...

I was against the ribbon at first until I realized how much more I preferred it to toolbars. With toolbars, I was constaly having to add/remove/rearrange the toolbars I needed for the job, or else have so many on screen at once that the editing area was very small.

The ribbon, however, is always the same height, and is organized in a tabbed manner at the top like in property dialogs. If you need something, it is one or two clicks away and only available if applicable. While it does take a bit of getting used to, I much prefer it. Another nice thing is that you can't accidentally rearrange the ribbon or undock any parts of it, and you can also make it have an auto'hide behavior when you want more document space.

I have to add, a new name high up on my wishlist. On several occasions the last month (just twice this week) people think it is "Macromedia Fusion" and somehow makes the conclusion I'm using something flash or shockwave related. Nobody outside our community seems to be able to memorize the name - one guy kept calling it "Media Fusion" no matter how many times I say the entire name.

I suggest either go for a memorable name with a clear mental image (I really like Firefox and Thunderbird for this reason. A name that creates a mental picture is always easy to remember and to associate to a purpose, even if the title is non-descriptive), or a very descriptive title (everybody knows about "Game Maker", it sticks the first time you hear it and you know instantly what it does).

Besides, Multimedia is very... 1993. The word was "in" 20 years ago.

I agree with Nifflas on the naming. Plus, Multimedia Fusion is a mouthful. Picking something simple would be better. Ditching "Multimedia" is a good idea because I don't think it represents what the software does at all. Some might not even realize you can make games or applications and just assume it's some sort of video editing tool.

I don't understand what was wrong with "Click 'n' Create"

To me that sounds like "Even YOU can create your OWN games!"

While the idea of easily creating games and applications will sound great to beginners, skilled developers must be able to consider the product too. I can unfortunately not convince my Unity, Construct, or C# friends to prototype a game in a product called "Click 'n Create".

Francois made it clear a year ago in his blogs that MMF3 will get a new name.

Quote from LB

I don't understand what was wrong with "Click 'n' Create"

Well it doesn't give the impression that it's more than just an amateur development tool. Game Maker already gets flak.

I would like to see Multiselecting lines for the Event List Editor in MMF3.

Nifflas what about "Full Extent" (represents the use of extensions) or "Protocode" (you often say MMF is great for prototyping)? At this point I'm going to stop trying to come up with names and just let CT's marketing department decide.

Looki below: Yeah, you're right. I'll just stop while I'm less embarrassed.