According to Mark the next version of Game Maker is by passing 6.2 like originaly planned and going on to 7.0.

Heres a run down of some new things to expect in it.

- Improved, and additional room transitions, including the possibility to define your own.
- A new extension mechanism.
- An extended file inclusion mechanism
- Better splash screens, e.g. to show a movie in the game window.

As i understand from what Mark has said, the new extension mechanism will allow people to extend Game Maker with DLLs and scripts in a much easier way than before. With GM7, three extension packages will be with it, one for accessing Windows Dialogs, More (50) room transitions, and another that even gives you access to the printer.

Like the library builder, making extensions can be used by everyone to create your own package. These can be based on DLLs, GML files, or even a combination of the two. Mark also said that these integrate with Game Maker so they are also included in to the help system and can be enabled/disabled in the Global Game Settings. However, the most important part of it all, they will be easy to make.

Alot of people were concerned that they will have to pay for another registration key. Mark put everyone to rest by confirming that you will not have to pay again for a 7.0 key. Version 7.0 will be almost fully backwards compatible with 6.1 files.

Other things include:

- It should run under Vista.
- No additional system requirements.
- Many other small additions and bug corrections, including a security issue.

So, when can you get your hands on 7.0? Mark plans for a beta release at the end of October, and the final version to be done at the beginning of December.

For more information check this topic over at the GMC: http://forums.gamemaker.nl/index.php?showtopic=244666

Speaking of registartions, is there any way to 'read' your registration code from a registered version of GM6? I'm kinda wishing I'd written mine down...

How about a built in Action Decoder, that'd be usefull. Skipping directly will cause everyones registrations to expire, meaning more money for Mark. Hope its good.

Srehpog, I don't think there is.  Game Maker 5.x stored it's key in the registry (in an easy to find location), however, Game Maker 6.x doesn't seem to do this (or I have yet to come across it, if it's actually stored there). 

A wise man once told me, make sure to write your registration keys down on paper.

Mysour, I think you missed the part where Mark confirmed that anyone already registered will NOT need to pay him again for a 7.0 key.  Thus, Mark isn't making any more money off this move.

As for the new features, like everyone else, I can't wait.  I'll definately be checking into the extention system...of course, this may mean more work on my end as I possibily upgrade everything to use it...oh well.

~Brandon

What about PNG Alpha channel support?  :-

It's in the todo list under 'planned for next version'.  So it will probably be in 7.0.


~Brandon

Just incase i wasn't clear about this entry, this is not a complete list of new features.. its just what he wrote in the topic i linked to.

I'm sure PNG support will be included in to 7.0 also because of that informal contest he started on the GMCs graphics forum a while back.

Take a read of the TODO list on the GM site, under "planned in next version" there is "Add function to load sprites and backgrounds with an alpha channel." listed.

Yep, yeah I did, I skipped that part oh well, sorry. Also built in music composer, XD, and also when saving gifs, it'd be usefull that you could choose to loop them, at least have it as a register feature. Plus making the sprite editor even better, not that it's not good now. As I said before, d&d to code converter, that would be mega usefull.

Music composer?  What format would you have?  Midi, Mod, Mp3... all different.

I dont think a music composer would be a good Idea. It would be like having an icon maker in gm, which isnt included for a reason.

EDIT: Quote from the todo list "Include an icon creator. (There are pefect free programs for this available.)
"

Which im guessing would be the same thing he would say to a sound editor.