GM Studio Pros and Cons

[patrickgh3]

I thought a centralized pros and cons list like this would be useful. I'm a big supporter of switching to studio, but I tried to be fair and present both sides. Please note anything I missed and I'll add it to the list.

Switching to Studio from 8.X for fangames

Pros
- Better optimized
        • Games can handle more objects before lagging
        • No need to worry about ~150MB project size limit
- More features
        • Built-in good networking
        • Built-in shaders
        • Built-in good audio system with pitch and volume changing, etc
        • Built-in physics system (e.g. golf area in run the marathon)
        • Draw begin and end, draw GUI, pre and post draw events
- Better project structure
        • Easier to transfer resources between projects
        • More easily compatible with version control (git, etc)
- Better interface
        • Can have multiple code windows open
        • Room editor can stretch and rotate, and select multiple objects
        • Dark theme option
- Other
        • Lots of misc small improvements (script argument hints, play multiple mp3s, better “var” syntax)
        • Yoyo’s engine works great and is well-organized
        • Forced initializing variables makes debugging easier
        • Better debugger
        • Supported by the company, improvements are coming (however slowly)
        • Many people have switched, you can trust their judgement

Cons
        • Have to get used to initializing variables
        • Have to get used to small changes in UI and hotkeys
        • Have to get used to some logic changes (e.g. creation code after create event)
        • Manipulating files is annoying due to sandboxing
        • A select few people get mysterious occasional lag with studio games
        • The input delay is slightly lower, which bothers a select few people
        • Some functions were made obsolete, most you shouldn’t use anyway
        • Introduces a few new annoying quirks, to be expected

[WetWookie]

        • Manipulating files is annoying due to sandboxing

If anyone has a solution that lets you store your game's save files in the same directory as the application so that when the application is deleted the files don't linger on in the user's documents folder that would be appreciated.

[L4Vo5]

        • Manipulating files is annoying due to sandboxing

If anyone has a solution that lets you store your game's save files in the same directory as the application so that when the application is deleted the files don't linger on in the user's documents folder that would be appreciated.

I don't think there's a built-in way to do that. They removed the other system for a reason.
But maybe there's some extension that adds that?

[Kyir]

        • Manipulating files is annoying due to sandboxing

If anyone has a solution that lets you store your game's save files in the same directory as the application so that when the application is deleted the files don't linger on in the user's documents folder that would be appreciated.

https://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=567528 will let you do what you want. You just have to make sure to change the already-existing save code to be directed to the proper directory using it.

[patrickgh3]

GMFileSystem kind of works, but in my experience it's kinda quirky and buggy. It's used in Jtool and I still get occasional messages from people who get errors. We've discussed making an alternative in the discord a few times, but it seems difficult and unlikely to happen.