It seems like I'm too overestimated.
Well here's...
My Life with GE
===============
I first met GE at Q3 2007 by googling several keywords like "game maker", "game builder", "game designer", and then "game editor". The last keyword was what made me satisfied with the final result, since it directed me to the main site contained forum and download link. As simple as that, so I tried it as soon as I downloaded it. It had (it still has) usefull integrated video tutorial, the Caveman. From that tiny piece of demo, I tried to develop it more by adding more objects or characters.
Next on, I tried to make my own game (but still borrowed other's design). It was a Digimon game, sidescroll platformer. I first made small demos containing part of the gameplay. Like, player walking and shooting demo, enemy movement demo, background, main menu, credits, etc etc. And then finally I merged those into single game. Polished it, and then published it. I got many compliments from senior members, I was so happy. But I also got several criticisms concerning the copyright and the way I code. I then started to do more experiment to fix the later.
By asking to the forum about "how to make player shoot with single button depending on the direction he faces" or something like that, I got a good reply from Sgt. Sparky. That's where I was introduced to the variables manipulation. I started to think about how to extend this knowledge to handle other things like crouching, running, change form, etc etc. And then I finally got to know how to use variables to make some kind of "state" on inanimate object like brick, bullet, key, coin, etc. Those are the basic knowledge I used to built "Mario and the Golden Key" game. This game once again got me many compliments as well as criticism concerning copyright.
Ok Bee, it's time to reevaluate yourself, make your OWN game!
Browsing through the forum, I found a talented member in designing. His name was dsd (it's d-soldier by now). God, his designs are marvelous. I played his game "Incursion" once. It gave me completely different experience with GE. From there on, I stated that d-soldier was my designing idol. Someone that I had to surpass, but of course in a different way... in this case, with my own style. There, I developed my OWN game. "Darkboy", "Monster Egg", "The Wanderer", you name it, I forget already. Those games brought no more copyright issue, I only got criticsm concerning the way I code and several bugs they found. But I guess it's okay, since my coding knowledge back then was like about 15% of my current one. I still have loooong way to go. I kept making more games and helping people to get 30 forum points. And tadaaa, finally I got my GE license which then helped me developed more professional-like games (or at least that's what people said).
Those games I made dragged me new friends like Tekdino (my first partner ever), Fuzzy (this one was the one blabbered much on coding), Sgt. Sparky (my first teacher as well as my coding idol), Caaz, j2graves, DilloDude, I forgot the rest I'm sorry... and then new "rival" like Kalladdolf, and foes like Automail10, Automail20 (basically the same person). By the time I got my skill polished, DSD left the forum. I was so shocked. I lost my designing idol. That's where DST came. With similar name and similar skill. By the time, we got to know each other, and then I made him to replace dsd as my designing idol.
One day, Tekdino made a game contest. It was "Baby Seal Game Contest" if I'm not mistaken. And as you probably have guessed, that's where I developed Winter Blast for the first time. My coding knowledge at that time was like 40% of my current one. I was still clueless actually. Not only clueless on coding but also clueless on the character's environment. And then I asked help from Fuzzy. He lives at Canada, so I thought he had ideas on snow and stuff. I made a right call (I guess), and then we talked a lot about coding and stuff. And finally I finished the game with Fuzzy's help (sorry Tekdino, I didn't mean to break the rule
).
So that's how I grew here up until now. Big thanks to Makslane, Tekdino, Kalladdolf, d-soldier, Sgt. Sparky, DilloDude, sumer_goth, j2graves, diormeh, pyrometal, lcl, NightOfHorror, krenisis, Caaz, and... darn, I can't remember everyone.
Hugs and kisses to Fuzzy and DST for powering me up on most games I made
And Fee, this one is too TLDR like your FACE!