Dundee-based YoYo Games has launched an education edition of its GameMaker Studio 2 engine in a bid to make development more accessible to students.
The package is designed specifically for schools and their pupils. Any approved university or school affiliate can gain access to a free trial version of the engine with no time restrictions or commitments required.
There is an option for educational institutions to purchase full licenses in bulk starting at $30 per account for a year, though a minimum of 10 licenses must be bought. It costs $130 per account to get Android and iOS as a target platform.
Typically the desktop version of GameMaker Studio 2 costs $99.99, rising up to $399.99 for the mobile version.
Learn to make games
YoYo Games said its tool can be used by beginners with limited to no coding experience thanks to its drag and drop system, rather than requiring users to input code manually.
"Being a student of game design and development can be time consuming and expensive, sometimes prohibitively so, but we change all that with GameMaker Studio 2," said YoYo Games GM James Cox.
"We want to give educational institutions an easy and affordable way to engage students with their passion for game development - no complications or fine text."
