This is how I know Game Maker's random() function isn't very random:

I put in the Kid Pix "Draw Me" prompt into my game, and the phrase "I am Commander Salamander with a magic cookie jar, and I live in your bathtub" is consistently the first thing I see.

Okay, so maybe looking up how NASA does shuttle launches isn't the best solution, but it's at least less '50s than a Flash Gordon-style rocketship.

I never said perspective was my strong suit, but I'll try, anyway.

Strangely enough, of all the games I've made .exes of, this is the one that STILL works on my current computer. And sometimes, I realize I made some poor decisions in game design with this one.

As mentioned before, I've got a little variable called ScrewIt for testing purposes.

At the end of the level, we'll see this wall, followed by a sequence leading up to the level's boss.

...IIIIIN SPAAAAAACE!

It's taking me some time to figure out all this 3D nonsense, but it all seems to work.

Each one of those robots can launch twelve missiles from the background, and you have to dodge them.

It helps to draw another angle. Can't say it's great, but if this thing is launching into space, another angle helps make the sequence work.

There. MUCH better.

In The Future, space jets come with their own air-to-space rockets, and consume less liquid fuel. They might need to drop the rocket fuel tank, but at least it's not a giant cylinder. It's a big wedge instead.

Well, I was looking through some old files, and found some cool stuff.

...and here's the wind-up frame.

It only appears for four frames, and each animation state has its own proprietary wind-up setup, so the animation continues to flow.

Also, now I have incentive for guns, but probably need a fourth button for punches only.

You know what? I think I'm almost done with this level. All I need to do now is put a cap to it, then a transition to the boss fight.

Thankfully, it'll be the ONLY sequence like this.