You could just go straight to development, but I think it is a much wiser choice to pan out your game. If you want to get spotted on the app store, the app should have a good amount of content. Think of the mechanics and goals and stuff. You've probably heard this one million times already though! Also think of how the controls will work, given that you only have a touch screen and the accelerometer (tilting). Also check out this awesome article by Mark Overmars HERE[gmc.yoyogames.com].

Now that you have a plan, it is time to get to work. Dowload GMS HERE[www.yoyogames.com] or from Steam. Just get the base version for the moment, as you can test the game in windows before you get the iOS side set up. If you already know how to use GameMaker, you should be able to get started pretty quickly. I found that you CAN port over GM81 games, but you will most likely have to change things around. Beware of THESE[gmc.yoyogames.com] functions, which will not work in Studio. You should be able to port over your GMHTML5 games without changing much, but remember if you are using a keyboard, you will need to add virtual keys and stuff. Once you have completed a reasonable amount of your game, move on.

There may be things like mac-in-cloud, but realistically, you WILL need a mac. Apple just structure it that way. I think GM needs AT LEAST OSX 10.6 and one GB of ram. I just got the bottom of the range mac mini, and it works fine. You may want to get used to your mac if you haven't use done before. They are really just in between a PC and iPad interface.

You should know:
*Apps are the mac version of exes, and some can be found on the glass at the bottom of the screen.
*Click on the rocket in OSX 10.7 to see all your apps.
*Click on the cogs for system preferences (control pannel).
*Click on the blue smile to access your documents in finder (windows explorer).
*You get garageband, great for your game's music!
*The buttons are on the LEFT side of the window.
*Scrolling in OSX 10.7 is inverted. You can change this in control pannel.
*EXES WILL NOT RUN ON MAC!!!

For GM, to work, you will need your PC to connect with your Mac. It did this with a spear ethernet cable I had lying around. You can probably do this wirelessly too, but I'm not sure how, and not really interested. Make sure both computers are turned on, and connected with the cable. On the Mac, go to system preferences and click on sharing. Now turn file sharing ON. Now go to finder and see if there is anything found under SHARED. If not you may have to do something similar on your PC. If there is, you probably have to type in your PC's password and then you can access all you PC's files on your Mac!

Now, on your PC, open GMS and windows explorer at the same time. In explorer, go to NETWORK. Your Mac's name should be there. Either take a note of it, or copy it. Now, in studio, open preferences (file menu) and goto the Mac OSX tab. Now enter THAT name into Mac Host Name text box. In the other boxes you should have your normal mac username and password. Now check that your connection is working, and move on.

Now that you have your connection set up, you may want to export your game so you can play it on Mac. Switch the target to Mac OSX, and click on the 'create executable for target' button!

Just thought that I'd add that if you do not have and ipod or iphone or ipad by now, you should probably get one :)

It is a good time to get this now as well. Go to the same link were you downloaded it the first time and type in your email and buy it (or get it as an IAP from steam).

Now is the time to register with apple. There SHOULD be a sign up link HERE.[developer.apple.com] You will need to get an apple developer account, AND signup for the iOS dev program. This will take some time and A LOT of terms and conditions.

X code is an app for mac which is sort of like visual studio for PC (if you've used it before). Search for it on the mac app store and download it. You will probably have to change the 'development path' or something - I don't know, there was a weird error. There was a good fix in a topic on the GMC HERE[gmc.yoyogames.com].

This is where you get all those certificates you needed! Go HERE[developer.apple.com] and fill out all of the info.

You will need to create:
*A dev certificate. Download this.
*To get register your device (ipod, iphone,ipad) with iTunes.
*An app ID - a unique "number" for your app.
*Both a provisioning AND a distribution profiles for your app. Download these.

Click and drag your dev cert into keychain access (an app, in the folder called utilities). Now open X code. When it first opens, click on documentation. Now, in the new window, click on devices. Now click and drag your profiles you downloaded into both the library, AND the the section for the devices you are testing on (you will probably need to sync your device at least once before it comes up).

Now you should be able to make your first ipa! You SHOULD (I think) have the application oven (a YoYo Games app) on your mac from when GMS synced with it before. Open it up. Now select your dev certificate and provisioning profile from before. Save the ipa somewhere where you can find it. When it is saved, click and drag it into iTunes.

NOTE: Whenever saving anything when making your iOS app, it is best if the name has no spaces or any other special characters. (I think) this is because lots off the stuff that GMS does is automatic and it just gets confused when trying to write files to specific locations if it has a space in it. I name my files simple things like drawing_galaxy.ipa or DrawingGalaxy.ipa or just DG.ipa and have never had any trouble.

Open GMS again and open your game. Go to Global Game Settings (bottom of resource tree). Select the iOS tab. Click on refresh from mac and your certificates should appear. Select the same ones as you did in the application oven. Feel free to set up the artwork and stuff now to! Now, click OK. Now go to preferences, and go to web server. Find the IP address of your device you want to test the game on and type it in the allowed list.

Now sync your device with itunes on your mac, and make sure you add the app called YoYo Runner.

In GMS, switch the target to iOS. click the green arrow... When the compile form finishes, open the YoYo Runner app on your device. Now, type in the IP address of your PC into the first text box that comes up. Leave the other one as it is. If everything goes right, the app should be downloading to your device!!!

Test it as much as you need to. Make sure everything works as you want it to in the game. Don't worry about game center yet, that is the next step.

Go to THIS[itunesconnect.apple.com] website. Log in with your apple developer details. This is where you let iTunes "know" about your app, and it also serves as something like Google Analytics for your apps when they are released. Click on manage applications and add a new app. You will need to fill out a few forms. When your first version of your app is created you can integrate game center. From within you app page, click on game center and fill out all the forms needed for each achievement and leader board. Make sure you know what you called them, as you will need the names in GMS later. Now go back to the app page and click on the current version. Scroll down and enable game center, and add all of those achievements that you created before. If you haven't already, write a description and add your screenshots and icons.

I know there are more tutorials somewhere on the GMC[gmc.yoyogames.com] for this. The important thing is that you match up the names here with the same names that your registered in iTunes connect.

Your game should be complete now. Make sure you play the game the WHOLE way through, and get all the achievements. Maybe get some people to test it for you. You will need to add their devices to the profiles in the provisioning portal.

Once you think your app is complete, it is worth building it as a separate ipa from the one made in the application oven. Open GMS again, make sure both your PC and Mac are on and click on the 'create executable for device' button. Now copy the file that you just saved into iTunes on your Mac. Erase the other one if it asks. Now sync your device again. This new app shows what the actual app will look like, and you do not need wifi to test it out. But that means that you will have to resync every time you change your app! If this new app works PERFECTLY, continue.

Now, in GMS, go to the iOS tab in global game settings again. Change the certificate and profile to the distribution ones you made earlier. Now, create another ipa with the 'create an executable' button. Make sure you have access to this file on your mac.

NOTE: If you have problems with "CODESIGN", you must do the following:
-Go to Provisioning Files website.
-Download the Distribution Certificate and double click it.
-Keychan will appear, accept. Then find your new certificate, right-click and select "Get info".
-Go to "Keychan access" and allow it to be used by all programs.

Go to iTunes connect, and click on upload binary. When iTunes says it's ready to be uploaded, open finder. Go to applications. Now, ctrl click on X code and click on show package contents. Somewhere inside there should be another application called application uploader. Open it. Now, follow the steps to upload your app. If it worked...

Your app should now be in the state of waiting for a review. The guys at iTunes take a bit longer than a week to make sure your app works. Dont worry. You are really close...

Remember, don't change ANYTHING when your app is waiting for review! If you do, you will go back to the start of the waiting list! See HERE[gmc.yoyogames.com].

If iTunes accepted your app, it should be on iTunes! You can check on all your sales in iTunes connect.

Wow... That took a long time to write... But it takes a long time to get everything set up to publish on iOS too. I hope someone has found this useful. I know that there are other more in depth tutorials out there, but this one takes you from the start to the finish of the process. Comment bellow if you have any questions.

Remember, when you do release an iOS game, make a topic on the GMC[gmc.yoyogames.com] or publish the windows version to Steam Workshop. That way we can all see your app, and maybe buy it!

Also, you may want to check out Drawing Galaxy or Coggy, my iOS apps. they're free, with loads of levels! Along with Drawing Universe which is in development at the time of writting, you can also try them on Steam Workshop!

Thanks for reading!