2D Games: An introduction
Welcome
To 2D game development! Over this unit you’ll be learning about the technical
construction of a game in a 2D game engine.
Does anyone know what a game engine is?
Game Engines 101.A game engine is the program we use to build
the game world.
Its where the games interactivity.
Game Engines 101.Much like a car engine its made of lots of
different parts, which all spin seperately but when put together they make things happen.
Its where the games interactivity.
Interactivity is the key concept for games development.
What does interactivity mean?
An action, caused by something else’s influence.
All games are built on interactivity
Lets look at Angry Birds….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9niqSk9VCi8
• What happens when the player pulls their finger back?
• What happens when they release their finger?• What happens when the bird hits the buildings?• What happens when the bird hits all the pigs?
INTERACTION
When I do (A) then (B) happens.
When the (bird hits the pig) then (the pig dies).
Interaction drives the game forward
Over this project
You will learn how 2D games are created using GameMaker, a 2D game engine.
You will follow a series of guided tutorials which will help you to create a playable level of a 2D game.
You will need to be focused and hard working in order to make your own game.
Today
You will learn • how to create simple images for your game
called sprites• How to create a controllable player object• How to create a simple enemy object• How to create a room / game level.
By the end of this lesson you
• MUST understand what a game engine is • SHOULD be able to create a sprite using a
graphics editor • COULD use visual coding to create movement
in an object
Task 1
1. Log onto moodle and click on the new section called ‘Game Development’
2. Watch the video tutorial ‘GameMaker 4 Beginners’3. Create the same game level by following the
tutorials instructions
Extension: If you finish then improve your games graphics by creating better sprites. You could also play with the speed of your player and enemy objects.
Playtest each others games
Feedback
• What is GameMaker?• What is a sprite?• What is an object?• What can we add to an object?
Next week
You will be learning how to manage collisions
within your game world.
In the meantime you could download
GameMaker at home for free from YoYoGames.