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.