Code Your First Game: Arcade Classic in JavaScript on Canvas

Program a complete game today. No special software or install required. All you need is a text editor and a web browser.

What you'll learn

• Display, position, and move filled shapes for retro and prototype gameplay
• Move a ball around your game space such that it bounces off boundaries
• Handle real-time mouse input
• Detect and respond to simple collisions
• Program very basic artificial intelligence
• Keep and display score during play
• Understand the subtle, key difference between a classic game in this style which is fun to play versus one that isn't
• Define and code a win condition and end state for your game

Course Content:

• Very early on students will need to show file extensions in their operating system (explained briefly in the video)
• If a plain text editor is available that has programming features like line numbers and auto-indent (ex. Notepad++ on PC, TextWrangler on Mac) that may be handy but is not necessary, as a generic text editor like Notepad or TextEdit will work fine for a program of this size

Description:

At the end of this short course you'll have programmed your first game. You'll learn gameplay development fundamentals by really doing it – writing and running real code on your own machine.

Each step of the course has the source code attached exactly as it should look at that time (click "View Resources" then "Downloadable Resources"), for you to compare to or pick up from, so you can't get stuck!

Begin Your Game Programming Journey the Proven Way

"Make the simplest game possible." "Program a ball and paddle project." "Practice by first remaking something from the 1970's." All beginning developers hear this advice from more experienced peers... because it works!

By following this approach you will:

• Learn design from a fun classic that people know and enjoy.
• Start your practice today – now! – without waiting for an idea.
• Finish your game in hours or in a weekend, not over months.
• Understand every line of code used in the entire program.
• Avoid distraction from searching for or creating detailed art.
• Master fundamentals needed to make your own games better.

Instructor:

 

Independent Game Development Educator, 23 years making games