Simple HTML5 Game Development

Learn to build a complete web or mobile video game using HTML5. No previous programming or web development required.

Created by: Andy Harris
Teacher, Author, Game Developer

What Will I Learn?

• Build a basic web page with HTML
• Use CSS to add essential style to your page
• Understand the main concepts of programming (variables, conditions, loops, branches, functions, and arrays) using JavaScript
• Use JavaScript and the Document Object Model to build a basic interactive web page
• Understand how a Scene works in the simpleGame library, and how that adds space and time elements to your game.
• Build a basic Sprite object and learn how to build custom sprites to represent any game element you can imagine
• Practice object-oriented programming to build complex and interesting game objects that can respond to user input, collisions, and other game events
• Manage standard game events like input, boundary-detection and collisions
• Manage sound effects
• Learn to use the mouse and keyboard for basic user input
• Explore how physics can be used for more interesting control like space vehicles, realistic acceleration, and skidding.
• Extend your games to mobile platforms with touch and tilt input, and learn to add icons and full-screen behavior to your games
• Learn not just the code, but the process of building your own game from idea to reality
• Explore the simpleGame engine and see how it does all the magic. Learn how you can extend it yourself for even more power.

Requirements

• Access to an HTML5 - compliant browser (Google Chrome 23 or greater recommended)
• Access to a higher-end text editor (specific examples linked in course)
• Any major operating system (Windows 7+, Mac OSX, Linux)
• Comfort with middle school math (coordinate systems, basic arithmetic, some knowledge of angles)

Target audience

• Anyone interested in game development.
• Web or programming experience is a bonus, but not required
• Suitable for middle school, high school, or adult learners. Motivated younger students will also enjoy the course, but they may need help from an adult. Perfect course for kids and parents to take together!
• We'll have fun, but making a game is complex, and requires a commitment of time and effort. You'll only get a lot out of this course if you put a lot in.