About this course: The device or "platform" that a game is developed for and played on has a massive impact on the game development process. In this hands-on course you will explore how to develop a game for a variety of modern platforms, including Web, Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android. While building a complete game, you will learn intermediate and advanced game development techniques in the Unity game engine. By the end of the course, you will understand how to develop, refine, package, and prepare your game for distribution on a variety of game platforms. Particular attention will be given to developing a 2D platformer game that supports multiple forms of input (keyboard/mouse, controller, and touch), works across multiple forms of output (screen size, screen resolution, sound), and performs well on a variety of computing devices.
Created by: Michigan State University
Taught by: Brian Winn, Associate Professor
Media and Information
| Basic Info | Course 4 of 5 in the Game Design and Development Specialization |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Starting the Project
Hello game developers! Across this course, we will build a complete 2D platformer game as a vehicle to talk about how to develop, refine, package, and prepare games for distribution on a variety of game platforms. This week we will launch right into the thick of it and set up our 2D game, create our player, and give the player control.If you are having troubles with a concept, quiz, or technical issue with Unity, you should post on the Discussion Forum to ask for help. Remember to be a good Coursera community member and help others out when you can.Let’s get started!
16 videos, 6 readings
- Video: Brief History of Game Platforms
- Reading: History of Video Games
- Video: Modern Game Platforms
- Video: Project Overview
- Reading: Download and Install (the latest) Unity3D
- Reading: Troubleshooting Tips
- Reading: Downloading Project Assets
- Video: Getting Started
- Video: Creating Tree Sprite
- Video: Creating Ground Tiles
- Video: Creating Platforms
- Video: Setting up the Player
- Video: Tags
- Video: Layers
- Video: Sorting Layers
- Video: Player Animations
- Video: Player Animator Controller
- Video: Character Controller
- Reading: Solutions to Sparty not moving
- Video: Using Game Controllers
- Reading: Game Controller Details
Graded: Week 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Getting the Game Playable
Welcome back!
This week we will continue to build our 2D platformer game, getting into some level design and gameplay enhancements, including adding an enemy to our game. Along the way we will start to introduce some Unity Editor tips and tricks and some more advanced programming concepts.
As always, if you are having troubles with a concept, quiz, or technical issue with Unity or the project, you should post on the Discussion Forum to ask for help. Remember to be a good Coursera community member and help others out when you can.
Onward!
18 videos
- Video: Moving Platforms
- Video: Project Organization
- Video: Camera Follow
- Video: Character Controller Code Part 1
- Video: Character Controller Code Part 2
- Video: Adding Double Jump
- Video: Death Zone
- Discussion Prompt: Alternative to Deathzone?
- Video: Coins
- Video: Victory
- Video: Particle Effects
- Video: Enemy Setup
- Video: Enemy Animation
- Video: Attacking and Stunning Enemy
- Video: Moving Enemy
- Video: Enemy Code Part 1
- Video: Enemy Code Part 2
- Video: Player Bounce on Enemy Stun
- Discussion Prompt: Alternative way to bounce?
Graded: Week 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Building Out the Game
Hi!
This week we will finish our example game, bringing in some visual polish and UI, adding a game manager, and making sure our game controls work across multiple platforms. We will continue to introduce additional design and programming concepts along the way. And, at the end of this week, you will start the process of modifying the game and transforming it into your own creation! How exciting!
As always, if you are having troubles with a concept, quiz, or technical issue with Unity or the project, you should post on the Discussion Forum to ask for help. Remember to be a good Coursera community member and help others out when you can.
Go! Go! Go!
13 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Parallax Scrolling Part 2
- Video: Image Effects
- Video: User Interface Setup
- Video: Hiding UI in the Scene View
- Video: Game Manager
- Video: Player Prefs
- Discussion Prompt: Alternative to PlayerPrefs?
- Video: Game Manager Code
- Video: Custom Editor Tools
- Video: Out-of-Game Scenes
- Video: The Main Menu
- Video: Cross Platform Menu Controller Support
- Video: Supporting Mobile Cross Platform Input
- Reading: Course Project Goals
- Discussion Prompt: Modification Discussion
Graded: Week 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Preparing to Ship!
Welcome back game developers!
This week, while you work on your game, we will discuss how to polish, balance, and optimize your game (and future games), build the game for various modern platforms, as well as bring the game to market. These lectures and readings contain a wealth of game making goodness that I hope will inspire and excite you.
As always, if you are having troubles with a concept, quiz, or technical issue with Unity or the project, you should post on the Discussion Forum to ask for help. Remember to be a good Coursera community member and help others out when you can.
Let the final crunch commence!
9 videos, 10 readings
- Reading: Game Polish (aka, Game Feel and Juice)
- Reading: Integrating Analytics
- Reading: Monetization
- Reading: Playtesting and Balancing
- Reading: Optimization
- Video: Building for WebGL
- Video: Building for PC and Mac
- Video: Building for iOS
- Video: Building for Android
- Reading: Building for iOS and Android Resources
- Video: Taking Screenshots
- Reading: Creating a Game Trailer
- Video: Creating a Game Web Page
- Reading: Game Web Page Resources
- Reading: Distribution Channel Resources
- Discussion Prompt: Marketing and Distribution Discussion
- Video: Finishing Up
- Video: End of Course
- Reading: Additional Resources
Graded: 2D Platformer Game Peer Review
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Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.
One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
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| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
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| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
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