Game design course

 Lesson 8: Programming and Prototyping

---

1. Basics of Game Programming

Introduction to Coding for Games:

• Fundamental Concepts:

• Variables: Store data that can be used and manipulated.

• Data Types: Different kinds of data, such as integers, floats, and strings.

• Control Structures: Direct the flow of the program (if statements, loops).

• Functions: Blocks of code designed to perform specific tasks.

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Use of objects and classes to structure code.

Practical Example:

• Hello World in Unity (C#):

• csharp

• Copy code

• using UnityEngine; public class HelloWorld : MonoBehaviour { void Start() { Debug.Log("Hello, World!"); } }

• Hello World in Unreal Engine (C++):

• cpp

• Copy code

• #include "GameFramework/Actor.h" #include "MyActor.h" #include "Engine/Engine.h" AMyActor::AMyActor() { PrimaryActorTick.bCanEverTick = true; } void AMyActor::BeginPlay() { Super::BeginPlay(); GEngine->AddOnScreenDebugMessage(-1, 5.f, FColor::Yellow, TEXT("Hello, World!")); }

---

2. Prototyping Your Game

Building a Basic Version of Your Game:

• Idea to Prototype:

• Concept: Define the core mechanics and goals.

• Design: Create simple sketches or wireframes of your game.

• Implementation: Start coding the basic mechanics.

Practical Example:

• Unity: Simple 2D Platformer Prototype:

4. Setup Project:

• Create a new 2D project in Unity.

5. Create Player:

• Add a sprite for the player character.

• Write a script for player movement.

• csharp

• Copy code

• using UnityEngine; public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour { public float speed = 5f; void Update() { float move = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal") * speed * Time.deltaTime; transform.Translate(move, 0, 0); } }

4. Create Platforms:

• Add sprite assets for platforms.

• Use Unity's Box Collider2D component for collision detection.

5. Add Basic Physics:

• Attach a Rigidbody2D component to the player for physics interactions.

• Unreal Engine: Basic First-Person Shooter Prototype:

4. Setup Project:

• Create a new First-Person Shooter project in Unreal.

5. Create Player Character:

• Use the default FPS template.

6. Add Basic Shooting Mechanic:

• Create a blueprint or C++ class for shooting.

• cpp

• Copy code

• void AMyFPSCharacter::Shoot() { if (ProjectileClass) { FVector MuzzleLocation = GunMesh->GetSocketLocation("Muzzle"); FRotator MuzzleRotation = GunMesh->GetSocketRotation("Muzzle"); AProjectile* Projectile = GetWorld()->SpawnActor<AProjectile>(ProjectileClass, MuzzleLocation, MuzzleRotation); } }

4. Setup Basic AI:

• Use Unreal's AIController and Behavior Trees to create simple enemy behavior.

---

3. Using Game Engines

Overview of Popular Game Engines:

• Unity:

• Strengths: Versatile, beginner-friendly, large asset store, supports both 2D and 3D.

• Use Cases: Indie games, mobile games, VR/AR.

• Key Features:

• Component-Based Architecture: Build functionality by attaching components to game objects.

• Asset Store: Access to thousands of free and paid assets.

• Cross-Platform Support: Build games for multiple platforms.

• Example Project:

• 2D Puzzle Game: Leverage Unity's tilemap system to create a grid-based puzzle game.

Unity Example:

csharp

Copy code

public class Tile : MonoBehaviour { public bool isWalkable; // Additional tile properties and methods }

• Unreal Engine:

• Strengths: High-fidelity graphics, powerful blueprint system, robust physics engine.

• Use Cases: AAA games, realistic simulations, architecture visualization.

• Key Features:

• Blueprints: Visual scripting system for quick prototyping.

• High-Quality Rendering: Real-time rendering capabilities.

• Cinematic Tools: Create high-quality in-game cutscenes.

• Example Project:

• First-Person Shooter: Utilize Unreal's robust physics and rendering for a realistic FPS game.

Unreal Engine Example:

cpp

Copy code

void AMyCharacter::BeginPlay() { Super::BeginPlay(); // Additional setup } void AMyCharacter::Tick(float DeltaTime) { Super::Tick(DeltaTime); // Character logic }

---

By the end of this lesson, students will have a solid understanding of the basics of game programming, how to create simple prototypes, and the advantages of using popular game engines like Unity and Unreal.