Staredit Network > Forums > Technology & Computers > Topic: I want to learn how to make a game app
I want to learn how to make a game app
Jul 5 2013, 11:21 pm
By: Echo  

Jul 5 2013, 11:21 pm Echo Post #1



I have zero experience in java or anything. Where can I start? I want to make a game for the Android system, and possibly the iOS.

Also thinking of switching majors into something related.



None.

Jul 5 2013, 11:47 pm lil-Inferno Post #2

Just here for the pie

Just start doing it, there is no "correct" path. However, I would recommend you start out by cloning old Atari games (e.g. Breakout, Pong, etc.) to get experience finishing stuff.




Jul 6 2013, 1:30 pm Roy Post #3

An artist's depiction of an Extended Unit Death

I'd start with a text-based game because you don't have any experience in programming, and graphical programming takes more work than reading console commands. For a text-based game, all you really need to know is println and nextLine, and then logical flow operators such as if, while, and for. You can rely on what you learned from SC1 triggering to control state.

For learning Java, Inferno is right: start anywhere. There are loads of sites for learning Java, like this: http://www.javabeginner.com/

Here's some basic code in Java (hopefully it compiles; I'm writing from memory):
Code
// Define a class to hold your code
public class Program {

   // The main method is where all Java applications start
   public static void main(String[] args) {
       // Create a new instance of your class
       new Program();
   }

   // Variables
   // Scanner is used to read user text input
   private Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

   // Constructor; this is called when you say "new Program();"
   public Program() {
       // Print to the console
       System.out.println("What's your name?");
       // Store the user's response into a string variable
       String name = scanner.nextLine();
       // Concatenate the user's response to another string and print that out
       System.out.println("Hello, " + name);
   }
}

You'll want to use an IDE such as Eclipse for writing your code, though you could very well just do it in notepad and use the command line to compile if you wish. IntelliJ is also a great IDE and probably integrates better with Android development.

You've got a long way to go before you're actually making Android apps, though, because you'll have to learn Java and then learn the Android SDK. Once you get to that stage, though, AndEngine looks like it does some of the heavy lifting for you.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jul 6 2013, 1:36 pm by Roy.




Jul 11 2013, 3:38 pm Generalpie Post #4

Staredit Puckwork

In Advanced Video Game Design, we used Unity 3D Pro w/ Android + iOS compilers. Models/objects, effects, textures, etc. are fairly simple to grasp once you've gotten the hang of it, but you'll have to learn at least one of the languages MonoDevelop supports to get any logical programming done. Using class time alone, I had an Asteroids knock-off done in about a week, but I had previous JavaScript experience.



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[05:47 pm]
NimoStar -- If its any consolation, the human brain would still mop the floor with this bot if it wasn't limited by the mechanical interface
[05:34 pm]
NimoStar -- Well. The bot didn't come up with any new strategy. It just has superhuman micro. Hard to beat that. I reckon even the simplest dedicated chess engines are unbeatable for humans now.
[02:13 pm]
Oh_Man -- all g
[10:54 am]
NudeRaider -- Oh_Man
Oh_Man shouted: NudeRaider did u watch the entire video? it's not one game. it's currently dominating the ladder at number 1 position. do ur research first!
Oops, caught me there, no I haven't. :( I was imagining how the game went. Sorry for that. Watching it now. brb
[10:52 am]
NudeRaider -- NimoStar
NimoStar shouted: They were not "Unprepared" that was their fifth loss in a row against the bot. The other replays are also available
that doesn't mean he was prepared. When humans come around with new strategies it often takes weeks until the pros figure out how to shut it down. Oh_Man that's certainly a way more convincing argument for micro being "too good to beat".
[09:43 am]
DiearAnother -- wirefram
[08:35 am]
NimoStar -- Well, pros showed that long ago... half of zerg pros just ling muta rush
[08:35 am]
NimoStar -- " its shown is that you can trade 1000's of apm to make up for lack of strategy"
[03:25 am]
Oh_Man -- https://youtu.be/R_6bsf9REkY anyone ever tried playing SC ghost?
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