Game Development with Construct 2 : From Design to Realization

Design and create video games using Construct 2. No prior experience is required. Game Development with Construct 2 teaches you to create 12 different game projects from a variety of genres, including car racing and tower defense to platformer and action-adventure. The software is user friendly and powerful, and the games you create can be exported to run on the web, desktop computers, and smartphones. What You'll Learn Create complete functional games using the Construct 2 game engine Understand general logical structures underlying video game programs Use practical game design advice (such as visual feedback and gameplay balancing) Understand programming concepts useful throughout computer science.;At a Glance; Contents; About the Authors; About the Technical Reviewer; Acknowledgments; Foreword; Introduction; Chapter 1: Getting Started with Construct 2; About the Construct 2 Game Engine; Downloading and Installing; The User Interface; Saving, Previewing, and Exporting Games; Summary; Chapter 2: Starfish Collector; Project Setup; Sprites; Events; Behaviors; Ending the Game; Side Quests; Solid Objects; Value-Based Animations; On Your Own; Summary; Chapter 3: Space Rocks; Introduction; Spaceship Movement; Lasers and Rocks; Thrusters and Explosions; Teleportation. Contents at a Glance 4 Contents 6 About the Authors 13 About the Technical Reviewer 14 Acknowledgments 15 Foreword 16 Introduction 17 Chapter 1: Getting Started with Construct 2 18 About the Construct 2 Game Engine 19 Downloading and Installing 19 The User Interface 20 Saving, Previewing, and Exporting Games 24 Summary 25 Chapter 2: Starfish Collector 26 Project Setup 26 Sprites 30 Events 33 Behaviors 35 Ending the Game 38 Side Quests 39 Solid Objects 39 Value-Based Animations 40 On Your Own 42 Summary 42 Chapter 3: Space Rocks 43 Introduction 43 Spaceship Movement 45 Lasers and Rocks 48 Thrusters and Explosions 50 Teleportation 54 Winning or Losing the Game 56 Side Quests 57 Shields 58 UFOs 59 On Your Own 62 Summary 63 Chapter 4: Cleanup Challenge 64 Backgrounds 65 Animating the Player 67 Cars 69 Displaying Messages with Text Objects 72 Keeping Score with Global Variables 75 Side Quests 77 Randomization 77 On Your Own 78 Summary 79 Chapter 5: Adding Polish to Your Game 80 Adding Animation and Text 81 Mouse Input and Buttons 83 Audio 84 Menus 87 Alternative Controls 88 Changing Default Controls 89 Gamepad Controllers 89 Touchscreen Input 91 Summary 92 Chapter 6: Plane Dodger 93 Background Effects 94 The Player’s Plane 96 Stars and Score 97 Enemy Planes 99 Side Quests 101 Summary 102 Chapter 7: Racecar 500 103 Introduction 103 Tilemaps and Level Design 104 Car Mechanics 108 Race Timer 109 Side Quests 112 Scenery 112 Obstacles 113 On Your Own 114 Summary 115 Chapter 8: Rectangle Destroyer 116 Introduction 116 Paddle, Walls, Bricks, and Balls 117 Game Start and End 119 Items 121 Items Affecting the Ball 122 Items Affecting the Paddle 124 Side Quests 126 Summary 127 Chapter 9: Spell Shooter 128 Introduction 128 Player Setup and Mouselook 130 Creatures and Vortices 131 Instance Variables and Waypoint Logic 132 Spell Shooting 136 Spell Charge and User Interface 137 Score and Game Over 139 Side Quests 140 Adding a Radar 140 On Your Own 141 Summary 142 Chapter 10: Airplane Assault 143 Player, Waypoint, and Enemy Setup 144 Shooting and Spawning Enemies 146 Score, Health, Invincibility, and Game Over 148 Side Quests 150 Endless Vertical Scrolling 150 On Your Own 152 Summary 152 Chapter 11: Tower Defenders 153 Level Setup 154 Enemy Movement 156 Cannons and Bullets 156 Earning Cash 159 Cannon Purchase and Placement 160 Game Ending and Difficulty Ramp 164 Side Quests 166 Additional Enemy Types 166 Additional Cannon Types 167 Time Speed Control 167 On Your Own 168 Summary 168 Chapter 12: Maze Runman 170 Player Setup and Grid-Based Movement 172 Enemies and Intelligent Movement 177 Collecting Coins 181 Game End 183 Side Quests 184 Adding a Jewel Bonus Item 184 On Your Own 185 Summary 185 Chapter 13: Jumping Jack 186 Level Design 187 Player Setup 188 Ladders and Climbing 191 Additional Game Objects 196 Goal Flag 196 Jump-Through Platforms 197 Springboards 197 Breakable Bricks 198 Coins 200 Keys and Locked Blocks 201 Enemies 202 Side Quests 206 Summary 207 Chapter 14: Treasure Quest 208 Level Design 209 Hero Setup 212 Sword-Fighting Mechanics 214 Multiple Levels 216 User Interface Design 219 Status Display 220 Sign Mechanics 220 Items 222 Hearts 223 Coins 223 Bombs 225 The Treasure Chest 227 Enemies 228 Side Quests 231 Summary 232 Chapter 15: The Journey Continues 233 Continue Developing 233 Working on Projects 233 Obtaining Art Resources 234 Participating in Game Jams 235 Overcoming Difficulties 235 Broadening Your Horizons 236 Playing Different Games 236 Increasing Your Skill Set 237 Recommended Reading 237 Sharing Your Games 238 Appendix A: Game Design Documentation 240 Index 245 Design and create video games using Construct 2. No prior experience is required. Game Development with Construct 2 teaches you to create 12 different game projects from a variety of genres, including car racing and tower defense to platformer and action-adventure. The software is user friendly and powerful, and the games you create can be exported to run on the web, desktop computers, and smartphones. What You'll Learn Create complete functional games using the Construct 2 game engine Understand general logical structures underlying video game programs Use practical game design advice (such as visual feedback and gameplay balancing) Understand programming concepts useful throughout computer science Who This Book Is For Middle school and high school students with no prior programming knowledge, and only minimal mathematical knowledge (graphing (x,y) coordinates, measuring angles, and applying formulas) Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Getting Started with Construct 2....Pages 1-8 Starfish Collector....Pages 9-25 Space Rocks....Pages 27-47 Cleanup Challenge....Pages 49-64 Adding Polish to Your Game....Pages 65-77 Plane Dodger....Pages 79-88 Racecar 500....Pages 89-101 Rectangle Destroyer....Pages 103-114 Spell Shooter....Pages 115-129 Airplane Assault....Pages 131-140 Tower Defenders....Pages 141-157 Maze Runman....Pages 159-174 Jumping Jack....Pages 175-196 Treasure Quest....Pages 197-221 The Journey Continues....Pages 223-229 Back Matter....Pages 231-240