If you know anything about Java, you’ll know that it can be used in an almost endless number of ways. One of the most popular uses is for game development. Since gaming is a billion dollar industry and rising, there are plenty of exciting employment opportunities to be found. To get one of those coveted jobs however, you need to have the broadest skill set possible. A comprehensive understanding of Java game development is an excellent place to start.

Learn the World’s Most Popular Programming Language

• Learn Java and game development by creating a Flappy Bird clone
• Customise your game and build a framework for other games
• Improve your knowledge of object oriented programming
• Grasp the most important concepts of game programming

Become a Java Script Expert

The best way to learn a practical skill is by doing, and that’s exactly how this course works. You will focus on creating a clone of the popular Flappy Bird game, and along the way you’ll pick up everything you need to know about Java game development.

You’ll learn valuable concepts of games programming like effective game loops, loading resources onto your game, creating and customising windows, interfaces, games engines, and input handlers. Having completed the 28 lectures and 2 hours of content, you won’t just have developed a Flappy Bird game; you’ll have developed a solid framework that can be used for any 2D game.

This course has been designed with intermediate programmers in mind. You will need to be familiar with the Java programming language and comfortable with object oriented programming. If you are a complete beginner, we recommend starting off with one of our beginner level Java, game development or programming courses first.

Tools Used

Netbeans IDE: Netbeans is a free, open source Integrated Development Environment written completely in Java and intended for development solely in Java (although it does support other languages such as PHP, C++ and HTML5). It is a cross platform IDE that runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris and has a worldwide community of users and developers. It allows users to quickly and easily develop all manner of desktop, mobile and web applications.

Games by their very nature are supposed to be fun. So why should the process of creating them be tedious and complicated? Instead of sitting through hours of lectures and game development theory, this course cuts to chase and allows you to create a game straight away, learning as you go.

Learn Python game development by creating your own game

1.Gain practical experience in Python game development

2.Develop a clone of Flappy Bird using Python game programming

3.Create levels with increasing difficulty and complexity

4.Understand and utilize the opportunities Python games provide

Master game development in a fun environment

Python game programming is a set of Python modules designed specifically for writing games. It allows you to create fully featured games and multimedia programs using the Python programming language. Python is highly popular and versatile, running on almost every platform and operating system out there; so mastering it is of enormous benefit whether you want to create Python games or pretty much anything else. By completing this course, you can create open source, free, freeware, shareware and commercial games using Python game programming.

Course Overview

This course contains 21 lectures and over 3 hours of content. It is intended for those who already have a working knowledge of Python programming or general programming, and who want to apply their skills to games development. However, beginners may still be able to follow the course too.

The main focus of this course is to create a clone of the smash hit (and extremely simple) game Flappy Bird using Python game programming. You will first be introduced to Python programming concepts and initial coding, and then delve straight into the making your game from scratch.

The first two elements of the game you will learn are the time clock and game over. From there, you'll progress to initial graphics setup including the background and adding graphics to the screen. Following that, you'll move on to working with coordinates.

The next few sections of the course focus in detail on creating input controls, boundaries, crash events and menu creation, as well as creating obstacles using polygons. Finally, you'll add the finishing elements to your game like game logic, score display, colours, and most importantly, difficulty levels.

By the end of this course you will have created your own Flappy Bird game from scratch using Python game programming and Python game development techniques. The skills you picked up along the way will give you a solid groundwork for creating bigger, more complex, and more versatile games that can be run on any platform or any operating system.

Learn the new features of Unity 5 in this course from Stone River eLearning that covers each of the new features. You'll learn what they are, how they work and how you can use them to create professional quality games with Unity 3D.

Unity 5.0 is the biggest and boldest release ever. Powerful new features in Unity 5 include:

• The Physically-based Standard Shader to make your materials look consistent in any lighting environment, cross platform.
• Real-time Global Illumination, built on Geomerics Enlighten technology.
• The Audio Mixer, to massively improve audio in your game.
• HDR Reflection Probes to enhance visual fidelity.
• PhysX 3.3 to bring massive performance improvements to 3D physics.
• Major updates to the animation system.
• WebGL preview.

And of course, many more new features and updates. Keep reading to learn more.

UNITY 5 NEW FEATURES

AI

• NavMesh supports LoadLevelAdditive
• Improved performance and reduced memory consumption:
  • NavMeshObstacles update is multi-threaded now. Carving speed generally improved 2-4x.
  • NavMesh data for non-carved regions takes ~2x less memory now.
  • Performance improvements for multi-threaded NavMeshAgent updates.
  • HeightMeshes bake faster, work faster at runtime, and use ~35% less memory.
  • Path replanning in presence of many carving obstacles is faster and more accurate.
• Improved inspectors and debug visualizations:
  • NavMesh Areas inspector (previously NavMesh Layers) got a facelift.
  • Reorganized parameters NavMeshAgent inspector.
  • Added carve hull debug visualisation for NavMeshObstacles.
  • Added visualisation on how NavMesh bake settings relate to each other.

• Improved accuracy and raised limits:
  • NavMeshObstacle supports two basic shapes - cylinder and box for both carving and avoidance.
  • Improved automatic Off-Mesh Link collision detection accuracy. Note that this will change how off-mesh links placement on existing scenes.
  • Improved navmesh point location/mapping when height mesh is used.
  • Increased the height range of NavMesh baking (can build meshes for taller scenes).
  • Made Height Mesh query more resilient to small holes in input geometry.
  • NavMesh obstacle rotation is take into account when carving and avoiding.
  • NavMesh tile count limit lifted from 216 to 228.
  • NavMeshPath and NavMeshAgent paths removed 256 polygon limit.
  • OffMeshLink - removed restriction on tile span - previously connected only up to neighbouring tiles.

ANDROID

• KitKat Immersive Fullscreen Mode. Applied by default.
• Rendering to multiple displays.
• Rendering to custom java surfaces. Exposed in Unity as additional displays.
• AAR Support. AAR files can now be used as a replacement for Android Library Project folders.

ANIMATION

• State Machine Behaviours
  • StateMachineBehaviours is a new MonoBehaviour-like Component that can be added to a StateMachine state to attach callbacks
  • Available callbacks are : OnStateEnter, OnStateExit, OnStateUpdate, OnStateMove, OnStateIK, OnStateMachineEnter and OnStateMachineExit
  • Animator.GetBehaviour(). This function return the first StateMachineBehaviour that match type T

STATE MACHINE BEHAVIORS

• StateMachine Transitions
  • Can now add higher level transitions from StateMachine to StateMachine
  • Entry and Exit nodes define how the StateMachine behaves upon entering and exiting.

STATE MACHINE TRANSITIONS

• Asset API
  • Allows to create and edit, in Editor, all types of Mecanim assets ( Controllers, StateMachines, BlendTree etc.)
  • Added API for Avatar, Motion Nodes, Events and Curve in the Model Importer
• Direct Blend Tree.
  • New type of blend tree to control the weight of each child independently

Game development is an ever changing, constantly improving, and highly dynamic area to work in. Things are on the move constantly, and if you’re not careful you can get left behind. That’s why it’s important to keep your skills at the top level and to familiarise yourself with the latest tools and programs out there. This course will do just that by getting you up to speed with Unity5, the newest version of one of the industry’s leading development engines.

Become a Unity 5 Developer

• Build your first functioning game in 60 minutes
• Create more complex games as your skills improve
• Increasing levels of complexity to cater for both beginners and experienced developers
• Grasp game development fundaments in a practical way
• Gain practical skills than can instantly be used in the real world

Learn the Secrets of Unity 5 Game Development

Whether you’re completely new to game development or have gained some experience developing games with Unity already, this course is for you. With 85 lectures and 9.5 hours of content, it takes starts off at beginner level and advances up to more complex projects.

This course goes beyond merely explaining or showing you how everything works; you’ll be shown how, and then you’ll do it for yourself. As you progress through the course you’ll create three games of increasing complexity; a trivia game to demonstrate programming basics and show you the Unity user interface, followed by a 2D platforming game, and to finish, first person shooter game complete with visual effects and artificial intelligence.

By creating these games, you’ll learn all about scripting and user interface including questions and answer options, creating different levels, adding audio, freezing game play, building scenes, learning Nav Mesh, character and object movement, and game narrative, among other things.

This course emphasises coding and development, and is suitable for anyone who wants to learn to develop games or learn how to code. To start this course, you will need to have Unity installed on your computer; we’ll show you everything else from there.

About Unity 5

Unity is a games engine used to create and develop 2D and 3D games and interactive experiences. It is fast becoming the industry standard for creating multiplatform games. Unity5 is the latest version of the tool, and includes a number of advanced powerful features such as a 64-bit editor, frame debuggers, graphics command buffers, and more.

Level design is a critical component to all games, but a component that can be difficult to get right. Anyone with graphics experience can in theory create a functioning single level game; but creating a game that's interesting and enjoyable as well as functional takes some finesse. Mastering Blender and Unity 3D is a sure fire way to make your game level design all of this, and more.

Develop your level design skills to the highest standard

1.Understand game level design in both conceptual and practical terms

2.Design 3D models for game levels

3.Create textures through Photoshop

4.Construct and operate a full game level on Unity 3D

Construct multi-level games using versatile programs

Blender and Unity 3D are both open source programs used by games designers all over the world. Developed by their community of users, they construct games that operate on almost all platforms; from consoles and desktops to mobile and websites. Gaining a knowledge of both programs is hugely beneficial to any game developer, as it fine-tunes your insight and intuition for creating multi-faceted, compelling and exciting game levels. Whether you're still coming to grips with level design or already have a wealth of experience under your belt, learning level design with Blender and Unity 3D will ensure your skills are up to date and flawless.

Course Overview

This course includes over 66 lectures and 5 hours of content, suited to anyone with a basic understanding of Blender and Unity 3D. If your interests lie in level design, 3D modelling or texturing, then this course is for you.

You'll first learn about the concepts and best practices of level design, from setting goals and getting references to planning and mapping out your level in Photoshop. You will then move on to modular design and complete basic object manipulation tasks; the first step to creating a full game level.

You will go through each aspect of level design in detail; floors, ceilings, walls, focal points, props and other objects, filling in your level as you learn. Then, you'll add intricate texture to each of these elements, bringing your level design up a notch from basic to something much more professional looking.

Reviews and quizzes have been incorporated into each section of this course so that the material covered is constantly refreshed. On completion, you will take away an up to date skill set in Unity 3D and Blender. You will have an understanding of graphics software, game engines, game level design, and how all of these elements work seamlessly to create fun and engaging games.

Learn Blender from a beginner's perspective with this Blender 3D modeling and texturing course from Stone River eLearning. If you're interested in 3D modeling and texturing for game design, 3D art, 3D animation or architectural design, Blender 3D is a free, easy to use tool that will allow you to master 3D modeling with no money out of pocket.

What You Will Learn

In this course you will gain the skills to create and texture 3D models. This Learn Blender course covers the fundamental tools you will use for modeling in Blender. You'll receive an overview of how to give your models, materials and textures a professional look, with extra detail and color to make then look complete and professionally done.

What You Can Do After Taking This Course

By the end of this course you should have an understanding of modeling and texturing that will allow you to build and learn more on your own. You will be provided with additional Blender learning resources and project files to continue learning and practicing after you've completed the course.