Game Development for Modern Platforms

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 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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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 expand

1. Video: Course Overview
2. Video: Brief History of Game Platforms
3. Reading: History of Video Games
4. Video: Modern Game Platforms
5. Video: Project Overview
6. Reading: Download and Install (the latest) Unity3D
7. Reading: Troubleshooting Tips
8. Reading: Downloading Project Assets
9. Video: Getting Started
10. Video: Creating Tree Sprite
11. Video: Creating Ground Tiles
12. Video: Creating Platforms
13. Video: Setting up the Player
14. Video: Tags
15. Video: Layers
16. Video: Sorting Layers
17. Video: Player Animations
18. Video: Player Animator Controller
19. Video: Character Controller
20. Reading: Solutions to Sparty not moving
21. Video: Using Game Controllers
22. 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 expand

1. Video: Level Design with a Snap!
2. Video: Moving Platforms
3. Video: Project Organization
4. Video: Camera Follow
5. Video: Character Controller Code Part 1
6. Video: Character Controller Code Part 2
7. Video: Adding Double Jump
8. Video: Death Zone
9. Discussion Prompt: Alternative to Deathzone?
10. Video: Coins
11. Video: Victory
12. Video: Particle Effects
13. Video: Enemy Setup
14. Video: Enemy Animation
15. Video: Attacking and Stunning Enemy
16. Video: Moving Enemy
17. Video: Enemy Code Part 1
18. Video: Enemy Code Part 2
19. Video: Player Bounce on Enemy Stun
20. 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 expand

1. Video: Parallax Scrolling Part 1
2. Video: Parallax Scrolling Part 2
3. Video: Image Effects
4. Video: User Interface Setup
5. Video: Hiding UI in the Scene View
6. Video: Game Manager
7. Video: Player Prefs
8. Discussion Prompt: Alternative to PlayerPrefs?
9. Video: Game Manager Code
10. Video: Custom Editor Tools
11. Video: Out-of-Game Scenes
12. Video: The Main Menu
13. Video: Cross Platform Menu Controller Support
14. Video: Supporting Mobile Cross Platform Input
15. Reading: Course Project Goals
16. 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 expand

1. Reading: Game Polish (aka, Game Feel and Juice)
2. Reading: Integrating Analytics
3. Reading: Monetization
4. Reading: Playtesting and Balancing
5. Reading: Optimization
6. Video: Building Overview (+ Web Player)
7. Video: Building for WebGL
8. Video: Building for PC and Mac
9. Video: Building for iOS
10. Video: Building for Android
11. Reading: Building for iOS and Android Resources
12. Video: Taking Screenshots
13. Reading: Creating a Game Trailer
14. Video: Creating a Game Web Page
15. Reading: Game Web Page Resources
16. Reading: Distribution Channel Resources
17. Discussion Prompt: Marketing and Distribution Discussion
18. Video: Finishing Up
19. Video: End of Course
20. Reading: Additional Resources

Graded: 2D Platformer Game Peer Review