This lesson will introduce you to GameMaker.

1. 2D Games:
An introduction

2. Welcome
To 2D game development!
Over this unit you’ll be learning about the technical
construction of a game in a 2D game engine.

3. Does anyone know
what a game engine is?

4. Game Engines 101.
A game engine is the program we use to build
the game world.
Its where the games interactivity.

5. Game Engines 101.
Much like a car engine its made of lots of
different parts, which all spin seperately but
when put together they make things happen.
Its where the games interactivity.

6. Interactivity is the key concept for
games development.
What does interactivity mean?
An action, caused by something else’s influence.

7. All games are built on interactivity
Lets look at Angry Birds….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9niqSk9VCi8
• What happens when the player pulls their finger
back?
• What happens when they release their finger?
• What happens when the bird hits the buildings?
• What happens when the bird hits all the pigs?

8. INTERACTION
When I do (A) then (B) happens.
When the (bird hits the pig) then (the pig dies).

9. Interaction drives the game forward

10. Log onto Moodle and click on the link

11. You have 15 minutes to list all the
interactivity you can see in a
playthrough of the first 5 levels.
Think about:
• What happens when you press a certain key….
• What happens when you get to bandage girl?
• What happens when you hit a grinder?
Etc…..

12. Feedback
• What did we find out?

13. PART 2: Game Pre-production
In the 2nd part of the lesson we are going to look
at how we can break a game down into its
simplest concept.

14. Game Concepts
We can break a games idea down based on its:
• Avatar:
• Challenge:
• Mechanics:
What do these mean?

15. Game Concepts
We can break a games idea down based on its:
• Avatar: Who you play as
• Challenge: What you have to do
• Mechanics: How you do it

16. Lets try it with Angry Birds
• Avatar:
• Challenge:
• Mechanics:

17. Working in pairs
Prepare a PowerPoint presentation where you
analyse at least 3 mobile games, explaining their
avatars, challenge and mechanics.
You should also explain what the narrative
(story) of the game is, and include some
gameplay videos.
You have 30 minutes.

18. Presentation time

19. Next week
We will be starting to
use GameMaker.
In the meantime you
can download
GameMaker for free at
home by using the link
on Moodle.