In this course, we’ll dive into the basics of creating games with MonoGame, a game framework that has a rich indie development heritage. You’ll be in great company, as countless successful titles, including Stardew Valley, Celeste, Fez, Axiom Verge, and Bastion, have been built using this software, each with millions of sales on Steam.
We’ll be using C#, a widely used programming language in the industry, to bring our game ideas to life. With this powerful combination of a solid game engine and a well-documented language, you’ll have all the tools you need to transform your imagination into stunning games.
Now, let’s talk about what makes this course special. It’s all about hands-on, project-based learning. We’ll apply the programming and game development fundamentals we discuss to create our very own MonoGame projects. No need to worry if you’ve never written a line of code before – this course is designed for beginners and seasoned developers alike. We’ve got content that will benefit everyone.
After an introduction to set the stage, we’ll dive into three sections on C# programming and three sections on MonoGame development. By alternating between programming and game development, we’ll have you up and running, creating games in no time.
Throughout the course, we’ll build three games from scratch using MonoGame. We’ll start with an exciting Shooting Gallery game where you’ll aim and click on targets that pop up on the screen. Next up, we’ll launch into a Spaceship game where you’ll navigate through space, dodging incoming asteroids using the arrow keys. And to wrap it all up, we’ll take on the challenge of creating a top-down action RPG. In this game, you’ll control a player who explores a dynamic world, fights enemies, and shoots projectiles.
With each new game we develop, we’ll build on the skills acquired in the previous one, ensuring a solid foundation in game development. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of all the essential components needed to create your own games, including playable characters, input controls, image rendering, collision detection, projectile shooting, enemy mechanics, player scoring, health tracking, animations, timers, and even a camera system.
To master these aspects of game development, we’ll need a strong grasp of various C# concepts. That’s where our programming sections come in. We’ll cover a wide range of topics, such as variables and data types, conditional statements, classes and inheritance, methods, loops, switch statements, and data structures.
While we’ll be exploring these concepts in the context of C#, the core fundamentals exist across many programming languages, so the knowledge gained here will serve you well beyond this course. And don’t worry, if you’re already familiar with programming, we’ve got you covered with a handy “syntax review” lecture. It’ll walk you through the specific usage of these concepts in C#, allowing you to quickly catch up and apply your existing skills to this context.
