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Queue The Game Dev

What is the No-Code Revolution?

Welcome to Season 1 of the No-Code Revolution. The No-Code Revolution is a course series dedicated to helping you master 2D Game Development by recreating the core functionality of hit video games. In future seasons, we will be recreating Super Mario Bros, Tetris, and even Celeste.

Season 1

Read more

What is the No-Code Revolution?

Welcome to Season 1 of the No-Code Revolution. The No-Code Revolution is a course series dedicated to helping you master 2D Game Development by recreating the core functionality of hit video games. In future seasons, we will be recreating Super Mario Bros, Tetris, and even Celeste.

Season 1

Do you want to create video games without coding? If so, this course is the perfect fit for you. In this course, you will be learning how to use one of the fastest growing open-source game engines in the world- GDevelop. GDevelop has a fast-growing community with hundreds of thousands of users. GDevelop is also being used by major companies such as Google and Amazon. Gdevelop is even being used in a few schools and universities around the world.

You will learn the foundational skills of GDevelop that serve as the stepping stones to game development mastery. But, most importantly, you will learn through the process of doing by creating the notable game of Pong. Recreating Pong will help you learn about:

  • Object Movement

  • Player Input

  • Adding Forces to Objects

  • Object Collision

  • Practical Math Usage in Games

  • Proper Variable Usage

  • Music & SFX

  • and more.

Sounds good, but is this course for me?

This Course is For:

  • Those who are new to game development

  • Those who want to create games without coding

  • Those who don't know how to code

  • Those who want to learn a new game engine

  • Those who are hard-working

  • Those who want to join a game development Revolution.

This Course is NOT For:

  • Those who are lazy

If you're ready to learn how to make video games without coding, enroll in the No-Code Revolution today.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Utilize the gdevelop game engine to create games without coding
  • Adopt the thought process behind making game features
  • Gain the skills & knowledge required to make simple games
  • Make use of the approaches to further learning to be able to increase your game development skills
  • Apply the fundamental aspects of game development: variables, collision, movement, music, sfx, & more
  • Recreate the hit game pong

Syllabus

Before You Start the Revolution (GDevelop Installation & Asset Downloading)

You will be able to download, install, and launch Gdevelop.

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Download Assets
In this section, you will learn how to create a project, navigate GDevelop's interface, create events, and use variables.

Learn how to create and save your Gdevelop project.

What is the best practice for saving a Gdevelop project?

Learn the parts of the Gdevelop interface and discover how to navigate Gdevelop's landscape.

Learn how to navigate and use Gdevelop's event system.

Learn about the 3 most important variables in Gdevelop (numbers, strings, and booleans).

Do you know the 3 basic variable types?

New Variable System

Learn how variables can be used to trigger actions in your game.

Do you know the importance of the Trigger Once condition?

At the end of this section, you will be able to move objects using coordinate positions and forces. You will also be able to handle object collisions in Gdevelop.

Learn how to use key presses to move Player 1.

Use Gdevelop's collision system to create forcefields to block the Player from moving out of bounds.

Learn how to make a second player that follows the same rules as Player 1.

Learn how to use forces in Gdevelop to move the ball object.

At the end of this section, you will be able to move objects using forces, use math for game calculations, use sub events, use variables at an intermediate level.

Understand the thought process behind bouncing the ball off of each Player/Paddle.

Confusion On The Next Lesson

Learn how to calculate distance between the Y position of the ball and the y position of paddle and store it in a variable.

New Variable System (Reminder)

Use variables and Y ranges to predict how to ball should bounce off of Player 1.

Use variables and Y ranges to predict how to ball should bounce off of Player 2.

Add the foundational events to start making the ball bounce off of the paddles.

Finish the rest of the events to complete ball bouncing feature.

Change the speed of the ball based on its angle so the ball never slows down.

Use layers to effectively group objects and alter their visibility.

At the end of this section, you will be able to create a scoring system for your Pong game and you will learn how to add music & sound effects to your game.

Understand the thought process behind making a scoring system for your Pong game.

Make the essential parts of a scoring system for your Pong game.

Start creating the restart sequence for your Pong game.

Finish the restart sequence for your Pong game.

Use Gdevelop's scene system to create a game over screen that will restart the game.

Let's Finish This! (Adding Music & SFX)
At the end of this section, you will be able to create basic platformer games in GDevelop.
Assets Needed (DOWNLOAD)

This lecture teaches you how to setup a simple scene with a platformer character and a platform.

This lecture will teach you about the fundamental properties on the platformer behavior.

This lecture will teach you how to customize the controls of your platformer character and flip the player according to the direction in which it is moving.

This lecture will teach you how to add animations to objects. You will also learn how to use the properties in GDevelop's animation system.

This lecture will teach you how to activate animations for a platformer game to match the game This is the Only Level.

This lecture will teach you how to use GDevelop's Tilemap Object to create levels efficiently.

This lecture will teach you how to add spikes to your level with a proper hitbox.

This is the Last Level.

Learn the proper approach to self learning game development

Learn how to learn!

Bonus Lecture

Save this course

Save The No-Code Revolution: Beginner's Guide to Game Development to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The No-Code Revolution: Beginner's Guide to Game Development with these activities:
Review Basic Game Math Concepts
Reinforce foundational math concepts to better understand object movement and collision in game development.
Browse courses on Linear Algebra
Show steps
  • Review basic trigonometry functions (sine, cosine, tangent).
  • Practice vector addition and subtraction.
  • Solve problems involving coordinate systems.
Review 'The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses'
Understand the fundamental principles of game design to create more engaging and enjoyable games.
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to core mechanics, player experience, and level design.
  • Apply the concepts to your Pong game and identify areas for improvement.
  • Brainstorm new game ideas using the lenses provided in the book.
Explore GDevelop's Example Projects
Familiarize yourself with GDevelop's capabilities and learn from existing projects.
Show steps
  • Download and open several example projects in GDevelop.
  • Examine the event sheets and object properties.
  • Modify the example projects to experiment with different features.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Object Manipulation Drills
Improve your proficiency in manipulating objects within the GDevelop environment.
Show steps
  • Create a series of challenges involving object creation, movement, and deletion.
  • Time yourself as you complete each challenge.
  • Analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement.
Document Your Game Development Journey
Reflect on your learning process and share your insights with others.
Show steps
  • Create a blog or video series documenting your game development progress.
  • Share your challenges, solutions, and lessons learned.
  • Solicit feedback from other developers and incorporate it into your work.
Create a Simple Breakout Game
Apply the concepts learned in the course to build a complete game from scratch.
Show steps
  • Design the game layout and create the necessary objects (paddle, ball, bricks).
  • Implement the paddle movement and ball physics.
  • Add collision detection and brick destruction.
  • Implement scoring and game over conditions.
Review 'Game Programming Patterns'
Learn common design patterns used in game development to improve code structure and maintainability.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on command, observer, and state patterns.
  • Identify opportunities to apply these patterns in your GDevelop projects.
  • Refactor your code to incorporate the chosen patterns.

Career center

Learners who complete The No-Code Revolution: Beginner's Guide to Game Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Hobbyist Game Developer
A Hobbyist Game Developer creates games as a personal passion project without necessarily seeking commercial success. This course is perfectly suited for Hobbyist Game Developers, providing the tools and knowledge to bring their game ideas to life without requiring extensive coding skills. GDevelop's visual scripting and user-friendly interface makes game creation accessible to anyone, regardless of their programming background. The course's focus on recreating Pong and understanding game logic provides a fun and engaging way to learn the fundamentals of game development.
Game Prototyper
A Game Prototyper quickly creates playable prototypes to test game mechanics and ideas before full development begins. This course is ideally suited for those aspiring to be Game Prototypers. GDevelop allows for fast iteration and visual scripting, making it easier to experiment with different concepts. Learning object movement, collision detection, and user input, as featured in the Pong recreation project, provides a practical skill set for rapidly building game prototypes. This no-code environment offered here allows one to focus on the core gameplay experience without getting bogged down in complex coding.
Indie Game Developer
An Indie Game Developer works independently or in a small team to create and publish their own video games. This course empowers Indie Game Developers to bring their creative visions to life without needing extensive coding skills. By learning GDevelop, one can focus on game design, level creation, and asset integration to produce polished and engaging games. The course's emphasis on recreating Pong and understanding game logic provides a practical starting point for independent development. Aspiring indie developers may find particular benefit from the course's focus on the GDevelop engine.
Game Instructor
A Game Instructor teaches others how to create video games, often in educational settings or workshops. This course can be extremely useful for Game Instructors who wish to learn a no-code game engine like GDevelop to teach beginners. The course provides a structured approach to learning GDevelop, starting with basic concepts and progressing to more advanced techniques. Game instructors can use what they learned, such as variable usage, object collision, and the creation of music and SFX, directly in their curriculum, empowering their students to create games without coding.
Game Designer
A Game Designer conceptualizes and designs the various elements of a video game, including gameplay mechanics, story, and user interface. This course, focused on no-code game development using GDevelop, helps aspiring Game Designers quickly prototype and iterate on ideas. By recreating Pong and learning about object movement, collision, and player input, one builds a foundation for designing engaging gameplay experiences. This course may be useful for learning to rapidly prototype game ideas without being limited by coding knowledge.
Simulation Designer
Simulation Designers create interactive models of real-world systems for training, analysis, or experimentation. Those interested in creating simulations may find this course useful. GDevelop's no-code approach allows for rapid prototyping and iteration, making it easier to experiment with different simulation designs. This course will provide a strong foundation in game mechanics, and help the designer better create interactive models. The course's lessons on variables, object movement, and collisions are particularly relevant.
Digital Storyteller
Digital Storytellers craft narratives and experiences across digital media, often incorporating interactive elements. Those interested in using video games as a medium for Digital Storytelling may find this course useful. GDevelop's no-code approach allows storytellers to focus on crafting compelling narratives and interactive experiences without needing to master complex programming. By learning to create games with branching narratives and dynamic elements, Digital Storytellers can create engaging and immersive stories for players to explore. The course's focus on game mechanics provides a foundation for designing interactive storytelling experiences, allowing them to use the art of variables to drive story changes.
Serious Game Developer
A Serious Game Developer creates games for purposes beyond pure entertainment, such as training, simulation, or data visualization. GDevelop is a great starting point for Serious Game Development. This course provides a foundation for building interactive simulations and training tools. The skills learned in recreating Pong, such as object movement, variable usage, and collision detection, are transferable to creating simulations for various industries. The ability to rapidly prototype and iterate without coding makes GDevelop a valuable tool in the serious games space.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia Artists create visual content such as animations and effects for a variety of platforms. Using a no code platform, a Multimedia Artist can implement their own animations within a game engine. This course is useful for using GDevelop as a tool for implementing visual content. Learning about object movement, variables and layering, a Multimedia Artist can use this course to implement their animations and visual effects in an interactive environment. This course provides an environment in order to achieve this goal.
Educational Game Developer
An Educational Game Developer designs and creates games that teach specific skills or concepts. This course may be useful to Educational Game Developers who wish to leverage no-code tools to develop engaging learning experiences. The course's focus on fundamental game mechanics, such as object movement, collision, and scoring, translates directly to creating interactive educational content. By learning GDevelop, developers can rapidly prototype and deploy educational games for various age groups. This course may be useful for building educational tools for the classroom environment.
Level Designer
A Level Designer creates the environments and layouts within a video game, focusing on gameplay flow and player experience. By learning to implement level elements, the Level Designer can more easily prototype and design compelling spaces. This course may be useful for Level Designers, particularly the section on Tilemap Objects. Understanding the object placement, movement, and collision detection using GDevelop allows for rapid iteration on level designs and the testing of gameplay mechanics within those levels. This may be useful because it can focus on level layouts without needing to code.
Curriculum Designer
A Curriculum Designer creates learning materials and structures educational programs. This course may be useful for Curriculum Designers in the game development space. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to game development using GDevelop. The step-by-step approach to recreating Pong and the focus on fundamental game mechanics can serve as a valuable framework for designing effective game development curricula for students of all ages. The syllabus may also inspire curricular modules and serve as a guide to help learners discover the joy of game creation.
Gameplay Programmer
A Gameplay Programmer implements the core mechanics and systems that define how a game is played. While this course focuses on no-code development, it can still be useful for aspiring Gameplay Programmers by providing a high-level understanding of game logic and design principles. Even without writing code, the conceptual understanding of object movement, collision, and player input gained from recreating Pong can inform coding decisions and improve communication with designers. This understanding will allow for future gameplay programming implementation.
Quality Assurance Tester
A Quality Assurance Tester identifies and reports bugs and issues in video games to ensure a high-quality player experience. This course may be useful for Quality Assurance Testers by providing a deeper understanding of game mechanics and development processes. By learning how games are built using GDevelop, testers can better anticipate potential issues, write more effective bug reports, and communicate more effectively with developers. This foundation allows a QA tester to perform their duties with a more holistic appreciation of the game.
Technical Artist
A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming, optimizing assets and implementing visual effects in a game engine. Though this course is no-code, it can be useful for Technical Artists who wish to understand the game development pipeline from a design perspective. Learning GDevelop allows one to quickly prototype visual ideas and understand how art assets interact with game mechanics, improving collaboration with programmers and designers. This understanding will allow a technical artist to perform duties with greater context.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The No-Code Revolution: Beginner's Guide to Game Development.
Provides a comprehensive guide to game design principles. It uses a 'lenses' approach, offering different perspectives on game design challenges. The book is useful for understanding the underlying principles of game design, regardless of the tools used. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and valuable reference for aspiring game designers.
Provides a catalog of useful patterns encountered in game development. It explains how to solve common problems in game design and implementation. While the book uses code examples, the patterns themselves are applicable regardless of the engine used. This book is more valuable as additional reading to expand your knowledge of game development principles.

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