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Richard Mitchell, Timothy Threadgold, Yen Tu, Karsten Lundqvist, Oliver Bathurst, Rhian Taylor, Lucille Blumire, and Varun Ojha

Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This beginners’ course teaches the basics of programming and you don’t need any knowledge of coding to take part. You may find it challenging at times, but we hope it’ll be fun too. However, the course does require you to be comfortable downloading, unzipping and installing software to your computer. If you think that you may find this difficult, you may like to have someone with a good knowledge of IT on hand to help you – particularly in Week 1. The 4 hours per week is an estimate based on past participants’ experiences, however some previous participants have reported taking much less time, while others take considerable longer to complete some weeks. This will depend on your experience and to some extent how powerful your computer is. This course includes video content and other visual teaching methods. As such, blind and visually impaired students may need a helper. You can use the hashtag #FLmobigame to talk about this course on social media.

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Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This beginners’ course teaches the basics of programming and you don’t need any knowledge of coding to take part. You may find it challenging at times, but we hope it’ll be fun too. However, the course does require you to be comfortable downloading, unzipping and installing software to your computer. If you think that you may find this difficult, you may like to have someone with a good knowledge of IT on hand to help you – particularly in Week 1. The 4 hours per week is an estimate based on past participants’ experiences, however some previous participants have reported taking much less time, while others take considerable longer to complete some weeks. This will depend on your experience and to some extent how powerful your computer is. This course includes video content and other visual teaching methods. As such, blind and visually impaired students may need a helper. You can use the hashtag #FLmobigame to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

  • An introduction to the course, programming and the development environment for building the mobile game.
  • Setting up the software
  • Setting up the testing environment for your game
  • Debugging and operators.
  • Different data types and variables
  • Introduction to operators
  • Applying variables and operators to the game
  • Modifying the game to change the speed of the ball and moving the ball to a position specified by user.
  • Conditional statements and comments.
  • Array variables and looping constructs.
  • Modifying the program to make the ball stay on the screen and adding a control paddle for the user.
  • Modifying the game to include multiple target objects for the ball to bounce from. The target objects are implemented using arrays and accessed using ‘for’ loops.
  • How to decide which algorithm is required to solve more complex tasks.
  • Considering which algorithm to implement, to modify the game.
  • Functions or methods – separate parts of a program.
  • Modifying the program using functions to replace any repeated code.
  • Consolidation of the course – analysing the game.
  • Considering the process behind implementing another game.

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Reviews summary

Coursera's mobile game development for beginners

This course is a great introduction to programming for beginners who want to learn the basics of programming. The course covers a wide range of topics, from setting up the software to modifying the game to include multiple target objects for the ball to bounce from. The course is well-paced and the instructors are knowledgeable and helpful. Overall, this course is a great way to learn the basics of programming and build your first mobile game.
Well paced for all skill levels.
"The course is well-paced and the instructors are knowledgeable and helpful."
Great for beginners.
"This beginners’ course teaches the basics of programming and you don’t need any knowledge of coding to take part."
Mostly about Java, not Android.
"VERY EASY course. It is mostly to learn Java NOT to learn Android as the title boasts."

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Learners who complete Begin Programming: Build Your First Mobile Game will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Reading list

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Classic in the field of game design, and it's a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the art and science of creating great games.
Practical guide to writing efficient and maintainable game code. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to improve their programming skills.
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Comprehensive guide to game development with Python. It covers everything from game design to programming to art and sound design.
Deep dive into the architecture of game engines. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how game engines work.
Explores the psychological principles behind game design. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to create games that are fun and engaging.
Comprehensive guide to level design. It covers everything from the basics of level design to the more advanced techniques used by professional level designers.
Practical guide to writing great game narratives. It covers everything from the basics of storytelling to the more advanced techniques used by professional game writers.
Comprehensive guide to game development and production. It covers everything from the basics of game development to the more advanced techniques used by professional game developers.
Offers a structured and in-depth approach to programming fundamentals using the C programming language. It covers essential concepts such as data structures, algorithms, and memory management, making it well-suited for both beginners and experienced programmers seeking a deeper understanding of C.
This visually appealing and engaging book presents programming fundamentals in Java in a unique and memorable way. It uses a conversational style and numerous illustrations to make learning enjoyable and accessible, particularly for beginners with no prior programming background.
While not specifically focused on programming fundamentals, this book offers invaluable insights into the principles and practices of professional software development. It covers topics such as code maintainability, testing, and project management, making it a valuable resource for aspiring programmers looking to enhance their skills.
This collection of thought-provoking problems and elegant solutions in various programming languages challenges readers to think critically and develop their problem-solving abilities. It covers a range of topics, including algorithms, data structures, and code optimization, making it a valuable resource for experienced programmers looking to hone their skills.
This comprehensive textbook covers the fundamental concepts of algorithms, data structures, and analysis techniques. It provides a deep understanding of how algorithms work and how to design efficient and effective solutions to programming problems. While not specifically focused on programming fundamentals, it is an essential resource for programmers looking to develop a strong foundation in algorithm design and analysis.
This seminal work introduces the concept of design patterns, which are reusable solutions to common software design problems. It provides a catalog of proven patterns and explains how to apply them effectively in object-oriented programming. While not directly related to programming fundamentals, it valuable resource for programmers looking to improve their software design skills.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the game development process, covering everything from game design to programming to art and sound design. It's a great starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about game development.

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