Dive Into Game Development
Can you learn to make video games from reading books? Or does it all have to happen on the computer? While it’s true that you can’t make video games without a computer (or at least a smartphone), many game designers plan out their game rules on paper. Game artists, too, may sketch with traditional tools before going digital, and for those interested in a career as a game developer, a lot has to happen in the "real world."
Even for the stages of video game development that must happen digitally, books can provide not only a very organized and easily perusable way of learning, but also help to break up all that screen time. And while coding classes can be very expensive, with only your MCLS library card you can access numerous books and also free online resources. For every step of the game creation process, from brainstorming to final release, the Mercer County Library System collection and Virtual Branch have you covered. Whether you’re looking to learn as an adult or to foster youth learners, below is just a sample of the many springboards you can use to dive into game development.
Game design
This book is for anyone wanting to become a professional game designer. Focusing on creating the game mechanics for data-driven games, it covers role-playing, real-time strategy, first-person shooter, simulation, and others. Written by a 25-year veteran of the industry, the guide offers detailed explanations of how to design the data sets used to resolve game play for moving, combat, solving puzzles, interacting with NPCs, managing inventory, and much more.
This handy, to-the-point, reference guide for video game development emphasizes the significance of storytelling and writing skills for creating today's most popular, narratively-engrossing video games. Video Game Storytelling provides developers with comprehensive, but easy-to-follow, advice for facilitating the creation of compelling storylines.
Game Art
Video games are not a revolution in art history, but an evolution. Whether the medium is paper or canvas or a computer screen, the artist's challenge is to make something without depth seem like a window into a living, breathing world. Video game art is no different.
Make Your Own Pixel Art is a complete, illustrated introduction to the creation of pixel art aimed at beginners just starting out right through to experienced pixel artists wanting to enhance their skills. Hand anyone a pencil and paper and they can start drawing, but it's just as easy to draw digitally using a keyboard and mouse. With Make Your Own Pixel Art, pixel artist Jennifer Dawe and game designer Matthew Humphries walk you step-by-step through the available tools, pixel art techniques, the importance of shapes, colors, shading, and how to turn your art into animation.
Coding
Learn one of today's most important skills--coding--while creating your own games! With this illustrated, interactive guide to coding, readers will discover how to create, test, and play fun 2D computer games. No prior programming knowledge is required to become proficient: just follow the easy step-by-step examples to program and share games on an Apple or Windows PC, Android device, or Apple iOS tablet.
A hands-on guide to web game development for programmers interested in building games for web and mobile using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.
Expand your basic knowledge of Python and use PyGame to create fast-paced video games with great graphics and sounds. This second edition shows how you can integrate electronic components with your games using the built-in general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins and some Python code to create two new games.
Fiero Code is a self-guided online software program that teaches you how to code through hundreds of coding tutorials and dozens of real-world projects. Fiero Code offers a gamified learning experience ― as you progress through the activities, you’ll earn clothes and accessories for your personal avatar. Programming languages to learn include: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Scratch, SQL.
Enjoy unlimited access with your library card to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). Expert-led online courses covering current topics in business, software, human resources, wellness, lifelong learning, and much more.
Game Design as a Career
A revealing guide to a career as a video game designer written by acclaimed journalist Daniel Noah Halpern and based on the real-life experiences of legendary designer Tom Cadwell of Riot Games--required reading for anyone considering a path to this profession.
The indie game developer's complete guide to running a studio. The climate for the games industry has never been hotter, and this is only set to continue as the marketplace for tablets, consoles and phones grow. Seemingly every day there is a story of how a successful app or game has earned thousands of downloads and revenue. As the market size increases, so does the number of people developing and looking to develop their own app or game to publish. The Indie Game Developer Handbook covers every aspect of running a game development studio from the initial creation of the game through to completion, release, and beyond.
For Children and Youth
This activity book introduces kids to the world of coding through the Minecraft world they love. Colorfully illustrated characters and themes from their favorite video game bring the excitement of coding to life, while easy-to-follow screenshots guide them through activities.
Learn how to code your own fun games using JavaScript in this easy-to-understand book. Originally used to make web pages more interactive, JavaScript is now used to create online games that will run on computers and mobile devices. Enjoy creating the simple projects in this book, and you will be on your way to being a JavaScript expert in no time!
Follow the simple steps to become an expert coder, using the popular programming language Scratch 3.0. This updated edition is the first to be tablet-computer friendly, making it even easier to get coding.
--by James Dunham, West Windsor Circulation
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