How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX (Udacity)

Offered by Udacity,
How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX (Udacity)

'2D Game Development with libGDX' explored the basics of the libGDX game framework, from simple drawing to user input. This course will use those skills to create a much more sophisticated platforming game called GigaGal. In creating GigaGal, you'll learn about sprite drawing, keeping track of complex game state, controlling interactions between game entities, and also how to load and manage level data.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Udacity's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Making and playing games is easily the most fun you can have with a computer, but there are real career opportunities here as well. Over the last decade, mobile gaming has grown into a huge market. Independent game developers are enjoying unparalleled success, and established gaming studios are hiring faster than ever.
In the course '2D Game Development with libGDX' you learned to build a simple game. Now, you'll learn to build a platformer. These are the skills you'll need to enter the world of professional game development.

What you will learn

-Sprites and Animations
Learn to draw using predefined sprites, animations and stretchable nine-patches.
Learn to pack many sprites into a texture atlas that can be efficiently loaded.

  • The Player

Create GigaGal and give her the ability to move and jump.
Add separate sprites for facing left, facing right, standing, and jumping.
Add an animation for GigaGal's walk.

  • The Platforms

Add the platforms to GigaGal and allow GigaGal to jump on them and fall off again.

  • The Camera

Set up the camera to follow GigaGal around the level.

  • The Enemies

Add GigaGal's evil robot adversaries.

  • The Bullets

Let GigaGal fight back with her arm cannon and create awesome explosions.

  • Level Loading

Add the ability to load level data created in an external tool.

  • Adding the HUD and onscreen controls

Add a score display, lives counter, and on screen controls for mobile players.

Prerequisites and requirements
This course builds on '2D Game Development with libGDX', so taking that course first is strongly recommended. Otherwise, you'll need familiarity with the basics of libGDX.
This course assumes basic proficiency with Java and Android Studio, including working with collections, implementing interfaces, and extending abstract classes. It is also assumed that you can read and understand documentation and source code.
To brush up on these skills, consider taking Intro to Java Programming and How to Install Android Studio.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project (Coursera)

In the game design and development capstone course, you will create an original game from initial concept up to the first playable version! Along the way, you will have the opportunity to put your game ideas in front of your peers. The capstone experience gives you the opportunity to push your skills further and demonstrate your newfound skills as a game developer. The capstone also contains guest talks from game industry professionals at Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Gearbox Entertainment, Iron Galaxy, Deep Silver Volition, Goodgame Studios, Stardock, GREE, Heart Shaped Games, and more.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Video Game Design and Development: Video Game Character Design (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Abertay University

Video Game Design and Development: Video Game Character Design (FutureLearn)

How and why do video gamers identify with the characters they control? Find out with this introduction to character design. This online course shows you how to approach character design for video games, giving you important insights into how gamers identify with the characters they control and interact with in-game worlds.

Jul 11th 2022
2 Weeks
Planning, HUDs, and Spawners in GameMaker (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Planning, HUDs, and Spawners in GameMaker (Coursera)

This course is the third course in the specialization about learning how to develop video games using GameMaker on Windows or Mac. Why use GameMaker instead of using C# and Unity or C++ and Unreal*? Learning to develop games with GameMaker is much easier than learning to program in C# or C++ AND learning Unity or Unreal. If you just want to continue learning how to develop games in a more "gentle" way, this is a great starting point.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to Indie Games (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Institute of Coding,UAL Creative Computing Institute

Introduction to Indie Games (FutureLearn)

Explore the thriving independent video games industry, and develop the skills to kickstart your career in the sector. Learn how great indie games are made and what it takes to work in the industry. The video games sector is booming, employing more than 16,000 people in the UK. Moreover, 99.5% of all UK games companies are small and medium-sized independent enterprises.

Jun 29th 2020
2 Weeks
Introduction to Psychological Aspects of Game Design (edX) EdX
LaSalle College,LaSalleX

Introduction to Psychological Aspects of Game Design (edX)

Learn the fundamental concepts and practice of game design and the theory connected to it. Are you ready to take the first step from gamer to game designer? Then this course is for you! This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of game development and design theory, and explores how these concepts affect the ways we design and interact with games.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Introduction to Game Design: Game Systems and Balance (edX) EdX
LaSalle College,LaSalleX

Introduction to Game Design: Game Systems and Balance (edX)

Learn the deep mechanics of good system design that is both fun and rewarding for the gamer. Game designers create the ideas and worlds of games—they design the environment, characters, game mechanics, goals and user experience. Successful game designers do this by applying the fundamentals of game system design and logic.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
2D Game Development with libGDX (Udacity) Udacity
Udacity

2D Game Development with libGDX (Udacity)

This course explores how to use LibGDX to build 2D games that run anywhere, from web browsers to mobile devices. We start with simple drawings, and then turn to simple animations, physics, and user input handling. Finally, we create a full game, called Icicles, where icicles rain down from the top of the screen, and the player must dodge them using the arrow keys or by tilting their phone.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Data Structures and Design Patterns for Game Developers (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Data Structures and Design Patterns for Game Developers (Coursera)

This course is the fourth course in the specialization about learning how to develop video games using the C# programming language and the Unity game engine on Windows or Mac. Why use C# and Unity instead of some other language and game engine? Well, C# is a really good language for learning how to program and then programming professionally. Also, the Unity game engine is very popular with indie game developers; Unity games were downloaded 16,000,000,000 times in 2016! Finally, C# is one of the programming languages you can use in the Unity environment.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter (Coursera)

If you love games and want to learn how to make them, then this course will start you down that path. Making games is a creative and technical art form. In this course you will familiarize yourself with the tools and practices of game development and well as the process. You will get started developing video games using industry standard game development tools, including the Unity 2020 game engine. At the end of the course you will have completed two hands-on projects, including an Intro to Unity project and a 2D Shooter game, and will be able to leverage an array of game development techniques to create your own basic games.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks