I have a “Crash Course” video tutorial in game development using Corona SDK (a 2D mobile framework) that’s hosted on Udemy:
The course is free and even better, can be done using the free trial version of Corona SDK. This is for beginners, but I assume you’ve played around with programming at some point, maybe with QBasic back in the day, or done some Javascript coding on your web site, or similar.
It’s fun, it’s quick, and it should whet your appetite for more game development. ;)
It doesn’t matter whether a kid is in public school or whether he or she is homeschooled — almost every kid loves computer games. And there’s a certain percentage of those who not only want to play video games, but they want to make them, too.
With the game engines available today that’s completely possible to do at home — and for much less money than most people think. As a homeschooler you don’t have an unlimited budget for curriculum, so I’m going to cover one of the better low-cost options. (And what’s really cool is that option may be lower cost, but it’s the same option professional studios use to create games you see for sale today.)
While a separate room might be the nicest option, just about everything you require is digital and lives on a hard drive, so even a laptop you carry around here or there will work for your studio. A specific place is nice because having a whiteboard for brainstorming is a great help as well as having wall space for posters that spark your creativity.
While an internet connection is a complete requirement, it comes close. It helps your productivity to be able to look up information in online documentation, or see a sample video, or ask questions of experts online.
While the source code you’ll write may seem to be the heart of the game, there are two other assets you’re going to need: artwork and audio. It’s fairly easy to make your own simple sound effects, and if you’re talented in drawing or painting you may be able to do the artwork, too. But in many cases the game developer write the code and then plugs in art and sound created by someone else.
That’s one way a group of friends can work together in making a game. If you’re talented in art, maybe you’re the artist for the game while your musician friend creates sound effects and background music. But if you’re a “lone wolf” there are still options.
Hiring someone to create a set of art or game sounds can be done cheaply, but you’re probably going to end up paying at least a few hundred dollars (or a few thousand) for something that’s good quality. If you have the funds for that, it’s a great option because you’ll get exactly what you need.
Limited funds? No problem, there are artists and musicians out there who create game assets that can be used for free. No purchase up front, no royalties later. All you have to do is give them credit in your game, such as in the About box. Just make sure you check their license agreement before using the assets — you don’t want to be surprised later because use wasn’t permitted.
While 3D games such as first-person shooters are very popular, I don’t recommend 3D for beginning game developers for the simple reason that they are very complicated to put together. Not only do you need to write the code, add artwork and sounds, but your artwork relies on 3D models that have to be created. Modeling is a skill that requires at least as much time as programming itself.
Plus, by creating a 2D game first (or always – some people prefer 2D games) you’re learning principles of design and development that will help you no matter what type of game development you do in the future.
While there are game development tools that require no coding at all, they’re typically much less powerful than those that require some actual programming. Even someone starting from scratch can quickly learn the necessary commands if the right game engine is chosen.
While some engines use C++, Objective-C, or even Javascript, probably the fastest language to pick up is called Lua. It’s been used for game development for years and now there are several 2D game engines available that use Lua as the language.
The best game engines make it quick and easy to get pictures on the screen and animating. The engine I’ve used for the last half dozen mobile games can draw the picture with one line of code, and animate it across the screen with a second. It’s a great balance of ease-of-use and power.
First choice is to find someone who knows and have them teach you. If you’re lucky enough to live close to someone like that, take advantage of it! For others, there are books and video courses. I usually suggest video tutorials because seeing how to do something is often the key to really learning it.
Discover how to create your own game for iOS or Android with the Beginning Mobile Game Development video course. http://MasteringCoronaSDK.com shows how easy it is to make your own mobile game.
In recent months there have been a rash of “systems” promoting all the money that can be made simply by publishing for the Kindle on Amazon.
“We’ll get rich, Martha! It’s guaranteed! Look, all these other guys are doing it!!!!”
Um, yeah.
Those other guys are not starting from ground level. They have a built-in audience who will buy whatever they pitch. And once you have a base that will help push your Kindle book to the top, it’s within view of “normal” people who might find it interesting and buy a copy.
But the rest of us? Those folks who don’t have tens or hundreds of thousands of people on a list?
We publish to Amazon’s Kindle store, step back and…
*crickets*
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I despise the “internet marketing” world.
No, some people do. There are exceptions to the rule. But those systems are promoted to make you think you are the exception. Sure, not everyone makes it, but I will!
And maybe you will, but here’s the question I’d like you to think about…
Are you an author? Are you a publisher? No and no? Then why are you messing around with book stuff on Amazon?
“Because it’s the new gold rush! I’ll get rich!!!”
Maybe, but I doubt it, because the people who think like that are “business opportunity seekers” and as much as they like to think they are, they’re not building an internet marketing business. The mark of those people (sorry if this describes you) is someone who was building web sites to flip last month, is publishing Kindle books this month, and will be doing who-knows-what next month.
Always jumping from one “opportunity” to another, because the next one is the one that will finally make all their dreams come true.
Sigh
If you want to write a book because you have a story to tell or information that’s useful to people, write the book. But don’t do it because you think you’ll get rich — odds are you won’t.
Making money as an author has always been a rare thing, and the fact that you can now self-publish doesn’t really change that. In order to make money you need to sell a truck-load of books, and to sell the books you need people to see that book.
In other words, it boils down to traffic. Just like it always has for every product. You need to get eyeballs on the product. Every one of those “gurus” has the traffic in a bag. All they have to do is point it in the right direction to kick start sales.
(Note: I’m not anti-guru. Some of my best friends have been gurus.)
About the only surefire way, assuming you have some skill, is freelance writing. Someone hires you and you write something for them in exchange for money.
Writing a book and hoping it sells is like buying a Lotto ticket and waiting for the numbers to be called out.
The guys who are making money with self-publishing — and I mean the real guys, not internet marketers — are the ones who are writers. And they write a book, throw it online and forget about it because they’re busy writing the next book.
And maybe they make a few bucks, but usually not, though that doesn’t stop them. They write the next one and get it online and forget about it. And they keep doing that…
…and according to those guys, the ones actually making money with self-publishing, something magical happens somewhere around book 9 or 10. Sales start to pick up all across their line of books. I’ve heard multiple people give that as their experience. No extra marketing, no special PR blasts, just writing decent quality books and putting them online.
But they don’t write one book and call it good. Or even two. And they don’t expect to get rich because someone sold them a “system” that says Kindle publishing is the road to riches.
Here are two truths — and I believe them to be truth not because I came up with them, but because the guys who have had true success with self-publishing prove these things work:
1. You need to have about 10 books available before you start making any money to speak of. You may get lucky earlier, but assume at least 10 books.
2. Don’t go exclusive with Amazon. If someone uses a Nook, or some other ereader and they hear about your book and it’s not available for them, you may never get them as a reader. Ever. When you self-publish, publish to all of the major venues so your book is available to everyone in every format.
That’s it. The secrets to self-publishing.
Unfortunately for me there’s not enough there to charge $497 for a system.
I was one of the folks kind of bummed when the $329 price tag was unveiled for the new iPad mini from Apple. I was hoping for something competitive with the Nexus 7 at $199, etc.
So why the high price?
Well, it’s only a high price if you look at the iPad mini as a competitor to the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, etc. But for a moment pretend they don’t exist — with iPad 2 at $400, iPad 3 at $500, the price of the iPad mini makes sense.
Which makes me think Apple never meant the iPad mini to be a “response” to the low-priced 7″ tablets. Instead, it’s just a different form factor for people who want the iPad (experience) in a more portable size (but not so small as iPod touch).
It’s hard to compare the iPad mini to the Nexus 7 by price, because that really doesn’t mean anything. If you want what the iPad ecosystem can give you it doesn’t matter how cheap the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire is because you can’t get that with those devices.
If you want what the Android ecosystem can give you then the price of the iPad mini is immaterial, too.
For me, having used both (although less Android, admittedly), I choose iPad for what it allows me to do. And if I need another iPad, now I have the choice of a smaller, more totable version, at a reduced price.
I have a full video tutorial course on making Business Apps Using Corona SDK (a framework better known for making 2D games) but for people who look at it and are on the fence, I created an email list where they can get new Corona SDK tips and code every few days…
…along with a sales pitch for the full course, of course! ;)
Use that link to get to the sign-up page. Completely free, and the tips are *very* useful.
I’m finishing up the last of the videos for an online course, “Business Apps Using Corona SDK” and just finished the sample app for Lesson 7.
The Lesson 7 videos should be done and online today, and then all I have to do is put up the 3 bonus videos and the course is completely done!
I think it’s turned out pretty well. I wish I’d had something like this available last year, I would have had a lot more apps available! :)
For those people who are using CPM for Corona SDK but would like to dabble with Moai SDK, I’ve created a short video that shows how to use CPM with Moai:
http://coronaprojectmanager.com/using-cpm-with-moai/
And yes, you can even use the free version of CPM for Moai SDK programming. See the Download page on that site.
While some folks continue to claim the iPad is a “consumption device” other people are using it for creation. And not just the artsy-fartsy types who use it for cool “finger paintings” but more and more programmers are getting into the act.
Apple still has some rules in place that keep the iPad from being a total portable software studio, but it’s really close now — depending on what kind of programming you’re into.
Probably the leading tool for game programmers is Codea (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/codea/id439571171?mt=8). It uses Lua as the language and includes a graphic framework that allows you to “easily” create games, from simple to complex. All of the games you write have to run right inside Codea — that’s part of the Apple restrictions I mentioned earlier.
However, the guys behind Codea created a “wrapper” that can be used with a Codea-based game and fed into Xcode — and out pops a native app that can be submitted to the App Store. With that addition you can now work on a game on the go (Riding the train to work? On your lunch break?) and when it’s done, convert into a native app.
There are a lot of text editors on the iPad that cater to programmers (Textastic and Diet Coda are my two favorites) but there’s a new app available that’s aimed at PHP programmers — and even allows you to run PHP code on your iPad. Offline. You don’t have to be connected to the internet.
That’s an awesome advantage to those of us who have wi-fi iPads and are running from place to place and writing bits of code here and there.
It’s called Kodiak PHP and is brand new on the App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kodiak-php/id542685332?mt=8). Full disclosure, I was given a pre-release copy to play around with but it was with the understanding that I wouldn’t promote it unless I really liked it.
And I do. It’s a very cool tool for anybody who does PHP programming (or wants to get into it). The editor does syntax highlighting and includes an extra row of buttons along the top so you can get to things like $ and ; without needing to switch keyboard layouts.
It’s only $10 after the launch special, but even if you miss the sale it’s worth the price for the ability to code and execute PHP right on your iPad.
If you’re into web development/programming and find yourself away from your desk with time to kill, Kodiak PHP is a cool tool to have at your fingertips.
Look at one of the examples in the screenshot below — grabs info from a Twitter URL in JSON format, decodes it, and displays it on the screen. In PHP, on your iPad. Just way cool.
I’m waiting on review from Apple for a new app I created, it’s called AK Leads and is aimed at salespeople — specifically those who target their products and services at new businesses.
AK Leads – Sales Leads for B2B in Alaska
As soon as the app has been approved I’ll post a link. :)
A couple months ago I bought a Griffin Elan Folio case for my iPad 3 and hated it from about day two. A couple days ago I was fed up with it and sent a “nastygram” to Griffin:
This is the absolute worst case I’ve ever used. And I can’t get my
$50 back so I’m stuck. And I hate Griffin every time I use this case, which
is daily.Someone should be fired for releasing such a piece of crap. Seriously, fired.
When it’s used in the vertical orientation the iPad is heavy enough that it
slides down — and then the front bottom of the case obscures any buttons
that are down there.Did nobody test this out before hitting the “Ship It!” button? Or do you just
not care?If you had made the flap that slides behind the iPad with a rough surface it
*might* work okay, but as it’s slippery (but pretty!) the weight of the iPad
just pushes the flap down and you end up with the crappiest iPad case ever.Pretty, but non-functional in the vertical orientation.
At this point I doubt I’ll ever buy another Griffin product again — and I’ll
continue posting online that Griffin Elan Folio sucks. People need to be
warned off if you’re going to sell a $50 piece of garbage.Nice looking, but garbage in use.
Jay Jennings
Yes, it was harsh, but I felt it was fair. Including the part about someone being fired. (My wife thought it was horrible that I would send out such an email — but she’s a girl, so there you go.)
This morning I received such a tremendously professional response from Griffin that I just wanted to share part of it:
Sorry to hear about your poor experience with Elan Folio for iPad 3! We haven’t heard too many reports of this issue, but I’m sorry to hear it isn’t working out for you. I’ll also pass your feedback along to our Quality Assurance and Product Development departments. We appreciate any customer input, and if there is any other feedback you have for us, please let me know.
I’d be happy to replace your Elan Folio, even with a different case, if you’d like. Please send me the following information:
…
Here is a link to our current cases for iPad 3; just let me know which you would like:
http://store.griffintechnology.com/ipad/ipad-3?griffin_product_categories=Cases+%26+Covers&limit=90
I can then send you a return form via email.
Thank you,
Russell
Customer Support
Griffin Technology
And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is the correct way to respond to someone blasting you via email. I’m seriously impressed that they never sank to the level of my original letter — although I still stand by it and would send the same one again, I love that they ignored my tone and responded to only the factual part of my email.
And to offer me a different case after a couple months? Awesome.
The Griffin Elan Folio (that I have) still stinks and I don’t recommend it for anyone who might want to use their iPad in a vertical orientation.
But as a company that listens to customer gripes Griffin has proven to be superior. Thank you!