3 Game Development

• Developing in Construct 2

Installation:

Download and install Construct 2 from its official site.

Open the program and select “New Project” to get started.

User Interface:

Layout: This is where you will design the levels of your game.

Event Sheet: Use event sheets to define game logic without writing code.

Properties Bar: Adjusts the properties of the selected objects.

Creating a Basic Game:

Add Objects: Drag and drop sprites and other objects into the layout.

Define Behaviours: Assign predefined behaviours such as “Platform” or “Solid” to objects.

Events: Use the event system to define game logic. For example, “If the player presses the right key, move the character to the right.”

Testing & Export:

Test your game directly in the editor.

Export your game to multiple platforms like HTML5, Windows, Android, etc.

In this case we will use HTML5

• Templates in Construct 2

Construct 2’s templates are designed to be flexible and user-friendly, making it easier for both beginners and experienced developers to create high-quality games.

• Types of Templates in Construct 2

Construct 2 offers several templates that make it easy to start new projects. These templates provide a solid foundation on which you can build and customize your own game. Here are some examples:

• Platform: Ideal for platform games like Mario. These templates include basic mechanics such as jumping, running, and collision detection, allowing you to focus on level design and character development.
• Shooter: For top-down shooter games. These templates often come with pre-configured controls for movement and shooting, as well as enemy AI and health systems, making it easier to create action-packed gameplay.
• Puzzle: Templates for puzzle games. These can include mechanics for matching, sliding, or logic-based puzzles. They provide a framework for creating engaging and challenging puzzles that test the player’s problem-solving skills.
• RPG: Basic templates for role-playing games. These templates typically include character stats, inventory systems, and dialogue trees, giving you a head start on creating immersive RPG experiences.
• Multiplayer: Templates for games with multiplayer functionality. These templates help you set up networked gameplay, allowing players to connect and compete or cooperate in real-time.

• Additional Templates and Features

• • Endless Runner: Templates for creating games where the player character runs continuously, avoiding obstacles and collecting items. These are great for mobile games and casual play.
  • Tower Defense: Templates for tower defense games, where players must strategically place towers to defend against waves of enemies. These templates often include basic enemy paths and tower mechanics.
  • Physics-Based Games: Templates that utilize Construct 2’s physics engine to create games with realistic movement and interactions. These are perfect for creating games that involve throwing, bouncing, or other physical interactions.

• Customization and Flexibility

Each template in Construct 2 is highly customizable. You can:

• Modify Assets: Replace the default graphics and sounds with your own to give your game a unique look and feel.
• Adjust Mechanics: Tweak the game mechanics to better fit your vision. For example, you can change the speed of the player character, the difficulty of enemies, or the rules of the puzzle.
• Expand Functionality: Add new features and elements to the templates. For instance, you can introduce new power-ups, levels, or game modes to enhance the gameplay experience.

• Getting Started with Templates

1. Choose a Template: Start by selecting a template that closely matches the type of game you want to create.
2. Explore the Template: Familiarize yourself with the layout, events, and objects included in the template.
3. Customize: Begin customizing the template to suit your game’s theme and mechanics. Replace assets, adjust settings, and add new features as needed.
4. Test and Iterate: Regularly test your game to ensure everything works as expected. Make adjustments based on feedback and your own observations.

• The code of the game (construct 2)

This tutorial will guide you through creating a Space Invaders-style game using Construct 2. By the end, you’ll have a playable game where a player-controlled spaceship shoots at green invaders. 

 

• Setting Up the Project

1. Open Construct 2 and create a new blank project.
2. Set the project layout size to 800×600 to define the game’s resolution.
3. Save your project as “SpaceInvaders.capx.”

 

• Adding Assets

You will need the following assets:

• Spaceship (player-controlled)
• Alien invader
• Bullet
• Background

Import these assets into Construct 2:

1. Right-click on the layout and select “Insert New Object.”
2. Choose Sprite and insert the spaceship sprite. Place it at the bottom center of the layout.
3. Repeat the process to add the alien invaders, bullets, and a background.
4. Adjust the size and position of each sprite as needed.

 

• Creating the Player Controls

1. Add a Keyboard object to the project.
2. Create events to control the spaceship:
   • Event: On left arrow key pressed
     • Action: Set the spaceship’s X position to “Self.X – 10” (move left).
   • Event: On right arrow key pressed
     • Action: Set the spaceship’s X position to “Self.X + 10” (move right).
3. Ensure the spaceship stays within the layout boundaries by adding a behavior:
   • Select the spaceship sprite, go to the Properties Panel, and add the “Bound to Layout” behavior.

 

• Shooting Bullets

1. Add an event to shoot bullets:
   • Event: On spacebar key pressed
     • Action: Spawn a bullet object at the spaceship’s position.
     • Set the bullet’s initial direction and speed using the “Bullet” behavior.
2. Add the “Bullet” behavior to the bullet sprite through the Properties Panel.
3. Set the bullet’s angle of motion to -90 (upwards).

 

• Creating Alien Movement

1. Group the alien invaders into a “Family” for easy management:
   • Select all alien sprites, right-click, and add them to a new family called “Aliens.”
2. Add movement to the aliens:
   • Add a Sine Behavior to the “Aliens” family to make them move horizontally.
   • Configure the behavior’s properties to oscillate left and right.
3. Create an event for the aliens to move down when they reach the layout’s edge:
   • Event: On alien collision with layout boundary
     • Action: Set Y position to “Self.Y + 20” (move down).

• Handling Collisions

1. Alien-Bullet Collision:
   • Event: On bullet collision with alien
     • Action: Destroy the bullet and the alien.
   • Increase the player’s score by 10 points.
2. Alien-Spaceship Collision:
   • Event: On alien collision with spaceship
     • Action: End the game (e.g., navigate to a “Game Over” layout).

• Adding Game Over Logic

1. Create a new layout called “Game Over” with a “Restart” button.
2. Add an event to navigate to the Game Over layout when the player loses:
   • Event: On alien collision with spaceship or alien reaching the bottom of the layout
     • Action: Go to “Game Over” layout.
3. Set up the restart button:
   • Event: On button clicked
     • Action: Restart the game by navigating to the main layout.

 

• Replacing existing Sprites

• Identify the relevant sprites:

• In the list, sprites like invasor1, invasor2, invasor3, jugador, and possibly impacto_proy should be replaced.
• Decide on a green theme for each sprite:
  • Player (jugador): Could represent a recycling robot or a solar panel device.
  • Invaders (invasor1, invasor2, invasor3): Replace them with pollutants like plastic waste or factories.
  • Projectile (impacto_proy): Represent an eco-friendly action, such as a recycling beam or renewable energy shot.

• Import new sprites:

• Find or create images related to recycling or green energy (e.g., recycling icons, solar panels, trees).
• In Construct 2:
  • Right-click a sprite in the list (e.g., invasor1) and select Edit Image.
  • In the image editor, use the Open option to load the new image.
  • Adjust the size to fit your game design.

 

• Adjust Animations and Collisions

1. Set up animations:
   • If the new sprites have animations, add each frame in the animations tab of the image editor.
   • Rename the animation if necessary (e.g., from Idle to Recycle).
2. Update collision polygons:
   • Ensure the collision points match the new sprite.
   • In the image editor, use Set Collision Polygon to reshape the collision area to fit the new design.

 

• Update Behaviours

1. Link new sprites to existing events:
   • For example, if invasor1 is now plastic waste, the destruction event can represent cleaning or recycling.
   • Update text and scoring in events to reflect the green theme:
     • “10 points for recycling plastic” instead of “10 points for destroying invader.”
2. Change visual effects:
   • Replace explosions or flashes with green glows or particle effects representing clean air.

 

• Redesign the Game Context

1. Redesign the background:
   • Replace the current background with a green landscape (e.g., forests, wind farms).
   • Insert a new sprite for the background and set its behaviour to Tiled Background for repeating patterns.
2. Update the game’s objective:
   • Shift the goal to something like “cleaning up the planet” or “saving an area from pollution.”\n – Update text on the start and game-over screens to reflect the green narrative.

 

• Testing and Final Adjustments

1. Playtest the changes:
   • Play through the game to ensure all new sprites, collisions, and events work as expected.
   • Adjust speeds, sizes, or positions if the new assets don’t fit well.
2. Polish the details:
   • Add thematic sounds, like birds chirping when recycling or mechanical sounds when collecting energy.