Make Independent Computer Games

Book excerpt: Do you want to make popular video games? This book is for anyone interested in learning how to create computer games, whether you are at school, college, University or already working in the industry. It is mainly aimed at the hobbyist or independent game maker who has a passion for computer games and a desire to make their own. You don’t need any game making or programming experience to benefit from this book. You will be able to use what you learn no matter what device your game will run on or what platform you choose to create it with. Some of the things you will take away from this book include: + A clear idea of how to make a video game. + Important things to research when designing your game. + Some of the pitfalls to avoid when making a game. + What makes a good game. + An idea of the mind-set you need to make your game work the way YOU want it to. The bite-sized sections are ideal to look back on during your game development journey (and after you have finished) to double check you have asked yourself the right questions. Chapters include information on: + Game concepts. + The psychology of gamers. + Thinking differently. + Interacting with device hardware. + How to get a computer to shuffle and deal cards efficiently. + Make your own "Fruit Slice" game. + Make your own "Maze" generator. + Artificial Intelligence and how to make your own simple neural network. + ...and much more. About the author: Neil King is a software engineer and has been making computer games since the 1980s, at the age of 10. More recently he has built himself a strong reputation in the I.T. industry for creativity and technical problem solving. Neil has developed cloud-based and stand-alone applications for multiple sectors including education, automotive, child safety, medical and gaming, and has had two number 1 best-selling apps in the App Store. His 20 years of experience in Further Education enables him to explain complex, technical instructions in an easy-to-understand way.