Amerigo Moscaroli - Game Programmer
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Creating a 2D Platformer

This is the second video series in the Xamarin development set. In this series, the user is taught how to create a game using the engine that was created in the previous video series. The series uses C# with Xamarin to create the game, Zippy's Adventure, which is a basic 2D platformer where the aim is to collect the treasure in each level. The player is taught how to create levels, how to use physics in a simple platformer & how to structure the game. The series is split into the following subsections:
  • Laying the Foundations - This section teaches the player about the game loop & how to use the Farseer physics system, as well as teaching the player to create their first game object - the platform.
  • Creating Game Mechanics - This section shows how to create a character class and then extending it for our main character Zippy. The reader then learns how to control using on-screen buttons before learning how to create enemies and collectibles. The Farseer physics engine is used to control the movement of the characters as well as the collision detection.
  • Making a Level - This section shows the reader how to create a level in a CSV file, and then shows how to parse the file to create the game objects. The reader is then taught how to create a moving camera and how to add a target for the level. There is also a video at the end which teaches how to create a level editor.
  • Navigation Through the Game - The final section teaches the user how to create a separate canvas and camera used specifically for UI, and then shows how to create the UI elements for each menu. By the end of the section, the player will have a complete game comprised of 3 levels as well as a menu system.

The series can be seen in more detail here.

Timespan:
The project took around 1-2 months.

Sample Video: