GIZMO: Video Game Design
for Artists
using GDevelop

This is a course that specifically targets digital artists seeking to make games easily and rapidly using GDevelop, a powerful visual programming tool with JavaScript "under the hood".

Schedule LEVEL 1

• Session 1

  • (10") WELCOME! This course is perfect for all types of graphic artists and if you have any experience with other digital art tools (Paint, Aseprite, Photoshop, Procreate, Krita, Gimp, Fire Alpaca, etc) it should be extra EASY!
    Also, you'll need a Gmail account. We have Gizmo Gmail Student accounts if you need one.
    Let's explore games made with GDevelop on Steam  and itch.io and gd.games

  • (10") Game genre examples the instructor has collaborated on
    Kinetic Novel, Adventure, Platformer, Zelda, Shooter
    You will be voting at the end of today's session on your 2 favorite genres from this list to learn in this course!

  • (10") Getting art game ready! Asset prep slideshow 

  • (15") Install/Start/Activate GDevelop (web version >> https://editor.gdevelop.io/)
    A Gmail is REQUIRED (as it is for most apps these days) to allow exporting, sharing and cloud saving

  • (40") Explore: Scene Editor
    Add Object Sprite from Library
    Add Object Sprite using GDevelop's built-in Piskelapp (tutorial)
    Importing from other sources?
    FREE Alternative to the popular AESEPRITE is Libresprite

  • (20") Explore OBJECT-SPRITE BEHAVIORS

  • (15") Questions? VOTE on top 2 out of the 5 genre choices.
    Requests for next session.
    Assignment: plan your game idea and create a few sprites  (Games that encourage fan made spin-offs: Undertale,  FNAF,  Touhou pronounced ToHo)
    I'm also available on Discord between sessions >> my account: scottjacobson (Jacobson#4744), my server >> https://discord.gg/AGstzkZapDt 

• Session 2

  • Keeping your game assets in a local folder!

  • Sprite Masks, Points, Effects, animations

  • (45") Genre 1 (voted) Creation
    Templates: Kinetic Novel, Adventure, Platformer, Zelda, Shooter 

  • (45") Special Requests

  • Assignment: plan your 2nd game idea and create a few sprites 

• Session 3

  • Genre 2 (voted) Creation
    Templates: Kinetic Novel, Adventure, Platformer, Zelda, Shooter 

  • Special Requests

• Session 4

  • Exporting to web (gd.games, , HTML), PC, Mac, Android

  • Playtesting (Watch someone else play your game and get feedback) & Polish 

  • SHOWCASE!!!   (Add to my itch.io page?)

  • Invite to Advanced Class
    Pick 1 of the 2  genres you worked on 

Schedule Advanced LEVEL 2+

• Session  1

  • WELCOME!  In the advanced sessions you will be adding more advanced features to your existing game such as a menu, HUD, tutorial, system panel, etc. We will also be introducing a few special features at  the start that you may choose to use or not. The remaining format will be a bit different, answering specific requests where you may need to plug in your computer to the big screen so that others may benefit from following along.

  • (30") Special features: Menu, Tweens, Particles

  • (85") Special Requests (answered quickly or move to the big screen or answered next session or in Discord)

  • (5") Special Requests for next time

  • 
    

• Session  2

  • (30") Special features: Previous requests answered, Tile maps, Physics

  • (85") Special Requests (answered quickly or move to the big screen or answered next session or in Discord)

  • (5") Special Requests for next time

• Session  3

  • (30") Special features: Previous requests answered,  Inventory

  • (85") Special Requests (answered quickly or move to the big screen or answered next session or in Discord)

  • (5") Special Requests for next time

• Session  4

  • (30") Special features: Previous requests answered, Save Game State

  • (60") Final Playtesting (Watch someone else play your game and get feedback) & Polish  & Publish 

  • {30") Showcase!  (Add to my itch.io page?)