This week’s challenge activity is all about taking a technical skills audit:
The audit and my answers can be found below:
1. I can take mouse, keyboard, touch screen or gamepad inputs and use them to control objects in a game engine of my choice.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
I was able to do this in my first Rapid Ideation Challenge. I primarily used YoYo Games Asteroids tutorial, but also add my own modifications to enable the players ship to move more like an airship.
Resource link:
2. I can set up physics components (such as colliders and rigid bodies) in my game engine and trigger an event to happen when two game objects collide.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
I’ve managed to add physics and collisions with GameMaker Studio 2, as well as Unity.
Resource link:
3. I can use code to spawn new objects while the game is running (eg create bullets).
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
I’ve used tutorials to create bullets when following GameMaker Studio 2 tutorials on YouTube.
4. I can set up an animation in my chosen game engine and control it with code and / or with a state machine.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
I’ve used this to complete a variety of playable characters and enemy in practice projects using GameMaker Studio 2. The characters have all had looped movement actions and/or specific attacking or jumping actions.
Resource link:
5. I can use level design tools to block-out a level in my chosen game engine.
I’ve made pixel based tilesets to be used in GameMaker Studio 2 projects. I usually use Piskelapp to create my pixel graphics.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource link:
6. I can use my game engine’s pathfinding system (if it has one) to create enemies and NPCs that chase or follow the player.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
I’ve not yet attempted to create enemies that chase a player, everything I’ve designed so far has had either a random or fixed path.
Resource link: N/A
7. I can code basic game logic (eg comparing two numbers) to create win and lose conditions.
My Rapid Ideation project had both and win condition (high score) and a lose condition (no lives left).
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource link:
8. I can configure particle systems to create different visual effects (eg fire, snow).
I made basic partical systems in my Rapid Ideation project to create explosions and exhaust fumes.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource link:
9. I can use appropriate software to create appealing character sprites or models.
I regularly use Piskelapp to create my in-game sprites, but I’ve also used Aseprite, Adobe Photoshop, Gimp and Inkscape to do this as well. I’ve also built up my skills and knowledge by following a good number of YouTube and Udemy tutorials.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
10. I can use appropriate software to create atmospheric environment sprites or models.
As above, I regularly use Piskelapp to create my in-game graphics, but I’ve also used Aseprite, Adobe Photoshop, Gimp and Inkscape to do this as well. I’ve also built up my skills and knowledge by following a good number of YouTube and Udemy tutorials.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
11. I can create character animations, such as walking and jumping, and bring them into my game engine.
Again, As above, I regularly use Piskelapp to create my in-game sprites to draw and animate my sprites, but I’ve also used Aseprite, Adobe Photoshop, Gimp and Inkscape to do this as well. I’ve also built up my skills and knowledge by following a good number of YouTube and Udemy tutorials.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource links:
12. I can use appropriate software to design clear user-interfaces.
I’ve used online tutorials to learn how to create user-interfaces when using GameMaker Studio 2.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource link:
13. I can find / record / edit, sound effects and music.
I used Beepbox and bfxr for my first Rapid Ideation project and have also used Audacity to record and edit sounds too. I’m confident using the above for creating 8-bit style audio, but would likely struggle to create more in-depth musical soundtracks.
CONFIDENT / NOT YET
Resource link:
Other useful links:
GameMaker Studio 2 tutorials and resources:
Unreal and Unity:
Pixel art:
General retro gaming:
Game design:
Art and design skills:
Useful Udemy tutorials:
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