Let's Build a Platformer!
Let's Build a Platformer! is a course designed to teach anyone how to create a platformer game using GB Studio 4+.
This course accommodates newcomers to GB Studio by starting with beginner concepts such as creating a new scene but also eases into intermediate and expert concepts such as using plugins to expand the scope of a game or utilizing GBVM events to make the most of what GB Studio can achieve. It also doubles as a beginner course for anyone seeking a deep understanding of how to use GB Studio whether interested in making platformer games or not.
Each lesson can be downloaded separately and comes with:
- a digital file of the lesson (in .pdf format)
- a .zip of the project for reference
- a ROM showcasing the state of the project by the end of the lesson
Check out the state of the game as of the most recent lesson by running the Let's Build a Platformer! game in browser above.
The following lesson plan is subject to change as it develops. To ensure this course remains relevant, I will do my best to update it as GB Studio changes over time.
In the spirit of GB Studio, the Let's Build a Platformer! course will remain free, no matter how large in scope it becomes. With that being said, I do need to pay the bills and this will take me hundreds of hours to make. If you have the means and do want to support me and the production of this course, any donations will be greatly appreciated.
Available Now
Lesson 1: Setting Up a Title Screen
In Development
Lesson 2: Preparing an Options Menu
Lesson 3: Implementing and Tracking Options
Lesson 4: Implementing Cutscenes
Lesson 5: Player Character Animation States
Lesson 6: Setting Up a Platformer Scene
Lesson 7: Exploring Plugins
Lesson 8: Coding a Player Move-set
Lesson 9: Creating Obstacles
Lesson 10: Creating Enemies
Lesson 11: Player Knockback
Lesson 12: Creating Collectibles
Lesson 13: Implementing a HUD
Lesson 14: Creating a Level Select Menu
Lesson 15: Creating a Totals Screen
- Download the latest version of GB Studio
- Download the Let’s Build a Platformer! Resources Pack containing all the assets you will need to follow along with the lessons (see below)
- Download each lesson as required and dive in!
NOTE: If you are returning to download a newly released lesson, make sure to re-download the Let’s Build a Platformer! Resources Pack and update your project's assets directory.
Happy coding!
- Tom (Gumpy Function)
Let’s Build a Platformer! course created by Tom Lockwood (Gumpy Function)
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- LBaP! Lesson 1 Overview14 hours ago
Comments
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Do you have a timeline in mind for the next 2?
I finished writing the second lesson this evening. I will spend a day or so polishing it before I release it.
I have built the game up to lesson 4 but planned well beyond that. And have started working on gathering screenshots and writing up a draft for lesson 3.
So what I will do is release lesson 2 very soon, lesson 3 likely next week.
It's taken me around 30 hours to complete lesson 2 (including creating the assets and building the game in a way that will suit the lessons) though.
Depending on the size of each lesson and how detailed I go into various aspects of game development, the course may take quite a few months to complete in full.
But I will attempt to make a big push to get the earlier lessons out asap. That way, we can get beyond the basics and move into the more meatier aspects of creating a platformer sooner rather than later.
That is amazing. I’m really excited for the more meatier parts. This is why I asked in the first place. I really appreciate your time and work you’re pouring into this.
I love your platformers. I'm thrilled for this.
Can't wait to get my teeth into this series and hopefully learn some good practices!
Super Dassal Land was a feast of quality platform tricks and implementation. Hope this shows off some of those principles!!
Cheers! I'll cover more or less everything that was implemented in Super Dassalo Land, yep.
Merci pour cette initiative !
J'espère avoir le temps dans les prochains mois de suivre votre cours car j'adorerais faire un petit jeu de plateforme sur Gameboy 🙂
Bonne journée !
Pleasure. I'll do my best to release lessons quickly. Certainly for the first few lessons so beginners can get some momentum going as they learn.
the rom playing in the web browser works? i cannot pass the options menu XD
It does, the browser version represents the project up to the most recently released lesson. At this point, lesson 1.
As the course is developed and subsequent lessons are released, the browser game will be updated accordingly.
so.... up to the title screen? XD
Correct - lesson 1.