Android game development course

Lesson 1 • Creating Your First Game Project

Scaffolds a minimal game loop project from scratch. Connects environment setup to a tangible, runnable artifact on a device or emulator.

Lesson 2 • Development Environment Setup

Installs and configures Android Studio, SDK, and emulators. Ensures every learner has a functional, consistent workspace before writing code.

Lesson 3 • Choosing a Game Framework

Compares native Android Canvas, LibGDX, and Unity for Android. Learners select the right tool based on project scope and performance needs.

Lesson 1 • Concurrency and Threading Basics

Introduces threads, coroutines, and the game loop threading model. Prevents common race conditions and UI-thread violations in game code.

Lesson 2 • Debugging and Code Quality

Uses Logcat, breakpoints, and lint tools to find and fix bugs. Clean, debuggable code is essential before tackling complex game systems.

Lesson 3 • Kotlin Syntax Essentials

Introduces variables, data types, control flow, and functions in Kotlin. Provides the language foundation all subsequent game code depends on.

Lesson 4 • Collections and Data Structures

Covers lists, maps, and sets for managing game objects and state. Efficient data handling directly impacts game performance and scalability.

Lesson 1 • SurfaceView and Game Loop

Implements a dedicated rendering thread with SurfaceView for smooth animation. This pattern underpins all real-time game rendering in the course.

Lesson 2 • Sprite Sheets and Animation

Loads sprite sheets and drives frame-based character animation. Animated sprites are the visual core of most 2D mobile games.

Lesson 3 • Android Canvas Drawing Fundamentals

Draws shapes, bitmaps, and text using the Canvas API. Establishes the baseline rendering knowledge needed before GPU-accelerated techniques.

Lesson 4 • Camera and Viewport Systems

Implements scrolling cameras and resolution-independent viewports. Ensures consistent visuals across the wide range of Android screen sizes.

Lesson 1 • Virtual Joystick and Button Controls

Builds on-screen joysticks and buttons for action and platformer games. Custom controls must be responsive and visually clear for good UX.

Lesson 2 • Gesture Detection and Recognition

Uses GestureDetector and ScaleGestureDetector for swipes and pinches. Gesture-based controls improve usability in puzzle and strategy games.

Lesson 3 • Accelerometer and Gyroscope Input

Reads sensor data to drive tilt-based and motion-controlled gameplay. Sensor input adds immersion but requires careful calibration and filtering.

Lesson 1 • Collision Response and Resolution

Resolves overlaps and applies impulse-based responses after detection. Proper resolution prevents tunnelling and produces realistic bouncing behaviour.

Lesson 2 • Integrating a Physics Library

Integrates Box2D via JBox2D or LibGDX physics extension for complex scenes. Libraries handle edge cases that manual physics cannot easily address.

Lesson 3 • Bounding Box Collision Detection

Detects AABB and circle collisions between game entities efficiently. Fast broad-phase detection is essential for maintaining frame rate.

Lesson 4 • Tile Maps and Platform Collision

Builds tile-based levels and resolves player-tile collisions for platformers. Tile maps are the most common level format in 2D mobile games.

Lesson 1 • Heads-Up Display Design

Renders score, health bars, and timers as an overlay on the game view. A clear HUD communicates game state without obscuring gameplay.

Lesson 2 • Menu and Screen Navigation

Builds main menu, settings, and game-over screens with transitions. Smooth navigation between screens defines the overall game experience.

Lesson 3 • Sound Effects and Music Playback

Uses SoundPool for effects and MediaPlayer for background music. Audio feedback is critical to game feel and player engagement.

Lesson 4 • Game State Machine Implementation

Designs a finite state machine to manage play, pause, and end states. A clean state machine prevents logic bugs across complex game flows.

Lesson 1 • Battery and Thermal Optimisation

Limits CPU wake-locks, background work, and GPU load to preserve battery. Thermal throttling silently degrades performance on sustained play sessions.

Lesson 2 • Memory Management and Garbage Collection

Minimises heap allocations in the game loop to reduce GC pauses. GC stalls cause visible frame drops that degrade player experience.

Lesson 3 • Level of Detail and Asset Scaling

Adapts asset quality and game complexity to device capability tiers. Dynamic LOD ensures consistent experience across the Android device spectrum.

Lesson 4 • Profiling Tools and Metrics

Uses Android Profiler to measure CPU, memory, and GPU frame times. Profiling before optimising prevents wasted effort on non-bottlenecks.

Lesson 1 • Build Signing and Release Preparation

Generates a signed release APK or app bundle ready for store submission. Correct signing and build configuration prevents rejection at review.

Lesson 2 • Monetisation Models and Implementation

Implements in-app purchases, rewarded ads, and premium pricing strategies. Choosing the right model determines long-term revenue and player retention.

Lesson 3 • Post-Launch Updates and Maintenance

Plans update cadence, hotfix pipelines, and player feedback loops. Sustained engagement requires regular content and bug-fix releases.

Lesson 4 • Analytics and Crash Reporting

Integrates event analytics and crash reporting SDKs for post-launch insight. Data-driven decisions improve retention and guide future updates.