Creating an animation from a single image

One of the students in the class requested an explanation of how to create sprite animation from a single image.  I made a little screen cast explaining the process.  Find it here: http://screencast.com/t/E0gUDOu3

I've got the blog with the proper spelling

you can find the class blog here:
http://ludicconstruction.blogspot.com/

I won't be updating this anymore. All the notes and lecture summary can be found there.
See you next week!

Get Game Maker here...

Tools

Throughout the course our primary tool for building games will be Game Maker. A software developed by Mark Overmars, a Dutch Computer Scientist and professor of game programming. This software allows new users to build computer games without prior programming knowledge with it's drag and drop programming interface and more advanced users the option of using a flexible and powerful scripting engine.

Read more and get the software here:

Mac: http://store.yoyogames.com/games/16-game-maker-for-mac-lite

PC: http://store.yoyogames.com/games/277-gamemaker-for-windows-lite

Things to note:

1. Currently the Mac and PC versions of this software are out of sync. The latest version of Game Maker is version 8.1, but this is only available for PC. asside from a few minor changes, the software in the same, and both use the same file extension. Course examples will be made on a Mac with Game Maker 7.
2. Game Maker comes in two flavors: lite and full. We'll be using the lite version in the class. The full version adds a few convenience features but the lite version will more then fulfill our needs.

Game 1:Clown Click

Though simplistic, Clown Click is a complete game. It has a full play loop with title screen, ending screen and of course the game in between. The game has a clear objective, prevent the clown from leaving the game by clicking the trap doors, click the clown for points. It has feedback communicating what is happening in the game to the user. And, though short, the game provides enough variability to engage a user over multiple plays.

In addition this game is a great introduction to the Game Maker software. The game uses many of Game Makers major concepts by utilizing a variety of features including: mouse input, variables, object movement, random number generation, audio, sprite animation, sprite swapping, object swapping, scoring, external GML (Game Maker Language) scripts, and a local leaderboard. Once comfortable with the features used to create this game, you can do pretty much anything you might want to do with Game Maker, save some of the more advanced features.

Note that I have not included the executable in the download. To run this game you'll have to download Game Maker open the clown_click.gmk from the software's file menu. Once you do that, click the green play button at the top and the game will start.

I have included all of the assets used to create the game, so you don't have to worry about creating sprites and sounds and can just focus on using the software.

Get the package here:

http:www.jmauriello.com/buildinggames/clown_click.zip