Arcade game
Program an Asteroids-style game with collisions, score and levels.
All pathsDiscover Coursera PlusAfter step 1 After step 2 After step 4
Computer science · 40Beginner
Game Developer
Game enthusiasts who want to program their own games.
Interactive game programming, object-oriented Java and data structures, linear algebra and mechanics for game physics.
367hours of coursework
37weeks at 10 h
4steps
18courses
3universities
Target skills
Object Oriented Programming (OOP)Program DevelopmentSoftware TestingData StructuresEvent-Driven ProgrammingGraph TheoryNetwork AnalysisAlgebraProgramming PrinciplesComputer ScienceAlgorithmsAnimations
Skill labels as listed on Coursera.
Target jobs
- Game developer
- Gameplay programmer
- Tools developer
Progression
- 1Rice UniversityBeginnerPython
Stated prerequisites: High school mathematics; no programming required
Show the 7 courses
Course Level Length Rating (reviews) An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1) — 19 h 4.8 (3,322) An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 2) Beginner 16 h 4.9 (1,214) Principles of Computing (Part 1) Intermediate 19 h 4.7 (584) Principles of Computing (Part 2) Intermediate 16 h 4.8 (365) Algorithmic Thinking (Part 1) Intermediate 14 h 4.6 (385) Algorithmic Thinking (Part 2) Intermediate 13 h 4.7 (220) The Fundamentals of Computing Capstone Exam Intermediate 1 h 4.8 (116) - 2University of California San DiegoIntermediateJava
Show the 5 courses
Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Object Oriented Programming in Java Intermediate 40 h 4.7 (5,806) Data Structures and Performance Intermediate 42 h 4.8 (2,251) Advanced Data Structures in Java Intermediate 30 h 4.8 (1,243) Mastering the Software Engineering Interview Intermediate 22 h 4.6 (555) Capstone: Analyzing (Social) Network Data Beginner 20 h 4.7 (101) - 3Johns Hopkins UniversityBeginner
Stated prerequisites: Basic algebra (no calculus)
Show the 3 courses
Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Linear Algebra: Linear Systems and Matrix Equations Beginner 10 h 4.7 (183) Linear Algebra: Matrix Algebra, Determinants, & Eigenvectors — 15 h 4.8 (79) Linear Algebra: Orthogonality and Diagonalization Intermediate 9 h 4.8 (56) - 4Rice UniversityIntermediate
Stated prerequisites: Algebra, geometry, trigonometry; basic calculus helpful
Show the 3 courses
Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Physics 101 - Forces and Kinematics Intermediate 30 h 4.7 (210) Physics 101 - Energy and Momentum Intermediate 23 h 4.6 (49) Physics 101 - Rotational Motion and Gravitation Intermediate 28 h 4.8 (104)
With Coursera Plus
This path takes 367 hours, about 9 months at 10 hours a week. A Coursera Plus subscription gives access to most of its courses during that time.
Projects to build
Pathfinding
Implement A* to move characters on a map with obstacles.
2D physics engine
Write a small engine with gravity, bounces and friction, from the laws of mechanics.
Free textbooks
Introduction to Programming Using Java (Javanotes 9)David J. EckFree, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Open Data StructuresPat MorinFree, CC BY 2.5
Linear AlgebraJim HefferonFree
University Physics, Volumes 1 to 3OpenStaxFree, CC BY 4.0