Learn to build a fully-functional 2D game inspired by the 1979 Atari classic, Asteroids, using just HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. Developing games has never been easier than it is now. New web technology allows even beginner developers to turn their hand to game development. Developed from an undergraduate course module, Introducing JavaScript Game Development teaches each new technology as it is introduced so can be followed by enthusiastic beginners as well as intermediate coders.

You will learn how to work with HTML5 and the canvas element, how to understand paths, how to draw to a design and create your spaceship and asteroids. You’ll then move on to animating your game, and finally building. You will work step-by-step through the game design process, starting with only what is necessary to complete each step, and refactoring the code as necessary along the way, reflecting the natural progression that code follows in the real world. Each chapter is designed to take your code base to the next level and to add to your skills. After completing the examples in this book you will have the tools necessary to build your own, high-quality games.

Make the process of creating object-oriented 2D games more fun and more productive and get started on your game development journey. 

Table of Contents

Part I: Drawing

Chapter 1: HTM LS and the Canvas Element

Chapter 2: Understanding Paths

Chapter 3: Drawing to a Design

Chapter 4: Drawing a Spaceship

Chapter 5: Drawing an Asteroid

Part II: Animation

Chapter 6: Basic Animation

Chapter 7: Animating Asteroids

Chapter 8: Practicing Objects

Chapter 9: Inheritance

Part III: Building the Game

Chapter 10: Simple Keyboard Interaction

Chapter 11: Controlling the Ship

Chapter 12: Collision Detection

Chapter 13: Death or Glory

About the Author

Graeme Stuart is a self-taught developer mainly building web-based applications using JavaScript and Python. He’s has a PhD in energy management and much of his programming skill was originally developed to this end. He currently teaches JavaScript games programming to first year undergraduates.