Beginning Java Game Development with LibGDX

Beginning Java Game Development with LibGDX covers the design and creation of video games using the Java programming language, with the LibGDX software library. By reading this book, you will learn how to design video games and how to build them in Java. You will be able to create your own 2D games, using various hardware for input (keyboard/mouse, gamepad controllers, touchscreen), and create versions of your games for desktop computers and Android tablets.

The LibGDX library facilitates the game development process by providing pre-built functionality for common tasks. It is a free, open source library that includes full cross-platform compatibility, so programs written using this library can be compiled to run on desktop computers (Windows/Mac OS X), web browsers, and smartphones/tablets (both Android and iOS).

Beginning Java Game Development with LibGDX teaches by example with five game case study projects that you will build throughout the book. This ensures that you will see all of the APIs that are encountered in the book in action and learn to incorporate them into your own projects. The book also focuses on teaching core Java programming concepts and applying them to game development.

What you’ll learn

• How to use the LibGDX framework to create five 2D arcade game case studies
• How to compile your game to run on multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS
• How to incorporate different control schemes, such as touchscreen, gamepad, and keyboard

Who this book is for

You should have an introductory level knowledge of basic Java programming. In particular, you should be familiar with: variables, conditional statements, loops, and be able to write methods and classes to accomplish simple tasks. This background is equivalent to having taken a first-semester college course in Java programming. Examples of intermediate-level Java topics that you will learn from this book include: data structures (lists, iterators, and dictionaries), exception handling, abstract classes, inner classes, and event-driven programming. You will also see software engineering practices in context, such as code refactoring, iterative development, and the creation of debugging features.