The guide to implementing 2D platformers | Higher-Order Fun. Having previously been disappointed by the information available on the topic, this is my attempt at categorizing different ways to implement 2D platform games, list their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss some implementation details. The long-term goal is to make this an exhaustive and comprehensible guide to the implementation of 2D platform games.
If you have any sort of feedback, correction, request, or addition – please leave it in the comments! Disclaimer: some of the information presented here comes from reverse engineering the behavior of the game, not from its code or programmers. It’s possible that they are not ACTUALLY implemented in this way, and merely behave in an equivalent way. Also note that tile sizes are for the game logic, graphical tiles might be of a different size. I can think of four major ways in which a platform game can be implemented. Type #1: Tile-based (pure) Character movement is limited to tiles, so you can never stand halfway between two tiles. Slopes. ETeeskiTutorials. GuerrillaCG. Game Physics 101. Better Programmer Art. I've worked building tools and engines for artists making games and visual effects for more than ten years, and I've always been baffled by the distinction that people make between "programmer art" and "real game art". Also, I've noticed that the only people who will give you a free pass for bad programmer art are other programmers.
Regardless of how fun your game is, or how technically awesome your tech demo is, the non-programmers you show it to are going to think: Is that a jetpack or a tumor? Often, you can find a way to generate good art without having to create it from scratch. Mason McCuskey offers some excellent suggestions for sources of game art in his article " Good Game Art When You're Not An Artist". But sometimes, you just have to create your art from scratch. But I can't draw...really.. If that's what your programmer art looks like, this article is for you. But where do I find a palette? Resources: