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Building a 2D Platformer - Overview

This tutorial series will guide you through creating a simple 2D platformer game using cocos2d-mono with DesktopGL. We'll break this down into manageable parts, each with clear checkpoints so you can track your progress.

Tutorial Structure

This tutorial is divided into several parts, each building upon the previous one:

Part 1: Project Setup and Assets

  • Setting up a cocos2d-mono DesktopGL project
  • Creating and organizing game assets
  • Setting up the content pipeline
  • Checkpoint: A working project that displays a background

Part 2: Physics Foundation

  • Implementing Box2D physics
  • Creating physics helper utilities
  • Understanding coordinate systems
  • Checkpoint: A physics world with gravity

Part 3: Player Character

  • Creating the player character
  • Implementing basic movement
  • Adding animations and sprites
  • Checkpoint: A controllable character that moves and animates

Part 4: Platforms and Collision

  • Creating platform objects
  • Implementing collision detection
  • Adding jump mechanics
  • Checkpoint: A character that can jump on platforms

Part 5: Game Mechanics

  • Adding collectible items
  • Implementing scoring system
  • Creating UI elements
  • Checkpoint: A playable game with collectibles and score

What You'll Learn

Throughout this tutorial series, you'll master:

  • Setting up a cocos2d-mono DesktopGL project
  • Implementing Box2D physics for realistic movement
  • Creating a player character with controls
  • Building platforms and obstacles
  • Implementing collision detection
  • Adding game mechanics like jumping and double-jumping
  • Creating a simple level design
  • Adding game UI elements
  • Polishing the game with effects and sound

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • Visual Studio 2019 or newer installed
  • .NET Core SDK installed
  • Basic C# knowledge
  • cocos2d-mono installed (see Environment Setup)

Final Result

By the end of this tutorial series, you'll have built a complete 2D platformer featuring:

  • Physics-based character movement
  • Jump and double-jump mechanics
  • Collectible items and scoring
  • Sound effects and animations
  • A polished user interface

Getting Started

Ready to start building? Head over to Part 1: Project Setup and Assets to begin your platformer journey!

Full Project Reference

You can check out the complete platformer project here for reference. The full project contains all the assets used like sprites and sound effects.