Computer Science 486 Mobile and Internet Game Development

Study Guide :: Unit 1

Getting Started with Android Development

Overview

Unit 1 introduces the basic concepts of developing Android mobile applications and setting up an Android mobile application development environment. The unit explains how to use the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) and Android Studio to design, develop, implement, and run a simple mobile application on a simulator and on an Android device.

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Set up your Android mobile application development environment.
• Get familiar with Android Studio, the mobile application development environment.
• Develop your first simple mobile application with Android.
• Write a plan (game design document) for your game for Assignment 1.

Learning Activities

• Read Unit 1 notes.
• Read the following sections of Chapter 1 in the textbook, Android Game Programming by Example:
  • Installing the Java Development Kit (JDK)
  • Installing Android Studio
• Read the following subsections of Build your first Android app.
  • In the Guides tab, read Developer guides, Build your first app, and App fundamentals.
  • In the UI Guide tab, read Develop your app’s layout.

  NOTE: The course textbook employs Java and the second part of this course employs JavaScript. Therefore, Java is the preferred programming language in this course. However, you are permitted to use Kotlin for development in Android Studio as an alternative to Java.

• Read the review questions below in this unit and use the course discussion forum to:
  • Post your answer to any one of the review questions below to the discussion board.
  • Comment on another student’s posted answer.
  • Answer any questions posed to you.
• Do the unit exercise and discuss it with your Academic Expert.

Lesson Notes

1. Installing the JDK: This lesson will guide you through the installation process of JDK.
2. Installing Android Studio: This lesson will guide you through the installation process of Android Studio IDE.
3. Creating an Android Project: This lesson will show you how to create a new Android project with Android Studio.
4. Running Your Application: This lesson will show you how to run an app on a real device or on an emulator.
5. Building a Simple User Interface: This lesson will show you how to create a simple user interface using XML that includes a text field and a Send button.
6. Starting Another Activity: This lesson will teach you how to add some code to MainActivity (see Lesson Note 5) that starts a new activity when the user clicks the Send button.

Review Questions

1. What is Android? Describe Android application architecture? What is the entry point for Android mobile application?
2. What is an intent in Android? What is an explicit and implicit intent?
3. What are the problems you might face while developing games with Android?
4. What are ADT, ADB, viewGroup, and manifest files in Android?
5. What are the code names (versions) of Android? Which is the latest version of Android? Explain the upgrades in it from the version before.
6. What platform you would prefer most for game programming? Why?
7. How does the platform determine the type of game you can develop?
8. What is the most important limitation to consider before you begin programming a mobile game?
9. In your opinion, what type of game is most appealing? Why?
10. What would you spend most of your time doing when developing a mobile game?

Unit Exercise

1. Implement the Tappy Defender game by following the instructions and the codes provided in the textbook. Review and analyze the codes and different functionalities of the Tappy Defender game for a better understanding. Post your experience and discuss items that you found useful.

Game Design Document

Make a game plan for Assignment 1. For game planning, you will prepare a short Game Design Document (GDD) (three to four pages long) of the important information about the game you wish to develop for Assignment 1 (mobile game).

Please note that if you wish to extend this game further for your final project (Assignment 3), you need to keep in mind what features of the game you wish to extend in the future. However, you don’t have to include those features in the GDD of Assignment 1 at this stage.

In the GDD for Assignment 1, please include the following sections:

1. Game Title: game name
2. Backstory: focuses the story of the game you plan to develop.
3. Characters: highlights the specifics of your game characters, including the main character and the enemies (if the game has any).
4. Gameplay: explains how to control the objects in the game and how to make them interact with the other parts; should also include the subsections Gameplay Mechanics, Game Flow, the Rules for the Games and/or the Victory Conditions.
5. Game World: descriptions and possible images of your planned game world, including the game’s level design and the way levels and locations are connected within the game world and for the players. Also includes a sample map and/or a flow chart to show how players navigate the world.
6. Bonus Materials: additional materials, such as achievements that will encourage players to replay the game.

You can find some guidelines and samples for GDD in the following:

• Textbook, Android Game Programming by Examples
• https://code.tutsplus.com/articles/effectively-organize-your-games-development-with-a-game-design-document--active-10140

Once your GDD is ready, please send it to your Academic Expert for approval to start working Assignment 1.