How To Make Android Games

If you want to leap into the world of Android, there a couple of things you have to know going in:

1. Android is an operating system, not a device like an iPhone, meaning there are over 600 devices that utilize this OS. Your Games will need to be as compatible as possible across this plethora of devices.
2. These Android Devices are used in order of priority for making phone calls 1st, sending text messages 2nd, taking pictures or recording video 3rd, playing music 4th, and lastly launching apps such as the ones you plan on making. This means your games need to be easy to pick up and put away. Typically, this means making a full fledged Role Playing Game will probably not bring you as much success as a game like Angry Birds.
3. You need to at least have novice experience in Java, or computer science in general. I mentioned Java specifically because that is the language you will be using to develop Android Games/Apps. If your computer is not properly configured for Android Development or you are unsure, click here!
4. You are going to need $30 or so to pick yourself up a nice book on the topic. I will write tutorials on how to build Android Games/Apps, but it would be unfair for me to not refer you to the books I learned from myself; links to these books are on this page.
5. You are also going to need another $25 to get your Google Developer License, which you will need to upload your Games and Applications to the Android Market!

Doesn't sound too bad right? Let's talk games!

Gaming on a mobile platform is much different than on a gaming console such as a Nintendo Wii or an Xbox 360. Mobile gaming also differs greatly from handheld gaming, despite their similarities. The Nintendo 3DS and Sony PSP are specifically marketed for gaming, whereas mobile devices are not built to function solely as gaming machines, but rather as:

1. Phones (making phone calls, dialing voicemail)
2. Text messaging devices
3. Cameras/Video Recorders
4. Media Players
5. Platforms for launching Apps

Apps are a very popular feature of mobile devices, but for typical users launching apps takes a back seat to making phone calls, texting, snapping pics, or playing music. Keep this in mind when you begin making games for the Android Platform. People are busy and will use their phone to actually make phone calls more often than to play games; therefore, your games need to be extremely easy to pick up and play. For example, a game like Pac-Man would be far more successful on the Android Market than say a game similar to Final Fantasy.

When creating Android Games, here a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Develop games with room for expansions and updates
• Comment your code as you go so you can easily come back to a project without forgetting your logic
• Identify your audience, does your game target a wide audience or a slim few?
• Develop a framework before leaping headlong into a project, reusable code saves time and effort when handling multiple projects!
• Be sure to include catchy graphics in your games!

If you are a novice Java programmer that has virtually NO graphical experience, you might be asking yourself, "How can I make a game all on my own? I know nothing about graphic design!" Neither did I, but I've learned some tips and tricks to help me on along the way:

1. Download irfanview, it is a free but powerful graphical tool. One of its best features for a game developer is its ability to perform alpha blending on png's. In terms of game development, alpha blending is typically used to remove backgrounds from pictures. Instead of trying to animate a character in a box, you can animate the character itself with no box in sight! Tricks like this help programmers like us make decent looking games without having a degree in graphics.
2. Also, pick up a nice scanner! If you are not a good artist, find someone who is or take tutorials online. Scan your art and remove the backgrounds using irfanview and you have characters, terrain, etc!
3. There is also a lot that can be accomplished using the built in Canvas library of Android. You can draw and animate rectangles, lines, pixels, and circles with varying colors and transparency! Learn Canvas!
4. Learn OpenGL! It is a powerful graphics rendering library that can be used in almost any project, not just Android. It will bring a shine to your games that using Canvas alone can simply not accomplish! Using OpenGL, you can zoom in on your gameworld, adjust the Z-Index of your objects, implement astounding graphical effects, and much more, all in real time!

The books I feature on this page go into more detail about implementing Graphics into your games, offering plenty of examples!

Now that you have an understanding of the core mechanics behind Android game development, it is time to learn the code behind the theory.

In order to learn the necessary skills, I recommend you pick yourself up a book on Android Game Development. Below are 4 of the best books for learning how to develop Android Applications. Purchasing any one of these will set you on the right path!

I am an Android Developer myself. If you would like to play a game I developed, click here or scan the QR code on the right with your Android Device.

A great way to start learning actual code is to go through an example. I've written a guide on how to create a media player for Android, which will give you great insight on how to incorporate sound into your apps and games!