Godot Basics¶

Godot is the game engine used in this course.

A game engine provides tools that handle common tasks so you can focus on: - gameplay - interaction - logic - design decisions

Using the correct engine is a requirement for assessment.

What Is a Game Engine?¶

A game engine provides: - graphics rendering - input handling (keyboard, mouse, controller) - physics and collisions - scene and object management

Without a game engine, building a game would require much more work.

Why Godot?¶

Godot is used in this course because: - it is free and open source - it supports both 2D and 3D games - it uses a readable scripting language - it encourages good structure

Godot is powerful enough for complex games, but accessible for beginners.

Projects and Files¶

A Godot project contains: - scenes (game objects and layouts) - scripts (behaviour and logic) - assets (images, sounds, fonts)

Keeping your project organised is important for: - debugging - assessment verification - explaining your work

GDScript¶

GDScript is the programming language used in Godot.

It is similar to Python and focuses on: - readability - simplicity - clear structure

You will use GDScript to: - control player movement - respond to input - manage game states - handle collisions and events

Working in Godot¶

When developing in Godot, you should: - build features one at a time - test frequently - save versions regularly - document changes

Figure 9 — Typical Godot development workflow

flowchart LR
    Design --> Build
    Build --> Test
    Test --> Fix
    Fix --> Build

Rushing leads to bugs and missing evidence.

Godot and Assessment¶

In AS92005: - your game must be built in Godot - you must be able to explain how scenes and scripts work - your development process must be visible

Copying tutorials without understanding is risky.

Looking Ahead¶

Next, you will learn: - how Godot organises games using scenes and nodes - how scripts are attached to objects - how mechanics are implemented

Understanding the basics makes later development smoother.

End of Godot Basics