What is a game? Why do you play games? What happens when you play games? Do you feel excited? Frustrated? Challenged? Games are more than just entertainment - they are fundamental to how we learn and grow. From childhood to adulthood, games help us develop skills, test our limits, and engage with the world in ways that few other activities can. Not all games are created equal - different games teach us different things. Some sharpen our reflexes, others train our strategic thinking, and some immerse us in rich narratives that expand our imagination. But writing games can be just as rewarding and challenging as playing the game! When I ask my students in computer graphics to choose a project, many of them want to develop a video game. And why not? A well-designed game can be just as rigorous and complex as any 'serious' software project - if not more! The next question they ask is, 'How do I write a video game?' That's why I wrote this book - to provide a practical guide to game development, breaking it down into clear, approachable steps. Computer games are not just about interactive graphics; they are carefully crafted experiences that blend mechanics, design, and challenges together to keep players engaged. Fortunately, modern computers - and even mobile devices - are powerful enough so anyone can create their own games. With the right skills, knowledge, and patience, anyone can build something amazing. This book will help you develop those skills and expand your knowledge - the patience part is up to you. To make learning accessible and experimentation easy, I've chosen to write the examples in JavaScript using the HTML Canvas API. This allows you to run games directly in a web browser, making them easy to edit, test, and share. Don't underestimate what a web browser can do - it provides access to a vast range of built-in resources and makes rapid prototyping simple. The concepts you learn here can be built upon or adapted to other languages and platforms.
Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced professional seeking advanced knowledge, this book has something valuable to offer.
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