What is a Game Engine?

• It helps you build games faster
• It handles rendering, input, and physics
• You still choose the rules (your code)

Today's Project

A tiny 2D platformer

• You can move + jump
• Gems disappear when touched
• No score yet
• Character looks idle all the time (for now)

Godot Mental Model

• A scene is a saved bundle of nodes
• A node is a single game object/feature
• Nodes form a tree
• Scripts attach to nodes to add behavior

Common 2D Node Types

• Sprite2D / AnimatedSprite2D
• CharacterBody2D (player movement)
• Area2D (pickups like gems)
• CollisionShape2D (hitboxes)
• CanvasLayer + Label (UI)

Setup

• Open the web editor
• Import the starter project zip
• Press Play

Web editor: https://editor.godotengine.org/releases/latest/

Starter Project Checklist

• Player can move left/right
• Player can jump
• Gems disappear on touch

Physics (Quick)

• Gravity pulls you down
• Collision shapes decide what can touch
• CharacterBody2D helps with movement on the ground

Gems

• Gems are usually an Area2D
• On contact: remove the gem
• Today: we'll add scoring on top

Mission 1

Switch animations

• Idle when not moving
• Move when running
• Jump when in the air

Changing Animations

Think: velocity + "on the floor"

if not is_on_floor():
  animated_sprite.play("jump")
elif abs(velocity.x) > 1:
  animated_sprite.play("move")
else:
  animated_sprite.play("idle")
					

Names may differ in your project. Follow the starter code.

Mission 2

Flip direction

• Face right when moving right
• Face left when moving left

Flipping the Sprite

if velocity.x > 0:
  animated_sprite.flip_h = false
elif velocity.x < 0:
  animated_sprite.flip_h = true
					

What happens if velocity.x is 0?

Mission 3

Add scoring

• Create a score variable
• When a gem is collected: +1
• Update a UI label

Updating Score

score += 1
score_label.text = "Score: " + str(score)
					

If Time

Winner message

• Track gems remaining
• When zero: show "You win!"

Debugging Tips

• Read the error message (it tells you the file + line)
• Print values to learn what the game is doing
• Change one thing at a time

Wrap-Up

• Nodes build scenes
• Scripts control behavior
• Physics makes movement feel real
• Make it your own with assets, mechanics, and story

Next Steps

Add enemies, sound, and new levels!