Code Your First Game: Arcade Classic in JavaScript on Canvas
🌐 Program Overview
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Offered by: Udemy
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Instructor: Chris DeLeon
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Enrollments: 270,000+ learners
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Program Type: Self‑paced online course — game development fundamentals
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Level: Beginner
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Duration: ~2 hours
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Format: 100% online, on‑demand video
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Rating: ★★★★☆ (~4.5/5 from thousands of reviews)
🎯 Why Enroll
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Learn to build a playable game from scratch — no special software required, just a text editor & browser.
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Get a hands‑on introduction to core game programming concepts: game logic, collision detection, input handling, scoring, and game flow.
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Perfect for absolute beginners — start immediately and finish quickly.
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Build a foundation for future game development — skills apply widely, beyond just JavaScript/Canvas games.
💡 What You’ll Learn
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Display and move shapes for retro-style game objects (ball, paddle, etc.) on HTML5 Canvas.
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Implement movement, collision detection and response (e.g., bouncing ball, paddle interaction).
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Handle real-time mouse input for user controls.
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Use basic game logic: score tracking, win/lose conditions, game reset & flow control.
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Understand simple AI and behavior (e.g., automated paddle behavior) and how to code for it.
🧠 Skills You’ll Build
Game programming fundamentals • JavaScript for games • HTML5 Canvas graphics • Game logic & control flow • Collision detection & physics basics • Real‑time input handling • Basic AI logic • Game state management • Debugging & code structuring for games
Related Courses
🔧 Tools You’ll Use
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Plain text editor (Notepad, VS Code, etc.)
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Web browser (to run the game)
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HTML5 & JavaScript (no additional frameworks required)
🧩 Applied Learning Project
By the end of the course, you’ll have fully coded a simple but complete “ball-and‑paddle” / classic arcade‑style game — including gameplay mechanics, scoring, collision physics, input controls, and game flow logic. This provides a hands‑on foundation you can build on if you choose to pursue more advanced game development.
📘 Course Modules (Approximate)
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Setting Up & First Code File
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Drawing Shapes & Positioning
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Movement & Basic Physics (Ball Bouncing)
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Paddle & Collision Handling
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Input Handling & Controls (Mouse)
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Scoring, Win/Lose Conditions & Game Reset
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(Optional polish: AI Paddle behavior, enhancements)
💼 Course Benefits
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Build your first playable game in just a couple of hours — no prior coding or tools required.
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Understand core game mechanics and logic, transferable to other languages or engines.
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Access a free or low‑cost course — low barrier to entry.
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Learn at your own pace, from anywhere, on your own schedule.
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Create a portfolio-ready project to show to friends, collaborators, or potential employers.
🎓 Earn a Credential
Upon completion, you receive a Udemy certificate of completion — a nice credential to showcase on LinkedIn or your CV, signaling you started hands‑on coding and game development.
🎓 Next Steps
If you’re ready to explore game development, enroll in “Code Your First Game” and start building — your first game could be ready by tonight.