Reddit reviews Beginning Android Games

This book by the guy behind libgdx is very good. I'm in the same boat as you now for my senior project, and this book has been really helpful.

Yes, this. If you need to learn java, go do this course on Stanfords website. Then head over to libgdx.badlogicgames.com and read through some of the examples, the wiki, and the documentation. And pick up the book jc4p mentioned, I bought it and it really is fantastic.

Here is a good introduction to game development/canvas/OpenGL.
And this is a good framework to develop OpenGL in java for android and desktop.

This might not exactly be what you're expecting, but I heartily recommend the book "Beginning Android Games" by Mario Zechner. Mario is actually the creator of libgdx.

His book creates a very nice framework for 2d canvas and OpenGL games. In fact, the author even says that you'll feel right at home with libgdx after reading the book because the engine he shows in the game is very similar to how libgdx is set up. It's probably one of the clearest and most helpful books on game programming you'll find.

Using his book I went from idea to having my game on Google Play in about a month. I still haven't even got into libgdx though because the engine in the book still has enough of what I need for the games I'll be making, but I plan on making the jump eventually.


Edit: If you're curious, this is the app I just released: Goblin Market

I like this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Android-Games-Mario-Zechner/dp/1430230428#reader_B005PZ282I

it starts out with simple game logic showing you a snake game using Android Canvas.

Then goes to OpenGL 2D and then a brief introduction to OpenGL 3D. It tells about how to organize your code so that it will run efficiently with OpenGL and how to use OpenGL as a valuable tool. The advanced math of OpenGL is mostly skipped (I'd recommend another book if you want to know the inner workings of OpenGL).

It is a bit outdated but works great for learning the basics. There are follow up books in the series, which I can't recommend because I haven't read them yet.

Beginning Android games. I can't recommend this book enough. Covers OpenGL ES programming, both 2d and 3d with walkthroughs that mimic how one generally thinks of code as opposed to just spewing out an end product and touching on points in hindsight like so many programming books do.

Try this book. I bought it and it's very easy to pickup and follow. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1430230428/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Android-Games-Mario-Zechner/dp/1430230428

(unfortunately?) I got a job halfway through my work with it, so I can't comment further, but what did get through was pristine.

I would definitely say Android, just because Java is less intimidating than Objective-C. Also, I recommended this book: Beginning Android Games
I haven't read it, but it looks promising.

Hi there, 18 and mostly self-taught. Making my first game right now.

I'll start off by saying that if you have absolutely no programming experience, this is going to be really difficult. An intro class is not to be underestimated, because it tells you some really basic things a lot of internet tutorials, etc. will skip. This could be substituted for a good book, though I'm really not aware of any. Maybe someone else will be.

First thing you need to learn is Java. There are a ton of resources out there. Free tutorials on YouTube, etc. and entire sites dedicated for examples. Again, I'd recommend a book if you are just starting out. It would even be okay to start in another language to learn the basics, they carry over. You may find this subreddit useful: r/learnprogramming

Once you know Java pretty well, and have wrote a lot of "test" programs to practice, I'd recommend the book I'm reading right now: Beginning Android Games by Mario Zechner

It's quite thorough, and doesn't assume you know anything about game programming or Android. It covers all the basics of the OS, setting up development on your computer, Canvas drawing, OpenGL, publishing your app, and writing good, efficient code. And the code samples are all online - and I suggest using them because there was at least one sample in the book with a typo which was fixed in the examples online. It made a very bad error.

Best of luck. I don't know how old you are, but it might be easier/harder depending on your age. I was 16 when I started. Watched some TheNewBoston youtube tutorials, took an intro class, worked with the Bukkit Project making plugins, and am now starting a game.

The author of libgdx has written a book called Beginning Android Games in which he walks you through creating a 2D and then a 3D game -- along the way you end up creating a similar (scaled down) framework to libgdx.

It's great if you want to use libgdx and are new to game dev and just don't know where to get started. This book and the OpenGL Superbible are my favorite books right now.

Edit: You may also want some tutorials on Java if you are new to that first.

I know how you feel. Games seem like a great place to start when learning to program, but they really aren't. Games are deceptively complex. There is a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that needs to work well for a game to provide the player with a good experience.

That said I understand the motivation to make a game vs a note taking app. My suggestions are to first get an introductory android programming book. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Android-Absolute-Beginners-Wallace-Jackson/dp/1430234466/ref=pd_sim_b_1
It should get you up and running programming and help you understand the way that android works.

Then after you've worked your way through that book get this book: http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Android-Games-Mario-Zechner/dp/1430230428/ref=pd_sim_b_2 which is written by the guy behind LibGDX which is referenced in the comment by Crossseyejack.

if you only use the spritebatch, things shouldn't be too hard. check out Beginning Android Games by Mario Zechner. He's the guy who's largely responsible for libGDX, and the book is basically about how to design a similar framework. (there's also a version for android 4)

Applets are a bit of a dead technology so I would be wary of investing too much time into them. Why not go to where the action is? Try some Android game development - this book is a brilliant introduction that doesn't assume any existing game programming skills but does assume some java experience. Should suit you very well!