CS50's Introduction to Game Development
Develop Your Next Favorite Game
Join Harvard Professor David J. Malan in this online course to learn about the development of 2D and 3D interactive games like Super Mario Bros., Pokémon, and more.
6-9 hours a week
What You'll Learn
In a quest to understand how video games themselves are implemented, you'll explore the design of such childhood games as: Super Mario Bros., Pong, Flappy Bird, Breakout, Match 3, Legend of Zelda, Angry Birds, Pokémon, 3D Helicopter Game, Dreadhalls, and Portal.
Via lectures and hands-on projects, the course explores principles of 2D and 3D graphics, animation, sound, and collision detection using frameworks like Unity and LÖVE 2D, as well as languages like Lua and C#. By class’s end, you'll have programmed several of your own games and gained a thorough understanding of the basics of game design and development.
The course will be delivered via edX and connect learners around the world. By the end of the course, participants will understand the following concepts:
- Principles of 2D and 3D graphics, animation, sound, and collision detection
- Unity and LÖVE 2D
- Lua, C#
- Basics of game design and development
Your Instructors
David J. Malan
Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Computer Science
at Harvard University
Read full bio.
Ways to take this course
When you enroll in this course, you will have the option of pursuing a Verified Certificate or Auditing the Course.
A Verified Certificate costs $299 and provides unlimited access to full course materials, activities, tests, and forums. At the end of the course, learners who earn a passing grade can receive a certificate.
Alternatively, learners can Audit the course for free and have access to select course material, activities, tests, and forums. Please note that this track does not offer a certificate for learners who earn a passing grade.