Does the Covid-19 pandemic leave you with some extra time on your hands and you would like to pick-up something like game programming? If the answer is yes, do check out microStudio. The brainchild of Gilles Pommereuil, microStudio is an online integrated development environment slash learning tool and you can make really cool (not to mention, retro)-looking games on the platform.
Game projects created on microStudio are stored in the cloud making them accessible from anywhere, and with its online integration, it has become easier to write game code in microScript, a simple language inspired by Lua. With just a few lines of code, aspiring developers can get started, and it allows an entire team to work on a project with instant feedback; for example, can code on the PC while playtesting instantaneously on a mobile device.
The powerful built-in Sprite Editor allows developers to create pixel art sprites and maps for use in your games, and while microStudio is still being developed, it already supports gamepad, touchscreen, keyboard and mouse input. The final product can be exported to a host of clients such as HTML5, Windows, Linux, macOS with more to follow in the future!
The only requirement for microStudio is a browser, and the engines sprite- and map-editor are feature complete and future editors will make it possible to create original sound effects and full music tracks from within the engine.
22 interactive tutorials help developers get started in just minutes, and folks can learn from others, share or reuse content such as code, sprites or anything else that may be useful. microStudio is particularly suited for prototyping, coding camps – and game jams, and Gilles has begun working with teachers and schools to leverage the platform for educational purposes.
With its creator working hard at adding new features to the platform, microStudio is available for FREE. Check it out over here: https://microstudio.dev/, and don’t forget to support Gilles via the microStudio Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/microstudiodev
