What background knowledge is necessary to enroll in the course?

This course is designed for absolute beginners in programming. No prior knowledge of programming is required, as all concepts will be introduced from scratch. However, a basic understanding of using a computer and working with files will be helpful.

Can I preview a course before enrolling?

Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.

What will I get when I enroll?

Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.

When will I receive my Course Certificate?

If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Course Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Course Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Why can’t I audit this course?

This course is currently available only to learners who have paid or received financial aid, when available.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Programming for Beginners with Lua and Love2D

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Programming for Beginners with Lua and Love2D

Instructor: Packt - Course Instructors

Included with

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10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Learn to program in Lua and use Love2D for game development
Build interactive applications and games, including Hangman, Dice, and Minesweeper
Understand key programming concepts like functions, tables, and conditional statements
Develop skills in debugging, problem-solving, and structuring code for games

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There are 10 modules in this course

This course features Coursera Coach!

A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This beginner-friendly course introduces you to programming with Lua and Love2D. You’ll start by setting up your development environment and dive straight into hands-on projects, like creating a Hangman game. As you progress, you'll learn key programming concepts such as functions, tables, conditional statements, and user input handling. The course continues with increasingly complex projects, including a Dice Application, Country Flags game, and Typing Game. Each project challenges you to apply what you’ve learned, refining your skills and building confidence. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation in programming and game development. Perfect for beginners with no prior experience, this course helps you build your skills through engaging, practical exercises and well-structured lessons.

In this module, we will guide you through the initial setup of your development environment, covering installation of Lua and Love2D. You will learn how to set up a basic project structure and familiarize yourself with the tools you'll use throughout the course. This section sets the stage for the exciting journey ahead in game development using Lua and Love2D.

What's included

1 video1 reading

In this module, you will build your first game, Hangman, using Lua and Love2D. You’ll focus on implementing core game mechanics, such as drawing the game elements and tracking user input. By the end of this section, you’ll have a working game with functional win/loss conditions and data handling.

What's included

21 videos1 assignment

21 videos Total 255 minutes

Starting Our First Project 8 minutes
Update and Draw Functions 26 minutes
Functions 11 minutes
Tables 11 minutes
Tables of Tables 20 minutes
If Statements 8 minutes
Mapping Out the Project 12 minutes
Drawing Lines 18 minutes
Printing Text to the Screen 13 minutes
Using Tables of Data 9 minutes
Using More Tables of Data 9 minutes
Keeping Track of Guessed Letters 8 minutes
Click to Start New Game 12 minutes
Checking Win Conditions 8 minutes
Updating the Background Colour 9 minutes
Evaluating Wrong Letter Press 13 minutes
Using Delta Time 11 minutes
Keeping Track of Lives 14 minutes
Evaluating Lose Conditions 13 minutes
Keeping Track of Letters Already Guessed 15 minutes
Seeding the Random Generator 8 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

First Project: Hangman - Assessment 15 minutes

In this module, we will expand your knowledge by diving into logical operators and advanced table handling. You’ll also explore how understanding program execution order can help optimize your code. These advanced topics will prepare you for more complex programming challenges in the future.

What's included

5 videos1 assignment

In this module, you will apply your knowledge to create a dice application. You’ll practice random number generation and display the results within the game. This project will help you structure your code efficiently using functions and tables, reinforcing what you’ve learned so far.

What's included

2 videos1 assignment

In this module, you will develop a flag recognition game. You will learn how to manage game data structures, implement buttons for user interaction, and handle user input for selecting the correct flag. This project will challenge you to integrate new features into your game development process.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment

8 videos Total 106 minutes

Starting Our Flags Game 16 minutes
Setting Up Our Data Structures 14 minutes
Setting Up Our Buttons System 12 minutes
Button Functionality Continued 15 minutes
Selecting Random Options 23 minutes
Evaluating Correct and Incorrect Selections 5 minutes
Adding a Delay Before Resetting Question 5 minutes
Accounting for Special Cases 16 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Third Project: Country Flags - Assessment 15 minutes

In this module, we will introduce advanced concepts such as working with tables and keys, string comparisons, and state tables. These techniques will help you manage complex data structures and game states, preparing you for more challenging projects in the course.

What's included

3 videos1 assignment

In this module, you will create a typing game, focusing on dynamic game mechanics such as letter spawning and scoring. You will also learn how to increase difficulty over time to keep the player challenged. This project will deepen your understanding of game development with Lua and Love2D.

What's included

9 videos1 assignment

9 videos Total 101 minutes

Mapping Out Our Typing Game Project 11 minutes
Making Things Move 11 minutes
Spawning Letters on a Timer 12 minutes
Process Correct Keypress 9 minutes
Letters Crossing the Finish Line 10 minutes
Increasing the Difficulty Throughout the Game 10 minutes
Updating the Score 11 minutes
Flashing Correct Letter Green 15 minutes
Increasing Difficulty by Adding Entries 12 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Fourth Project: Typing Game - Assessment 15 minutes

In this module, we will introduce the modulo operator, which is essential for many game-related calculations. You will also learn how to use recursive functions and while loops to handle repetitive tasks in your games, enhancing your ability to tackle complex game logic.

What's included

2 videos1 assignment

Video 9.1: Setting Up Our Minesweeper Project

What's included

13 videos1 assignment

13 videos Total 180 minutes

Setting Up Our Minesweeper Project 23 minutes
Setting Up Our Menu Buttons 12 minutes
Menu Button Mouse Hover Functionality 17 minutes
Spawning Bombs on the Map 16 minutes
Homework Task: Evaluating Adjacent Squares 6 minutes
Finding Adjacent Squares 30 minutes
Setting Up Some of Our Mouse Click Behaviour 13 minutes
Fixing Our Bomb Reset Behaviour 6 minutes
Revealing Adjacent Zero Squares 17 minutes
Finding and Fixing a Hidden Bug 7 minutes
Setting Up Our Flag Behaviour 11 minutes
Making a Colours Map Table 8 minutes
Evaluating Win Conditions 14 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Fifth Project - Minesweeper - Assessment 15 minutes

In this final module, we will congratulate you on completing the course and reflect on the valuable skills you’ve gained. You’ll be guided on the next steps to continue your learning journey and be introduced to more advanced topics in Lua and Love2D, setting you up for future game development projects.

What's included

1 video2 assignments

Instructor

Packt - Course Instructors

Packt

1,566 Courses 441,543 learners

Offered by

Packt

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Frequently asked questions

Lua is a lightweight, high-level programming language commonly used for embedded systems and game development. Love2D is an easy-to-use framework for creating 2D games using Lua. This combination is relevant for beginner programmers interested in game development because it provides a straightforward, flexible environment where you can learn to program while creating interactive, visually appealing projects.

This course is designed to teach beginners how to program using Lua and Love2D by guiding them through hands-on game development projects. The course covers key programming concepts such as functions, tables, if statements, and game logic. You'll work through projects like Hangman, Dice, Country Flags, Typing Game, and Minesweeper, each increasing in complexity. By the end of the course, you'll have a strong foundation in Lua and Love2D for game development.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to develop 2D games using Lua and Love2D, implement core game mechanics such as player input, game state management, and collision detection. You will also be able to use Lua's powerful tables and functions to organize game logic effectively. Additionally, you’ll be capable of debugging and expanding game projects with added complexity, such as handling user interfaces and dynamic game environments.

This course is for anyone interested in learning programming through game development. Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to start a new path in coding, this course offers a structured, hands-on approach to learning the fundamentals of Lua and Love2D. It is particularly suited for aspiring game developers and those looking to develop interactive projects using a simple yet powerful programming language.

The total duration of the course is approximately 12 hours and 18 minutes. The course is divided into sections, each focusing on a different game project and programming concept. You can complete it at your own pace, but on average, learners can expect to finish the course in a few days to a couple of weeks depending on their availability and prior experience.

Programming for Beginners with Lua and Love2D

Programming for Beginners with Lua and Love2D

What you'll learn

Details to know

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 10 modules in this course

Introduction

What's included

First Project: Hangman

What's included

Extending Our Knowledge in Some Areas

What's included

Homework Project: Dice Application

What's included

Third Project: Country Flags

What's included

Some Extra Concepts Before Our Next Project

What's included

Fourth Project: Typing Game

What's included

More Concepts Before Our Next Project

What's included

Fifth Project - Minesweeper

What's included

Congratulations! And Where to From Here...?

What's included

Instructor

Offered by

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

Chaitanya A.

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Advance your career with an online degree

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

What is Lua and Love2D? Why is it relevant?

What is this course about?

What will I be able to do after completing this course?

More questions