Web and JavaScript Game Design Tutorials

Compiled 2012-07-23 / Last Updated & Verified 2024-01-02

The other day (well over a decade ago now, as of last update), my nephew asked me for some advice on learning how to code. Having been a code monkey myself since 3rd grade, I can appreciate the desire to learn coding in general, and game development (his preferred specialty) in particular.

But, things have change alot in the 25 30+ years since I first learned, and I suspect that learning BASIC on an Apple IIe is no longer the preferred starting method (or even terribly useful). So, after some brief thought, I suggested he learn the art of JavaScript (and the HTML that surrounds it), which I prefer for several reasons:

  1. it’s simple (or, at least, can be, with the right libraries),
  2. it’s powerful, thanks to the modern JS engines in Chrome and Firefox, and
  3. it’s relevant in this modern, interconnected world.

So, in order to simplify the transfer of knowledge for him, I present the Web and JavaScript Game Design Tutorials LinkList, as compiled July 23rd, 2012. The links were last updated and verified on January 02, 2024.

  • BASIC Computer Games [NEW] - An attempt at updating the classic 70s / 80s programming book to modern languages and development practices, including JavaScript.

  • MDN - Learn Web Development - The Mozilla Developer’s Network is a treasure trove of information, with tutorials and reference material for all levels of developer.

  • Tizag - Well I’m not particularly familiar with this site, they look like they have some good from-the-ground-up tutorials on everything from HTML and JavaScript to Perl and Flash (and lots of stuff in between).

  • Codeacademy - A relatively new tutorial site, with a social bend. Sign in via Facebook, and earn badges and achievments while you learn. Looks like it might be a great way to learn, as it seems to start right out with an interactive JavaScript command line.

  • Eloquent JavaScript - A free ((Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution, for those that care about such things.)) ebook designed to be a “modern introduction to programming” by way of the JavaScript language.

  • HTML5 Games 101 - An introductory tutorial to HTML5 Games - Another step-by-step tutorial, this one demonstrating how to build a simple snake game.

  • W3Schools.com - I’ve been a fan of this site for years, and found them to be an invaluable resource as I honed my own JavaScript skills. They have basic and advanced tutorials in both HTML and JavaScript, as well as lots of examples and references.

  • Developing HTML5 Canvas Games for Facebook with JavaScript - A more specific tutorial, written by a developer who wanted to teach his 5-year-old son about video games. Steps through the building of a simple space-shooting game.

  • The Very Simple Tic-Tac-Toe Tutorial Using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (formerly at http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/247361-simple-tic-tac-toe-using-html5-css3-and-javascript/) - The name says it all. A single page tutorial posted to the dreamincode.net forums, covering the step-by-step process of developing a simple game. Link down as of 2022-09-17_