Learn to Code in Lua for Playdate Game Dev! Part 1

Want to learn how to make games for the Playdate, but don't know how to program? No worries - in this video I'll go over basic programming concepts for complete beginners like variables, operators, and functions. I'll be teaching Lua, one of the languages you can use with the Playdate SDK. This is for people who want to use the Playdate SDK, and is not a guide for Pulp. If you want to learn Pulp, I have some videos for that on my channel as well.

Check out my book "The Beginner's Guide to Lua for Game Development" that goes more in depth into this topic!

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Variables
2:16 Data Types
3:22 Operators
3:27 Arithmetic Operators
4:19 Relational Operators
5:11 Logical Operators
5:56 Misc Operators
6:24 Conditionals
8:07 Functions
9:53 Scope

#Playdate #PlaydateSDK #lua

[pixelsbykris]

When the thumbnail said this was for "Complete" Beginners you weren't kidding. For which I'm very thankful! You explained a bunch of things that I was worried and/or confused about and even helped me get more confidence in trying to code again! Your explanations and accompanying visuals were simple enough to help me grasp things I never understood that a lot of other tutorials targeted towards beginners completely overlook. For example, when you were talking about reassigning the values for variables, you explained why 20 would show up instead of 1 and why. Whenever I tried to code, I would always get confused as to where and why I should place certain variables in the code (For example: when, where, and why I should place code for controls or to show a sprite/animation.) You explaining that the code is run line-by-line (helpful arrow included!) was just what I needed to really Get It.
As someone who's watched what feels like hundred of videos (or at least hundreds of HOURS) in a bunch of different coding languages marked as "For Complete Beginners", it's this one that's really helped me the most. Being told TO do something isn't as effective when you aren't told WHY to do it. Especially with something as seemingly finicky as coding at all, let alone a video game.

[keys]

Your videos are so wonderful for aspiring programmers like me who went to school for something non-computer related but still want to experience the joy of making simple and fun games! Thank you so much for your hard work.

[xkernalsandersx]

I just ordered my playdate today - so excited to try making some basic game experiences. I think this feels far less scary than other game development

[garyantonyo]

Hey. I just made my first playdate game over the weekend, and I just want to thank you for these tutorials and everything. I have quite a bit of experience programming, and even a little bit of experience with game programming, but nonetheless your videos have helped me figure out some of the bits that I had missing. Thanks for making these.

[TonyoPet]

Thank you @SquidGodDev for catering to all skill levels. This video is FIRE and your time you put into this is really appreciated.

[brotherdallinwatson]

Great Video! I'm really excited to get a hold of the play date. I'm a Python guy and this was a great intro to Lua for me. Thanks.

[astrona]

I agree with the comments. Your videos are amazing and very helpful! Hope you continue the Playdate series!

[beetyler]

Yes!!! I have been waiting for this! Thank you so much for the information you gave me. I started learning python and bought a book about Lua.

[novalacertae]

OMG ! Excellent Idea, this will allow the undecided to buy the playdate if they want to develop on it, don't give up this idea, you hold a good thread.
Sorry for my poor English ;)

[duckmasterflex]

Disappointed that Playdate uses Lua and not something like Rust, Javascript or Python but I will learn it anyway. I would love to see advanced courses soon.

[alexander]

Is it possible to see a playdate setup for mac? Tutorial on how to install vscode, platedate sdk and run&build on simulator in vscode?

[radazeonv]

Do you prefer Lua over Pulpscript? Are there any differences between either one besides performance? Are there some types/genres of games you can make with either languages? Can you program entirely in C? How would visuals and graphics work in that case?

[keithanderson]

nice introduction :), one minor correction, the symbol you refer to as a pound '#' is actuall called hash, the pound sysmbol is £ .