Learning Cocos2D: A Hands-On Guide to Building iOS Games with Cocos2D, Box2D, and Chipmunk

Build the Next Great iOS Game with Cocos2D!

 

Cocos2D is the powerhouse framework behind some of the most popular games in the App Store. If you’ve played Tiny Wings, Angry Birds, Mega Jump, Trainyard, or even Super Turbo Action Pig, then you’ve played a game that uses Cocos2D or Box2D physics. The beauty of Cocos2D is its simplicity. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you start developing an iOS game, especially if you look at things like OpenGL ES, OpenAL, and other lower level APIs. Writing a game for the iPhone and iPad does not have to be that difficult, and Cocos2D makes game development fun and easy.

 

Learning Cocos2D walks you through the process of building Space Viking (which is free on the App Store), a 2D scrolling game that leverages Cocos2D, Box2D, and Chipmunk. As you build Space Viking, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Cocos2D so you can create the next killer iOS game.

 

Download the free version of Space Viking from the App Store today! Help Ole find his way home while learning how to build the game.

 

As you build Space Viking, you’ll learn how to

 

• Install and configure Cocos2D so it works with Xcode 4
• Build a complete 2D action adventure game with Cocos2D
• Add animations and movement to your games
• Build your game’s main menu screen for accessing levels
• Use Cocos2D’s Scheduler to make sure the right events happen at the right times
• Use tile maps to build scrolling game levels from reusable images
• Add audio and sound effects with CocosDenshion―Cocos2D’s sound engine
• Add gravity, realistic collisions, and even ragdoll effects with Box2D and Chipmunk physics engines
• Add amazing effects to your games with particle systems
• Leverage Game Center in your game for achievements and leader boards
• Squeeze the most performance from your games along with tips and tricks

Rod Strougo is the founder and lead developer of the studio Prop Group at www.prop.gr. Rod’s journey in physics and games started way back with an Apple ][, writing games in Basic. From the early passion in games, Rod’s career moved to enterprise software development, spending 10 years writing software for IBM and recently for a large telecom company. These days Rod enjoys helping others get started on their paths to making games. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rod lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and sons.

 

Ray Wenderlich is an iPhone developer and gamer and the founder of Razeware, LLC. Ray is passionate about both making apps and teaching others the techniques to make them. He has written a bunch of tutorials about iOS development, available at www.raywenderlich.com.