Roblox Game Development: From Zero To Proficiency (Beginner)

Roblox Game Development: From Zero to Proficiency (Beginner)

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your First Games in Roblox Studio with Lua.

Patrick Felicia

Roblox Game Development: From Zero to Proficiency (Beginner)

Copyright © 2024 Patrick Felicia

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher (Patrick Felicia), except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either expressed or implied. Neither the author and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Published by Patrick Felicia

Credits

Author: Patrick Felicia

About the Author

Patrick Felicia is a lecturer and researcher at Waterford Institute of Technology, where he teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students. He obtained his MSc in Multimedia Technology in 2003 and PhD in Computer Science in 2009 from University College Cork, Ireland. He has published several books and articles on the use of video games for educational purposes, including the Handbook of Research on Improving Learning and Motivation through Educational Games: Multidisciplinary Approaches (published by IGI), and Digital Games in Schools: a Handbook for Teachers, published by European Schoolnet. Patrick is also the Editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL), and the Conference Director of the Irish Symposium on Game-Based Learning, a popular conference on games and learning organized throughout Ireland.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Credits

About the Author

Download The Color Images

Share Your Feedback

Download a Free PDF Copy of This Book

Table of Contents

Preface

Content Covered by this Book

What you Need to Use this Book

Who this Book is for

Who this Book is not for

How you will Learn from this Book

Format of each Chapter and Writing Conventions

Special Notes

How Can You Learn Best from this Book

Feedback

Improving the Book

Supporting the Author

1 The Benefits of Using Roblox

What is Roblox?

Key Features of Roblox

Benefits of Using Roblox

The Evolution of Roblox

How Roblox Empowers Creators

The Future of Roblox

Summary

2 Getting Started with Roblox Studio

Installing Roblox Studio

Exploring the Interface

Basic Navigation and Tools

Keyboard Shortcuts

Customizing Your Workspace

Understanding Basic Components

Using the Toolbox

Exploring Your New Scene

Basic Scripting with Lua

Testing and Debugging Your Script

Saving and Loading Projects

Overview of Roblox Community and Resources

Summary and Review

Quiz

3 Building Basics

Understanding Part Properties

Grouping and Ungrouping Parts

Using the Anchor and Collision Properties

Creating Simple Structures and Maps

Using the Terrain Editor: Basics

Adding Water and Vegetation

Lighting Basics

Adding Sounds and Music

Summary

Quiz

Challenge

4 LUA Programming Concepts

Introduction

Statements

Comments

Variables

Operators

Conditional Statements

Combining if/elseif

Loops

Functions

Tables

Single-Dimensional Tables (Arrays)

Multidimensional Tables

Using Loops with Tables

Scope of Variables

Events

Understanding Events

Common Events in Roblox

Creating Custom Events

Practical Example of Events: Opening a Door

Summary

Quiz

Challenge

5 Introduction to Scripting in Roblox Studio

Starting to code in Lua

Using Variables

Using Basic Operators and Expressions

Using Conditional statements

Combining events and conditional statements

Using Arrays and Loops (For, While)

Debugging Scripts with the Output Window

Basic User Input Handling

Introduction to Services

Simple Game Mechanic: Collectible Items

Summary and Next Steps

Quiz

Challenge

6 Building Your First Interactive Game in Roblox Studio

Designing the Game Environment

Adding Collectible Items

Using Sound Effects

Creating an Interactive bridge

Adding a Script for the Dead Zone

Adding Moving Platforms

Creating a Generalized Script for All Boxes

Creating a Simple Scoring System

Summary

Quiz

Challenge

7 Creating and Managing Multiple levels

How to Implement Multiple levels

Structuring Levels

Creating a Checkpoint

Creating a Starting Point

Transitioning from the Checkpoint to the Second Level

Modifying the second dead zone

Creating and Displaying a Timer

Creating a Starting Screen

Checking for Winning Conditions

Displaying Messages to the user

Completing the End screen

Publishing and Sharing the Game

Summary

Quiz

Challenge

8 Answers to Quizzes

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

9 Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started with Roblox Studio

Scripting and Game Mechanics

Section 3: Building and Object Manipulation

Section 4: Visual and Audio Enhancements

Section 5: Publishing and Sharing Your Game

10 Thank you

Preface

As someone with extensive experience teaching Unity and game development, I have always been passionate about helping others understand the core concepts of programming and game design. Over the years, I’ve seen how powerful platforms like Unity, Unreal or Godot, can be in fostering creativity and technical skills. However, I also realized that for many aspiring developers, especially beginners, there is a need for platforms that are even more accessible—both in terms of learning to code and quickly building games. That’s when I turned my attention to Roblox.

Roblox provides a unique opportunity for learners of all ages to dive into game development without the steep learning curve that comes with some other tools. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, combined with the flexibility of Lua scripting, makes it a perfect starting point for anyone looking to get into game creation. This book series assumes no prior knowledge on the part of the reader, and it will get you started on Roblox so that you quickly master all the wonderful features that this software provides by going through an easy learning curve. By completing each chapter, and by following step-by-step instructions, you will progressively improve your skills, become more proficient in Roblox, and create a survival game using Roblox’s core features in terms of programming (i.e., Lua), game design, and drag-and-drop features.

This first book in the series is designed for absolute beginners. You will learn how to use Roblox Studio, understand its interface, and create interactive worlds. Along the way, you will develop essential skills like object manipulation, basic scripting, creating game environments, and understanding physics concepts such as collisions. You will also build up to a project where you create an interactive game with multiple levels, player objectives, and a scoring system.

In addition to mastering these core features, you will also explore techniques commonly used in video game development, including object creation, collision detection, lighting effects, and simple animations. By the end of the book, you will have a game where players need to collect items, navigate obstacles, and progress through levels based on specific objectives. This game will include a 3D platform game, giving you a well-rounded understanding of how to structure levels, manage player interactions, and create engaging experiences.

You will learn how to manipulate parts, add scripts to control game mechanics, design fun and challenging levels, and even implement conditions that allow players to advance or be reset based on their performance. Additionally, you will gain an understanding of how to create custom assets, such as items and obstacles, and integrate them seamlessly into your game world. Finally, you will also get to export your game and share it with friends on the web, allowing them to experience the world you’ve created directly from the Roblox platform.

This book is designed to be both fun and educational. As you work through the chapters, you’ll see your progress take shape in the form of a playable game that can be shared and expanded upon. I’m excited to be your guide on this journey, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll create with Roblox!

Content Covered by this Book

Chapter 1: The Benefits of Using Roblox. This chapter introduces game engines and their importance in game development. It explains why Roblox is an excellent choice for beginners and experienced developers alike, due to its accessible interface and vast user base. You will discover the benefits of using Roblox, including its drag-and-drop features, ease of use, and how it empowers creators to build games seamlessly.

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Roblox Studio. In this chapter, you will learn how to install and set up Roblox Studio. It introduces you to the main components of Roblox Studio, such as the Explorer, Properties, and Toolbox. You will also learn how to navigate the workspace, customize your environment, and create your first project.

Chapter 3: Building Basics. This chapter teaches you how to build simple structures by creating, resizing, and manipulating parts. It covers essential properties like color, material, and transparency, as well as grouping and ungrouping objects. Additionally, you will learn how to create terrains, add basic lighting, and optimize your builds for performance.

Chapter 4: Lua Programming Concepts. In this chapter, you will explore Lua, the programming language used in Roblox. You will learn about variables, operators, and basic Lua syntax. Furthermore, you will discover how to control the flow of your code using if statements, loops, and functions, which are key to adding logic to your game.

Chapter 5: Introduction to Scripting in Roblox Studio. This chapter introduces scripting in Roblox Studio, building on the basics of Lua. You will learn how to use variables, arrays, and other programming tools to manage data in your game. Additionally, you will create simple game mechanics, such as collectible items, and learn how to debug your scripts using the Output window.

Chapter 6: Building Your First Interactive Game in Roblox Studio. In this chapter, you will design a basic game environment with collectibles, platforms, and sound effects. You will add interactivity by implementing scripts that respond to player actions, such as picking up objects or moving platforms. Moreover, you will learn how to create a scoring system and display it on the screen, enhancing player engagement.

Chapter 7: Creating and Managing Multiple Levels. This chapter focuses on creating and managing multiple levels in your game. You will learn how to add triggers and win conditions that determine when a player progresses to the next level or completes the game. Additionally, you will explore how to track player progress across levels and implement checkpoints to save progress between stages.

Chapter 8: Answers to Quizzes. This chapter provides answers to the quizzes found at the end of each chapter.

Chapter 9: Frequently Asked Questions. This chapter provides answers to frequently asked questions based on specific themes and topics (e.g., asset creation or transformations).

Chapter 10 summarizes the topics covered in this book and also provides useful information if you would like to progress further with this book series.

What you Need to Use this Book

To complete the project in this book, all you need is a free Roblox account and a computer!

Roblox supports both Windows and macOS, making it easy to get started no matter what kind of computer you have.

As for the technical details, don’t worry too much—most computers less than