Building "Hidden Objects" Browser Games
Codeless Game Construction using Construct2 & Construct3.
Quickly learn how to create 19 online games using Construct2 or Construct3. This student's workbook is tailored for both the novice and advanced game designers Workshop attendees. Use these lessons to build 17+ Construct games from this single Game Mechanics. Instructor package includes presentation slide, online course access and Instructor guide.
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About
About the Book
Discover how to create 19 "Seek and Find" online games using several methods from this "Code-less Game Design Workshop" course for the Hidden Objects Game Mechanics. When you finish this course, you will have a production pipeline to create as many different "Hidden Object" games as your imagination can dream of!
This course is based on the popular Construction Game Starter Kit Collection -- available as a separate bundled set. You can elect to purchase the workshop book, instructor, or student packages. Each package has download examples, Construct2 and Construct3 source code, and abridged references. In 12 sequential lessons, you learn how to do every single thing in this workshop course, so you can mimic these lessons in your own game design and then modify your game resources for your own purposes.
I will guide you in creating several "Game Display Mechanisms" that typically appear in all "Hidden Objects" games. You can combine these mechanisms for any chosen "Game Mechanics" -- although this book is exclusively about "Hidden Objects" games. By the end of this tutorial workshop, you should have a fully functional bespoke prototype using your own artwork assets. More importantly, you'll have a collection of source code "snippets" for further game production.
This extraordinarily comprehensive course will teach you how to:
- Use both Construct versions 2 and 3.
- Create a "Hidden Object" game using three different construction methods.
- Generate games automatically from a collection of game prototypes (snippets).
- Take the "Hidden Objects Game Mechanics" and dynamically generate dozens of games!
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- Workshop DemonstrationsFreely available GitHub "hidden object" demonstrations for analysis.
- Student WorksheetsWorkshop aids for competitor analysis.
- Construct 2 lesson examplesAll Construct2 Lesson hand-on projects.
- Artwork AssetsFreely available artwork for workshop projects from DAZ3d.com
- Construct 3 lesson examplesAll Construct3 Lesson hand-on projects.
Buying multiple copies for your team? See below for a discount!
This book is also available in the following packages:
Instructor Workshop Content
Instructor & workshop leader downloads: • Earn commissions per "student purchase" at the regular course price. Student must use your membership code or original invoice number. • Artwork for course projects. • Part II PowerPoint slides with and without Themes. • End of lesson examples for Construct2 • Part III PowerPoint slides with and without Themes. • End of lesson examples for Construct3 • Sample competition examples and JS code. • Part IV PowerPoint slides with and without Themes.
- Workshop DemonstrationsFreely available GitHub "hidden object" demonstrations for analysis.
- Student WorksheetsWorkshop aids for competitor analysis.
- Construct 2 lesson examplesAll Construct2 Lesson hand-on projects.
- Artwork AssetsFreely available artwork for workshop projects from DAZ3d.com
- Construct 3 lesson examplesAll Construct3 Lesson hand-on projects.
- Instructor Course Overview, Guides, PPT, CTE & CSTA standardsThis workshop course is aligned to the Career Technical Education (CTE) and Computer Science Teacher's Association standards. Use these documents to justify public schools courses and after school computer club activities.
- Learning Management System & SCORM integrationUse this additional Construct2 and Construct3 plugins to integrate workshop content in your Learning Management System (LMS) using SCORM.
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- Workshop Demonstrations
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Author
About the Author
Stephen Gose
Avatar is an adorable cartoon sketch of my wife. My 48th anniversary is this coming Sept 1, 2026!
Stephen Gose, Ph.D. Information Systems (honorary) (and second-generation German) is a retired Professor Emeritus with a 41-year career as a certified network engineer, and "Certified Cisco Academy Instructor" (CCAI) since 2002. He is listed in the Who's Who for Information Technology for his directly related work for the Internet backbones in the Caribbean, Netherlands, Israel, and Russia. He was awarded "Letters of Appreciation" from AT&T, and the German, Israeli, Dutch, and Russian Governments. Steve has nearly three decades of international "teaching and conference lecturing" in both Local-Area and Wide-Area Networks, network security, Internet backbones, software engineering, and program/project management. He is a retired US Army Signal Corps Officer. He earned, in 2014, the ITT Technical Institute's "Instructor of the Year" out of 8,000 instructors across 144 campuses throughout the USA.
He graduated from Grand Canyon University with his first B.A. in Religions and Music Education, then a B.S. in Business Admin. from the University of Maryland, and an M.B.A. in International Management from Liberty University.
He is currently pursuing his Th.D. He has been a licensed minister since 1972 and a missionary to Okinawa, Japan. He earned the US Army Chaplain Outstanding Service Award in 1983.
In his spare time(?), Steve enjoys creating online casual games, software engineering, and managing his online gaming businesses.
My driving theme: "Always stay humble and kind"
His website is: https://www.Stephen-Gose.com/
His game showcase is: http://www.renown-games.com
His theology website: http://kingdomofgodprinciples.com/
Game Support Site: http://makingbrowsergames.com/
Review my profile on LinkedIn.com: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-gose/
Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
- Distribution Permission
- Forewords
- Disclosures
- Disclaimer
- Workbook Content
- About this Workbook
- How to Read & Use this workbook:
- Viewing the eBook:
- The “Community” Workbook Editions
- External Links
- References Used
- Your newly obtained skills …
- More Resources
- Programming Courses
- IPart I — Concept & Design
1“Hidden Objects” Design Workshop
- 1.1About this Workshop
2Building “Hidden Objects” Games
- 2.1Hidden Objects Genre Description
- > Game Genre Deconstruction
- Deconstruction Process
- 2.2Historical Background
- 2.3“Hidden Objects” Gameplay Concepts
3Introduction to Game Design
- Approaching Game Development
- Focusing Your Game
- 3.1Game Design System™ & Components
- 3.2Game Mechanics (GM) — Logic & Rules
- 3.3Game Mechanics (GM) — Data Structure
- > “Free Forum Advice” on “Hidden Games” Creation
- > Deeper Dive: Solving Replayability
- Opinion: Expanding The “Replay Value” Of Games
- 3.4Game Framework Mechanisms
- 3.5Cashing In with “Hidden Object” Games
- GG Interactive — FREE Game Design Course
- IIPart II: Construct2 Production
4Lesson 1: Game Project Launch
- 4.1About Your Project:
- 4.2Project Settings:
- 4.3Configuration Settings
- 4.4Design Consideration: CMS, PWA, or SWPA!
- > Creating a C2 SWPA Game Version?
- > FYI: Creating a C2 CMS or PWA Game Version?
- 4.5Comparing your code
5Lesson 2: Scaling Objects & Layouts
- 5.1What is Your Competition Doing?
- > Game Competitor Examples
- 5.2My Evaluations
- > Game #1: Smurfs Interactive Game
- > Game #2: Highlights Kids: Hidden Pictures
- > Game #3: Spot the Difference — HTML5 Game (Construct 3)
- > Game #4: Ryan Guitar GitHub Example
- > Game #5: Garage Sale
- > Game #6: Messy Room
- 5.3Competitors’ eCommerce Website Examples
6Lesson 3: Loading & Placing items.
- 6.1Lesson Instructions
- From the Manual: How to avoid “JANK”
- Serif vs Sans-Serif:
- Using Web Fonts inside a Text Object
- Microsoft Office to the Rescue!
7Lesson 4: Game Mechanics Mgmt.
- 7.1Inside The “Game Loop”
- 7.2Game Mechanics Structure
- 7.3How to Create Events
- 7.4Game Set-up
- 7.5Game Play Phase
- > Making the “Magnifying Glass”
- Magnifying Frame & Lens Relationship
- > Managing Cooty Spiders
- > Debugging Cooty Sizing
- > Debugging the Cooty Inventory
- 7.6Practice Method #1
- > Bonus Game & Download
- 7.7Download Lesson 4 “
.capx” file
8Lesson 5: Game Conversion Methods.
- 8.1Conversion Method #2
- 8.2Lesson Instructions
- > Step #1: Building a Grid.
- Construct Export Optimizations Performed
- > Step #2: Create more Layers.
- Layers inside a Layout
- > Step #3: Load images.
- > Step #4: Deploy Hidden Objects.
- > Step #5: Game Mechanics & Events Used.
- 8.3Practice Method #2
- 8.4Competitor Games Revisited! …
- 8.5Download Lesson 5 “
.capx” files - > Available Bonus Games …
9Lesson 6: He says, “He’s already Got One”!
- 9.1Modify a Gamer’s “Score & Discoveries”
- 9.2Download Lesson 6 “
.capx” files
10Lesson 7: Find the Difference!
- 10.1Lesson Instructions
- 10.2Customized Margins
- 10.3Deeper Dive: AI Project Preparations
- 10.4Download Lesson 7 “
.capx” files
11Lesson 8: “Game Lost & Won” Scenes!
- 11.1Hidden Item Inventory
- 11.2“Game Finished” Scene(s)
- > Determine Rules for “Game Won”
- > Determine Rules for “Game Lost”
- 11.3Global Objects & Layouts
- 11.4Practice Session
- 11.5Download Lesson 8 “
.capx” file - IIIPart III: Construct3 Production
12Lesson 1: Game Project Launch
- 12.1About Your Project:
- 12.2Project Settings: Color Theme, Start-up & Display
- 12.3Configuration Settings: Advanced & Editor
- 12.4Design Consideration: CMS, PWA, or SWPA!
- > Creating a C3 SWPA Game Version?
- > FYI: Creating a C3 CMS or PWA Game Version?
- 12.5Comparing your code
13Lesson 2: Scaling Objects & Layouts
- 13.1What is Your Competition Doing?
- > Game Competitor Examples
- 13.2My Evaluations
- > Game #1: Smurfs Interactive Game
- > Game #2: Highlights Kids: Hidden Pictures
- > Game #3: Spot the Difference — HTML5 Game (Construct 3)
- > Game #4: Ryan Guitar GitHub Example
- > Game #5: Garage Sale
- > Game #6: Messy Room
- 13.3Competitors’ eCommerce website Examples
14Lesson 3: Loading & Placing items.
- 14.1Lesson Instructions
- From the Manual: How to avoid “JANK”
- Serif vs Sans-Serif:
- Using Web Fonts inside a Text Object
- Microsoft Office to the Rescue!
15Lesson 4: Game Mechanics Mgmt.
- 15.1Inside The “Game Loop”
- 15.2Game Mechanics Structure
- 15.3How to Create Events
- 15.4Game Set-up
- 15.5Game Play Phase
- > Making the “Magnifying Glass”
- Magnifying Frame & Lens Relationship
- > Managing Cooty Spiders
- > Debugging Cooty Sizing
- > Debugging the Cooty Inventory
- 15.6Practice Method #1
- > Bonus Game & Download
- 15.7Download Lesson 4 “
.c3p” file
16Lesson 5: Game Conversion Methods.
- 16.1Conversion Method #2
- 16.2Lesson Instructions
- > Step #1: Building a Grid.
- Construct Export Optimizations Performed
- > Step #2: Creating More Layers.
- Layers inside a Layout
- > Step #3: Load images.
- > Step #4: Deploy Hidden Objects.
- > Step #5: Game Mechanics & Events Used.
- 16.3Practice Method #2
- 16.4Competitor Games Revisited! …
- 16.5Download Lesson 5 “
.c3p” files - > Available Bonus Games …
17Lesson 6: He says, “He’s already Got One”!
- 17.1Modify a Gamer’s “Score & Discoveries”
- 17.2Download Lesson 6 “
.c3p” file
18Lesson 7: Find the Difference!
- 18.1Lesson Instructions
- 18.2Customized Margins
- 18.3Deeper Dive: AI Project Preparations
- 18.4Download Lesson 7 “
.c3p” files
19Lesson 8: “Game Lost & Won” Scenes!
- 19.1Hidden Item Inventory
- 19.2“Game Finished” Scene(s)
- > Determine Rules for “Game Won”
- > Determine Rules for “Game Lost”
- 19.3Global Objects & Layouts
- 19.4Practice Session
- 19.5Download Lesson 8 “
.c3p” file - IVPart IV: Expanding this Prototype
- Replayability Summary: the ability to …
20Lesson 9: Adding Unique Features.
- Hidden Object Games Are Mindless Fluff, And That’s Why I Love Them
- 20.1“Play Again?”
- > Lesson Instructions
- > Reset the Global Variables.
- 20.2A Better “Game Start”
- 20.3Integrating Multiple Languages??
- How Languages Got Their Directionality by Steph Koyfman April 28, 2021
- Right-To-Left Languages
- Top-To-Bottom Languages
- Content languages market position report.
- Compare Who uses the Internet as compared to their language.
- 20.4Main Menu as a “Picture Gallery”?
- 20.5“Levels & Campaigns” Layout
- 20.6“Create Your Own Adventures” (CYOA)
- > Customized Margins
- 20.7Touch & Mouse Controls
- “Dynamically Detecting Gamer Inputs”
- 20.8Game Count-down Timers
- > Visual Timer Bar
- > Kitchen Egg Timers
21Lesson 10: Search Lists & Scoring
- 21.1Method #2 Static Lists
- 21.2Restricted Search with Random Deployment
- Winx Club Monthly Adventure Quests™
- 21.3Dynamic Search Lists & Quantities
- > “Alchemist’s Apprentice™” Example
- > “Agents From U.N.C.L.E.™” Example
- 21.4Saving & Loading Game Sessions
- VStarting Your Own Game Studio!
22Lesson 11: One “GM” to Rule them all …
23Lesson 12 Capstone: Exchanging Artwork
- D.R.Y. Speed Limit — 5 GPH (Games Per Hour)!
- 23.1Japanese Shinro Puzzles
- 23.2Irezumi vs. Horimono Tattoos
- 23.3Cooty Queen!
- > Game Option Settings!
- 23.4“It takes a Thief” — RPG Integration!
- 23.5Computer Security Technician!
- 23.6Interpol Agent
- 23.73D Tomb Raider — a Hidden Objects RPG!
- 23.8Lyme Disease
- 23.9The Alchemist’s Apprentice™ — a Hidden Objects RPG!
- Microsoft Office to the Rescue!
- 23.10U.N.C.L.E. Agents — a “Hidden Objects” RPG!
- VIWhat’s next?
- “How to publish a game on the web??”
24Game Distribution & Marketing
- 24.1Introduction: 8-Step Deployment Method.
- FGL.com
- 24.2Selling Directly — The Advantages
- Shareably (SBLY) looking to rent your games
- 24.3Book Review Protocol
- 24.4Tell the world about your game!
25Conclusion
26Bonus Development Content
- 26.1Certification Examination
- Appendix
More Resources …
- “You don’t know JS Yet” by Kyle Simpson
- Construct Demos
Appendix: Game Developer Tool Kits
- Artwork Resources
- Selling your Game Artwork & Assets
- JavaScript Garden
Additional Appendices
Appendix: Making WebXR Games!
- Appendix: Safe JavaScript Using OLOO
- JS Objects: “TL;DR”
- 15.2.2 Inside the body of a class definition
- Deeper Dive: JS Delegation (aka “Inheritance”?)
- The old way
- “Object-Oriented JavaScript Pattern Comparison”
- ECMA-262 7th Edition / June 2016
- Objects Linking to Other Objects (OLOO)
- Compare your code
- Object.create
- Exercise Lesson 9:
- Exercise 1
- Game Singletons
- Deeper Dive: Object Manipulation objects in ES5/6
- Lesson Summary
- Resource References:
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