On Udemy, the course is advertised as covering the following topics:
- Building an online multiplayer game using the Godot 4 libraries.
- Creating common multiplayer game mechanics such as switch tiles, movable objects, unlockable doors, etc.
- Synchronizing these mechanics over the internet to allow players to interact and collaborate to overcome challenges.
- Using W4 Games' infrastructure to enable players to connect even if they are not on the same local network.
The game developed to explain these principles is a simple 2D platformer, where 2 players can collaborate to reach switch tiles that open doors and create bridges, allowing access to previously unreachable areas. It also includes a mechanic for opening a chest to collect a key that unlocks the level’s end gate. As you can see, the game itself is very simple, but it covers a range of very common mechanics in this type of game.
The entire first section of the course is dedicated to shaping the base game. If you haven’t touched Godot in a while, it can serve as a refresher. If you’ve never used Godot, it can also work as an introductory tutorial.
In the second section, the implementation of player connectivity within the same local network begins. It turns out that Godot only needs 2 specialized nodes to offer a complete multiplayer experience. This simplicity and elegance speak volumes about this engine. With those 2 specialized nodes and RPC calls from the code, you have everything you need to set up your online game.
The third section, the longest, explains how to apply the concepts from the previous section so that the different game mechanics can be synchronized for all players at the same time, ensuring they always see the same game state.
The course implements its code in GDScript, but I followed along by implementing my code in C# and had no issues.
The instructor explains very well, his pronunciation is good, and he doesn’t ramble. The project chosen to support his explanations is simple enough not to be complicated, but more than enough to cover the most common mechanics usually implemented in a platformer. By the end of the course, you have a pretty good idea of how to structure a basic multiplayer game.
However, there are areas for improvement. For starters, Godot's multiplayer tools (the 2 nodes and RPC calls) are covered in a very practical manner, which isn’t bad, but I was left wanting more theoretical depth. You end up guessing what each thing does, but not with the confidence of knowing what it does internally. For example, RPC calls are extensively covered and used in the course, but I would have liked more in-depth explanations on their general functioning and how they would be used in other contexts.
Another area for improvement is that despite mentioning W4 Games' services, they are not mentioned at all in the course. It’s true that the fine print warns that these contents are not yet available and will come later, but W4 Games has long since opened its beta for people to try out their services. I expected that by now they would have included that part in the course, or at least said when they would. None of this has happened, and that’s why I didn’t give it 5 stars on Udemy. If they eventually include the section explaining how to use W4 Games' services, I will revise my rating upward.
Despite this, the course is highly recommended, though not at the full price advertised on Udemy and GameDevTV. My advice is to wait until it’s on sale on either of these platforms to buy it. I’m not sure about GameDevTV, but on Udemy, sales are very frequent, so my advice is not to make the rookie mistake of buying it for €50 or €90 when it’s very often on sale for €10 or €15.
