Over The Top Tanks: a game created without any programming knowledge
Have you ever dreamed of making your own computer game, but thought you could never pull it off without programming knowledge? Let me inspire you! In this blog I share my adventure building Over The Top Tanks, a strategic tank game in which you use power, angle and wind to defeat your opponent on a dynamic battlefield.
The best part? I largely prompted this game with the help of ChatGPT and Canvas – an approach that is accessible to everyone, whatever your coding background. And yes, that means you can do this too!
What is Over The Top Tanks?
A short description of the game: “A strategic tank game in which you use power, angle and wind to destroy your opponent on a changing battlefield.”
The game offers everything you would expect from a classic artillery game:
- Turn-based gameplay: take turns with your opponent.
- Realistic physics: think of gravity and wind affecting your projectiles.
- Dynamic terrain: destroy the ground to gain strategic advantages.
- Explosions and effects: enjoy a visual spectacle of explosions and destructive craters.
Curious? You can download the game now via the following link: Download Over The Top Tanks.
How did the game come about?
It all started with an idea: I wanted to make a classic tank game that I used to play, but with a modern look. Then ChatGPT came into the picture with one of its recent features, Canvas. Below I explain how this process worked and how you can do something similar.
1. Prompting: the heart of the process
My first step was describing my idea. I used prompts such as:
“Write a Python game with Pygame in which two tanks fire at each other. The game must be turn-based, include wind and gravity, and have destructible terrain.”
ChatGPT gave me a solid basis to start with, including a first version of the code. With a little help from Canvas to refine the logic further, the game began to take shape.
2. Iterating and improving
Building the game was an iterative process. I gave ChatGPT feedback and asked, for example, for:
- A HUD (Heads-Up Display) for power, angle and wind.
- Explosions with effects that leave craters behind.
- Tank images for a visual upgrade.
Prompt for explosions:
“Add an explosion effect to the game when a projectile hits, including a crater in the terrain.”
Prompt for the visual elements:
“Make the tanks use sprites instead of rectangles. Use a red tank and a blue tank.”
3. Sound and music
I wanted to make the game more immersive by adding sounds and background music. Using prompts, I asked for sound effects for firing and explosions, and I added background music to both the main menu and the gameplay.
4. Testing and debugging
Although ChatGPT did a lot for me, I was responsible for testing and improving. Prompting helped me track down and fix bugs. Think of prompts such as:
“The turn switching doesn't always work correctly. How can I fix this?”
“How do I add realistic craters to the terrain after an explosion?”
5. Creating an installer
The end result had to be easy to install. I used tools such as PyInstaller to turn the game into a Windows installer, so that anyone can easily play it.
Why can you do this too?
The beauty of this approach is that you don't need to know how to program. Here are a few reasons why you can start today:
- Prompting is easy: describe what you want to make, and ChatGPT does the heavy lifting.
- Canvas helps with large projects: you can easily keep track and improve your project iteratively.
- Community and resources: countless resources are available to help you with tools such as Pygame and PyInstaller.
- Creativity is all you need: with a good idea and the right prompts, you can get started.
Download and try it yourself
Want to experience how Over The Top Tanks plays? Download the game now via the following link:
Conclusion
If I can make a complete game with the help of ChatGPT and Canvas, so can you! Don't let a lack of programming knowledge hold you back. Experiment, try things out and see what you can achieve. Maybe your own game will be the next hit!
Do you have questions or would you like to share your own project? Leave a comment or send me a message via Education Oracle.
Good luck and have fun making your own games!
