Unity Basics Course: Before You Start Development

Entering the world of game development is an attractive yet complex challenge. Particularly, Unity is a powerful game development platform that helps ease this challenge and is loved by many developers. In this course, we will explore the essential concepts of Unity and what you need to know to start development.

1. What is Unity?

Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, founded in 2005. It is used to develop games that run on various devices, including PC, mobile, consoles, VR, and AR platforms. Unity is especially popular for its intuitive user interface and excellent community support.

1.1 Features of Unity

  • Support for multiple platforms: Deploy to various platforms with a single development.
  • Free and paid plans: A free version available for individuals and independent developers.
  • User-friendly interface: Intuitive development with a Drag & Drop method.
  • Community and resources: A wealth of tutorials and materials available for free.

2. Installing Unity

To use Unity, you first need to install the software. It is advisable to download and install Unity Hub from the official website. Unity Hub is a convenient tool for managing various projects and Unity versions.

2.1 Installing Unity Hub

  1. Visit the official Unity website.
  2. Download Unity Hub.
  3. Run the installer to install Unity Hub.

2.2 Installing Unity Version

  1. Run Unity Hub.
  2. Click the ‘Installs’ tab and press the ‘Add’ button.
  3. Select the desired version and additional modules (such as mobile build support) before installing.

3. Understanding the Unity Interface

Once the installation is complete, run Unity and create a new project. The Unity interface may seem somewhat complex, but understanding each element will allow you to develop much more efficiently.

3.1 User Interface Components

  • Scene View: A space for visually composing the game world.
  • Game View: A space to preview how the actual game will look.
  • Hierarchy: A place where all objects in the scene are listed.
  • Inspector: A panel to edit the properties of the selected object.
  • Project: A place to manage all assets used in the project.

4. Creating a Project

Unity supports various types of game development. When creating a new project, you can choose the type of project and select a basic 3D or 2D template.

4.1 Project Creation Steps

  1. Click the ‘New’ button in Unity Hub.
  2. Set the project’s name and save path.
  3. Select a 2D or 3D template and click the ‘Create’ button to create the project.

5. Adding Characters and Objects

Once the project is created, let’s add the necessary objects for the game. You can find various free and paid assets in the Unity Asset Store.

5.1 Adding Basic 3D Objects

  1. Right-click in the empty scene.
  2. Select 3D Object and then choose options like Cube, Sphere, Cylinder to add.
  3. The created objects can be selected in the hierarchy to adjust their position, size, etc.

5.2 Downloading Assets from the Asset Store

  1. Select Window > Asset Store from the top menu.
  2. Search for the desired asset in the search bar.
  3. Download and then add them to the project.

6. Basic Scripting

Unity uses C# scripts to implement game logic. Programming with scripts is essential to define and manipulate the behavior of the game.

6.1 Creating a New Script

  1. Select the object in the hierarchy.
  2. Click the ‘Add Component’ button in the inspector window.
  3. Select ‘New Script’.
  4. Enter the script name and then click ‘Create and Add’.

6.2 Basic Syntax of C#

C# is a C-based programming language with the following basic syntax.

using UnityEngine;

public class MyScript : MonoBehaviour
{
    // Start is called before the first frame update
    void Start()
    {
        Debug.Log("Game Started!");
    }

    // Update is called once per frame
    void Update()
    {
        // Called every frame
    }
}

7. Adding Physical Properties to Game Objects

By adding physical properties to game objects, you can create a realistic game environment. You can add a Rigidbody component to enable gravity and collision effects.

7.1 Adding Rigidbody

  1. Select the desired game object in the hierarchy.
  2. Search for ‘Rigidbody’ in the ‘Add Component’ section of the inspector and add it.
  3. Then adjust properties such as ‘Mass’ and ‘Drag’ to set physical characteristics.

8. Implementing Simple Game Functions

Now that the basic elements are prepared, let’s implement a very simple game function. For example, you can set the object to jump when the spacebar is pressed.

8.1 Jump Function Script Implementation

using UnityEngine;

public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Rigidbody rb;

    void Start()
    {
        rb = GetComponent();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Space))
        {
            rb.AddForce(Vector3.up * 5, ForceMode.Impulse);
        }
    }
}

9. Building the Project

Once all tasks are completed, you need to build the game to make it executable.

9.1 Build Steps

  1. Click on File > Build Settings from the top menu.
  2. Select the platform and click the ‘Switch Platform’ button.
  3. Click the ‘Build’ button, set the desired output path, and save.

10. Conclusion

In this course, we covered various topics, including the basic concepts of Unity, installation methods, using the interface, project creation, and simple scripting. Unity offers a wide range of possibilities and freedom, so I hope you will practice and gain experience to become a more skilled developer. Please continue to explore various features and techniques. May success accompany you on your game development journey!

11. Additional Resources