Unity Basics Course: Implementing UI Features and Start Screen

Unity is a powerful game development engine that allows you to create games for various platforms. In this tutorial, we will explore in detail how to implement UI features using Unity and create a start screen.

1. Understanding the Unity UI System

The Unity User Interface (UI) consists of various elements. The UI system is used to arrange UI elements and provide functionalities for user interaction. The main UI elements are:

  • Button: A button that detects user clicks to perform specific actions.
  • Text: Text that displays information to the user.
  • Image: An element that displays images on the UI screen.
  • Panel: A panel that acts as a container for other UI elements.

These elements are managed within Unity’s Canvas, and UI elements can be easily arranged and styled.

2. Creating a Unity Project

To develop UI with Unity, we first need to create a new project.

  1. Open Unity Hub and click on “New Project.”
  2. Select a “3D” or “2D” template. This distinction is necessary for UI implementation.
  3. Set the project name and location, then click “Create Project.”

3. Adding Canvas and UI Elements

Here are the steps to create a Canvas and add UI elements:

  1. In the Hierarchy panel, right-click and select “UI” > “Canvas” to add a Canvas.
  2. To add UI elements, right-click again within the Canvas and select “UI” to add Button, Text, Image, etc.
  3. Each UI element’s properties can be adjusted in the Inspector panel.

3.1 Setting Up the Button

After adding a Button, you can perform the following settings:

  • Edit the Button’s Text to enter the content that will be displayed on the button.
  • Set the Button’s “OnClick()” event to specify the method to execute when the button is clicked.

3.2 Setting Up the Text

The Text UI element is used to show messages or provide explanations to the user. Understand clearly what content is needed.

4. Implementing the Start Screen

The start screen is the screen displayed when the game begins, typically allowing the player to start the game or navigate to the settings screen through button clicks. The following steps outline implementing the start screen:

4.1 Designing the Start Screen

A start screen usually includes the game’s title, a start button, and a settings button. Arrange the UI elements considering the design:

  • Title: Enter the game title as Text in a large font
  • Start Button: Add a button to start the game
  • Settings Button: Add a button to go to settings

4.2 Implementing Functionality Using Scripts

To implement functionality for the UI elements, you need to write scripts. Create a C# script and add the following content:


using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.SceneManagement;
using UnityEngine.UI;

public class MainMenu : MonoBehaviour
{
public void StartGame()
{
SceneManager.LoadScene("GameScene");
}

public void QuitGame()
{
Application.Quit();
}
}

Connect the methods to the button’s OnClick() event to allow interaction with the object.

5. Final Step: Building the Project

After confirming that the UI works properly, you can build the project to convert it into a real game:

  1. Select File > Build Settings.
  2. Set the Target Platform and then click “Build” to start the build process.
  3. Run the completed build to ensure the UI and start screen function correctly.
Note: Consider various UI designs and experiment with designs to enhance the user experience.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we learned the basics of Unity’s UI system and how to implement a start screen. Use Unity to develop more creative UIs! If you want to learn more, looking for additional resources is a good idea.