Unity Basics Course: Installing Unity

If you are interested in game development, it is essential to understand the game engine called Unity. Unity offers an intuitive interface and powerful features, making it widely used from beginners to experts. In this article, I will explain in detail the basic installation process of Unity.

What is Unity?

Unity is a cross-platform game engine that was first released in 2005. With Unity, you have all the tools needed to create 2D and 3D games. One major advantage is the ability to distribute games on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Preparing for Unity Installation

System Requirements

Before installing Unity, you need to check whether your computer meets the system requirements. Below are the basic system requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 10, macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or newer
Processor: Multi-core processor, SSE2 support
RAM: At least 4GB of RAM
Graphics Card: Graphics card that supports DX10 (Shader Model 3.0)
Disk Space: Minimum of 10GB of free space

Downloading Unity

To install Unity, you need to download it from the official Unity website. Below are the steps to download:

Visit the official Unity website (https://unity.com/).
Click on ‘Get Started’ or ‘Download’ in the top menu.
Select the version to use: Unity offers a free Personal version and a Pro version for businesses. If you are a personal developer, it is recommended to choose the Personal version.
Account Creation: You may need to create a Unity account to download. Enter your email address and password to create an account.
Click the download button to download the installer.

Unity Installation Process

The process of installing Unity by running the downloaded installer is as follows:

Double-click the downloaded installer to run it.
When the installation wizard opens, click ‘Next’ or ‘Yes’ to proceed.
Agree to the license agreement. Carefully read the contract and click the ‘Agree’ button if you agree.
Select the components to install. Choose the necessary items like the Unity Editor, example projects, and documentation. The Unity Editor is required by default.

Installing the Unity Editor

The Unity Editor is the primary tool used for game development. Once the installation is complete, you can run the editor to create projects.

After Unity installation is complete, launch the Unity Editor from the desktop or start menu.
When the Unity Editor is launched for the first time, you need to log in with your account. Enter the Unity account you created earlier and log in.
After logging in, click the ‘New’ button to create a new project.
Select the project name and location, and choose one of the 2D or 3D templates.
Finally, click the ‘Create’ button to create the project.

Project Setup and Creating the First Scene

Now that the Unity project is set up, let’s create a simple scene.

After creating the project, start by understanding the various panels in the Unity Editor (Hierarchy, Scene, Inspector, etc.).
In the Hierarchy panel, click the ‘Create’ button to add a game object. For example, select ‘3D Object’ and then ‘Cube’ to add a cube.
Adjust the position, size, and rotation of the cube in the Scene view to place it where you want it.
In the Inspector panel, you can make detailed settings, such as adding Material to the cube or changing its color.

Adding a Simple Game Script

The power of Unity lies in the ability to implement game logic through code scripts. Let’s add simple behavior to the cube using a C# script.

Select the cube in the Hierarchy panel, then click the ‘Add Component’ button at the bottom of the Inspector panel.
Select ‘New Script’ and name it ‘CubeController’, then create a script using C#.
A script file will be automatically generated, and double-clicking it will open the default code editor.
Paste the code below and save it:

        using UnityEngine;

        public class CubeController : MonoBehaviour
        {
            void Update()
            {
                if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.UpArrow))
                {
                    transform.Translate(Vector3.forward * Time.deltaTime);
                }
                if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.DownArrow))
                {
                    transform.Translate(-Vector3.forward * Time.deltaTime);
                }
            }
        }

Now switch to play mode to see if the cube moves up and down.

Troubleshooting and Tips

Let’s look at common problems and solutions that may occur during the Unity installation and setup process.

Problem: Editor Won’t Open

If the editor won’t open or an error occurs, try the following methods:

Restart your computer and try again.
Update to the latest graphics drivers.
Check if your antivirus program is blocking the Unity Editor from executing.

Problem: Login Error

If you encounter an error when logging in with your Unity account:

Make sure you entered your username and password correctly.
Create a new password and try again.

Conclusion

The Unity installation process is very simple, and learning the basic installation methods opens up the possibility to develop various games. In this article, we covered the basic installation process of Unity and how to set up your first project. Now that you understand the basics of Unity, you can learn more advanced topics through various tutorials.

I’m cheering for you as you take your first steps into the world of game development! I hope you create amazing games through Unity in the future.