Core Interaction Programming from Coursera

Welcome to Core Interaction Programming, the first course in the Unity Certified Programmer Specialization from Unity Technologies. This course will help you prepare for the Unity Certified Programmer exam, the professional certification for entry to mid-level Unity programmers. Unity is used to create real-time 3D applications for many industries, including video games, automotive, film, training, and more. In this course, you will be challenged to solve realistic Unity programming problems that are aligned to topics covered on the exam. Throughout the first course, you will build the foundation for a 2D action video game: AsteraX. In doing so, you will practice many of the skills covered in the exam, including evaluating scripting needs from a project requirements document, implementing the three "C's" of an interactive applications (Character, Controls, Camera), providing user feedback through basic UI elements, and applying professional programming practices like developer testing. This is an intermediate course, intended for people who are ready for their first paying roles as Unity programmers, or enthusiasts who would like to verify their skills against a professional standard. To succeed, you should have at least 1-2 years of experience programming interactive applications in Unity. You should be proficient at programming in the C# language and familiar with Unity's scripting APIs. You should have experience in the full product development lifecycle, from concept to launch (and beyond). And you should understand multi-platform development, including deploying applications to XR (AR and VR) platforms.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops experience in various programming areas associated with being a Unity developer, including writing user interfaces, 2D game programming, game physics, and more

Designed as the first course in a series, this may be part of a more comprehensive Unity Certified Programmer Specialization

Teaches programming in C# and exposes developers to common Unity API scripting

Introduces the best practices of programming, particularly in the context of a Unity project

Focuses on real-time, 3D applications, such as video games, car design, film production, training simulations, and more

Suitable for those looking to verify their skills against a professional standard for Unity programming

Reviews summary

Great course for unity programmers

Core Interaction Programming is an intermediate Unity Certified Programmer specialization that prepares students for real-time 3D programming in Unity. It features 6 exercises and 6 graded quizzes that cover various topics from the Unity Certified Programmer Exam. It is well-received and is described as having excellent content, with clear explanations, and being well-paced. It is not well-suited for complete beginners and having some prior experience with Unity is highly recommended.

A great overview of the basics of Unity programming.

"Good course with great explanations for beginners"

"Good course that covers all the basics"

Excellent explanations that are thorough and easy to understand.

"Excellent explanation of content and easy assimilation. Very good!"

Covers important exam material and teaches advanced Unity concepts.

"Excellent content, you can learn a lot of thinks. "

"I've learned a lot from it even though I have 3+ experience with Unity Engine. "

Solutions can be overly complicated and break programming rules at times.

"I believe that the solutions given by the instructor are overly complicated."

"He also breaks his own programming rules at times."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Core Interaction Programming with these activities:

Review Unity's scripting API

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Reviewing Unity's scripting API will help you improve your understanding of the API and how to use it effectively.

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Read through the Unity scripting API documentation
Create a small Unity project to experiment with the API

Find a mentor to provide guidance and support

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Finding a mentor can provide you with valuable guidance and support as you learn Unity programming.

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Identify your goals and areas where you need guidance
Find a potential mentor who has experience in those areas
Reach out to the potential mentor and ask for their guidance

Review Basics of C#

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Many of the concepts in the Core Interaction Programming course assume you already understand core C# programming skills. If you haven't programmed in C# in a while, I recommend reviewing these fundamentals.

Browse courses on C# Programming

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Refer to online resources or books to review C# syntax, data structures, and object-oriented programming concepts.
Solve some coding challenges or practice writing C# code to refresh your memory.

11 other activities

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Attend Unity meetups or conferences

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Attending Unity meetups or conferences will give you the opportunity to learn from other Unity developers and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in Unity programming.

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Find a Unity meetup or conference in your area
Register for the event
Attend the event and participate in the activities

Join a Unity study group or online community

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Joining a Unity study group or online community will give you the opportunity to connect with other Unity developers and learn from each other.

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Find a Unity study group or online community
Join the group or community
Participate in the group's activities

Review Debugging Techniques

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Prepare yourself for the challenges of Unity development by refreshing your debugging knowledge.

Browse courses on Error Handling

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Review documentation and tutorials on debugging in Unity.
Practice debugging common issues in sample Unity projects.

Follow Unity tutorials to learn about specific topics

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Following Unity tutorials will help you learn about specific topics in more depth and expand your knowledge of Unity programming.

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Identify a topic you want to learn more about
Find a Unity tutorial on that topic
Follow the tutorial and complete the exercises

Follow Unity Learning Tutorials

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Supplement your course learning with official Unity tutorials to enhance your skills.

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Identify areas where you need additional guidance.
Explore the Unity Learning website for relevant tutorials.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and complete the exercises.

Build a Simple Character Controller

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental Unity concepts by creating a basic character controller.

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Design the gameplay mechanics for your character.
Implement player movement and input handling.
Add physics interactions such as jumping and gravity.

Build a simple 2D game

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Creating a simple game will help you apply the concepts you learn in the course and reinforce your understanding of Unity programming.

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Design the game
Create the game assets
Implement the game mechanics
Test and debug the game

Complete coding challenges

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Completing coding challenges will help you improve your problem-solving skills and reinforce your understanding of Unity programming concepts.

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Find a coding challenge website or platform
Choose a coding challenge that is appropriate for your skill level
Solve the coding challenge

Solve Unity Scripting Challenges

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Challenge yourself and test your Unity programming abilities through practice drills.

Browse courses on C# Programming

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Find online platforms or resources that provide Unity scripting challenges.
Select challenges that align with the topics covered in the course.
Attempt to solve the challenges independently.
Review and analyze your solutions to identify areas for improvement.

Develop a Small-Scale Unity Game

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Apply your knowledge and skills to create a tangible project that showcases your proficiency in Unity.

Browse courses on Game Development

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Brainstorm and design your game concept.
Implement core gameplay mechanics and features.
Build and deploy a playable prototype.
Gather feedback and iterate on your game design.

Contribute to Open-Source Unity Projects

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Enhance your learning by contributing to the Unity community through open-source projects.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open-source Unity projects that align with your interests.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Propose and implement improvements or bug fixes.

Career center

Learners who complete Core Interaction Programming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the planning, execution, and closure of projects. This course may be useful to Project Managers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in project management. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to manage projects for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers develop and deploy machine learning models to solve real-world problems. This course may be useful to Machine Learning Engineers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in machine learning. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop machine learning models for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, build, and maintain software applications. This course may be useful to Software Engineers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in software development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop software applications for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make better decisions. This course may be useful to Data Analysts because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in data analysis. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to analyze data for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers oversee the development and launch of new products. This course may be useful to Product Managers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in product development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to manage the development of products for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall concept and design for video games. This course may be useful to Game Designers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to design games for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Developer

Game Developers design, develop, and maintain video games. This course may be useful to Game Developers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may also be useful for those who want to develop games for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software, hardware, and other technical products. This course may be useful to Technical Writers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in technical writing. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to write documentation for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Technical Artist

Technical Artists combine artistic and technical skills to create digital assets for video games, movies, and other interactive media. This course may be useful to Technical Artists because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop digital assets for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Animator

Animators create animations for video games, movies, and other interactive media. This course may be useful to Animators because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop animations for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

User Interface (UI) Designer

User Interface (UI) Designers create the visual interface for websites, software applications, and other interactive media. This course may be useful to UI Designers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to design user interfaces for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface (UI) Designer

3D Artist

3D Artists create 3D models, animations, and other digital assets for video games, movies, and other interactive media. This course may be useful to 3D Artists because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop 3D assets for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

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Level Designer

Level Designers create the levels for video games. This course may be useful to Level Designers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in game development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to design levels for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

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Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Quality Assurance (QA) Testers test software, hardware, and other products to find and fix bugs. This course may be useful to QA Testers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in QA testing. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to test products for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineers develop and deploy AI systems to solve real-world problems. This course may be useful to AI Engineers because it helps students build a foundation in Unity, a leading game development engine. Students can learn the basics of scripting in C#, a common language used in AI development. They can also learn how to implement basic user interface elements and apply professional programming practices. This course may be useful for those who want to develop AI systems for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer