Make an Action Bar with C# in Unity Part 2 - Visual Effects from Coursera

Action bars are more than just a mechanic in a game. They're also quite prominent on the screen and usually contain vivid icons and indicators that provide important feedback to the player. That's why mechanics alone can't create a truly useful action bar.

In this one-hour, project-based course, you'll add artwork and visual effects to your action bar. You'll learn how to add simple particle effects and write C# scripts to play these effects on demand.

The guided project will introduce you to the following Unity concepts:

- UI Toolkit

- Particle Effects

- Basic C# code

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on creating an action bar for a Unity game. Part 1 covers creating the action bar from scratch, concentrating on the functionality, while this part focuses on form.

This series also makes use of the tropical island-themed Unity project created in Create Animation Transitions in Unity (Intro to Animation 2). This compliments this guided project and, although not a prerequisite, is recommended for a more well-rounded understanding of the concepts presented herein.

What's inside

Syllabus

Project Overview

In this one-hour, project-based course, you'll add artwork and visual effects to your action bar. You'll learn how to add simple particle effects and write C# scripts to play these effects on demand.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Useful for game programmers with a basic understanding of Unity's actionbar functionality

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 Make an Action Bar with C# in Unity Part 2 - Visual Effects with these activities:

Practice C# Scripting for Action Bars

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Reinforcing your understanding of C# scripting will enable you to create more robust and efficient action bar logic.

Browse courses on C# Programming

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Create a new Unity project.
Create a C# script to handle action bar events.
Write code to add and remove items from the action bar.
Write code to handle user input for the action bar.
Test your script in-game.

Create a realistic, functional action bar

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This hands-on tutorial will guide you through creating an action bar that enhances your game's user interface.

Browse courses on UI Toolkit

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Access and customize UI Toolkit
Design and implement particle effects

Implement custom C# scripts

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Practice and refine your C# coding skills by writing scripts that control the action bar's functionality.

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Configure and integrate C# scripts

Five other activities

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Showcase your custom action bar

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Create a portfolio showcase of your action bar, presenting its features and functionality.

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Gather assets and create a presentation

Design Action Bar Icons

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Creating custom icons for your action bar will enhance the visual appeal and provide a more personalized experience for players.

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Sketch out ideas for your action bar icons.
Use a graphics editor to create your icons.
Import your icons into the Unity project.
Assign the icons to the appropriate action bar slots.
Test your action bar in-game.

Refactor Code to Use Particle Effects

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Solidify your understanding of particle effects by applying them to your action bar.

Browse courses on Particle Effects

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Review the provided code for using particle effects
Add particle effects to your action bar
Test the particle effects

Create a Custom Action Bar With Particle Effects

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Apply your knowledge of particle effects to design and implement a custom action bar for a game.

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Design the layout and functionality of your custom action bar
Implement the action bar using the UI Toolkit
Add particle effects to enhance the visual appeal
Test and refine your custom action bar

Explore Advanced Action Bar Techniques

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Delving into advanced action bar techniques will empower you to create more complex and engaging user experiences.

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Create a custom event system to handle action bar events.
Implement drag-and-drop functionality for action bar items.
Create a dynamic action bar that adapts to different screen sizes.
Explore third-party asset store packages for advanced action bar features.
Experiment with different ways to use action bars in your own game projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Make an Action Bar with C# in Unity Part 2 - Visual Effects will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

UX Designer

As a UX Designer, you'll be involved in the process of designing user interfaces for websites and applications. Understanding how to create action bars for games is a great starting point to UI design. This course will teach you the basics of UI design in Unity, which will give you a strong foundation in the field. By the end of this course, you'll be able to create your own custom action bars with visual effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

UI Developer

UI Developers are responsible for the implementation and maintenance of user interfaces for websites and applications. The creation of action bars for games is a central skill for UI Developers. This course will teach you how to implement action bars in Unity with both functionality and form, which will help you stand out in this field. By the end of this course, you'll have the know-how to create your own custom action bars with visual effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI Developer

Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for the overall design of video games. Action bars are essential components of many video games, and understanding how to design and implement them is a must-have skill. This course will teach you the basics of action bar design, as well as how to add visual effects to them. By the end of this course, you'll be able to create your own custom action bars that will enhance the player experience.

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Technical Artist

In the role of Technical Artist, you will be enhancing the aesthetics of video games by creating and implementing visual elements. Action bars are essential to the user experience in many games, so understanding how to improve their design is valuable. This course will introduce you to the principles behind the design and implementation of visual effects, which can be applied to action bars and other game elements.

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3D Artist

As a 3D Artist, you'll be bringing characters, objects, and environments to life for a variety of applications. Many games require the integration of action bars into their user interfaces, so understanding the development process is helpful for collaboration. This course can act as an introduction to action bar design and implementation, as well as providing some basic skills in C# and Unity. This knowledge will be helpful when working alongside Game Designers.

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Web Developer

In the world of Web Development, you'll be designing and developing websites and applications. Many websites use visual effects to enhance user experience, and understanding the development process is helpful for collaboration. This course can act as an introduction to visual effect design and implementation, as well as providing some basic knowledge in C# and Unity. This knowledge will be helpful when working alongside UX Designers and UI Developers.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. Visual effects are used in both game and non-game software applications, though game software is more likely to implement action bars. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of visual effects design and implementation, which will enhance your skill set. By the end of this course, you'll be able to create your own custom visual effects that can be used in a variety of software applications.

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Animator

As an Animator, your role is to create and implement animations for a variety of applications. Though less common, some games may use animated action bars, giving you an advantage in the job market. This course will offer a great introduction to User Interface design, where action bars are a vital part of most games. It will also provide some introductory skills in C# and Unity, which can be very helpful for collaboration.

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Technical Director

In the role of Technical Director, you will be responsible for the overall technical vision and execution of a project. Though rare, some games may use complex, animated action bars, and this course can enhance your understanding of the design and implementation process for these elements. This will give you an edge over other candidates.

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Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for the overall planning and execution of a project. Games often make use of action bars, and understanding their implementation can only help you manage your team. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the field and will help you stand out from candidates without this knowledge.

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Creative Director

A Creative Director is responsible for the overall creative vision and execution of a project. Games often make use of action bars, and understanding their implementation can only help you manage your team. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the field and will help you stand out from candidates without this knowledge.

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Art Director

As an Art Director, you will be responsible for the overall visual style of a project. Games often make use of action bars, and understanding their implementation can only help you manage your team. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the field and will help you stand out from candidates without this knowledge.

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Producer

As a Producer, you will be responsible for the overall production of a project. Games often make use of action bars, and understanding their implementation can only help you manage your team. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the field and will help you stand out from candidates without this knowledge.

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Game Programmer

As a Game Programmer, your role is to write and maintain the code for video games. Though this course focuses on creating action bars specific to the game engine Unity, many of the principles of visual effects design and implementation are common to many game engines. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of these principles, which will make you more competitive as a candidate.

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Level Designer

Level Designers are responsible for creating the levels and environments of video games. Games often make use of action bars, and understanding their implementation can help you create better levels. This course will teach you the basics of action bar design, as well as how to add visual effects to them. By the end of this course, you'll be able to create your own custom action bars that will help players navigate your levels.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer