Learn Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity for Game Development from Udemy

Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity helps users push their Unity knowledge to the next level. In this course, instructor Alan Thorn explores many powerful features in Unity 5, from debugging tools and version control, to 2D sprites and User Interfaces. See how to get started quickly at scripting useful behaviours and functionality for building solid games across many platforms, from endless-runners to shooters.

Part 1 consolidates scripting knowledge, exploring fundamental scripting tasks in Unity, developing a solid foundation for your games, whatever the genre. In part 2, learn how to build resolution-adapting interfaces for multiple screen-sizes, and see how to integrate 2D and 3D elements in a single scene, using the GUI features and sprite framework. In part 3, explore how to find and diagnose problems in your applications using MonoDevelop Debugging, as well as Visual Debugging. In part 4, learn how to manage team work-flows with Git and version control, allowing many people in a team to exchange and maintain source code easily anywhere in the world. Finally, in Part 5 we explore a range of more advanced scripting tasks: see how to combine particle systems with physics, see how to develop save game states, how to make objects survive across multiple scenes, and how to develop for mobile devices, reading input from the accelerometer.

Overall, Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity features everything you need to become a powerful game developer quickly and easily - producing immersive games that sell.

(Students - please look under Section 1 / Lecture 1 downloads for the source files associated with the lesson.)

More about the Instructor:

Alan Thorn is a freelance game developer and author with over 12 years of industry experience. He is the founder of London-based game studio, Wax Lyrical Games, and is the creator of award-winning adventure game Baron Wittard: Nemesis of Ragnarok. He has worked freelance on over 500 projects worldwide including games, simulators, kiosks, and augmented reality software for game studios, museums and theme parks. He has spoken on game development at universities throughout the UK, and is the author of nine books on game development, including Teach Yourself Games Programming, Unity 4 Fundamentals and the highly popular UDK Game Development.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn fundamental scripting tasks in unity
Learn to work with uis and integrate 2d and 3d elements into your scene

Understand how to build sprites, add vfx, and work with physics
Learn debugging and working with git for version control

Learn fundamental scripting tasks in unity
Learn to work with uis and integrate 2d and 3d elements into your scene
Understand how to build sprites, add vfx, and work with physics
Learn debugging and working with git for version control

Syllabus

Course Introduction, Scripting, and Technical Basics

Download course source files here!

Introduction

Start Scripting

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores debugging tools within MonoDevelop, which allows developers to identify and resolve issues in their Unity projects more efficiently

Covers Git and version control, which are essential for team-based game development, enabling collaboration and efficient code management

Teaches techniques for building resolution-adapting interfaces, which is crucial for ensuring games look good on various screen sizes and devices

Includes a section on starting Android development and using the accelerometer, which is useful for mobile game development

Uses Unity 5, which may not be the latest version, so learners should be aware of potential differences with newer Unity versions

Features instruction from Alan Thorn, who has extensive experience in the game development industry and has authored multiple books on the topic

Reviews summary

Advanced unity game mechanics and scripting

According to learners, this course covers fundamental scripting tasks in Unity and delves into more advanced data structures and physics. It includes important practical skills like debugging tools and version control with Git, which are essential for team development. While it touches on UI, 2D sprites, and mobile development considerations, students have varying experiences with the depth and clarity of these sections. The course aims to provide a foundation for developing immersive games.

Best suited for those past beginner level.

"While it says 'Advanced', it does revisit fundamentals. Still, it's definitely not for a complete beginner."

"I already had some basic Unity knowledge, which made following the scripting and technical sections much easier."

"Learners should be comfortable with Unity's interface and C# basics before starting this course."

"It builds on existing knowledge, so a solid foundation in Unity concepts is necessary to keep up."

Includes both foundational scripting and advanced concepts.

"It starts with scripting basics, which was a good refresher, before moving into more complex ideas like serialization and Singletons."

"The lectures on vectors, transforms, and object communication solidified my understanding of Unity fundamentals."

"I found the blend of fundamental scripting refreshers and advanced topics like serialization and particle systems useful."

"The course provides a solid base and then introduces advanced concepts like persistent data and accelerometer input."

Explores UI, sprites, and physics interactions.

"The sections on UI, sprites, and mixing 2D and 3D elements were directly applicable to projects I was working on."

"Working with panels, anchors, images, and text in the UI felt very practical and immediately usable."

"I gained practical skills in building resolution-adapting interfaces and integrating sprites with physics systems."

"The course provided clear steps on setting up UI elements and understanding sprite integration."

Includes debugging and version control.

"I appreciated the sections on debugging and using Git; these are crucial skills often overlooked in introductory courses."

"Getting a look into how to manage source code with Git was really helpful for understanding team workflows."

"The course covered essential topics like debugging and version control, which are practical for real game development."

"Learning about MonoDevelop Debugging and Visual Debugging felt like a necessary step up from just basic scripting."

Some topics or tools may be outdated.

"The course mentions Unity 5 and MonoDevelop. Unity and its tools have evolved quite a bit since then."

"Some of the specific tool interfaces shown, like MonoDevelop, look a bit different in newer Unity versions."

"Learners should be aware that Unity updates frequently, and some details might require minor adjustments for newer versions."

"While the core concepts are sound, the reliance on older versions might require some adaptation."

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 Learn Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity for Game Development with these activities:

Review C# Fundamentals

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Strengthen your understanding of C# syntax and programming concepts. This will provide a solid foundation for scripting in Unity and understanding the course material.

Browse courses on C# Scripting

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Review basic C# syntax and data types.
Practice writing simple C# programs.
Familiarize yourself with object-oriented programming concepts in C#.

Review 'Unity in Action, Third Edition'

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Use this book as a reference to deepen your understanding of Unity. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic scripting to advanced techniques.

View Unity in Action, Third Edition on Amazon

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Read chapters relevant to the course topics.
Try out the examples in Unity.
Use the book as a reference when working on projects.

Review 'Game Programming Patterns'

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Learn common game programming patterns to improve code structure. This will help you write cleaner, more efficient, and more scalable game mechanics in Unity.

View Crafting Interpreters on Amazon

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Read chapters relevant to the course topics.
Implement some of the patterns in Unity.
Refactor existing code using these patterns.

Four other activities

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Implement Basic Game Mechanics

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Practice implementing fundamental game mechanics in Unity. This will reinforce your understanding of scripting, physics, and user interface elements.

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Create a simple character controller with movement and jumping.
Implement basic collision detection and response.
Design a simple user interface for displaying score or health.

Prototype a Simple Game Mechanic

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Develop a prototype for a game mechanic covered in the course. This will allow you to apply your knowledge and experiment with different approaches.

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Choose a game mechanic from the course to prototype.
Design the core functionality and interactions.
Implement the prototype in Unity.
Test and iterate on the prototype.

Create a Tutorial on a Specific Mechanic

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Create a written or video tutorial explaining a specific game mechanic. This will solidify your understanding and help others learn.

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Choose a specific game mechanic from the course.
Research and understand the mechanic thoroughly.
Create a clear and concise tutorial.
Share the tutorial with others and gather feedback.

Contribute to a Unity Open Source Project

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Contribute to an open-source Unity project. This will provide valuable experience working with a team and contributing to a real-world project.

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Find an open-source Unity project on GitHub or GitLab.
Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity for Game Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Developer

A game developer designs and creates video games for various platforms. This encompasses programming game logic, implementing game mechanics, and ensuring smooth gameplay. The course on Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity helps build a strong foundation in scripting useful behaviors and functionality for building solid games across many platforms. The game developer can also learn how to integrate 2D and 3D elements in a single scene. They can manage team workflows with Git and version control, allowing easy exchange and maintenance of source code. This is a great course for someone looking to become a game developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Unity Developer

A Unity developer specializes in using the Unity game engine to create interactive experiences, including video games and simulations. They write scripts, design user interfaces, and optimize performance within the Unity environment. This course on Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity is perfectly tailored for this job, as it helps build skills in scripting, UI design, and optimization. Unity developer skills can also be applied to building resolution-adapting interfaces for multiple screen sizes, and integrating 2D and 3D elements in a single scene. The course also covers debugging tools and version control, essential for any Unity developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Unity Developer

Indie Game Developer

An indie game developer works independently or in a small team to create and publish their own games. This requires a broad skillset, including programming, art, design, and project management. The course helps build a solid foundation for building games across many platforms. The indie game developer can manage team workflows with Git and version control, allowing easy exchange and maintenance of source code. The course is extremely beneficial to anyone who wants to become an indie game developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Indie Game Developer

Gameplay Programmer

A gameplay programmer specializes in implementing the core mechanics and features of a video game. This includes character movement, combat systems, and artificial intelligence. The course on Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity helps build a strong foundation in scripting useful behaviors and functionality for building solid games of any genre. Gameplay programmers may find the sections on particle systems with physics, developing save game states, and developing for mobile devices particularly insightful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gameplay Programmer

Mobile Game Developer

A mobile game developer focuses on creating games specifically for mobile platforms like iOS and Android. This involves optimizing game performance for mobile devices and implementing touch-based controls. The course helps build a solid foundation for building games across many platforms. The mobile game developer specifically benefits from exploring debugging with MonoDevelop, and developing for mobile devices reading input from the accelerometer. This course is extremely beneficial to anyone who wants to become a mobile game developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Game Developer

Simulation Developer

A simulation developer creates software that simulates real-world systems or processes for training, research, or entertainment purposes. This role often involves using game engines like Unity to create interactive and realistic simulations. Simulation developers will find that learning to work with user interfaces, integrating sprites and working with physics is especially helpful. This course can also help the simulation developer implement game mechanics, and add functionality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Simulation Developer

Technical Artist

A technical artist bridges the gap between art and programming in game development. This role involves writing tools and scripts to improve the art pipeline and optimize assets for performance. A technical artist will appreciate the sections on building resolution-adapting interfaces for multiple screen-sizes, integrating 2D and 3D elements in a single scene, and building sprites. Also, version control is an important skill for technical artists when collaborating with teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Game Designer

A game designer conceptualizes and designs the gameplay, rules, and story of a video game. While they may not directly write code, understanding game mechanics and scripting is beneficial for prototyping and communicating their ideas. The course helps the game designer integrate 2D and 3D elements in a single scene, and build sprites. To become a game designer, you need to learn to debug and handle version control. The course may be useful for a game designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Augmented Reality Developer

An augmented reality developer creates applications that overlay digital content onto the real world using devices like smartphones or AR glasses. The course on Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity helps build the skills necessary to create interactive AR experiences. The augmented reality developer can improve their work by learning how to integrate 2D and 3D elements in a single scene, and by developing for mobile devices. This course may be useful for anyone who wants to become an augmented reality developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Augmented Reality Developer

Virtual Reality Developer

A virtual reality developer designs and builds immersive VR experiences using VR headsets and software development kits. This involves creating interactive environments, implementing user interfaces, and optimizing performance for VR platforms. This course may be helpful to a virtual reality developer because they can learn how to debug and handle version control. The course can also help the virtual reality developer build skills in scripting and UI design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Reality Developer

Software Engineer

A software engineer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While not solely focused on game development, the skills acquired in this course can be valuable for software engineers working on interactive applications or simulations. A software engineer will appreciate the section on debugging tools and version control. This course also covers more advanced scripting tasks, like combining particle systems with physics, developing save game states, making objects survive across multiple scenes, and developing for mobile devices. The course may be useful for a software engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

AI Programmer

An AI programmer focuses on developing the artificial intelligence systems that control non-player characters (NPCs) and other game elements. This involves implementing algorithms for decision-making, pathfinding, and behavior. The skills learned in this course may be useful for AI programmers. An AI programmer might be interested in developing save game states, making objects survive across multiple scenes, and developing for mobile devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Programmer

Level Designer

A level designer creates the environments and layouts for video games. This involves using level editing tools, scripting events, and ensuring that the level is fun and challenging to play. Level designers may find the sections on building resolution-adapting interfaces for multiple screen sizes, and integrating 2D and 3D elements in a single scene useful. It may be useful for a level designer to take this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer

Tools Programmer

A tools programmer develops software and scripts to improve the game development workflow for artists, designers, and other programmers. This involves creating custom tools for level editing, asset management, and debugging. Tools programmers should take this course because it teaches them how to build resolution-adapting interfaces integrating 2D and 3D elements as well as how to debug. The course may be useful to tools programmers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tools Programmer

Game Engine Developer

A game engine developer works on the underlying technology that powers video games, such as rendering engines, physics systems, and scripting languages. This role typically requires a strong background in computer science and mathematics, as well as experience with low-level programming languages like C++. This may be valuable since it can help the game engine developer with scripting. It may be valuable for a game engine developer to take this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Engine Developer

Learn Advanced Game Mechanics in Unity for Game Development

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Advanced unity game mechanics and scripting

Activities

Career center

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