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Matt Sharp

Are you tired of watching coding tutorials that claim to be for beginners but talk to you like you've been coding for years? Looking for a course that is actually for beginners with zero coding experience or knowledge? Welcome.

If you are intimidated by code or have never touched code before you will be totally fine. Concepts are presented thoroughly and using real life analogies that anyone can relate to. This course is also great for anyone who has some coding experience but wants to learn how to apply that to game development or just reinforce important coding concepts and skills.

Read more

Are you tired of watching coding tutorials that claim to be for beginners but talk to you like you've been coding for years? Looking for a course that is actually for beginners with zero coding experience or knowledge? Welcome.

If you are intimidated by code or have never touched code before you will be totally fine. Concepts are presented thoroughly and using real life analogies that anyone can relate to. This course is also great for anyone who has some coding experience but wants to learn how to apply that to game development or just reinforce important coding concepts and skills.

You will learn core programming concepts that can be applied in any other programming language for any other purpose. You will also learn the basics of coding in the C# language specifically for game development using Unity.

I believe in learning through immersion and doing rather than simply observing. The course uses a "work along with me" format instead of a traditional "lecture - test" format. I highly encourage you to have two monitors so you can work more efficiently with me through the lessons; and you should have two monitors for this line of work anyway.

This course is an introduction that will give you a solid ground to build off of. Even veteran coders always have to adapt and learn new things, so it is important to understand that you will always have to be learning, researching, and experimenting over your entire career. You will not be able to build a full game from start to finish just after working through this course, but with the basis you gain you will be able to confidently branch out and discover what you need to build your game.

The course may also expand. If there are topics brought up to me that I believe are important for this basic beginner course I will add more lessons. I also encourage you to contact me with questions and issues you came across while doing the lessons so I can add those questions to the 'Troubleshooting' sections of the lesson documents. This will greatly help future students and will reduce redundant questions.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Have comfortable knowledge of universal, core coding concepts
  • Build basic games in unity 3d
  • Have a solid base to build your coding skills from

Syllabus

Know what the expectations are to follow along with the videos, know a little about the instructor, and have a good idea of what to expect
Watch the intro video
Read more
Understand the basics of the Unity Editor and its windows, and set up a custom layout
Create a project
Set up a layout
Window overview
Scene window
Understand functions conceptually, have a decent grasp on the contents of a C# script, and use functions in a C# script, and diagnose errors
What is a function?
Layout of a C# script
Functions in C#
Diagnose errors
Call custom functions
Understand the basics of a variable and how to use them in C#, make an object move, and understand basic principles of an instance
Movement
Variables (conceptual & applied)
Script instances
Understand concepts of an 'if statement' and know how to use them in C#, and make the game react to player input
If statements
Player input
Input for multiple move directions
Understand the basics of a prefab and how to use them, instantiate a prefab during gameplay
Prefabs
Instantiate
Code reactions to objects colliding/overlapping
Collision detection
Collision filtering
Make a repeating function, and randomize a value
Give an enemy basic functionality
Repeating enemy spawn function & Game Manager
Random values
Create basic UI, keep track of score and reflect that value on the UI, and make a button that calls a function on a script to load a level
Game Manager
Keep track of score
Show the score on the UI
Load level by pressing a button
Conclusion

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Save Coding for actual beginners (C# / Unity / Game development) to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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 Coding for actual beginners (C# / Unity / Game development) with these activities:
Review 'C# 8.0 and .NET Core 3.0 – Modern Cross-Platform Development'
Gain a deeper understanding of C# and .NET Core to enhance your Unity game development skills.
Show steps
  • Read the first few chapters covering C# basics.
  • Focus on sections about variables and functions.
  • Skim chapters on more advanced topics.
Refresh C# syntax
Review C# syntax to ensure a solid foundation before diving into Unity scripting.
Show steps
  • Review basic C# syntax rules.
  • Practice writing simple C# programs.
  • Identify areas where you need more practice.
Practice writing basic C# scripts in Unity
Reinforce your understanding of C# by writing simple scripts to control game objects in Unity.
Show steps
  • Create a new Unity project.
  • Write scripts to move game objects.
  • Experiment with different C# commands.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'Game Programming Patterns'
Learn common game programming patterns to improve your code structure and design.
Show steps
  • Read the introduction to understand design patterns.
  • Focus on patterns relevant to game mechanics.
  • Try implementing a pattern in your game project.
Create a simple game tutorial
Solidify your knowledge by creating a tutorial explaining a basic game mechanic.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple game mechanic to explain.
  • Record a video tutorial explaining the mechanic.
  • Share your tutorial with others.
Build a simple 2D platformer game
Apply your C# and Unity skills by building a complete, albeit simple, game.
Show steps
  • Design the basic game mechanics.
  • Implement player movement and jumping.
  • Add enemies and obstacles.
  • Implement a scoring system.
Contribute to a Unity open-source project
Gain experience working on a real-world project and collaborate with other developers.
Show steps
  • Find a Unity open-source project on GitHub.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Coding for actual beginners (C# / Unity / Game development) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Game Developer
The role of a Game Developer requires a strong foundation in coding and game design principles. This course can help build that foundation by providing an introduction to C# and Unity, two essential tools in the game development world. You will learn core programming concepts, how to use the Unity editor, and how to implement basic game mechanics, all of which are crucial for a Game Developer. Learning how to diagnose coding errors can set you apart as a Game Developer. This course helps build familiarity with concepts such as functions, variables, instances, and prefabs, all of which are used constantly in the field.
Unity Developer
A Unity Developer specializes in creating games and interactive experiences using the Unity engine. This course helps build a strong beginning, teaching you the essentials of the Unity editor and the C# programming language, which is the primary language used in Unity. Using the material in this course, you'll implement movement, user interfaces, collision detection, and other basic game elements. Knowing the basics of the Unity editor, creating projects, setting up layouts, managing scenes, and understanding various window functionalities helps prepare you for a career as a Unity Developer.
C# Developer
C# Developers write code using the C# programming language. This course helps by introducing the fundamentals of C# programming, which is used in a vast number of applications. Through the course, you will learn about variables, functions, 'if' statements, and object-oriented programming principles, all of which are essential for a C# Developer. This course also emphasizes hands-on learning. Learning how to diagnose errors in this course is a crucial skill for any C# Developer.
Software Engineer
The career of a Software Engineer involves designing, developing, and testing software applications. This course helps by introducing you to the world of coding, using the C# language, along with the Unity game engine, as a vehicle for building a portfolio and knowledge base. You will also learn about key concepts such as functions, variables, and conditional statements, all of which are fundamental to software development. The ability to diagnose errors can be an important skill for a Software Engineer, regardless of their domain.
Mobile Game Developer
Mobile Game Developers create games specifically for mobile devices. This course helps you build a solid base in game development principles, using Unity, a popular engine for creating mobile games. Through the course, you learn how to write code in C#, implement user interfaces, manage game logic, and handle user input, which are all vital skills for a Mobile Game Developer. You will also gain a practical understanding of how to create interactive elements and respond to player actions, which are crucial for mobile gaming.
Virtual Reality Developer
Virtual Reality Developers create immersive experiences for virtual reality platforms. This course helps by providing a foundation in Unity, which is a widely used engine for VR development. By teaching C# scripting and game development principles, you can start to learn basic interactions and mechanics within a virtual environment. Learning about collision detection and responding to user input in this course can be particularly helpful in creating realistic VR experiences. The role of a Virtual Reality Developer is also one that requires constant learning.
Augmented Reality Developer
Augmented Reality Developers create interactive experiences that blend the digital and physical worlds. This course helps you become familiar with Unity, a popular engine for AR development, and C#, the language used to script interactions and behaviors. You will learn how to manage game logic, respond to player input, and create interactive elements, all of which are essential skills for an Augmented Reality Developer. The knowledge you gain from this course may be useful as a foundation for more advanced AR development concepts.
Indie Game Developer
An Indie Game Developer works independently or in small teams to create and publish their own games. This course helps you gain a basic understanding of the game development process, from coding and game design to implementation and testing. You will learn to use Unity and C# to bring your game ideas to life, which is crucial for an Indie Game Developer. You will also develop problem-solving skills by diagnosing errors and implementing solutions, all of which helps build self-sufficiency.
Game Designer
Game Designers conceptualize and design the rules, mechanics, and overall gameplay of a video game. While this role may not require extensive coding knowledge, this course may be useful by providing a basic understanding of the game development process. You will learn basic game mechanics and how code affects gameplay. Knowing how to use Unity and implement various game mechanics can help build an even better understanding of the design limitations involved, and broaden the ability to communicate with developers.
Software Developer
Software Developers can work on different kinds of projects. This course may provide a foundation in coding concepts using C#, which is a transferable skill to other languages and platforms. The course also introduces you to the fundamentals of game development using Unity, which can be a fun and engaging way to learn basic programming concepts. You can apply the coding knowledge you gain from this course to other areas of software development by continuing to learn.
Quality Assurance Tester
A Quality Assurance Tester identifies and reports software defects. While this role may not require extensive coding knowledge, this course may be useful by providing a basic understanding of how software works. You will learn basic game mechanics and how code affects gameplay. Knowing how to diagnose errors can help you become a more effective Quality Assurance Tester. This course goes over what errors look like in the code.
Web Developer
Web Developers build and maintain websites and web applications. While this course focuses on C# and Unity for game development, the fundamental coding concepts learned can be transferable to web development languages such as JavaScript. Understanding variables, functions, and conditional statements can give you a foundation for learning web development frameworks and libraries. Learning how to diagnose errors in this course may be helpful for debugging web applications.
IT Support Specialist
IT Support Specialists provide technical assistance to computer users. While this course focuses on coding and game development, it may be useful by providing a basic understanding of how software works. You will learn how to diagnose errors, a skill that can be applied when troubleshooting software issues for end users. Additionally, gaining familiarity with coding concepts can help improve your ability to communicate with developers and understand technical documentation.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create documentation for software and hardware products. While this course focuses on coding and game development, it may be useful by providing a basic understanding of technical concepts. You will learn about C# and Unity, which can help you better understand the documentation needs of developers and users. Additionally, learning how to diagnose errors can improve your ability to write clear and concise troubleshooting guides.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts interpret and analyze data to provide insights and recommendations. While this course focuses on coding and game development, it may be useful by providing a basic understanding of programming logic. You will learn about variables, functions, and conditional statements, which are fundamental concepts in data analysis. Additionally, learning how to diagnose errors can improve your problem-solving skills, which are valuable in data analysis.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Coding for actual beginners (C# / Unity / Game development).
Provides a comprehensive introduction to C# and .NET Core, which are essential for Unity game development. It covers the fundamentals of the C# language, including variables, functions, and object-oriented programming. It also delves into .NET Core, which is the runtime environment for C# applications. This book is useful as a reference for understanding the underlying technologies used in Unity.
Explores common design patterns used in game development. While the course focuses on basic coding, understanding these patterns can help you write more organized and maintainable code as you progress. It provides valuable insights into how experienced game developers structure their projects. This book is more valuable as additional reading to expand your knowledge.

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