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James Doyle

Learn how to create and program your very own tower defence game using Unity, an industry-standard game development program used by large gaming studios and indie developers across the world.

In this course you won’t just be learning programming concepts, but tying these concepts to real game development uses. You will have access to a course forum where you can discuss the topics covered in the course as well as the next steps to take once the course is complete.

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Learn how to create and program your very own tower defence game using Unity, an industry-standard game development program used by large gaming studios and indie developers across the world.

In this course you won’t just be learning programming concepts, but tying these concepts to real game development uses. You will have access to a course forum where you can discuss the topics covered in the course as well as the next steps to take once the course is complete.

This course has been designed to be easily understandable to everyone, so whether you’re a complete beginner, an artist looking to expand their game development range or a programmer interested in understanding game design, this course will help you gain a greater understanding of development.

At the end of this course you will have developed the ability to understand such game elements as:

  • Spawning Waves of Enemies

  • Placing & upgrading towers

  • Creating Different Kinds of Enemies

  • Creating Towers with different weapons and effects

  • Creating Dynamic Paths for Enemies To Follow

  • A Complete Currency System

  • Audio systems

  • Interactive Menus

  • An in-world Level Select system

  • and much more...

The course also includes a complete version of the project to use for your own reference to ensure everything in your game works as it should.

Start learning today and let me help you become a game developer.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to create a full tower defence game
  • Spawning waves of enemies
  • Placing & upgrading towers
  • Creating different kinds of enemies
  • Creating towers with different weapons and effects
  • Creating dynamic paths for enemies to follow
  • A complete currency system
  • Audio systems
  • Interactive menus
  • An in-world level select system
  • And much more...

Syllabus

Introduction
Assets For Use In This Course
Setting Up
Project Setup & Getting Started
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses Unity, which is an industry-standard game development program used by large gaming studios and indie developers across the world
Teaches how to create and program a tower defense game, providing practical experience in game development
Designed to be easily understandable to everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner, an artist, or a programmer
Includes a complete version of the project for reference, ensuring everything in your game works as it should
Covers audio systems, which are essential for creating immersive and engaging game experiences
Focuses on creating a tower defense game, which may not be applicable to other game genres or development styles

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Reviews summary

Beginner-friendly unity tower defense course

According to learners, this course offers a solid introduction (positive) to creating a tower defense game using Unity and C#. Many found it particularly effective for beginners (positive) with little to no prior game development experience, praising the clear, step-by-step instructions (positive) and the hands-on approach (positive) that results in a working game project. While the content provides a strong foundation (positive), some learners noted that certain sections, particularly those involving newer Unity versions or more advanced concepts, might feel slightly outdated (warning) or lack the depth (warning) desired by intermediate developers.
Instructor explains concepts well.
"The instructor explains concepts clearly and is easy to understand."
"Lectures are well-paced and easy to follow."
"I appreciated the clear explanations of the C# scripting."
"The teaching style is effective, breaking down complex tasks."
Learn by building a complete game.
"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me; I have a working game!"
"I really enjoyed building a complete game from scratch, applying concepts immediately."
"Having a finished game at the end is very motivating."
"The project-based learning solidified my understanding of many concepts."
"It feels great to have a playable tower defense game I created myself."
Clear and simple introduction to Unity.
"Perfect for someone just starting out with Unity and C#."
"The explanations are simple and clear, easy to follow for a beginner."
"This course is excellent for beginners like me who wanted to dip their toes into game dev."
"As a complete beginner to Unity, I found the pace and explanations very helpful."
"I had no prior experience, and this course made learning Unity fundamentals approachable."
Doesn't delve into complex topics.
"While it builds a full game, it doesn't go into much depth on optimization or advanced patterns."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics like enemy pathfinding variations."
"Good overview but perhaps not enough for someone seeking advanced techniques."
"I wish it covered more complex game mechanics or design patterns."
Uses an older version of Unity.
"It's a bit outdated with the current version of Unity, requiring some workarounds."
"Some lectures use features or UI elements that have changed in newer Unity versions."
"Had to spend time figuring out how to adapt the code to Unity 2020/2021."
"Requires adjustments if you're using a very recent version of the engine."
"While functional, the code practices feel a little behind current standards."

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 To Create a Tower Defence Game With Unity & C# with these activities:
Brush Up on C# Fundamentals
Reviewing C# fundamentals will ensure a smoother learning experience when implementing game logic and tower defense mechanics.
Show steps
  • Review variables, data types, and operators.
  • Practice writing simple C# programs.
  • Familiarize yourself with control flow statements.
Review 'C# 8.0 and .NET Core 3.0 – Modern Cross-Platform Development'
Reading this book will help you understand the C# language, which is essential for scripting in Unity.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on C# syntax and .NET Core fundamentals.
  • Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.
Follow Unity's Tower Defense Tutorial
Following Unity's official tower defense tutorial will provide a hands-on experience with the engine and the basic concepts of the genre.
Show steps
  • Download the tutorial project from the Unity website.
  • Follow the tutorial steps to build a basic tower defense game.
  • Experiment with modifying the tutorial project.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Document Your Tower Defense Learning Journey
Creating a blog or video series documenting your progress will help solidify your understanding and allow you to share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Choose a platform for your documentation (blog, video, etc.).
  • Document your progress, challenges, and solutions.
  • Share your documentation with the course community.
Prototype a Unique Tower
Designing and implementing a unique tower with special abilities will challenge your understanding of the course material and encourage creative problem-solving.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm unique tower ideas and mechanics.
  • Implement your tower in Unity using C# scripting.
  • Test and refine your tower's functionality.
Optimize Game Performance
Profiling and optimizing your tower defense game will teach you valuable skills in game development and improve the overall player experience.
Show steps
  • Use Unity's profiler to identify performance bottlenecks.
  • Implement optimization techniques to improve performance.
  • Test the game on different devices to ensure smooth gameplay.
Review 'Game Programming Patterns'
Reading this book will help you write cleaner and more efficient code for your tower defense game.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on relevant design patterns.
  • Identify opportunities to apply these patterns in your game.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn To Create a Tower Defence Game With Unity & C# will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Game Developer
A game developer brings video game concepts to life, working on various aspects from programming and design to testing and refinement. This course helps you embark on the journey of becoming a game developer. By learning to create a tower defense game with Unity and C#, you gain practical experience in game development. You learn to implement core game mechanics such as spawning enemies, placing towers, and creating dynamic paths. Furthermore, you will come to understand currency and audio systems that the course explores. These skills are directly applicable to game development, making this course a valuable starting point.
Unity Developer
Unity developers specialize in using the Unity game engine to create interactive experiences, ranging from video games to simulations and augmented reality applications. If you are eager to become a Unity developer, this course is an excellent place to begin. By creating a tower defense game, you gain hands-on experience with Unity's interface, scripting, and game object management. The course focuses on using C# within Unity. The level select systems explored in the course may especially help you become a Unity developer.
Gameplay Programmer
Gameplay programmers focus on implementing the rules, mechanics, and interactive elements that define the player experience in a video game. A course that teaches you how to create a tower defense game with Unity can significantly help you in this role. You will learn to implement core gameplay features such as enemy spawning, tower placement, and pathfinding algorithms when taking the course. The interactive menus, level select system and towers with different weapons and effects that the course explores might be of particular benefit to a prospective gameplay programmer.
Indie Game Developer
An independent game developer works autonomously or within a small team to create and publish their own games. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for games, this course may be useful. By learning to create a tower defense game from start to finish, you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to develop your own independent projects. The course provides a foundation in Unity and C#, as well as practical experience in game design and development, making it an ideal starting point for any indie game developer.
C# Developer
C# developers write and maintain code using the C# programming language, often working on software applications, games, or web services. If you are seeking to become a C# developer, this course may be useful to you. The course provides a practical application of C# by guiding you through the process of creating a tower defense game. You’ll learn how to write scripts to control game logic, manage game objects, and implement user interfaces. A C# developer may find the audio and currency systems explored in the course especially interesting.
Mobile Game Developer
Mobile game developers specialize in creating games for smartphones and tablets. This role often involves adapting existing game concepts or developing new ones specifically for mobile platforms. This course can be useful for aspiring mobile game developers. The game provides hands-on experience with Unity, a popular engine for mobile game development. The course helps you gain familiarity with mobile-specific considerations such as touch input, screen size variations, and performance optimization. By the end of the course, you'll have a complete game that can be adapted for mobile platforms.
Level Designer
Level designers are responsible for creating the environments and layouts in which gameplay takes place. Level designers use specialized tools and editors to place objects, design paths, and script events. Taking this course may be useful for becoming a level designer. The course provides experience with level design principles within the context of a tower defense game. You will learn how to create paths for enemies to follow, place towers strategically, and design interactive environments. The in-world level select system explored in the course might be especially useful.
Game Designer
Game designers conceptualize and design the overall vision, rules, and gameplay mechanics of a video game. While a game designer often has strong theoretical knowledge, those who can prototype their ideas are especially valuable. This course may be useful for aspiring game designers. The course helps you implement key game mechanics and systems directly within Unity. By the end of the course, you'll have a functional tower defense game, which can be a valuable addition to any game designer's portfolio.
Technical Artist
Technical artists bridge the gap between artists and programmers in game development, optimizing art assets for performance, creating tools and pipelines, and implementing visual effects. You may find this course useful for becoming a technical artist. The course provides hands-on experience with Unity. You can learn how to integrate art assets into a game and optimize them for performance. The impact and shot effects that the course explores may be valuable for prospective technical artists.
Simulation Developer
Simulation developers create software that simulates real-world environments or scenarios for training, research, or entertainment purposes. This course may be useful for aspiring simulation developers. The course provides a foundation in Unity and C#, which are commonly used in simulation development. You will learn to implement game mechanics and systems that can be adapted to create simulations. You may find the pathing algorithms and enemy behaviors explored in the course particularly relevant.
Augmented Reality Developer
Augmented reality developers create experiences that overlay digital content onto the real world using devices like smartphones, tablets, or specialized AR headsets. An augmented reality developer might find this course useful. It provides a foundation in Unity, a popular engine for AR development. The course can help you implement interactive elements with the game engine and use user interfaces within an environment. This developer might find the menu systems that the course explores especially useful.
Virtual Reality Developer
Virtual reality developers create immersive experiences for virtual reality platforms. These developers design and build interactive environments, user interfaces, and gameplay mechanics. This course may be useful to you. The course provides a foundation in Unity, a popular engine for VR development. It also helps you implement interactive elements and user interfaces within a virtual environment. The menu system is one such element.
Software Engineer
Software engineers design, develop, and test software applications. While this role is broad, the skills learned in this course can be applicable, particularly for those interested in game development or interactive applications. You can apply foundational programming skills, problem-solving techniques, and software development methodologies when taking the course. The currency system is the kind of complex software system that a software engineer might be tasked with developing.
Software Developer
Software developers are involved in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from designing and writing code to testing and debugging. If you aspire to become a software developer, this course may be applicable. The course provides hands-on experience with C#, a widely used programming language. The course demonstrates key software development principles such as object-oriented programming, modular design, and version control. You may find the currency and menu systems particularly useful.
Web Developer
Web developers build and maintain websites and web applications. They are responsible for front-end development. You may find this course useful if you are a web developer. The course provides hands-on experience with C#, a widely used programming language. It may help you understand key software development principles such as object-oriented programming. The menu system is one example of design-based development that a web developer may find especially useful.

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 Learn To Create a Tower Defence Game With Unity & C#.
Introduces common design patterns used in game development, which can help you write cleaner, more maintainable, and more efficient code. Understanding these patterns will be beneficial when expanding your tower defense game with more features and complexity. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. This book is commonly used by industry professionals.
Provides a comprehensive guide to C# and .NET Core, essential for understanding the underlying technologies used in Unity game development. It covers the latest features of C# and .NET Core, enabling you to write efficient and modern code. While not strictly a game development book, it provides the necessary background for understanding the C# scripting used in Unity. It useful reference for understanding the C# language.

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