DLS Tutorials

Intro to Game Design with Unity

Unity is a cross-platform game development program used to create interactive 2D, 3D, VR, and AR games. You might recognize some of the games below, which were all developed using Unity!

A lot of indie game studios and creators have gotten their start on Unity, and so can you!

Download Unity

Let's start by downloading Unity. You can do thisby searching "download Unity" in whatever web browser you prefer.

Once its downloaded, install the Unity Hub and then sign in or create a Unity account.

If you already have the Unity Hub installed, make sure it is updated to the latest version.

Download Unity, Part 2

Select the "Manage" icon and then "Add Modules" next to the Unity version editor you have installed under the "Installs" tab and make sure you have your preferred code-editing platform selected and installed.

For me that's VS Code.

Now we're set to start using the editor!

Project Creation

In the Hub select "New Project" and make sure the latest version of the editor is selected. Then find and select "Essentials Pathway" to get started.

Name your project and choose a suitable location on your computer to save it. Then launch!

We'll now go through the basics of Unity.

Use the layout dropdown in the top-right corner of the editor to switch from "Tutorials" layout to "Default" layout.

Navigating Windows

1. The "Project" window is where you can find all the files or assests available to use in your project. It works like a file explorer. Locate the slider at the bottom right corner of the "Project" window and drag is all the way to the left to see the assets in a list.
2. In the "Assets" folder, open "_Unity Essentials > Scenes", and the double-click "-1_Starter_Scene" to open it. When you opened the scene, you should have noticed the "Hierarchy" window automatically populate with a list.
3. The "Hierarchy" window is where you organize all the things in your world. These things are called GameObjects. Double-click some of these components and notice that the selected GameObject will frame itself in the center of the scene of the Unity interface.

Navigating Windows, Part 2 (screenshot)

Navigating Windows, Part 3

1. In the Hierarchy window, locate the Boxes GameObject and use the foldout triangle to expand it and explore the GameObjects within. These inner components are called child GameObjects
2. To return to a view that let's you see the entire environment, double-click the Ground GameObject.
3. With your cursor over the "Scene" view, right click and drag, you'll notice it turns into an eyeball icon. This is the
4. "View" tool, you can also use your arrow keys to navigate the scene. There are a number of toolbars above the "Scene" view that you can use which allow you to change the way your scene is displayed.

Let's Play!

1. Select the "Play" button at the top center of the editor. Once the game has loaded, you can press the arrow keys or WAS to walk around, press the spacebar to jump, move the mouse to rotate your view, and hold the shift key to run.
2. Try jumping to collect the star from the platform at the top of the stairs. It should be just out of reach, but don't worry, we'll fix that in the next step.
3. Press the "Stop" button to exit "Play" mode and return to "Scene" view. This is crucial, if you remain in "Play" mode, none of the changes you make will be saved.
4. Enter "Play" mode again and collect the star, then exit when you are done.

Let's Play! Part 2 (screenshot)

Saving your Game

Unity won't automatically save your scene, so make a habit of saving it often so you don't lose any progress. If you have unsaved changes in your scene there will be an asterisk (*") next to the name of the scene at the top of the "Hierarchy" window.•

To save your scene press "Ctri+S" or on macOs

"Cmd+S".

Making a Fix

Double-click the "Star" GameObject to frame it in view, then locate its "Position," "Rotation," and "Scale" in the values at the very top of the "Inspector" window.

Reduce the "X Position" value by 1 or 2 units to move the star closer to the platform and reduce the "Y Position" value by 1 or 2 to lower the star closer to the ground.

Enter "Play" mode again and collect the star, then exit when you are done.

Thank you!

Interested in exploring more of Unity's features? Come talk to me [DLS students] and explore Unity Learn!