2D or 3D as first game?

Hi everyone,

I have recently become very interested in building a game in Unity, and for my first project I plan on using Bolt Visual Scripting (I've already put quite a few hours into the bolt tutorials and the flow works well for me, I have tried coding for years including university and it doesnt click with my brain).

I have an idea, theme and gameplay mechanics in mind for a vertical scroller esque game, but I am currently in a self debate about whether 2D or 3D would be more beneficial for my learning process?

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know! I know I can make the game in both, so I am just wondering if there are complexities that could make my life more difficult (as a beginner) in 3D, or if its worth just diving headfirst into 3D.

Thanks!

 

Hi I’m also new to coding never used bolt. I’m working through create with code tutorial which uses 3D games. Some could be 2d as they are top down games or from side, but I think starting on 3D will give you more things you can do so I would go with 3D unless you have a specific game idea you would like to do. I’m thinking of car racing game for mine, but I’ve started one from the tutorial which gets you building your own project in a 3D game starting with a ball on a square ground so I’m thinking I mite just practice a ball maze game or game where you roll ball into things to know them off ground. For first game i don’t think it matters what you do just do whatever you know how to and build on that. There are so many assets in asset store that are free to play around with and see what you can do.

 

I would recommend you stick with 2D. It is quite a bit easier than 3D, in terms of concepts (e.g. rotation angles are much easier than quaternions), but also in terms of artwork, animation, etc. And there is a huge variety of games that can be made in 2D (evidence: the over 1700 games made for the SNES).

Start with something simple, like a Doodle Jump or Flappy Bird clone.

 

Hey,

Thanks for your response! I think I will follow your idea and stick to 2D for my first game.

 

I'm gonna use my once-per-year disagreement with @JoeStrout early this year and say it doesn't matter whether you go 2D or 3D. While yes, 3 dimensions is exactly one higher than 2, and that introduces some complexity, for a simple game this is really a non-issue. The key is that your first game is simple.

Rotating a 3D object is as simple as calling an API method... You just have to know the right one to call. And since Unity's 2D is effectively just 3D with one axis locked, it's practically the same anyway. Just limit the features of your game. Limit your graphics and animation requirements. Limit the scope in every regard, and you'll be able to finish it just fine.

 

I think 3D is actually easier to learn using. Dealing with sprites is more complicated than creating some 3D primitives to play with. YMMV

 

I welcome the opinions of my colleagues, and rejoice that we can disagree without disunity.