From nothing

Hi Guys,

So first time posting on Unity Forums and first time getting seriously into it.

Long story short I want to get into game development. Now, I don't want to create the new FF7 or WoW, I just want to learn from scratch how to program in Unity and create my own RPG projects.

I have coding experience, however it has been primairly web dev. I want to start into game development and would love to be pointed in the right direction by you talented people.

You can tell me to read the doc and learn the video tutorials, which I will be doing, but I would be interested in peoples tactics and strategy and how they started.

Kind regards,

Rich

 

If you've got any experience coding at all, C# is your best bet with Unity. You won't have trouble learning the differences between it and your current language. Most people seem to use C# now, so most of the answers you'll get will be best in C#. And it's got some other advantages over "Javascript" (nevermind Boo) that are better off found by searching for that info. Nevermind that it's not real Javascript anyhow, so even if you think you know Javascript, you'll still be tripped up in Unity with it.

As for getting started, my advice is to start ridiculously small. For instance, I recently started learning UE4 and made a Simon clone. Nice and easy, all the rules and interactions are well-known, and they had a demo project of punching 3D buttons and lighting them up that I could start from. That went super, super well for me.

If you absolutely must start from scratch, Pong is a great way to go. But I'd try to pick apart an existing simple Unity project and modify it as your first step.

Once you've got your head around the basics, and using Unity's interface and C#, then you'll be ready for more complex things. If you want to head towards an RPG, then I'd recommend the simplest form of that possible. Don't worry about skills or stats or anything, just implement basic back-and-forth HP-removal. Then worry about adding all the trappings that enhance it and make it interesting.

 

Things to consider:

• Boo is dead - don't bother
• Unity doesn't love Javascript - no Js example projects, plugins are written in C# etc.
  
• C# all the way - everyone loves it and basically gets all the support

 

LOL I remember the first time my friend loaded up Unity. I was SO excited! The first thing out of my mouth:
"OK, how or where do you build models like spaceships and tables and stuff!?"

Of course, the answer was "We don't do that in Unity really" and that sent me off on quite a tangent for a good while learning Blender and getting comfortable with it. (And I doubt it will surprise you I've also since purchase ProCore's Probuilder bundle as well! ((Which if you don't know is a in Unity modeling program) )

Then I was like "OMG how do I make these models textured and make them look super cool?" That lead me to Substance Designer and Substance Painter. Those cost real money but OH MY GOD... they are SO powerful and once you get the concepts of Designer down you'll be bumping out high level PBR textures (or Substances) like a pro.

Again though... not Unity... but USED in Unity.

I too am a "web/database developer"... coding in Unity is almost stupid simple once you get a few basic concepts down. There are some crazy good assets on the store like UMA2 that can go a long way into getting you making various humanoids customized and created very quickly. There is also RAIN for AI that's available for free that honestly kind of blows my mind.

Unity has come a LONG way since I started, UI system is now fleshed out properly, fully supported physically based rendering... and yesterday a better networking integration and support.

Welcome... to the virtual world.

 

C# for another reason than those pointed out above.

C# is a strongly typed language. This might mean nothing to you now ; but let me explain.

Imagine you make an object called a Car

As you and I know certain things can go in cars right? Doors, Windows, Tires, Gasoline and such right?

In Javascript you can do silly things (usually on accident - that cause bugs) like add a Cheese Sandwich, or a Potted Plant to your car's data - which shouldn't make any sense! Car's don't have those things as part of their object do they?

Yes some will argue that this is solved by using

Code (JavaScript):

1. #pragma strict

However my points is starting from there there are just more things like that (small and large) where C# is going to help you out even if it might take a tiny bit more work for you to understand.

Javascript's natural place is on the web - where it is king. I believe Javascript option is there for web developers to feel more at ease trying Unity.

If you are starting from nothing - then C# would be my preferred choice!

 

It's not even javascript, it's unityscript with a js flavour

c# ftw

But I believe this discussion has been done a zillion times before, so
In before close

 

Hi All,

Thanks for that I really appreciate everything you have told me. In relation to design, yeah I will leave that to the big guys on the Unity Store

I guess its trying to find a starting base for myself as in "Ok go here and learn this, from this then you can learn this next". Im very scheduled person and like to go from a - b and know why etc

 

My book Unity in Action is just coming out now and it's primarily written for people who know how to program but are new to game development.

See I disagree with this. I often see people (not just in Unity) suggest picking apart existing projects but that never works for me. If I really want to grok a system it's much more efficient for me to start from scratch; it takes me longer to understand the fundamentals if I'm starting by playing around with the edges.

Everything else I agree with, and anyway that point was just my opinion.

 

I started with a flappy bird clone. From scratch it took me a day. It was just after the game came out and every one was raving about it. I said it was rubbish, I could make it. And then went on to prove it.

The learn tutorials are great. Sounds like you've already seen them. Particually the scripting ones.

The other thing I did that was a huge help was participate on answers. I don't mean asking questions, I mean answering them. It's hard to set your own exam. Doing the research to answer others questions will dramatically help your own learning.

 

Yeah I get what ye mean.

Like ive started learning c# here - https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy...es/c-fundamentals-for-absolute-beginners-8295

It is pretty good. I am just eager to get right into the nitty gritty of coding in Unity but I am trying to learn C# from scratch. Would I be going the right direction?

 

Honestly I would say just learn C# while learning Unity. There may be some advantage to learning C# before Unity, but I doubt there's enough upside to outweigh the downside of it taking longer before you start using Unity.

 

Well C# is not a big deal ....

I would say the 1st 3 game tutorials in Unity Learning Section are Awesome for Starter

1- Roll - A - Ball
2- Space - Shooter
3 - Survival - Shooter

The only thing you have to keep in mind is never to get "Frustrated" and follow your goals ...

Start with minor project ....

Regards..