Learning Unity

1. Learning Unity

2. Getting Unity • http://unity3d.com/unity/download/ • http://www.microsoft.com/net/download

3. Parts of the Unity Workspace • Scene – Place objects • Objects – View and select objects • Pre-Built – Code and object template • Variables – Modify existing objects

4. Object Oriented Programming • Each object represents a thing or a collection of ideas • Ex “Car” • Functions: (things to do) accelerator, turn, stop • Variables: (Features) color, speed, location • Skin: (Visual appearance) polygons in space • Relevant in Unity

5. Adding an Object • Here we add a cube • Properties • Location • Rotation • Scale • Change properties • Type in text • Use graphical interface

6. The Camera or Viewpoint • Need to see scene from a given perspective • Can have multiple perspectives • Viewport not what user sees • See camera preview

7. Running the program • Click on the “play” arrow • Click again to stop • See from the viewpoint of the camera • Everything is dark, need some lights • Add directional light

8. Adding Code • To make it do anything, need to add code • Select pre-built code – Rigidbody • This provides physics • Now object drops • Note: drag the “game” tab to view scene and game view at the same time

9. Collision • Add in a floor • New Cube object • Resize and move • Now when you run • Cube drops to floor

10. Our Own Code • Create a Javascript asset • Can program in multiple languages in Unity • Name Script • Double click to edit

11. Our Own Code - 2 • Code editor • Code starts with some basic things • Ignore “#pragma strict” • function Start() {} • Runs when you hit the start button • function Update() {} • Runs every time things change • Automatic tick (moves objects, updates physics, updates graphics, calls Update functions etc)

12. Our Own Code - Follow • Variable • vartoFollow : Transform; • A variable is a space to hold a value that might change • Update • this.transform.position = toFollow.position; • Move this object to the follow object

13. Adding Our Code • We want the camera to follow the cube • Simple click and drag code to the camera • But what about the variable? We need to tell it what to follow • So drag the cube to the ToFollow variable

14. Adding Our Code - 2 • Now when you run, the camera moves with the falling cube • Unfortunately you can’t see the cube because you are inside of it! • To fix, we could change the position code (to move it away) • But instead we will learn about nesting

15. Nesting • Right click on the script and select remove script • Now drag the Main Camera onto the cube in the far left bottom window • This means that the camera will move relative to the box • In this way, you can embed multiple layers

16. Adding Assets • You can import assets which are collections of code and objects created by other people • Import the character controller and confirm the import • The assets will appear in the bottom center window • Note – I have deleted the main cube • In the hierarchy, drag the camera off, then select the cube and hit the delete key

17. Prefab • Assets can contain images, code, polygons, music, etc. • They can also contain Prefabs • Prefabs are collections of objects and scripts to place in the world • Select and drag the first person controller onto the screen • In play mode, you can now move around (asdf, or arrow keys), space to jump, and look with the mouse

18. Back to Programming - Conditionals • Create new script called FallOff • If you fall off of the world, this will put you back at the beginning • Conditional “if”, only run the code if true • If the y coordinate is below a given level, then move to 0,0,0 • Then attach to your character • Experiment with running off of the platform

19. A Simple Game • Just by adding in a few platforms, we can make a game. • Try to get from the left platform to the right one.