Preliminary information
Before going into the details of the procedure on how to use Unity, I think you might be interested in learning more about this program.
Well, you need to know that Unity is a graphic engine, as well as one of the most popular programs for creating games. In any case, if you've come this far, you probably already know what it is. However, I would like to make some necessary premises.
First, people often approach Unity thinking they can master it in a short time. I warn you immediately: no, it doesn't work like that. You won't find any tutorial online that will actually explain how to create your own game in a comprehensive way - you'll have to field your own creativeness, as well as yours ability.
However, what guides, like the one you are reading, can do is simply show you where to start to initially familiarize yourself with the program. Moreover, then the Web can obviously be your "friend" for various reasons: almost all developers carry out online searches when they have some particular doubts, but then obviously it is their ability and the original code to make the difference.
Also, I remind you that video games are a particularly complex medium. Try to think about it, within a title there is not only the work of developers, but also of graphic designers, music composers, voice actors and myriads of others professional roles. In short, it is not at all simple.
In any case, over the years there have been groups made up of a few people (or even one person) who have managed with particular dedication to create unique “pearls” for the world of video games.
These people often took years to get their jobs done. In short, through this preamble I want to tell you: this tutorial does not purport to teach you how to use Unity comprehensively, but simply of get you started quickly and in some ways funny.
How do you use Unity
Having explained the general situation to you, I would say that it is time to take action. Below you can find all the indications of the case, relating to both the possibility of create 3D and 2D games with Unity.
First, however, you might be interested in knowing the installation procedure. Well, as far as it concerns Windows, just connect to the official Unity portal and press the button Download Unity Hub. The file will then be downloaded UnityHubSetup.exe: start the latter and press the buttons in succession Yes, Accept e Install, then following the indicazioni that appear on the screen to end the process.
As for, however, MacOS, after pressing the button Download Unity Hub, the file will be downloaded UnityHubSetup.dmg. Start, therefore, the latter and press the button I agree. A window will appear on the screen: you just have to drag the icon Unity Hub in the folder Applications. That's all!
How to use Unity 3D
If you want create 3D games with Unity, you must know that the graphic engine in question is particularly suitable for this type of use, so much so that it presents some built-in tutorials that allow you to understand how to take the first steps.
In this context, instead of giving you a specific example made by me, which could be useful up to a certain point, I think it is more interesting to deepen as it should be the methods recommended directly by the creators of Unity, who obviously know the program very well, and then direct you to other content that will help you to further deepen the graphic engine.
To proceed, once opened Unity Hub, click on the option Learn, on the left, to access the section where the tutorial made directly by the creators of the graphics engine. Here it usually is LEGO Microgame, or rather a basic "crash course", created in collaboration with the creators of the famous "bricks".
The latter has a not too long duration, given that it takes about 30 minutes to be completed. Moreover, from my point of view it is also one of the best tutorials, obviously free, offered directly by Unity. In any case, I remind you that it is only a guide to learn: do not use any kind of copyrighted material LEGO for your projects.
Having said that, to proceed, click on the box of LEGO Microgame and click sul pulsating DOWNLOAD PROJECT, present at the bottom left. Wait, therefore, for the download to be completed and then press the button OPEN PROJECT, in order to start the tutorial. To continue, you may be prompted to enter yours date of birth and click the button CONTINUE, As well as of accept the license terms (by pressing the button AGREE & CONTINUE).
At this point, theUnity editor with an introductory screen. Then press the button Load tutorials to proceed. By doing so, you will be guided directly by the program. In any case, in this first phase do not worry if you do not know English well (which will however be necessary in the future), that is the language used by the program: I am here to help you.
Well, in the first screen it is explained to you that in this tutorial they are illustrated the basics of Unity, given that theinterface and there will be no way to test the preset already made by LEGO e modify it. To proceed, click the button Home.
First, we show you how Play, that is the one that allows you to test the game you are creating. In fact, at the center of the editor there is a window called Scene view, where you can manage all the elements of the game. At this point, click on the icon Play, present at the top, to start playing, in order to test the game and move on to the Game view.
As you can see, you can now play in the window in the center. The keys you can use are shown on the right: W, A, S e D or le directional arrows to move, mouse movements for the camera, space bar to jump and Tab to access the options menu. You can also jump twice by pressing space bar again when you are already in the air.
You may have noticed that there are gods green objects to collect, scattered around the map. You just have to play a little, in order to get familiar with the title and get to the end of the proposed path. However, there is a problem: a "bridge" is missing and this does not allow to continue, not even using the double jump.
Then press the icon again Play, present at the top, to return to the Scene view and continue with the tutorial. At this point, you will be prompted to select the object Player Minifig, present in the tab on the left. Everything in the game is called GameObject and you can find and manage it in the section Hierarchy.
Now, click on the entry Player Minifig and you will see all the options related to it appear on the right. Put simply, the tab appeared on the screen Inspector, that is, where you can change everything related to a particular GameObject.
In this case, the tutorial proposes to change the maximum speed of movement of the character, going to act on the script Minifig Controller, which allows the 3D model to correctly respond to player input. Therefore, the value of the option changes Max Forward Speed da 6 a 13 and press pulsating Next, in order to continue.
Now you are told how save progress related to your project. More precisely, you need to press on the option Fillet, located at the top left and then click on the item Save. Alternatively, you can use the key combination Ctrl + S (cmd + s on Mac).
Perfect, now it's time to take a look at the previous change directly in-game. To do this, click on the icon Play, which is the one you had already used before to test the game.
You may have noticed that the character now moves much faster, although this is still not enough to reach the elevated area after the bridge. Then press the button again Play to return to editing mode.
Great, now you have already finished the first tutorial, which showed you the basics of the Unity interface. However, you definitely want to fix that bridge, right? Well, then hit the button Tutorial 2: Add a platform to continue.
Perfect, now is the time to learn how to fix the situation. Then click on the button Home to continue. The program will show you that the zone is at the bottom Project: here are all the 3D models that you can use within the game.
Obviously, in this case it is about assets related to the project in question. For the rest, you should know that this area is a bit like the Windows file explorer, since there are all the cartelle and you can access the fillet related to the project. You can also simply drag objects from here inside the game scene window.
The tutorial offers you to implement a platform. Therefore, hold down the left mouse button above the object Platform and move it to the window in which you have previously played. You will see that the 3D model of the platform will appear in the game: this is just what you needed to fix the "bridge"!
However, there is a "problem": the view it does not allow you to position the platform well, as it is facing the other way. So keep the button pressed Other o option keyboard e move the "camera" with the left mouse button, so you can see the scene well. You can also do it zoom Through the mouse bottle or through the trackpad.
When you see the "bridge" clearly, press the button Next to continue. Now you are prompted to place the new platform in a strategic point, so that within the game it is possible to reach it and continue the experience. For I'll put an oggetto, you need to select the appropriate mode by pressing thefour arrows icon, located at the top left, or by using the key W.
You will have noticed that there are three arrows. Well, these represent how you can move the object. To be clear, by holding down the left mouse button on Red Arrow and moving the object, you will move it in horizontal. On the contrary, using the green Arrow you will move it to height.
Either way, you need to place the platform under the green object, so that the player can pick it up. Once this is done, hit the button Next. You will have already guessed what needs to be done now: rotate the platform correctly. It is enough, therefore, to press onrotation icon, present at the top left (or use the button E keypad) and gli assi where you can rotate the object.
The axis X it is in red, the axis Y it is in green and the axis Z it is in blu. In this case, the position of the platform is essentially already correct, except for what concerns theenough Y. So just hold down with the left mouse button on green line e rotate the platform correctly. Once this is done, you can press on the button Next to continue.
At this point, you are prompted to save the project. You should remember how to do it, but I refresh your memory: you can go on the path File> Save or use the key combination Ctrl + S (cmd + s on Mac). After that, you can press on the icon Play to see the changes you have made in the game.
By playing and jumping, you will see that you will now actually be able to cross the bridge. Congratulations, you have successfully fixed a game mechanic of a LEGO title. However, you will now notice that the player is blocked before a white and blue structure. We must also run for cover here, by activating thelift!
Then click on the icon Play to go back to editing the game. Perfect, you've also finished the second LEGO tutorial. However, I guess you obviously want to fix this mechanic as well. To continue, then, click on the button Tutorial 3: Activate the elevator, confirming that you want to save using the button Save.
At this point, press the button Home to continue. The tutorial will explain that in this context the mechanics have been simplified just to make you understand the basics of Unity, but obviously then you will not have "special bricks" when you have to create your game.
Either way, now you have to drag the Elevator brick in scene to continue. You will then be prompted to press onbricks icon, the first at the top left, to enter the mode that allows you to connect the bricks together.
Next, hit the button Next. Now, move the blue brick above the rightmost yellow brick. Then press the button again Next to continue. You will then have to press the icon Play to test thelift.
Perfect, so you can finally use the elevator e complete the minigame. If everything has been done correctly, once you have collected the last object you will see the writing appear on the screen You won. Congratulations, you have completed your first LEGO game!
However, the tutorial recommends that you improve it. In fact, you will have noticed that theelevator moves even when the player is not over its. We must therefore fix this mechanic: press the icon Play to return to the editing screen. Take, therefore, a Touch Trigger from the section Project at the bottom and drag it into the game window.
The Touch Trigger is nothing more than an element that allows the lift to start only when the player "touches" it. You have to move the latter above the leftmost yellow brick and press the icon Connect (depicting the bricks, the first at the top left), in order to connect the trigger to the lift. Once this is done, click the button Next.
Then make a save (via the menu File> Save) and press the icon Play to see the change in action. Once done, you can press the icon again Play to stop playing. Perfect, now you can choose whether to continue by pressing the button Tutorial 4: Change the win condition, or whether to stop here by selecting the option Done.
By pressing the latter, you will notice that there are various other LEGO tutorials at your disposal. In fact, although the game is now up and running, the other guides are there to explain to you how to modify it and learn other fundamental actions to use Unity.
The advice is clearly that of continue with these tutorials, as they are very useful and, as you have seen, do not take too long. However, I have chosen to "stop" here my help in the translation and explanation of the LEGO tutorial, since to use Unity properly you will need to get in touch with theEnglish.
In fact, all the official Unity documentation, which you will later need to deepen the subject and develop your game, is in English (or in Spanish and a few other languages). It turns out therefore it is important to commit to this and surely carry out, first of all, all the tutorials proposed by the program, therefore not only those related to LEGO, it is certainly a good method to take the first steps.
How to use Unity 2D
How do you say? Would you like to use the Unity graphics engine to create a 2D gaming experience? No problem, I will immediately provide you with all the relevant information on how to use Unity 2D!
Well, actually Unity also lends itself well to this type of use. Clearly the basic use of the program does not change, but I think it is right to give you "points of reference" from which to start even for games in two dimensions.
Well, just open it Unity Hub, press the button Learn on the left and select the project 2D Game Kit to start taking your first steps. Indeed, the latter is a integrated tutorial directly in Unity, lasting almost 2 hours, which will tell you just how to use the graphics engine for 2D.
The tutorial is of course in English: as already explained in the previous chapter, to take advantage of Unity properly it is good to know this language, so it shouldn't be a problem for you. In any case, if you want to learn more tutorials related to Unity, I suggest you consult the official website.
I assure you that, "Investing" the right time, in the end you will be able to reach your goal, clearly putting yours in the field creativeness. In any case, I'm sure you already have a lot of ideas in your head. For example, I felt like making a game in which I face spiders and flying enemies.
So I took a painting they made for me in the past and used it as protagonist. The background is a photo of my bedroom wall, while i enemies they are made in minutes with a little imagination and simple lines. I then made one colonna sonora in which I repeat "He is Salvo" in loop with the autotune.
In short, I practically already have the main assets for a very simple 2D game. Obviously, often the first idea that comes to mind is not the best, but it was just to remind you that, if you are a creative, putting your "inventions" in the field with Unity, even without a budget, is possible and can represent a good "gym".
For the rest, of course this is only a basic guide to using Unity. Really, I haven't even touched the surface of what is possible with this graphics engine. However, now you know at least where to find tutorials and documentation, by the way totally free, so you have all the tools to proceed.
It only serves a lot of good will, but I'm sure you've already taken this into account. In any case, these first tutorials are also able to make you understand if this world is for you: I remind you that later on you will probably have to face much higher difficulties, also coming into contact with the world of scripting.
Not to mention the question of models. In short, you understand well that developing a video game in Unity is not an operation that is done overnight, but it takes a lot of time even just to master the tool properly.
In any case, I wanted to analyze the situation and allow you to take your very first steps in this world. I also remind you that online is chock full of tutorials and videos on the subject accessible for free, especially in English: in short, I hope to have opened a world for you and to have given you the desire to start. For example, even just a YouTube search can find you a ton of useful resources.
Count that not all these tutorials existed years ago, such as that of LEGO and to start approaching Unity it was most likely necessary to start from scripts in C # and the like (yes, we refer to programming languages). In short, I would say that it is a "lucky" period to enter this world.
On the other hand, it is no coincidence that in recent years there are more and more independent videogame “pearls” developed with the Unity graphics engine (who said Cuphead?). In short, I just have to make you once again a big luck for your future in the video game industry!
How to use Unity
