Programming and Making Games with Unity 3D

Hi there =]

Yes, I'm the guy that wrote that slender guide, now I'm trying to fix that by making videos with the theme " Unity guides written by a noob, for noobs "

I have started a new video series : Programming and Making Games with Unity 3D

In this series I will be hopefully be helping anyone that is new to programming understand what the words in the code mean, how to write your own code by learning some coding basics and rules, how to use and read the Unity Documentation and the Unity Scripting Reference. Then I shall move on to writing some scripts that can be used for more than one project, how to make your scripts work for you. Then I shall rebuild the Slender guide using new scripts and old scripts (as this is where the videos started and what my current audience wants), then I shall see what we can make with a totally different project using all the scripts we have written. This will be a long series, with a lot of mini tutorials along the way.

I shall be trying to show everyone some more general practices, so while this shall be initially aimed at Survival-Horror, hopefully the things you learn and the scripts you write are then ready to use in all your other projects. Hopefully people can see my new videos are not just about making a Slender game, but learning all the different types of things that Unity can do, and also write scripts that can be used in more that one project (even with completely different behaviour on the same script). What I'm getting at is yes I want to show how to make other games, and if there is interest then I shall keep making videos. I already have the next 2 series planned in my mind, raycasting, trigger volumes, all the things that cover alot of the repeated questions that appear on Unity Answers.

Note : I have just started uploading the videos, so this part that follows will keep changing until all the videos are there and a playlist is made. Keep checking the change log at the bottom of this post.

Here are the video links to the new series :

* 00 _ Programming and Making Games with Unity 3D : http://youtu.be/Y4LCW3NZN_g

* 01 _ Scripting Basics 1-1 : Variables : http://youtu.be/npQxdWXWDy8
* 02 _ Scripting Basics 1-2 : Functions : http://youtu.be/-Mbs1D5ZD3g
* 03 _ Scripting Basics 1-3 : Different Variables : http://youtu.be/AczQH95TTag
* 04 _ Scripting Basics 1-4 : Basic Conditionals : http://youtu.be/EhSKhK-GIYU
* 05 _ Scripting Basics 1-5 : Basic Scripting Review : http://youtu.be/RdytseW3_Po

* 06 _ Assets : How to find or make your own Assets : http://youtu.be/9nF39MzEFsU

* 07 _ Terrain 1-1 : Create and Modify Terrain : http://youtu.be/L8lZTD079bM
* 08 _ Terrain 1-1a : Terrain Toolkit for Unity 3-5 : http://youtu.be/XdfjO_hTMMg
* 09 _ Terrain 1-2 : Trees and Grass : http://youtu.be/CiEHpuhYLZk
* 10 _ Terrain 1-3 : Terrain Detail : http://youtu.be/W5vuI9CAdzI

* 11 _ Character Controller : http://youtu.be/IxJ3objAfl4

* 12 _ Ambience with Render Settings : http://youtu.be/fJ2cM-RSk1g

* 13 _ Introduction to State Engine : http://youtu.be/9L8FQLKZeiQ

* 14 _ Flashlight 1-1 : On and Off : http://youtu.be/PqaHwBNPSrI
* 15 _ Flashlight 1-2 : Flickering : http://youtu.be/OueAwqO_sWw
* 16 _ Flashlight 1-3 : Smart Variables : http://youtu.be/r6frYtqhbm4
* 17 _ Flashlight 1-4 : Fading : http://youtu.be/PHeBWvFsYqE
* 18 _ Flashlight 1-5 : Consumable Energy Source : http://youtu.be/RsNZz_EyERI

* 19 _ Textures Materials and Shaders : http://youtu.be/CVKJ7izn8BI

* 20 _ Vector3 1-1 : Position : http://youtu.be/-JbcPehemB4
* 21 _ Vector3 1-2 : Direction : http://youtu.be/livAJQ0HdKo
* 22 _ Vector3 1-3 : Rotation : http://youtu.be/HRlqvWmRgio

* 23 _ NPC 1-1 : Moving : http://youtu.be/p9yLZmgkFWY
* 24 _ NPC 1-2 : Colliding : http://youtu.be/7di6FnR7rqU
* 25 _ NPC 1-3 : Grounded and Turning : http://youtu.be/78a1VSaaDuo

* 26 _ Raycasting Basics : http://youtu.be/Sj4oxfQqzhA

* 27 _ NPC 1-4 : Basic Obstacle Avoidance : http://youtu.be/JlulRhjLsNY
* 28 _ NPC 1-4a : Basic Obstacle Avoidance : http://youtu.be/szxB6RBhVyQ

* 29 _ NPC 1-5 : State Engine : http://youtu.be/F2sXFlDHzgg

* 30 _ NPC 1-6 : Range : http://youtu.be/cmG3jURdFHg

* 31 _ NPC 1-7 : Free Roaming : http://youtu.be/GKq0kaJWPqs
* 32 _ NPC 1-7a : Free Roaming : http://youtu.be/_SJQP7lfpfw

* 33 _ NPC 1-8 : Make it Slender : http://youtu.be/3Ny9CvliHNA

* 34 _ Dot Product : http://youtu.be/JAAGdF-Wdas

**** _ This will be the start of Just Programming and Making Games .. Without Slender, that has its own new playlist.

* 99 _ Farewell (goodbye) Slender : http://youtu.be/s_QPqqnu9x4

* 100 _ Exporting and Importing Assets : http://youtu.be/VRJKOREjRSc

* 101 _ Review of Scripts for this Playlist : http://youtu.be/ccq3igfLBdI

* 102 _ Introducing GameObject.Find : http://youtu.be/WPpkGGEtz7M
* 103 _ Learning how to use GetComponent : http://youtu.be/Yh3bkHfKNEk
* 104 _ Understanding and using GameObject.Find : http://youtu.be/eQlFxm-o2L4
* 105 _ Understanding GameObject.Find : http://youtu.be/TBu9RaU5jjs
* 106 _ Understanding GetComponent : http://youtu.be/n-KvNT4yQxM

* 107 _ NPC 1-9 : Tree Colliders : http://youtu.be/82sOfT3xqUk

* 108 _ NPC 2-0 : Behaviour States : http://youtu.be/02bXl1mBQXs

* 109 _ NPC 2-1 : Start of Attacking : http://youtu.be/tjDuWzU_vUc
* 110 _ NPC 2-2 : Attacking : http://youtu.be/4paKlkP3ckU
* 111 _ NPC 2-3 : Attack Amount : http://youtu.be/JTFw5PY-FhU
* 112 _ NPC 2-4 : Attack Timer Considerations : http://youtu.be/UleJpRPqjh4

* 113 _ Basic Built-In Array 1 : http://youtu.be/De52ZlEdriQ
* 114 _ Basic Built-In Array 2 : http://youtu.be/7pFUibWfmVA

* 115 _ NPC 2-5 : Patrolling 1 : Gizmos : http://youtu.be/4C6pOvEhwus
* 116 _ NPC 2-6 : Patrolling 2 : http://youtu.be/yzqvZ3iohjU
* 117 _ NPC 2-7 : Patrolling 3 : http://youtu.be/NaMYKJ4Ns2o
* 118 _ NPC 2-8 : Patrolling 4 :

* 119 _ ... uploading soon ...


I apologize now as the sound is still not great, after testing different microphones and configurations, I found the problem was .... me. For the most of the time I do speak softly, and even though I try to remember to speak loudly, once I get going then focus on my voice is lost. I am sorry, hopefully all the required information appears on the screen anyway, so as long as you can see what I am pointing to, what links I am opening, and pause to copy what code I am typing, then everyone will still learn and benefit from my videos, this I really hope for.


// ----

Information from the videos

Operators :

Code (csharp):

1.  
2.     ==      is equal to
3.     !=      is not equal to
4.     >       is greater than
5.     <       is less than
6.     >=      is greater than or equal to
7.     <=      is less than or equal to
8.             if one condition is true AND another is also true
9.     ||      if one condition is true OR another is also true
10.  

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Links from the videos

Crash course in Unity (start at the bottom and work up) : http://www.unity3dstudent.com/category/modules/

Assets : Models and Textures :

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/16650/game-asset-website-list-free-and-paid-textures-mod.html
http://thefree3dmodels.com/

Assets : Audio :

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/7743/where-can-i-find-music-or-sound-effects-for-my-gam.html
https://soundcloud.com/groups/movie-game-background-music-soundtrack-music
http://www.melodyloops.com/music-for/games/
http://www.playonloop.com/music-loops-category/videogame/

Assets : Making your own Assets :

http://www.blender.org/
http://www.gimp.org/
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://www.3dbuzz.com/
http://cgcookie.com/blender/
http://www.youtube.com/user/vscorpianc?feature=watch (for Blender and GIMP)

Terrain (for Unity 3.5 only) : SixTimesNothing (Terrain Toolkit and Road/Path tool) : http://www.sixtimesnothing.com/tools-and-resources/

Introduction to Character Controllers : http://cgcookie.com/unity/2011/12/05/introduction-to-character-controllers/


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Requests :



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Change Log (what has been added to the above) :

Mar 26 2013 : I am now splitting Slender away from this video series. All slender stuff has a new playlist of its own. So people who want to make Other games can continue following This series.

Mar 26 2013 : uploaded videos 28 to 47 : Developing NPC, building a scene with all the information given so far
Mar 19 2013 : uploaded videos 19 to 28 : Textures, Vector3 and Rigidbody NPC
Mar 17 2013 : uploaded videos 12 to 18 : Ambience, State Engine and Flashlight
Mar 13 2013 : uploaded videos 06 to 11 : Assets, Terrain and Character Controller
Mar 12 2013 : uploaded videos 00 to 05 : Introduction and Scripting Basics
Mar 12 2013 : Start of the New Video Series

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Such a saint you are, if only someone would STICKY this type of stuff, although that doesn't help with people not using code tags.

 

Thank you for your kind words. Is there something I can do to make this more visible? I must admit I am new to the forums and its procedures, and apart from Unity Answers I've never really had an 'online presence', and am a little lost on the terminology, specifically sticky and code tags (this was also suggested by Annihlator on the slender forum page : http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/172415-Slender-Guide-by-alucardj ) . I am more than open to suggestions on how to approach and execute this idea of showing generic practices that can be adapted to answer many of the new user questions on UA. That's why I started this page too. The slender videos got an incredible amount of views in the first week, but this series doesn't seem popular. Hoping for some responses to determine if this is really worthwhile doing. Your comment has really helped me feel like the time and effort is worth it, thanks again =]

 

Please move this to teaching, this is amazing, you will get far much for views if this was in the teaching. I have seen so many people wanting a to make slender game.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback, makes it all feel worthwhile. I didn't think this was worthy of being a full teaching guide as I am still very much a beginner myself with alot to learn. I wanted to address the problem of seeing so many of the same questions on Unity Answers, by showing these things generally and then how to apply them to specific circumstances. I have unfortunately associated myself with 'Slender' even though I'm the last person who should (see my disclaimer on the Slender Guide page! http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/172415-Slender-Guide-by-alucardj ) and I do want to separate that genre from my new videos, hence this new forum post. I had a quick look but didn't see an option to change the category of this post, and am wary of double-posting unless there is no way to move this over. You both have given me plenty to think about, and made me feel good for trying to help fellow noobs, thank you. All the best.

 

Great stuff, really... As a teacher, I find find instructing others deepens my understanding of topics. As I'm sure you'll find as you proceed thru your series.

Digital beers on me!

 

Thank you for your positive feedback. Indeed, someone else recently remarked to me "when you try to explain something it can also help you understand more about the subject yourself". This has also been true when finding the Unity Documentation links for reference, I have found more information there that I didn't know existed (not reading it enough myself!), and and alot of stuff there that I learned the long way 'round externally. Sometimes I'm not sure being a self-taught beginner, so the confidence wavers and the voice drops to my normal mumble. But seeing comments like the nice ones you have left, I feel much happier and glad I could help someone in some way. It's all about the learning and the sharing. Hope my future videos have some more concepts you can pick up and adapt to your own needs. All the best, great to have you watching, Worms3D is super cool, digital beers went down well =]

 

Moved to teaching

 

Many thanks for your help Aurore.

 

Ugh, your tutorials are soooo good. Wish it was c# though

Anyone know where I can find good c# tutorials to learn?

Thanks.

 

if you'd like to add to your great list there, I made a board on this guy's series of video tutorials on how to make an FPS in unity3D. I have been using them for my learning and think they're pretty helpful. Here you go: http://www.verious.com/board/AKumar/unity3d-first-person-shooter-tutorial/

 

Thanks SubZeroGaming, that is some really nice feedback. It is possible to follow along and convert to C#, but I understand what you mean. In the first scripting basics, i nearly start talking about C# vs uJS variables, but had to stop myself to avoid confusion. I taught myself C# by doing the 3D Buzz 3rd person controller, and converted it to uJS, so it is possible. Here are some links that I found invaluable for converting between C# and uJS :

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/12911/what-are-the-syntax-differences-in-c-and-javascrip.html
http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php?title=Which_Kind_Of_Array_Or_Collection_Should_I_Use?

These 2 links got me there (as well as searches for more specific stuff). I don't know of any guides that start from the absolute basics. There is Unity Gems which I read just to learn anyway. This 'site just gets bigger and better, so check it out. For example, there is a great article on rotations : http://unitygems.com/

One that I like and actually learned procedural meshes from is catlikecoding : http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/

Then the above mentioned 3D Buzz. If you do this, you will have an awesome robust camera with collision/occlusion detection : http://www.3dbuzz.com/training/view/3rd-person-character-system

There are plenty more out there, check this list for some : http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/12321/how-can-i-start-learning-unity-fast-list-of-tutori.html

ak223 : thanks for the resource. I have prototyped nearly every game genre now, but have never actually done a FPS. I was going to start watching Eteeski but shall also check your link out. If I like it, then I will definitely add an additional resources section at the top and include it. Thanks again, I'm still learning too and like links that are actually helpful.