Unity Capability

[Wes]

Hello,

There hasn't been too much going on around here so I wanted to give a
post update. Been researching Unity recently and found an amazing
tutorial that gives an introduction on Unity's tools, scripting, and
basic game mechanics. <a href="http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/
sv_showvideo.php?v=3611">3D Buzz</a>

I'll have to say that it's VERY easy to use and implement assets to
this game engine, and that's coming from someone who doesn't
program...yet. For example, you can directly place and open 3D Studio
Max files into Unity and update your project in real time. Plays audio
files, drag and drop routines, complex physic and particle engines,
real time game modification, the list goes on.

Made this game through the above tutorial at 3D Buzz:
<a href="http://www.wescg.net/wprdpress/wp-content/uploads/
Epic_War.html">Epic War</a>

All graphics are mine (except meteor texture; a random crater texture)
but the scripting was helped through tutorials. Fairly easy to
understand too. Later I would like to change the graphics and game
play with a new theme.

What do you folks think?

-Wes

[Peter Carswell]

Thanks, Wes.

I have been looking for a good resource for teaching some programming concepts to students interested in programming. I was looking to use Unreal Engine Scripting as a support to the course. But the latest text on Unreal Engine Scripting is dated back to 2004. There was a new text for Unreal 3.0 Scripting, 2010, that was supposed to have been released in November. I asked the publishers local rep if I could get a review copy to evaluate how suitable it might be for my class. He got back to me that there would be no publishing of this text. Epic Games holds the copyright and has, to the best of my information, withdrawn the book for publication. So, here I am back at the square one.

So, looking at Unity might be an alternative. I will take a look at the web site you included. And the game you created. Might be just what I need.

Thanks, again.

pete

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[bigdaddio]

I use unity, its great stuff for the iPhone/iPad

It uses a slightly jacked version of Javascript or C# for it's scripting language. What I mean by jacked Javascript, is that it is not a full implementation or some such, I do not know as I am not some Javascript expert. 

If you were to use this to teach beginners it would be great, it's very easy to pick up, it's free, and if are willing to pay for a license you get plenty of similar option to the unreal engine without the antiquated (yea I said it) unreal only scripting language.

Unreal is an old engine, why do you think they are trying to pretend they are supporting indie people now? Because they see the handwriting, these newer smaller, more modern and efficient engines are really eating their lunch. There are only so many studios that can afford unreal. 

[Wes]

Hey Peter and bigdaddio (Henry),

Great to hear from your responses. Your class excites me a lot Peter.
It's funny
because a lot of artists are afraid of programming. However, I get
frustrated
when I can't figure how to get my art to act the way I want them to in
a game.
I've always wanted to learn more on programing and web design and
would
be interested in how I could get involved with what you are teaching.

Nice perspectives on the Unreal Engine too. Been thinking about
closely observing
Unity if not for the same comment bigdaddio mentioned. Unity is nice
for
iPhone/iPad. In lieu of starting companies here in Ohio, since we are
so flash
and small game oriented, maybe this engine may be a good starting
vessel to
work with and begin new companies here locally.

-Wes

[Devin Moore]

Hi Wes,
Your game shows promise in that its really quick. The spaceship
graphic would have to get redone, but the asteroids are slick. The
firing mechanism works well, but I noticed one little hesitation when
I was trying to change directions and I accidentally hit both arrow
keys, it didn't know how to keep me moving.

I'd like to host this game on our game site, would you be ok with
donating it non-exclusively to that effort, or did you have other
plans for this game?

[Wes]

Hey Devin,

Yep there are still a few bugs to work out but this makes for a nice
introduction to what can be done easily in Unity in a very short
amount of time. If I got the hang of coding in C#, I could get it all
done in about a day. May make a different game based off this layout
in the future but it will much more different.

By all means, use this game for what ever you need it to help promote
games here on the site and for Ohio game developers. Just make sure to
credit all authors in the READ ME file. Especially Jason Busby and
Zak Parrish. They are wonderful teachers!

I was using Unity 2.6. You can download the files here:
http://www.wescg.net/wprdpress/wp-content/uploads/Epic_Wars.zip

-Wes

[Devin Moore]

can't you do one of the other .net languages and just have the CLR
convert it to C#?

[Wes]

Hey Devin,

Just researched a bit on CLR. I'm new to programing and am trying to
teach myself so I many not be able to answer your question
thoroughly.

The reason why my project was made into C# is because there was
another tutorial of the same game with Unity done in Java by Casey
Jones http://www.unityjumpstart.com/ProofOfConcept_1/ .
The tutorial on 3D buzz was hosted by Jason Busby with Zak Parrish for
Unity in C# http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_showvideo.php?v=3611 . It
was made for the folks on the forums wanting a C# version of Casey's
Java tutorial.

All in all, I think you could convert into C# from any other common
language however, I would not know how nor know if there is a compiler
for that (not sure since I'm new to programming). From the way that I
see it, Unity uses some code commands like other game engines would
use for their specific game scripting but I do not think that
compiling from one common language to another like C# would have
problems. Would be interesting to test out.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific.

-Wes